Serenading Santa

I  met Santa at the Monument in O Connell St when he visited Ennis last week and of course I took the opportunity to tell him that the boys and girls at Swinging Strings have been very good indeed. He was sorry to have missed the concert but I played him a tune

Swinging Strings Debut performance at Ennis NS Hall

4th class perform Foxtrot from Little Suite by Peter Martin  at debut concert .  Director Cathy Desmond  Backing Track prepared by Michael Hennessy

Photos Swinging Strings debut

Review Debut Swinging Strings at Ennis NS Hall

SWINGING STRINGS’ CONCERT

Thursday, 16 December 2010 01:41

THE ‘SWINGING STRINGS’ CONCERT The Fourth Class students of Ennis N.S. packed the School Hall to capacity to put on a show-stopping ‘Swinging Strings’ Concert on Wednesday, December 15th. Parents and grandparents alike clapped loudly in admiration for the many melodious musical moments during a wonderful performance under the able and enthusiastic conductor/director Cathy Desmond.  This memorable production showed that it had been worth the arduous practices over the past number of weeks. It was more like being invited to a performance at the National Concert Hall in Dublin or -closer to home- at the University Concert Hall in Limerick. The best part of all is that everyone can do it - given the opportunity. The teachers and parents feel very proud of the musical achievements of our Fourth Class students. The School Band accompanied the 'Swinging String' musicians to support the show. If you can spot an adult or two performing with the students, you are not seeing things! Yes, there were one or two teachers or teaching assistants ‘swinging strings’ also! Two very young star performers were spotted in Wednesday’s Concert. The talented sisters pictured below stole the show with their percussion instruments and perfect rhythm. Well done. It was a momentous occasion for all. Thanks to Cathy Desmond, her students, the School Band, all the teachers involved and especially to co-ordinator Mrs de Buitléir.

 

Swinging Strings Debut performance at Ennis National School Hall

The Swinging Strings Violin Ensemble                

The 4^th classes at Ennis National School   in their inaugural performance at

             12 pm Wednesday 15^th December.

With director Cathy Desmond  and Ennis National School Band, director Mrs De Buitleir  and  class teachers Mr Dara Blake, Eamonn Corry and Ms. Elizabeth Spring

Programme         

Mr Corry’s Class    O Come All Ye Faithful

                                Away In A Manger   

                                Rudolph Retakes  featuring Frank on Bass

                                Leader Leah

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

Ms Springs Class    Toreadors March    Bizet   

                                We Will Rock You Queen  

                                Fox Trot 

                                Leader Naomi                

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

Mr Blake’s Class     Good King Wenceslas   (quavers on  G and G’)

                                Crescendo and decrescendo tremolo

                                Finale Jingle Bells (Down Up Bells )    featuring Patrick on bass                 

                                Leader Raphael

                               *****************************************♫

The Swinging Strings programme; The aim of this project is to deliver an inclusive group music making experience through whole class participation in an instrumental music programme. It aims to widen access to the Ennis National School Band and enhance our effective delivery of the Primary School Arts Curriculum Over 80 students and their teachers are participating.

Check out the project’s dedicated website www.swingingstrings.blogspot.com which contains some great photos, regular updates  on the programme and  videos clips etc.

For further information  email;   cdstringschool@gmail.com

Acknowledgements:  Thanks to the Clare County Council Arts Office for its   support from the Artist in Residence Scheme  and to those who donated instruments including the Flanagan, McEnnis and Hobbs families, and Custy’s Music  Shop in Ennis

Well done 4th classes and Ms Spring, Mr Blake and MrCorry . Great concert today!  The house band were brilliant . Congrats to director, MsDe Buitléir 

The Swinging Strings Violin Ensemble   

Over 100 students were involved in today's performance

Swinging Strings Debut Performance

Invitation

Family and Friends are invited to the debut performance of the
 Swinging Strings Violin Project . It will showcase the skills 90 students and teachers of 4th class

Guest artists  The Ennis National School House Band

Time   12.00      Date Wednesday 15th December

Venue   Ennis National School Hall 

Final rehearsals at Ennis NS

Santa would have a job getting this down the chimney

All set to rehearse



The splendid Ennis NS crib . Well done Ger Philpott



 







Bass Player





Violin Line Waiting to play

Well done everyone,  the final rehearsal in the hall although organised at short notice went very well .  See last weeks post for draft programme . We will practice spoken links next Wednesday before the concert .  I am really looking forward to our first performance  after  ten weeks of lessons. You have made great progress! I called to see Mr. Corry's class yesterday to practice the Rudolph Retakes and rehearse the double bass solo .  It's looking good !

Farewell to 3 model students

Last lesson for Mr Darmody  Mr. Corbett, Mr Moloney

Father Liam pops in for a listen

Checking Out Anything Goes Orchestra & Music





Some of the pupils check out the music and the ochestra pit at Colaiste Muire's school show Anything Goes.

A 

Preparing to put on a show

Our  Project Manager, Ms De Buitleir  had arranged for the group to rehearse in the hall and  Mr Corry's  and Mr Blakes's classes rehearsed their programme with the house band.  Raphael and Leah were leaders today; Patrick and Frank played bass . Everything went very smoothly and we are well on the way to being ready for our debut .

Draft programme: Mr Corry   O Come All Ye Faithful   Pizz open string G,
                                             Away in a Manger broken chords,
                                             Rudolph Retakes  Retakes on D and A    accompanied by House Band

Mr Blake     Tremelo Prelude to When a Child is Born
                     Jingle Bells   Down Up Bells
                    Good King Wenceslas     quavers on G Boys on 3rd finger on D

Ms Spring     We Will Rock You 
                     Toredors 
                     Fox Trot       

Anything Goes, a musical by Cole Porter. continues at Danlann, Colaiste Muire . Check out the clip. What other clip features music by this composer? . Where was he from?
check out http://www.classicsforkids.com/  for more information about this songwriter