Début 2012 5th Dec ENS Halla in pictures

 4th class Mr Walsh 

Play On Group

Mr Corry's Group

Double 

Leader

Bass section

Leader

Matinée Recital in Hall

FANDABIDOSI!!

Well done to all the students of 4th class students . Well done also to the orchestra class .  Bravo to the announcers, the cello and bass players and percussionist. How commanding were those leaders ! Couldn't have done it better myself Nathan, Sean and Emmanuel. Thank you to Mr Walsh,Ms McMahon and Mr Corry for your coopoeration.  Well done to Mrs Hallahan and Mr Murray from our Mams and dads class. The band played splendidly and we had great support from Ms Carrigg on keyboard.

I will be posting some photos as soon as I have them to hand. In the meantime here are the programme notes for today.

Ennis National School proudly presents

   Swinging Strings Ensemble 2012 with Ennis NS Band

 A lunchtime recital  at the Halla  on

Wednesday 5^th  December  11.45am

Programme

Mr Walsh and Class

O Come All you Faithful                trad.    Pizz on G

Toreador’s March from Carmen Bizet    pizz on D and A                  

Joy to the World                             Handel

Good King Wenceslas                   trad

******************************** 

Ms Mc Mahon and  Class

Mary Had a Baby                         trad.

We’re Walking in the Air            Howard Blake

Silent Night                                   Gruber                                             

Foxtrot                                           Peter Martin

**********************************

Orchestra Class 

French Folk Song 

with guests from Second Chance Class Twinkle Twinkle 

Mr Corry and Class  

Away in a Manger  

Irelands’s Call                              Phil Coulter

Ode to Joy                                    Beethoven

Down Up Bells                             Pierpoint

Ennis National School Band directed by Fiona de Buitléir

Swinging Strings directed by Cathy Desmond

The Swinging Strings programme was first commissioned in 2010 by Principal Mr Ray McInerney. It is one of a handful of whole class music tuition projects running in Irish schools.  The project  is coordinated by Mrs Fiona de Buitléir of  Ennis N.S. To date nearly 240 children in Ennis NS have now participated and received  violin tuition  in Ennis NS. The objective is to fulfil the Arts curriculum in tandem with  offering every student the experience of playing in an ensemble and experience all musical genres The programme has expanded this year to include an after school  class offering specialist string tuition as an option for students wishing to continue learning an instrument .  This year the first adult’s class was launched making the  musical activity intergenerational at Ennis NS

Ennis National School Band  was initiated 30 years ago by Sean McDermot.  We are delighted to have several of Sean’s grandchildren playing with the band. We believe that the school is  unique in the scale of collaboration between the fledgling Swinging Strings ensemble and the established school band. The number of pupils participating in the annual Shannonside School Band Spectacular, (an initiative of the school to broaden the playing experience of band members) tripled on the previous years with all 4^th class students participating in the gala occasion at Shannon Airport.

The  Swinging Strings project director, Cathy Desmond  is a  graduate of NUI Maynooth, and holds a Licentiate of Trinity College London. A professional violin and viola player, she has played with a range of ensembles including, the National Youth Orchestra, Limerick Baroque Players and the Corn Barn Players. She was awarded a National Youth Orchestra Achievement Award for her work in establishing a school orchestra in  St Peter’s College Dunboyne.  Cathy was a finalist in the Ennis Chamber Business Excellence Awards 2012

Updates, reports and photographs of the programme are posted regularly on the dedicated web site,  www.swingingstrings.blogspot.com which can also be accessed via www.ennins.ie We encourage parents, guardians, grandparents, and friends  etc, etc to monitor the projects’s  progress on the site and comments are always welcome.

The class kit consists of half size violins and double bass.  We use Stentor 1 instruments as supplied locally by Custy’s. We are always delighted to accept donations of instruments or to discuss sponsorship opportunities.  

The second term of tuition will resume in January 2013 and further exciting performing opportunities are planned in the New Year.

Thinking of buying a violin ? . We recommend Stentor 1 or Primavera student violins supplied  locally  by Custy’s .           Cost €90  to Swinging Strings participants.

Queries: Cathy Desmond at cdstringschool@gmail.com

                 Fiona de Buitléir  info@ennisns.ie

                                 

www.swingingstrings.blogspot.com  

                                        

Invitation     
                           

  Ennis National School  and Stringschool          invite you to the

Christmas  Ensemble Concert

Wednesday 5^th  December  2012  11.45am

    In the  ENS School Hal

**************************************

Participants  

 Swinging Strings 4^th class groups

& Stringschool  Orchestra Class .

Ennis National School Band

Second Chance Class 

Dress Rehearsal /Carols

Mary Had a Baby   Click on this link for BBC School's version  of Mary Had a Baby. They do it slightly differently to our version.


Some carols for you to listen you. See you all for your top and tail rehearsal in the Halla on Wednesday morning . Can't wait!

Perfromance notes in previous post

Leaders Nathan, Emmanuel, Sean

Lend Me a Tenor and Draft Programme

Mr Walsh's  class had a special treat when operatic tenor Tony Murray called to the class and sang a selection of numbers.  We heard a Neapolitan song (from Naples in Italy)  Funniculi Funnicula . 

Mr Murray played the role of Mr Bumble in the Ennis Musical Society production in 2010 and we enjoyed a selection of numbers from Oliver. We even  had a dance from some of the girls. Bravo Mr Murray! Everyone enjoyed the performance .

We learned that opera singers don't use microphones  but 'project' their voices so that amazingly even in large opera houses , they can be heard even in the gods . The highest female voice is the Soprano  We learned that the lowest male voice is the Bass . Here are the human voice types in order of pitch .
Soprano 
Contralto 
Tenor 
Bass 

Count John McCormack

Well known tenors include Luciano Pavarotti , Andrea Bocelli (Ms de Buitléir is a fan) . Dean Power from Clarecastle is a tenor who  sings  in Munich Opera House  in Germany.  The most famous Irish tenor was John McCormack who was one of the biggest musical celebrities of the 20th century and sold millions of records.

            Quiz : What string instrument corresponds to the tenor voice ?
                      What is the highest male voice ?

Draft programme   Concert in two weeks

Mix of pizz arco open strings and first finger  and three fingers down.

Mr Walsh
 1 O Come All You Faithful  pizz open string G   same as Vivaldi G

     l G  G z  z  l G  G  G z l G  G  G  G  l G  G  z  z  l    
O    Come       Faith          Joy               umph

2 Toreador's March             pizz Open D and A

    D D D_ D D A _ x3  lA A A A l A A A D l     Repeat 

4 Joy to the World               Arco   Down Bow Retakes on D Balloon Bows   Watch for end
                                         one verse

                                          Two verses
3Good King Wenceslas       Arco all fingers 1         2 ^3  down on tapes    Quavers  on G'  Tiny bows                                verses  1 High G'  (1  2^3 )
                                        verse  2  Low  G    open string

         
           Leader today Nathan , Cello Annie, Bass Liam      

            **********************************************

Ms McMahon 
Mary Had a Baby        same rhythm as Win ter time in Rus-sia   arco
Basic   open D    )  0   0   0   0     0  0    x3     0       0      0
                              Mar- y     had    a      Bab-y                     Train  Don't Come
Advanced             0 0   0 0   1 2          2    1     0 

               
Walking in the Air
  Ostinato pizz      
Walk          Air        ***Sky                 People     Below  Sleeping    Fly   ____________
 E         E    x3      E        E      E          E     E       E    E     E 
                       f               p                      f            p           f               p         f         p
    
                      Middle section Finger LH drumming on wood
               
                      4321  4321  4321   4321  
Silent Night    
                     Silent     Night     Holy   Night    All    Calm      All          Bright 
                       D   D    D   D    A   A    D    D
               
                      G   G   D   D     G    G   D    D 
                     Round    Vir    Mother  Child     Holy    Infant   Tender  Mild 
          
                     A    A    D    D   D  A    D     D
                    Sleep   Heav         Peace   __          Sleep  Heav   Peace       _

Foxtrot     Arco 

  D D D_  A A A_      D D D_  A A A_
D D D_ D D D_        A A A_  A A  D z
 Cello    Bass Joyce

      *******************************************************   

            After school Group   Twinkle Twinkle and French Folk Song  solo 

***********************************************************
Mr Corry
Away in a Manger   pizz 
GD    GD   GD    D A
D    G    G     G         same 

Ireland's Call  Balloon Bows  Tremelo Arco  

Ode to Joy  Arco 

    D D  z z  AA  zz   Long D to finish   Bow in air
Jingle Bells  
      1    2^3   on D string    Down Up Bells  Ostinato

Dashing through the snow           Stomp
One horse open sleigh                    "
Oer the fields we go                       "
Laughing all the way                      "
Bells on ..ring                                "
Spirits bright                                  "

Get ready bow on string for more  jin -gles


Leader Sean /Maggie  Cello Ailbhe  Bass  Brian

Thanks to Ms de Buitleir and her band trio, Donnacha, Nedin, and Katie on whistle.   Super support today Bravo !

Fiddle High Fives and Changing Chords

Accompanist and Leader Mr Corry's class


Today we began our rehearsals for our forthcoming debut concert .

NEW ***  3 fingers down on D string to make G'
      ^
1     23   (second and third finger close together)


Entrance Music    

<

Not much time today to dwell on our entrance music. Have a look at the video . 

The Blue Danube  is named after a European river and is a waltz by which composer ? . 

Clap along . How many beats in each bar or group?

Three fingers down on D string

Vivaldi in G   

Old Mc Donald   Quaver  G'G'  new note G   1  23   down 

Away in a Manger  Chord Changes G and D    G  G   G   D   D  G   G   

Rock You   Open string A   and low A  First finger on G string 

Cross Lake Blues   String Crossing 

Leader

Leaders David, Zeba,  Norah 

Double bass Players today  included Maggie, Sean, Conor and Liam 

Ailbhe acted as piano accompanist.   We had two people who demonstrated guitar chords (Joyce and Farah- Lisa ) 

Thanks to Mr Enda O Connor for assisting today 

Vivaldi in G and Jigs

Lesson 8
Musical Tasks    Today

Entrance Music Traditional fiddle   JIG   123  456   Which one of the above fits a jig best 



1  Vivaldi in G

Vivaldi in G

   lG G z z l  G G G z I  G G G G I  G G z zI


2 Rock You    Arco    First finger down on G to make low A

3 Cross Lake Blues     D D z z A A zz

4 Rocket Bows   Knuckles pointing skyward

5  Mary Had a baby  0000 0 0    Did you recognize the rhythm   Train done come

6 First finger down on D to make E
    First finger riff
  E E E E D D D D E E E E D D E E




Mr Walsh's class had lot of fun playing along with the dramatic first movement of Winter. I agree with Mr Walsh . Winter is the most dramatic of the four concertos known as the Four Seasons . It is my favourite too.

Can you recognise the rhythm





Leaders  Holly W,  Liam,  Amy   Emmanel,  Hugh
Bass and Cello Arian, Sean, Ruth,   Dana,

Adults Class  Focus on Scales






Orchestra Class  Scales G D A

Tuning Using your adjusters

Beginners Rolling Along, Twinkle, Lightly Row , Jingle Bells

Advanced Silent Night, Jingle Bells
New Mary Had a Baby

Six Musical Tasks to close first half term

We wrapped up our first half term with a busy task list

One from the archive  for the week that is in it 2011 class 

Entrance Music  Prelude from opera Carmen  by Bizet

1 Pizz on G  Old Mc Donald  class A / Vivaldi on G (Class B &C)
2 Toreador's March  pizz.on D and A   'reading the dots'   recognition notes on stave
3 Balloon Bows Ireland's Call    NEW OSTINATO  on percussion  Bass section 
4 Rocket Bows 
5 Rock You  Down Up Bows on A
6 NEW **First finger riff (see below)
7 String Crossing   D D z z A A z z    Elbow down , Elbow Up  (class A and B)

Lots of leaders, bass players, percussion players today.  Percussion, Holly ,Sean, Annie   Leaders Emmanuel*, Brian  Amy  , Bass Ruth, Laoise, Elliot, Sean. Points  Mr C Norah
Did you get one of my new special tokens ?

Elements  featured :   rhythm, pitch pulse, tempo, timbre, dynamics, structure  & patterns , mood,

Instrument families:  Strings,  Brass



  We had singing from choir members and we had a duet ( two parts) * Emmanuel and teacher.


We welcomed trainee teacher Mr Enda O Connor to our class today.

I am looking forward to seeing you all  in the second half  of term.


Drunken Sailor Riff

E E E E D D  D D E E  E E D D E E 

1 1  1  1   0  0   0  0  1 1  1  1 0  0 1 1 

 
Adults We Will Rock You / Blues/ Cross lake Blues   19/13 /3
After school Orchestra Class Scales onG Dand A various rhythms 

Repertoire, Twinkle, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Lightly Row,  Frere Jacques, French Folk Song , 

Rocket Bows and Stave Notes Week 6

Here is what we did today

1 Excerpt   Ode to Joy Beethoven  Tr 17  Rocket Bows We put the tips of our bows on the D string to shoot our bows skywards  to this popular tune by Beethoven .Are your fingers pointing skywards 

2. Down Up Bows  on A to Rock You 

3 We learned how about harmony and how to recognise the change of note in the bass accompaniment to Away in a Manger 

     Here is the pattern  G   G   G   D 
                   D   G   G   G 
4 Rhythm1  
5 Notes on stave We learned about lines and spaces andhow to recognise the notes D and A on the stave . 

6 Finally we played Toreador's March 

Bass Players today Thomas Annie    Leader Jade
                            Jordan Ailbhe
                            Can someone remind me of Ms McMahon's team  

Points Sean for his super in row E for his super rocket bow hand

Brass Bands and Balloon Bows

                Guest musicians from Ennis Brass Band


A very exciting day today as mystery guests from Ennis Brass Band visited all our classes today


 1

   **NEW **Rhythm 2 

               Kil-     fen-      or--    a      Cei      li        Dan  -cer 

These little notes are called quavers  not to be confused with these snacks.



2  Balloon Bows   Irelands Call Track 22

(Ms Mc Mahon's class learned how to make rocket bows as well)


3    We did some  tremolo bows and played our freeze game 

3 Wintertime in Rus-sia   slow Track 30

Mr Walsh's class  moved on to Rock You  14 short  Down Ups on A 

4 Brass family 

James and Thomas were brilliant on their brass instruments. Can you remember what they were called?

Welcoming our adult beginners to Swinging Strings . See you next week 

Inaugural adult class 

Excellent representatives of Ennis Brass Band 

Special mention Emmanel, Annie D Bass, Hannah Mr C and Sean Mr W
  

Week 4 Elephant , Alligator, Donkey, Goat and more Bullfighters

Gort Road Quartet

I spotted this group outside Vaughan's Garden Centre . Can you name all 4 instruments?



Week 4  
1   New Tune Toreadors March  

Here are the notes for our tune today Toreadors March . It is from the opera Carmen. We learned the sign for repeat in music . 

pizzicato
 D D D_ D D A_     x3
A A A A A A A D

Pencil Bow Hands 

Add caption

2 'Train' Bowhands

We did a lot of work on our 'train' bowhand  and tummy grip bowhands

       Driver , passengers, guard (hopping on and off) and engineer

We did a caterpillar exercise with our bows .
We played our V V l l  Wintertime in Rus-sia rhythm on D string (Track 31)





Leaders today Abby, Ben and Nathan   Bravo!

3 Double Bass Strings 

Finally we learned the open strings on the double bass . ( Can you remember what they were. Hint see the title of  this blog post) 

Bass players    Ruth, Annie . Dayna  Boys turn next week
Mr Corry  Bonus pts Brian

One from the archive, Geraldo our double bass  at Shannon 2010

Next week   Balloon Bows  and Brass Bands

Orchestra Class  Scales on G, D and A , beginners  new tune no 22 Lightly Row , Blues

4 rhythms Aon Do Muc is Bo , Wtin Russia, Kilfenora Ceili Dancer , Hopping and Skipping and ,   1 scale a day , one rhythm , Foxtrot, Twinkle 

Advanced group  Mo Gile Mear new tune , Birthday Song   Batman C natural riff , Ode to Joy 

Scary Tremolo and Bullfighters

Pass With Cape  Pablo Picasso

1

Foxtrot 

Track 2

DDD _ AAA_  DDD_ AAA_             

DDD_ DDD_   AAA_ AAD sh  

1 Bow Hold with pencil
2 Scary Tremolo 
3 Foxtrot   2  note tune
4 Bullfighters March   Bizet Toreadors March 
5 Rhythm 1 Wintertime in Russia   V V  l  l
6 Dynmaics! piano  FORTE

Lots of fun in class today .  All classes began with practicing our 'snail'  hands and bunny rabbit bow hand with pencils . At last we put our bows on D string to make a shivery sound called a tremelo . 
Try practicing your bow hold with a pencil . Have you got rabbits teeth and a bent thumb.

Mr Walsh's class worked out their coordinates .

We worked on Foxtrot a tune on D and A middle strings . How did we stop the strings vibrating at the end ?

Finally  we listened to the Bullfighter's March from the opera* Carmen and we learned how to conduct two beats in a  bar (Down Up)   See over on the left for a video of this piece .


We had some excellent cello players today , Laoise, Annie and Michael

          Next week tummy grip bow hands and a new rhythm .


Opera is a story for the stage told completely in music and singing ( No talking bits)

Although Carmen is set in Spain, the composer Bizet is French Find out more about him  at www.classicsforkids.com

After school . Advanced group 4th finger down and D major in 3rd position 
   no 73 and 75 
Beginners group All numbers  to no 20 Essential Elements 
Scale on D to Rhythm 1 
Stringschool numbers 1-5 

Careful with bow hands  Thumb bent and fingers well over 

Pencil Bow Hold and playing along with Vivaldi

Which Season

Today we played pizzicato on D and G
  We learned how to make a pencil bow hold
  We played along with some Vivaldi . What was the name of the piece?  Hint see picture

 We practiced our first rhythm  Miss-is-si-pi Down Up

Guest Spot   We met the trumpet . What family is it a member of ?

                     What are the three buttons called ?
                     What does a trumpet player use to make the notes ?
                                                       

Pizzicato on all strings
       track 18  G Old McDonald
                30  Miss is si pi    Down Up   Rhythm 1   ^ ^  1 1
                26  Twinkle

Leaders Wojciech and Rowan  Excellent !


Play On at NS Ennis  After School Class

Intermediate Group Cayla, Lucy, Luke
Essential Elements  Numbers 2-15  No 19 Rolling Along
 No 73 Rhythm Only  on D string

Advanced Group Julia, Ali, Katie 
New Tune no 73 Buckeye Salute
revise tunes 19, 41-43    70
Goal- 10 tunes by  memory

Next week   Slurs and new finger pattern

Preview Next week focus on Brass 

Preview Next week focus on Brass 

Foxtrot 

Track 2

DDD _ AAA_  DDD_ AAA_             

DDD_ DDD_   AAA_ AAD sh 

Listening Piece 1 Which Season