Our First Public Performance in Shannon Airport February 2011



100 violin players first public performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szsBz54ji1w



Swinging Strings Arrived at Departures !!

 Finally the day for our big gig arrived and three fourth  classes boarded the buses for Shannon Airport. But first there were bows to  be rosined and fiddles to be tuned. Thanks to the team who helped to do all the work. 

The concert was fab. We loved the programme of Knockaneen School. That was a great version of Pirates of the Caribbean . Weren't the conga drums cool!  Milford NS looked great in red white and blue 

Finally it was our turn . Group A including Mr Corry and Ms ODeas class joined Ennis NS Band  for Set A

Set A Santa Lucia,  Foxtrot, Over the Rainbow, We will Rock You and Uptown Girl !

Set B Ardnacrusha Monkey , Largo, Dance of the Hours  Marines' Hymn

Grand Finale Mo Gile Mear, Ireland's Call  Amhran na bhFiann

That final pizzicato was brilliant . It rang all around the huge space

Next up was Mr Blakes class  for Set B The swapover was  very smooth. well done.  

Finally all the bands took to the stage for the grand finale and Mr Corry's class held up some of the fabulous posters designed by the students

Thanks to Fiona Walsh of the fabulous Ennis Gospel Choir who joined us today to help with tuning and joined Ensemble A on violin for their set                                                                                                                               

Violin Stack Packed and ready to go






All together

 

on  our way on the band bus 

Swing Strings Blog nominated for award.

Great news. The Swinging Strings blog is nominated for an two awards in the Irish Blog Awards. We were nominated in in the Education & Science and Music Categories. The winners will be announced in March. Fingers crossed.

Final rehearsal for School Bands Spectacular

  


Well done everyone A super smooth rehearsal in the hall today . Looking good and sounding good ! 
Remember : no slumped shoulders or grumpy expressions . No Balotellis in Swinging Strings
  SMILE    IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT!

Well done to MS ODea's Class for super practice session  this week.

The expanded ensemble

Violins Up everybody

The Ennis  NS Band at rehearsal

Mr Blake's class wait patiently for their turn

http://bit.ly/fvxNMP  An Irishman's Diary Tuesday 8th February   This is a link to the piece from the newspaper the Irish Times .   What is the main  point  the writer is making?

Celebrating St Brigid's Day and Getting ready for a big gig

It was all go in the Music Department at Ennis NS today.  The focus is very much on the School Band Spectacular which will be held in Shannon Airport next Friday.   We had our classes as usual before all classes went to the Cathedral for a special Service to mark Grandparents Day .We had a quick rehearsal in the hall after lunch with the splendid  Ennis NS Band . 

We will have two teams of Swinging Strings     Team A   Mr Corry + Ms O Dea group 1 , Team B  Mr Blake +  Ms O Dea Group 2  Here is the draft programmme.

Team A  Santa Lucia   D   A  A  D  repeat  pizz.

               Foxtrot

              Somewhere  Over the Rainbow   DD  z z  A A zz      piano (soft)   arco repeat  

               Uptown girl     forte pizz on D       watch me

               We will Rock You   on low A (1 down on G string )

Team B    Dance of the Hours        pizz  on D

                Ardnacrusha Monkey     Scale on A 

                Marines Hymn                D    D   D   D  x2    G  D   G  D    D   D   D  D    Down Bow  Retakes

                Mo Gile Mear                 Boys D   Girls   G     Down Up 

                Irelands Call                    retakes on D  forte  

              

 

We remember John  Barry composer of the music for lots of films  including James Bond who passed away this week Listen to his best known James Bond themes on the clip on this site .  What instrument is playing the theme ?   Any guesses ?

Check out this link for a story about St Brigid and music

http://www.libraryireland.com/LegendaryFictionsIrishCelts/V-13-1.php 

What the pupils are saying......

1.  "Swinging strings is an enjoyable project in Ennis National School. 
Every Wednesday morning we have a practice and we learn lots
of things from songs to pizzicato (playing by plucking) and
how to use our bow.
The teacher's name is Miss Desmond. She is a nice lady 
Two weeks ago we listened to some music by Vivaldi.
We also listened to some rock music. The name of the song
was We Will Rock You. Then we played along!
It is amazing and I enjoy doing it.
On Monday Miss Desmond calls in to see us and
gives us a sneak peak at what we will do during our next lesson.
Thank you for reading this.

By NAOMI OBADEYI

 2. "In Ennis National School we have a kind visitor.

Her name is Miss Desmond and she is the violin teacher
we learn pitsacoto and bowing. It's not just classical, it's fun!
I really look forward to Wednesday.
It is only  for fourth class so I feel very special.
Its great craic.Just before Hallowe'en we listened to some scary music and I loved it."

By Rían Corey

3. "In  Ennis National School we are having violin lessons.

Our teacher is called Miss Desmond. Every wednesday we have our lessons. We learn pitsicato which is playing by plucking the strings with your fingers. Recently we have started using our bows.

All the classes are having a big show at the end of the year for the whole school. My favorite song is 'We will rock you'.

 learned how to stand;you have to position your feet like a butterfly's wings. We learned rest position & playing position. .

4th classes only are playing. We do not have to pay for violins.

We get 30 violin lessons altogether.It is a fun break from work.

It is a very enjoyable project for all the class.

It's not just classical, its groovy music too!

By Zoe Kayla Brigdale Age: 9
Teacher:Miss Spring