Events
BMG Federation Summer School Weekend
20-22 June 2014, Knuston Hall, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7EU
A
t the time of writing some places remain on all four courses. The weekend starts on Friday with dinner at 7pm and
finishes on Sunday with afternoon refreshments at 3.30pm. All bedrooms are en-suite and the cost for the weekend is
£245 single, £213 shared twin, £145 non-residential. There are also spaces for camper vans at £145 plus breakfast at £7 per
day if wanted.
The Four Courses
Elias Sibley: Classic Finger-style 5-string Banjo –
course code F 526
Suitable for beginners (with sound basic knowledge of
instrument and music reading) and more advanced students.
It will cover all main aspects of finger-style banjo playing
with particular regard to ensemble playing, interpretation,
technical development, fingering, sight reading and practice
methods.
Travis Finch: Classical Mandolin & Guitar – course
code F 527
This classical ensemble workshop will cover musicality,
phrasing and constructing the musical line. It is open to
mandolins, mandolas and classical guitars and is suitable for
all ability levels. Students should preferably be comfortable
playing from standard notation and some basic sight-reading
skills would be optimal, but tablature will also be provided.
Nigel Gatherer: Celtic Music for Mandolin, Tenor
Guitar & Tenor Banjo (other instruments may also be
accommodated) – course code F 528
An exploration of the structures and styles of session and
dance music from Scotland and Ireland. This course is
suitable for mandolin, tenor guitar and tenor banjo (tuned
GDAE). Other instruments may be accommodated - contact
Henry Girvan to enquire. Notation or tablature reading skills
are an advantage, but not essential.
Gaio de Lima: Brazilian Choro for Mixed Instruments –
course code F 529
Participants will be taught three tunes: a maxixe, a baiao
and a slow choro. This course is for intermediate/more
experienced students. Ability to read music is an advantage
but not essential.
Booking and Further Information
To book, telephone Knuston Hall 01933 312104.
For enquiries, contact BMG Federation course co-ordinator
Henry Girvan 01592 630374
email [email protected]
Backwell Banjo Rally Saturday 6th September
S
outhwest Regional Banjo Rally will be
held September 6th at Backwell W.I.
Hall, which has free parking and is 8 miles
south of Bristol on the A370. Easy access
is gained from M4 or M5 motorways, trains
from Bristol Temple Meads stop at Nailsea
& Backwell station and Bristol airport is a
couple of miles away. The Rally runs 12 noon
to 5pm with organised playing and breaks
for refreshments and the buying and selling
of instruments, music etc. Although this
Rally is solely for finger style banjo, other
instruments are welcome as accompaniment.
Community tunes will be announced nearer
Sat 6th Sept 2014
Rally Review: Gerald Garcia –
Youth Orchestra
Putting together a youth orchestra is no easy task (especially
in only 2 hours!) but Gerald manages to do so as he did
at the previous Rally with great success. This year the
difficulty of the pieces was stepped up, making for an even
more interesting workshop for the 30 or so young people
who attended. We tackled 2 pieces of music: Joropó by
Andrew Forrest and Katjusa by Matvei Blanter. Katjusa was
a challenging but enjoyable piece due to its constant tempo
changes, and Joropó, my favourite of the two, was a piece
with an interesting syncopated feel. The overall performance
at the Saturday concert went very well, despite the short
amount of time everybody had to practise for it and I am
sure everyone, like me, enjoyed the workshop and looks
forward to the next Rally youth orchestra workshop.
Craig Moran, MANGO & DCA
the date. All levels of playing are catered
for and newcomers will find a friendly,
encouraging atmosphere. Light refreshments
will be available at reasonable prices. Playing
continues in the evening at the Bridge Inn,
Yatton where all are welcome and meals
and accommodation are available (tel 01934
839100). To reserve a stand or display
space or for further information, contact
Mike Redman (0117 2301025 email mike_
[email protected])
or David Wade (01943 876638 e-mail
[email protected].
MUSIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Adele Neilson’s guitar pupils in
Da Capo Alba and Mango who recently passed Trinity
Guildhall exams:
Grade 1
Anna Fegan – Distinction; Kirsten Sword – Distinction
Grade 3
Amber Cumming – Merit; Fionn McLaughlin – Merit;
Lewis Sloan – Merit; Robbie Cathcart – Distinction
Grade 4
Andrew Lochrin – Distinction;
Calum Hopkins – Distinction;
Emma McKenzie – Merit; George Crocket – Distinction;
Gordon West – Merit; Hayl W