Summer School Courses Synopsis 2012

Subject to amendment

(A)   Brass Band. All brass instruments will be welcome and music will be chosen according to those instrumentalists taking part.

(B) Ceilidh Instrumental work This session is for instrumentalists who wish to prepare for the playing in the social evening Ceilidh sessions.

(C) Chamber Music Music for small ENSEMBLES OF WIND and/or strings with one player to a part. Previous chamber music experience is not essential, students should be at least grade 3 standard on their instruments.

(D) Composition Material for both beginners and advanced (composers with some experience) will be sent to those opting for this course. An option you can take is where you are invited to bring with you a short piece of a poem or prose of your own choice. It could even be based upon a topical event in the period leading up to the Summer School. This you would then put to music and bring with you to the course. The other material already mentioned will be sent to you, and will include a piece to be used by every composition student so that comparisons can be drawn from different approaches to the same piece.

(E) Music Theory made different. This course will not help you to pass Grade 5 Theory, but it may help you to read music more easily. The course will examine music theory and the thinking behind it from the point of view of a mildly eccentric tutor, who learnt his theory the hard way as an adult. You will not need paper, but you will need open ears for the element of aural training on the course.

(F) Folk Course The 2012 folk group will explore various aspects of folk music – with the participation of the members; this will include sessions on:-

 Historical background (eg, social and ritual aspects)
 Music associated with work (to include writing a song concerning work)
 Response and accompaniment
 Folk dance music (to include writing a new dance)
 The importance of keeping 'Folk' alive

However, this will be a ‘flexible’ course as folk topics have a habit of wandering. This course will also be linked to the guitar picking course.

(G) Guitar fingerpicking. Simple and beyond. This in the ethos of the WMA members working together to enhance each other’s learning. Our learning will be as a result of a co-operative approach. Being able to read music will not be absolutely necessary, but obviously will be an advantage in understanding matters better. People wishing to take part should be able to finger a few chords.
The object of the workshop is that at the end of the week members will have understood the techniques of these guitar styles and will be able to continue their progress after leaving the Summer School . We will provide information about sources and material to maintain and improve their learning of this style when they leave the course. Members will see archived material. Helpful material and advice will be sent to those opting for this workshop.

(H) Jazz - Modern We will be examining & playing music from the broad range covered by the term 'Jazz', including soloing, composed music and listening to recordings. Theory and technique will also be covered as required, and there will be opportunities for ad hoc performance in the various spaces that Wortley offers.

(I) Jazz - Traditional The course material will be in lead sheets in concert Bb, Eb and bass clef plus chord charts for tunes from the standard trad repertoire.
Course members will be invited to bring tunes of their own choice. The aim of the course is to form a trad band so that members can improve their own individual playing, ensemble work and improvisation. They should be ready to participate in at least one performance for fellow Summer School students. There will be other opportunities throughout the School to ‘strut your stuff’! 

(J) Light Orchestra (With strings Tutor) This course provides experience of playing in a small light orchestra with varied repertoire. Woodwind and brass players are invited to enrol.

(K) Opera
This year in the Opera sessions we shall be rehearsing scenes from The Beggar's Opera, John Gay's 1728 satire on the contemporary operatic conventions and society in general. The songs make use of the popular tunes of the day and the chosen excerpts include plenty of opportunities for solo and choral singing. I shall enjoy welcoming anyone who wants to try opera for the first time and I hope that students who have had fun with this course in the past will want to join us again this year.
Students who would like to take part but would prefer not to sing solo will also be most welcome to join us.

(L) Sight Singing For singers, both solo and choral, and composers (to enable them to write down accurately music which comes into their head) and students who will be taking exams which might require sight-singing. This course is an introduction to sight-singing, affording students a method of learning to sing from sight which they can take away and practise.

(M) Solo Singing The Solo Singing course will provide an opportunity for singers to perform and discuss repertoire in an informal workshop and masterclass type of atmosphere.

(N) Public Singing for the Terrified - Solo Singing Workshop (Singing performance class) This class is to provide an opportunity for singers to perform for each other in a friendly environment and to have a forum for (positive) comments from fellow singers. As the emphasis is on performance; songs must be sung from MEMORY. Learning by heart is the starting point, not the finish.

(O) String Orchestra. Playing a wide repertoire. All violins, violas, cellos and double basses welcome.

(P) Summer School Chorus. All Students are encouraged to jon this. It is intended that some of the music will reflect the ideals of the WMA. whilst at the same time the material willbe giving a variety of themes and requiring a range of musical skills. Music will be available at the school for hire

(Q)English Soul Music Over the centuries some composers have been really expressive of the English soul. This course will look at the lives and music of Byrd, Purcell, Handel, Elgar and Taverner; composers who in different centuries have written great music that is also distinctly English. Both live and recorded music will be played.

(R) Woodwind Ensemble. Music for groups of woodwind instruments. The tutor will bring a wide variety of music.

Recorder Group If you enjoy playing a recorder (or more than one key), join the group that meets just after breakfast, for some 'ad hoc' and informal blowing. If you have a favourite score, bring that along for us to share. Always fun, suits beginners and those who just love playing. Gives a chance to re-learn a rusty skill.

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Timetable of Course Sessions 11th to 17th August 2012.

There are six sessions in a day. You are allowed to follow any number of courses as long as they do not clash.

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