Huntingdonshire Music School Association - Teach

In addition to the practical examinations (Grade 1 to Grade 8 .. and beyond for diplomas) the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music also provides graded music theory examinations. In order to progress to Grade 6 and beyond on an instrument you need to have first passed at least Grade 5 theory. At the Huntingdonshire Music School we run theory classes at all grades and past theory papers are useful in getting students ready to take the examination (at the end of the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms). Up to now we’ve relied on teachers marking papers to provide an indication of progress and providing help. It looks as though some additional help is to be provided from the ABRSM by providing specimen (model) answers to papers.

From the ABRSM:

NEW Theory Model Answers

Each January, ABRSM Publishing produces volumes of the theory papers used in the previous year’s Associated Board theory of music exams at grades 1 to 8.

In January 2007, theory of music exam papers from 2006 will be published, four papers per grade at grades 1 to 8, offering excellent practice material for exam candidates.

Due to customer demand, Answer Books will be available for the first time. The answer books will be published in January 2007 and correspond to the 2006 exam papers at grades 1 to 5.

The model answers given in these books provide a list of answers where appropriate, and for questions where the answer can be expressed in a variety of ways, a selection of likely options is given; for questions where a composition-style answer is required, a single exemplar is given.

Theory Papers and Model Answers offer a helpful and practical resource for students and teachers preparing for Associated Board theory of music exams.

Further information from:

Debbie Butler
ABRSM Publishing
24 Portland Place
London W1B 1LU
tel: +44 (0)20 7467 8272
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.abrsmpublishing.com

Strange times. The Internet is a useful tool and it provides so many good things. There are those, however, who exploit the work of others.

I was browsing randomly and found that our very own Robin Norman - Director of the Senior Concert Band and brass tutor is now available as a ring tone for a phone. It’s Robin playing Czardas - something I believe he used to play as a party piece whilst performing with the GUS Band.

It’s not hard to guess where this was obtained from - someone or something has trawled our very own HUMS Aloud podcast site where, episode 3 features Robin playing Czardas recorded at the 40th birthday celebrations for the music school as part of the ‘Leader’s Excuse-Me’ concert where the teachers took to the stage instead of the students.

Not sure what to think to this. It would be nice if the performer got some acknowledgement.

This week, on March 10th, Len Davidson - who continues to teach electric guitar at the Huntingdonshire Music School - was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Waldorf Astoria in New York with the other members of the Dave Clarke Five.

There is a good video of the award made by Tom Hanks to the group on YouTube.

Len was in good company at the award ceremony with other inductees being Madonna, Leonard Cohen and Mellencamp. Artists first become eligible 25 years after their first release.

Len also plays a mean classical and sometimes electric/acoustic guitar with the Cambridge Guitar Orchestra (not the only teacher from the music school who plays with the CGO).

Other links

• story on Reuters
• Dave Clarke Five - Tribute on YouTube
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum