Here's the thing...

  Sunday, February 27, 2022 by Therese Porter | Mid-Term News

Why does musicianship class matter? 

The answer to this question is best answered with a metaphor.  A house can only stand and remain standing, with a good solid foundation.

So the 30 minutes with an instrumental tutor are to monitor and develop the physiological skills required to master an instrument.  During lesson time the WSMD tutors must instruct a student in the the ways to use their body to create dynamics, tone, and speed.  Without musicianship classes, time must be spent on how to read and interpret the score.

My students will know all too well that the magical balance for clear, natural and expressive phonation depend on the unique interaction of their vocal tract with breath.  We don't learn how to sight read the score together.  We DO monologue text because the text contains the meaning. 

My piano students learn how to hold their posture, their hands, and how to achieve the tactile connection with the keys that produce dynamics, staccato, legato.  


What we do in musicianship class...

“…for me, it’s a complete distraction of the mind, and very creative.  They always come out happy.  They have sport on Saturdays too, but musicianship is almost like mindfulness in that it takes them into a window of focus.  It’s gentle, creative and nice.  They both have music in school but it’s a big class and the penetration is limited so progress is slow.  The class would be lucky to be able to play one tune together by the end of the term.  In the WSMD musicianship class there is real progress and joy” Tim Cummins, parent.

Musical concepts are taught though active participation in singing, playing games, playing musical instruments especially percussion, and listening to music. Skills in pitch and rhythm are developed in the same way, with lots of practice of singing melodies , performing/composing rhythms as an integral part of the classes.  Solfa names and rhythm syllables are used to great effect in the development of these skills. The students also learn to write  down the rhythm and melodies. The ultimate aim is to develop the ability to hear in ones head the music seen on the page and to be able to write down in musical notation what is played or sung.


The role of the tutor

Tutors must have teaching skills that create psychological safety in the classroom.   In my class, where students are primary school age, and are at beginner level, there is no wrong answer.   All answers reveal what is known and even better...what is not known! To date, the students in my class are now proficient in tapping simple rhythms; singing the major scale with hand signs; understanding the building blocks of the major scale and reading the grand staff.  We hope to dazzle you with a performance as an ensemble in the May concerts.

Other options

Busy weekend schedules make Saturdays a challenge, but if you are free we have 1:00pm for beginner and 8:45am for advanced.  Tutor Tomas O'Durcain is now offering a class each Wednesday for intermediate level students, particularly those preparing for an exam.  If you would like to learn more about this class, please contact the school at 0863265820.

Alternatively, students who prefer one-to-one tuition can add 15 minutes or more to their lesson time in order to work through musicianship books with their tutor.

Finally...

The physiological control of the instrument is a conduit to the self expression that musicianship interprets.

- Kerry Anderson, BMusEd, MAPVP

Director, Wicklow School of Music & Drama - Celebrating 20 years!


And so this is Christmas

Sunday, December 12, 2021 by Therese Porter | Uncategorized

Hello and a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you all!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting the first concert since the unprecedented lockdowns which sent us all into such a surreal head space!!

Once again we could share and connect with MUSIC!

Room 20 in E. Glendalough School was very well ventilated as it has an entire wall of windows and an enormous exit door which were wide open, so we felt practically outdoors, and happily the weather was milder than it has been this last while...perhaps Santa took care of that?

We kicked off with a performance of Rudolph from the kids in Junior Musicianship Class which most certainly revealed the benefits of the class! Yes, that was a shameless promotion, and I hope we have more in the class signing up in January ♥ Then we were treated to some very polished performances, the last of which came from one of our advanced (been in the school many years!) Cuan O'Mara who dazzled us with a flawless performance and I know he inspired the other students! He had me in tears! 

There is still time to perform today at 3:00pm.  You can just come along, no need to register! Keith will be MC as I will be busy in St. Stephens' Green Shopping centre....singing as one of Santa's Elves!!!

A very special invitation!

A few months ago I got an email with the subject title, Santa Sings.  I thought it was spam, so I deleted. Then it came in again from another address, so I deleted it; but a few days later it came AGAIN! This time, I read it and it said Santa chose ME to work for him as an Elf to help raise money for Charities that help Children.  Wow! ME!?  He had attached an MP4 recorded in the North Pole of him SINGING!!!  He said I could choose the Charity! I can't tell you what it feels like to be chosen to represent the big guy and help spread his message of unconditional love, kindness and tolerance! Since then a client who is a business man has come forward with help to produce the CD single which he is selling to raise the funds for Variety - The Children's Charity

He also supplied the presents from Santa for each one of our students who played in the concert.

The CD and gifts will be there today at 3:00 so I hope you can stop in.

Therese has sent you the schedule of dates for my appearances, and the link to buy the CD online is:

www.santaschristmaswonderland.ie

Once again, I wish you all a very warm, loving and magical Christmas Holiday

Love, 

Kerry

Therese,

and Santa!!






Happy Halloween!

Sunday, October 31, 2021 by Therese Porter | Autumn Newsletter

Happy Halloween to you all! 

Orange and white pumpkinsI don’t know about you, but I am swamped by email notices, so I try to keep these rare and newsy!

In this email:

  • Upcoming workshop – free to you!

  • We are on Facebook, Twitter AND now Telegram too!

  • Software portal improves the pace of learning!

  • NEW ensemble class coming in January

  • Flute lessons now available

  • Christmas Concert Dates

 

 

Workshop November 20th 2021 with Rachel Factor.  

Rachel is a piano examiner as well as a WSMD school tutor; she will be discussing exam preparation and invites both parents and students to attend this one-hour

 workshop.  She will talk about the reason exams can be useful, and whether they suit all young students.  This workshop will begin at 2:15pm. There will be a 15-

minute segment for Q&A at the end of the workshop.  She will use room 21 piano in East Glendalough School.   We will send reminders but if you could register your

 interest on the school’s software calendar via your portal, we would be very grateful!

New! Now we are on Telegram too!

…and here’s the link! Look for the red logo.

https://t.me/joinchat/PnSR1_2UeJsxNjJk

Join and say hello.

MyMusicStaff for all of us!

Those of you who learn from me will know that I tippety type away as I teach. Then those notes are sent on via the school software email facility.  I have several students whose Mum and Dad have printed their notes and made a journal for the students to use while practicing, illustrate with doodles and create a scrap book.

I would heartily recommend this, because the information is a guide between lessons and a super keepsake for students to look back on. 

Please register via the portal if you would like to be in an ensemble group each Saturday afternoon.

Eoin Fallon will run this class each Saturday – time to be decided – and starting in January.

Eoin is also offering FLUTE classes each Saturday, so please tell your friends!

Christmas concerts.

The dates are now set for Saturday, December 11 at 4:00pm and another concert at 6pm. Each one is an hour long, and allow only 10 students.

There is a reserve date of the Sunday December 12 in case too many cannot attend the Saturday shows.  You must register via the school

 portal and this will tell you if there is an available place.

These will run in the East Glendalough School room 21.   

So that's all for now, and as always I wish you good health and happiness and I am so looking forward to seeing you all at the Concerts!

Kerry

 

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