Shropshire Music Service

Information from the BBC about their input into the National Music Week BBC LInk

National Music Week

I’ve recently been working with Heather Pringle, Music Co-ordinator at Cleobury Mortimer Primary School in South Shropshire in supporting teaching staff in recognising progress over the key stages. We have provided on Shropshire Digital Brain some statments which will support the Attainment Levels in the National Curriculum which have always been difficult to use since they lack clarity for most of us and certainly for non-music specialists.

We hope these are helpful. They can be found from the file listing on this page within my area (keith.shropshire) of Digital Brain: link

Another very uesful piece of work on assessment in music has been undertaken by Katherine Smith and a team of Primary staff and their work can be found here

For all Edgetone members and flautists of Grade 4 and above, rehearsals began on 19 September at Longmeadow (7.30 -9.00pm)

The contact is Jan Lumley via the Shropshire Music Service Office – 01743 874145

Shropshire Youth Wind Orchestra & Shropshire Girls Choir Visit to Belgium 21-25 July.

This was a most successful tour. Concerts included performances at the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, St. Michael’s Church in Gent as part of the Gent International Music Festival, and Ypres Town Square. The ensembles received many very favourable comments on their performances & professionalism and were invited to make a return visit to the festival. Hopefully this will take place in July 2008.

Whole Class Strings

There was a festival for pupils taught in whole classes, at the Music hall in June. This very special occasion had about 140 violinists from 8 schools performing. Well done to all who took part

 There was a debut for the Rusty Rainbow Folk Fiddle Group who performed 2 contrasting folk pieces at the Strings Gala Concert in July.

The Pops Orchestra

Rehearsals; 29 October, 21 January, 18 February (10.00 -15.00).

Concerts;  16 & 18 March

This is available to members of SYO, SYWO, SYBB, SYBigBand, SYPE & staff. We also have some parents as playing  members. String players specially welcome. If you enjoy film  music come & enjoy a different experience.

There was an impressive array of musical talent on display when the combined forces of the Shropshire Youth Brass Band, the Shropshire Training Youth Brass Ensemble and 70 beginner brass players performed the grand finale to this year’s Brass Extravaganza. Castaway Cove was a thrilling conclusion to an inspirational evening of brass music performed by Shropshire and Telford players of all abilities The beginner brass very ably performed two ‘world premieres’ of specially composed suites for brass by Glenn Pollard as well as versions of well known tunes.

The Training Youth Brass Ensemble demonstrated just how far the group has progressed since it was formed just 3 years ago and played a variety of solo and ensemble music under the direction of Wendy Jones and Andrienna Straw.
The Shropshire Youth Brass Band were having a final run through of the programme they were to play at the National Festival of Music for Youth at Symphony Hall, Birmingham the following day. No-one could fail to have been impressed by the power, precision and musicality of their performance conducted by Dave Heywood.

The performers were rightly given a standing ovation at the end of the concert by an enthusiastic and appreciative audience.

Next year’s event has already been booked for 11 July 2007.

Preliminary Rounds 14 November at New College & 15 November at Crowmoor Baptist Church

Penultimate Round 17 January at New College

Final 28 March at Shrewsbury Music Hall

Application forms will shortly be available from  instrumental teachers

Saturday 11 November-Flute & Double Reed day

Saturday 2 December-6.00pm SGC, SJC & Edgetone at Crowmoor Baptist Church

Saturday 9 December –2.00pm STYO, STYWO & Senior Clarinet Choir at Christchurch, Bayston Hill

Monday 18 December 8.00pm SYO & New College Chorale at Shrewsbury Abbey

5-7 January – Strings Residential Weekend at Pioneer Centre

Saturday 24 February – Woodwind Platform

2-4 March – Chamber Music Course at Pioneer Centre

Saturday 3 March SYBB Condover

9/10 March – School of Music Open days

Saturday 17 March (10.00 -16.00) Music for Youth, Meole Brace School

Friday 30 March at 7.30– SYBB at Wrekin College

Saturday 28 April – Woodwind Platform

Friday 22 June Whole class violin concert, Music Hall

Monday 9 July – Cellobration 3 at Christchurch

Tuesday 10 July 7.00pm Meole Brace School – Shrewsbury String Festival

Wednesday 11 July Brass Extravaganza

Saturday 14 July 7.15pm Strings Gala Concert, Meole Brace School

In some areas there are opportunities for more players & singers, so please encourage brothers, sisters and friends to join. Even though this year’s auditions have been, we are happy to consider students at other times of the year. Details are available from the Music Service.

Shropshire Youth Big Band which rehearses on Friday evenings of School of Music weekends at Belvidere School from 5.30 to 8.00pm has vacancies for alto, tenor & baritone saxes, trombones & percussionists. Contact is Jenny Couch

Shropshire Junior Choir provides an exciting opportunity for children in years 3-6 to sing a wide range of songs together. The choir is currently recruiting new members so interested children & parents are invited to attend one of our weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays in term time from 4.30 to 5.30 at Longmeadow School, Bayston Hill. The cost of membership is £19.50 per term.