Welcome To the Swinging Strings Blog

The Swinging Strings Project would like to welcome pupils, parents and all interested parties to our website. This blog tracks the progress of 80+ children (and their teachers!) as they learn the violin. It is intended to act as a resource for the pupils as they progress and act as an information point for parents, teachers etc.

The project is delivered on an inclusive basis and links to the Irish Primary Music Curriculum. This means that ALL students particpate irrespective of musical backgrounds. It is believed that it is the one of biggest inclusive projects of its kind in the country. Have a look around and learn all about our violin project. Our cover photo was taken by award winning press photographer, John Kelly.
Comments are welcomed Social Media Awards - Nominated badge


Thank you

Cathy Desmond

Friday, March 22, 2013

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 



Real pros Waiting patiently to start.


Smiley Faces on Bus Home





Friday, March 15, 2013

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   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 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 DD 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 
      


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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





Thursday, March 7, 2013

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