Stringschool Summer Newsletter

     Stringschool Newsletter  May 2013

Summer Concert

Classes conclude next week  5^th June . We will have a play through of our repertoire in room 13 at 3.30 .     in Cahercalla Hospice Family members welcome

Gathering Event

 All members of the class are invited to join the band  for their recital outside the Cathedral 7pm  June 8^th weather permitting. Rehearsals Tuesday after lunch in the hall.

Summer Camp

I am joining the team of Summer Music on the Shannon  for their annual Summer course of classes and concerts . This year classes will be held in Ennis 29^th July to 2^nd August .

Students can sign up for half or whole days  and there is more information on the sheet attached or on their website www.summermusicingalway.com

Email :cdstringschool@gmail.com  Tel 086 1041 626

September

It hasn’t been confirmed at this point if the string programme will run next year .  I will keep you posted. Those of you going on to secondary school might like to pursue a  lesson  in one of the several excellent teaching establishments.  I am happy to recommend a teacher .

Programme Cahercalla    Leave Sharp at 2.45

French Selection 

Twinkle Twinkle  

French Folk Song  Julia Soloist 

Frere Jacques 

American Tunes 

Michael Row the Boat Ashore  Maxym 

Bile Em Cabbage 

Old McDonald    Cayla  and Lucy

Swinging Strings 

Foxtrot
Blues 

German 

Ode to Joy  Luke 

Irish 

Munster Cloak  Katie   A A B B A A B B 

Mo Gile Mear  Ali 

Finale    Tutti 

Jingle Bells 

Twinkle Twinkle Reprise 

Level 2 Concludes

Worksheet 2 

 Task List      Put a tick when you do each task                             S   S  M  T  W Th  F

1 Play Your name  all 4 strings

2 Blues 13

           New Tunes

3 Hot Cross Buns   all 4 strings

4Old Mac  17    a Rhythm only b pizz  fingers down  c arco

5 Beguine  Tr 12

6Bow  River  29

7Twinkle  24 Rhythm Only  Then with fingers down

8Twinkle Variation 19  ┌┐┌┐││  Win=ter time in Rus-sia

Hot Cross Buns

  2  1  0_ 2 1 0_ oooo   llll   2 1 0_    

  F#E D                DDDD     EEEE F#E D

D________________________

Old McDonald   17

                                                 

            3 3 3  0   1 1 0 _  1 1 0 0 3_ _ Repeat

            GGGD    E E D_   B B AA G

     Oo 3 3 3 oo  3 3 3     333333 33333_3_ middle line 

            3 3 3 0   1  1 0    1 1  0  0 3_ _

Frere Jacques

DE F#D x 2               F#G A x2

ABAG F#_D_ x 2      D A D_   x2 

Brass in Class Visit Swinging Strings

 Students on the Swinging Strings programme enjoyed a wonderful workshop with the Brass in Class Team . Mr Daly and Mr Fitzgerald  arrived with a car packed with  all sorts of brass instruments , trumpets cornets, horns and trombones. We especially liked the bright blue p-bone.

They explained how the instruments work. We learned about valves, mouthpieces and bells. We heard a thrilling display of brass playing skills but best of all everyone got to have a go. Even our caretaking staff and our principal! Photos yet to be released but keep an eye on the school website.

Don't forget to watch out for the Ennis Brass Band recruitment announcements in September or call to the Band Room in Ennis Community College on Monday and Wednesdays.

Overheard in the yard on the way home. 'I really want to learn to play the garden hose!'

My only complaint - Mr Daly and Mr Fitzgerald made it look too easy.

Level 2 Begins

15 violins issued to students who have opted for the improvers' module

Work for this week 
Listen to the CD
Play along with the tracks you know
Pizz Twinkle Track 26
Bow the rhythm

Gp 1 Faye Coffey Bowe  (own violin)  Kalum Kerin,  Chloe McHugh
Gp 2  Michael Mongans, Nora Tchadjobo, Sarah Chambers, Maggie Zi Xuan Huang, Elliott Rynne , Bryan Ruane,Alice Cullinane, Ailbhe Doherty
Gp 3Emmanuel Iwalena, Eimear Kilroy, Jessica Ryan, Joyce Nlemoah, Zusanna Marut.

Next session Wednesday 22 May during afternoon.

   

Track Listing 
1 Vivaldi in G          
2 Foxtrot
3 Cross Lake Blues ( D and A ) 
4 Attacama Crossing  (rhythm Wintertime in Russia with string crossing D to A)
5 Chopstixs on D Hopping and Skipping and 
6 Kilfenora Ceili Dancer
7 I stop and you stop 1 
9 I stop and you stop 2 
10 Carnival in Rio
11 Prelude to Carmen
12 Beguine (Samba)
13 Blues
14 Toreadors 
15 Mr Cool
16 Ode to Joy    
17 Old McDonald
18 We Will We Will Rock You
19 Twinkle Variations 
20 Two String Reggae
21 Irelands Call
22 Macchu Piccu Mountain 
23 Scale on A 
24 Scale on D
25 Twinkle Twinkle with violin
26 Twinkle Twinkle with Backing track 
27  Wintertime in Russia Fast 
28 Wintertime in Russia Slow 
29 Bow River 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star  

Twinkle Twinkle.

NEW**
Line 1
D D   A  A     B  B    A_  
0  0     0 0       1  1     0 
G G   F# F#   E  E    D _ 
3   3    2  2     1    1     0

Line 2 

A A   G G   F# F#  E_
0  0    3  3    2   2    1
A A   G G   F# F#  E_
0  0    3 3      2  2    1_

DD    A A   B B   A _
G G  F# F# E  E   D _ 

Level 1 programme concludes

Level 1 concluded with a concert and presentation of certs in the hall  on Wednesday afternoon. We played some of our favourites from the course for the classes of Ms Browne, Ms Moran and Mr Vaughan. All aparticipants were presented with certificates of achievement .
A special thank you to Ms Pilkington for her assistance and also |Ms Moran for being our guest narrotor today.
Our closing number was Mazeltov which means Good wishes . So we say Mazeltov to Swinging Strings 2012/13 .

Next week: Brass in the Class

During the year, I met some adults who were learning violin for first time. Here are three of the class on our final session of term held at the Junction Centre. Ennis .  Bravo Mr Cullinane, Mr Murray and Mrs McQuillan! 'Never too early and rarely too late' to learn an instrument

Second Chance Class on outing to The Junction

Annie's Kilfenora Jig

A little after class jamming with girls from the Walsh Ensemble

Today  we had a music marathon. We looked back over the programme  of  two terms work of string tuition .  Looking forward to presenting a class  for an invited student audience next week.  Bravo to Annie who played the Kilfenora Jig

 Introduction 1     Welcome to our violin class . We have been working hard over the year and we are glad you can join us for our last session. Today we are going to introduce you to some new tunes and instruments.  But first   Feel The Beat Rap

Link 2 Our next piece features the instruments that are low in pitch the cellos and double bass . This backing track is a piece by Vivaldi .He was an Italian composer who wrotes loads of music just for strings

Link 3 Our next piece is called the Toreadors March . A Toreador is a Bullfighter . This piece is played at Munster Rugby Matches sometimes as the players are coming on to the field.

Link 4 Our final pizzicato piece is Foxtrot   Mr Walsh

Link 5 Scales are like musical ladders .  with notes going up and down , one step at a time . Here is a Scale starting on D

Link 6 Our next piece is a samba a dance from Brazil  Mr Corry

Link7  The song Twinkle Twinkle uses the tune of a French folk song

Link 8 Next a story you know well  . In our version we use our violins to add sound effects Three Little Pigs Story

Link 9  Finally Mazeltov  means Good Wishes in Hebrew  the language of the Jewish tradition. You can hear clarinets in the backing track.  A good number for a finale (Fin a_ lay)

Link 10  Tango is a form of dance from Argentina  This one is called La Cumparsita

Cellos today Calum, James, Eimear Basses Jordan, Sean  Leaders Faye


Notices 
Thanks to Ms White for the pics today 

Last session with presentation of certs next week for invited audience  and  

Optional class for improvers starts 15th May 

Mazel tov

Great to be back in Room 12 after a break of a few weeks.  Today we listened to some Klezmer music and played along with a song called Mazel tov . Mr Corry tells me that the phrase features in a song by chart topper will. I .am.

Mr Walsh's class worked on the Three Little Pigs and Ms Walsh began work a musical illustration to Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Next week Annie and Farah Lisa have agreed to play something

Welcome to Ricky a new student inb Mr Corry's Class


Recognise these two Ennis Brass Band members ?

Music Class for  2nd Class

The 'Nash' Ensembles On the Ground at Shannon

Pic courtesy Shannon_Airport via twitter 

Mr Corry's Group

The weather outside was frightful but inside was quite delightful as for a third year in a row , the 80 plus 4th class participants in the Swinging Strings programme headed to the wide expanses of the departure lounge of Shannon Airport for a performance extravaganza . This year it was an exclusively  Nash Event  we joined the choir under Ms Carrigg and the band under Ms de Buitleir for a variety show of song , dance and instrumental items making a combined corps of  160 students, guests and teachers

Our special guests were tenor,  Mr Tony Murray and star of the stage Mr Ken O Shaughnessy who narrated our special retelling of the Three Little Pigs complete with startling sound effects on strings by Ms McMahon's 4th class. MrWalsh's group doubled up on percussion to give an extra oomph to Mr Corry's class rendition  of our string samba.

Narrator Mr O Shaughnessy with Ms McMahon's 4th Class

Mr Walsh

Students loved these cool fridge magnets 

Two Tenors 

After the show, there was a fab  lunch  for everyone upstairs at the Limestone Café  and going home a goody bag for everyone.  We sang all the way there and back . Thanks to Dorothy Quinn and  all at Shannon Airport  for their warm  welcome and hospitality. We had a wonderful and memorable day!



ps This is our third year to return to this wonderful venue as part of our inclusive music endeavour.   Every student at ENS from 4th 5th and 6th class has now participated at this event . You can read my reports from the 2012 and 2011 events here by clicking on the dates.  You can hear some voices from the day on the audioboos below.

Play On Group

Ms McMahon's Group with Suzie 

Mr Walsh's 4th Class

4th Class Mr Wals

BRAVO TUTTI!!

How do you get to Shannon Airport. Practice. Practice Practice ! 

Swinging Strings Programme

Mr Walsh             Scale on D  Joanne  Martin       
                              Twinkle Twinkle   
                              Foxtrot   Peter Martin 
                              Open string riffs Barn Dance Michael Row the Boat Marines' Hymn

Ms McMahon     Three Little Pigs  Sounde Effects including Blues  Peter Martin
                             Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 
                             Riffs Mo Gile Mear, Can Can and Waltzing Mathilde  Tremelo on Goodbye

Mr Corry              Beguine  (Peter  Martin)    with auxiliary percussion from 4th class Mr Walsh
                              Ireland's Call and Amran na bhFiann      
                             You'll Never Walk Alone  Tremelo D 

r 

Real pros Waiting patiently to start.

Smiley Faces on Bus Home

listen to ‘Ens on tour’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Bus home airport’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Tenor Tony Murray  ’ on Audioboo

Shannon Spectacular: Preparations Continue

We squeezed a few extra tutorials in today

Ms McMahon 
Sound Effects Story

One or two small changes  Glissando down on A for That was the end of the big  Bad Wolf'

Band 
School Orchestra Group plus Band  Suzie on Bass

Double Bass Tutorial  Suzie

Mr Walsh 
Twinkle Tutorial  

Proposed Running Order below

Running Order  Shannon School Band Extravaganza

 Swinging Strings in Class Groups

Mr Walsh

 Students in  four lines  Seven in each row smaller students to front .   3 students from after school   group added . In place at beginning

With the Band 

 1 Barn Dance Bows on G   Two short quavers  Ri-ver   Bite the string

 2 Michael Row  Down Bow Retakes on D on Row and Lu   Micahel ROW the Boat ashore all Lu  ia       Repeat Watch the leader for start and finish

 3 Marines Hymn Down Bow Retakes on D    except Line 3 D G D G  Watch me for knee dip to show change of string

Solo

Bows Down Foxtrot pizz 

Scale (on D)

Twinkle   1  Rhythm only  2 Tune

Exit Group 1 quietly  while choir stand  to perform

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

Ms McMahon’s Group line up  

  With Band     1 Waltzing Mathilda  G G zz D D zz   2 Can Can    DDDD zzzz DDDD zzzz

Dancers    rest position

Hollys Tune tbc 

Munster Cloak G D G D Mini  Retakes 

Solo

Three Little Pigs  inc BluesPizz Special class Friday 

With Band 

 May We Never Sing with choir  Watch me Tremelo on D 

Mo Gile Mear Double Stop   Heavy quavers GG z z  or D D z z

Mr Corry 

Into line after choir item

With Band Polkas   1 2 Quavers on G   2 Down Bow Retakes on A   Every second part A A(play) B Play

Solo   

Beguine  

With Band 

  Finale Irelands Call   Retakes on D 

  Amhran na bhFiann as rehearsed 

      

Getting the act together School Ensembles Extravaganza

From the archive Swinging Strings Group 2012  with the School Band 

Mr Walsh  Class
Scale on D
Foxtrot
Twinkle Twinkle Arco

Barn Dance Drone on   G  Down Bow Retakes  G /D.
Part B Flag Wave Motion

Marines Hymn 

Down Bow Retakes

Line 1 D   D   D    D
Line 2 same
Line 3 G   D   G   D
Line 4  D   D  D    D

Michael Row
Down Bow Retakes on D  on ROW and LU

Ms McMahon
Scale on A

Three Little Pigs inc Blues Sound Effects Story


Waltzing Mathilda

G G zz  D D zz  repeat Ending   D D G_

Munster Cloak
G D G D G D D G
"         "     "    D  G

Can Can
Kilfenora  V V on D

Mo Gile Mear
2 groups D and G  Row the Boat riff on chorus flag waving on middle section

Mr Corry

Scale on D and A
(Twinkle)  variation
Beguine

Polka 1
A A B B
A   and B    Quavers G and D  2 gps

Polka 2
A  Down Bow Retakes   Every 2nd bar

Irelands Call
National Anthem
Down Bow retakes  on D  tremelo to finish


Mr Walsh         Foxtrot, Scale on D, Twinkle Twinkle  Rhythm Only
Ms McMahon   Scale on A  Blues and Riffs on Waltzing Matilda  G G zz D D zz
Ms Corry         Rap,  Scale Beguine  Polka Riffs  Ti Ti G and Down Bow Retakes A
                        Irelands Call and Amhran na bhFian

Follow on Gp   Tunes Michael Row,  the Boat Calypso and Munster Cloak
                        Mo Gile Mear Scale and arpeggio.   G and  D
2nd Chancers   Review of term

Fiddle Rap and Violin Drum

 4 rhythms/ 4 strings
It was all about the beat today  at Swinging Strings . We  began with a rap before turning our violins upside down to make drums .  We worked on 4 of our rhythms before bowing them.  Which is your favourite .  Our new rhythm today is Bow River  no 4.  

Rhythm Chart

Mr Walsh Scale on D and Twinkle Foxtrot
Ms McMahon Sound Effects Story 
Mr Corry Beguine and more Twinkle

Violin Rap 
Music Has a steady beat, Can you feel it in your feet]
Hear the music in the band , can you feel it , clap your hands
Now let me show you a clever trick, can you make your fingers click 
No Feel the beat is what I said, can you think it in your head 
    ***********************************************

Open String Notes on Stave

After school Gp
CF, AF, Ma. LF, KO, JP, 

Absent  LD

Arpeggios 

Swinging Strings tunes Foxtrot, Blues, Beguine,

Michael Row, Mo Gile Mear 

Advanced gp Munster Cloak 

2nd Chancers Arpeggios , Essential Elements  page 2 Fainne Geal , rhythm work Twinkle in G 

Getting ready for Shannon

'Marines Hymn
Balloon Bows

D  D D  D  Line 1

D  D  D D  Line 2

G  D  G   D  Line 3

D D   D  D


Notes on Chord of D   D   F #  A         B C A B C D    E   F   G A


                               G  G    B  D
 Munster Cloak

Pizz
 D  G   D   G   D   G    D   G 
 D  G  D    G  D   G    G   D        Watch the ending

What other notes could your use   to fit the chords of G and D

Mo Gile Mear 

Double stopping on G and D together



4th class tunes Foxtrot, Blues,  Twinkle,  Scale on D,  Scale on A 

Improvers 

New Tune Calypso   

Tutti Ode to Joy  French Folk Song  Mo Gile Mear 

Julia Ali Munster Cloak 

Violin   Sound Effects

1Down Retakes       2Up Bow Retakes

3Tremelo   on strings 1, 2 3,4

4Strum   Forward

5Knocking on wood  

6Pizz       descending    rain   EADG

7Pizz ascending  GDAE

8Rock and Roll  bow over all 4 strings

9Bow behind bridge   for squealing

10 wolf theme on Double bass  bowing fast A E A E A E A E tremolo on A  off

11 First Finger glissando

12 Semitone Jaws Theme   01

The three little pigs

1Once there were three little pigs .  (Garry ,   solo pause   watch for signal  two beats  (pizz on G  2Danny solo    Pause)   cue two counts D  pause and

3Arnie solo  pause   ) A
4 Time came for them to leave home and make their own home.    High Ho with strum forward on back beat    

5 The first little pig Gary ( solo 12 G ) began  building his house of straw  pizz ascending  wait for   4 counts              12 counts  GGGG DDDD AAAA EEEE  (Add row by row    Watch for cut off )

6When he finished he sat down and admired his new house .  Rock and Roll Bow  **
7   Then there were three knocks on the door    Wait  three counts    echo  (Knock Knock Knock )

8  Wolf Semitone theme Who’s there . 

Little pig  This is Mr Wolf Let me come in ………Not by the ....

9 So the wolf huffed  follow leader  (tremolo on G  he puffed (tremolo on D and he blew the house
10 down    (up bow  arpeggio   E A D G   lift bow off together    plus bass pizz G D)

11 The second little pig gathered some wood , got out his hammer and nails and began building his house of timber    (Kilfenora Ceili Dancer     some knocking   Knocking     assigned a string each row GGGGGGGG DDDDDDDD AAAAAAAA EEEEEEEE

12 Very soon the house was ready and the little pig sat down admire his work   Rock and Roll  but   ( 13 Knock knock knock)  Guess who !
14 semitone theme  It was the wicked wolf    Little pig let me come in 
15   ( So he huffed    G  tremolo   and puffed  D tremolo   and blew the house of stix in
16 Up bow EADG off and bass pizz).

The last pig took his time . He decided to bulid his house of bricks  Slwly he bulid his house of bricks

 17  Pause down bow retakes     slow  G     G     G   G etc

The third little pig began building his house of bricks. 

18 It started to rain    pizz down  EADG  EADGEADG  
19  but on he went building his house of bricks 

 (Down Bow Retakes   GDAE building up rows)   Tremelo on bass

20  And at last he sat down to look at his lovely house  Rock and Roll

21 but whats this ?   here comes the big bad wolf . (semitone theme)
22 Into the house with him and    cue  bang ( slap ) he shut the door. 
23 Very soon there can   ( Knock Knock Knock ) on tr=the door . Little pig little pig let ,me come in ......

  24    So he huffed tremolo  G

He puffed  tremolo  D  

And he huffed    ####### G again

He puffed      #######   D gradually slow down  but he couldn’t blow the house down

ext he he looked for another way in    34  First finger gliss up he climbed up the chimney 

But quick as a flash  trghe little put a match to the fire   34   Up bow retake

The flames  grew higher  arpeggios    The wolfs cries grew louder    Down bow s on E 

Bow behind bridge tremelo

That was the end of the big bad wolf and the little pigs hads a party before going back to work to rebuild their houses

  Theme song

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

20th Feb Blues All 4 Strings

Focus on Blues today 

Lots of fun with the Level Game 

Lyrics Blues  

Kil rush Road is Straight and Long   D E D E  G G G _s

ChordG ______________________________________

 x2

Hear the cars roar                 A B A B   D E D E 

D_______________________________

Make’s you’re ears sore      D E D E

C7________________________________

Beep  Beep  Beep Beep  Beep z Honk z     G G G G G z D z

Can you do better . Compose your own verse . Best one added to our lyrics

G                                           Dmi

Over to you to write another verse 

After School Group 

Journals 

Goals for week   Concentrate on  learning one new tune  at a time 

                         Repertoire Tunes (tunes you know well)

                         Scale Arpeggio 

Daily Record Write down what you practice - 

Parent Signature 

Baby Slopes
Hot Cross Buns    
Merrily We  Roll Along
Clair de la Lune 
Foxtrot 
Blues 
                   

Blue Run Tunes
Lightly Row
Twinkle  Variations
French Folk Song
Jingle Bells
Ode to Joy
Old McDonald
 Lil Liza Jane

Red Tunes 
Michael Row the Boat
Marines Hymn
Mo Gile Mear
Dawning of the Day
Fanny Power
Polkas
Premiere Waltz

+++++++++++++++++++
Black Run Tunes 
Munster Cloak 
Calypso 
William Tell Overture,
 Simple Gifts 

Tangos and Twinkles

Entrance Music A Tango from| Argentina

Scales   Today we joined up the two halves of the scale to make one big scale all the way from D to D'

Here are the names of the   notes  on D and A strings
                                         
Notes on D string  E        F#^ G
                             1         2   3

Notes on A string  B        C#^ D
                             1          2  3

New 
    Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Line 1
D D   A  A     B  B    A_  
0  0     0 0       1  1     0 
G G   F# F#   E  E    D _ 
3   3    2  2     1    1     0        

Line 2
A A   G G   F# F#  E_
0  0    3  3    2   2    1
A A   G G   F# F#  E_
0  0    3 3      2  2    1_

DD    A A   B B   A _     same as line 1
G G  F# F# E  E   D _ 

Knock on Wood Blues 

   z  x z  x   G G G_   
   z x z  x    z  x z x                For x  Use your  1st finger to knock on wood 

   G G G G G z D z 

2nd Chance 

Bowing Rhythms 

Beguine   Track 11    Good for practicing getting your elbow level right for the four strings.

           G G G G D D D D A A A A E E E E A A A A D D D D G G G G G D A D  Repeat G G G G D D D D A A A A E E E E A A A A D D D D G G G G G z G z 

Beginners Twinkle Improvers New Tune  Fainne Geal an Lae

After School  Class 

New Tune Marine's Hymn 

Marine's Hymn   Click on link here to watch a video of the new tune.

Scale Arpeggio  D Major

An arpeggio is a chord broken up  into single notes

New Tune  Munster Cloak  for advanced group Advanced Tune

Other tunes to practice Mo Gile Mear   Michael Row the Boat (in your book)