Dove Ploughams etc. cancelled

Unfortunately, owing to poor weather, the Pimms, Ploughmans and Music event at The Dove, this afternoon been cancelled.

The Dove itself, however, is open as usual…!

Music for a Summer’s Day

There’s a range of musical events taking place up at the University of Kent next week, in a five-day festival celebrating the end of the academic year.

Summer Music starts Wednesday 6 June with a free lunchtime concert from some of the Music Scholars at the Gulbenkian Theatre; later in the evening the Big Band Gala will include special guests, the Simon Bates Quartet.

Thursday lunchtime sees the Sirocco Ensemble and Brass Group in a free lunchtime concert on the University Labyrinth, overlooking the city; bring a picnic!

On Friday, two choirs present a concert at St Mildred’s Church, Canterbury, in praise of the Virgin Mary, whilst the University Music Theatre Society tell us ‘There’s No Business Like Show-Business!’ at the Gulbenkian Theatre on Saturday night.

The festival concludes on Sunday 10 June in the annual Music Society summer afternoon concert, complete with cream teas, flag-waving to rousing Elgar, and balloons!

Visit the What’s On page for all the details; something for everyone.

Festival of contemporary music in Canterbury: Sounds New starts this Friday

Canterbury’s very own festival of contemporary music, Sounds New, bursts into life starting this Friday, on 4 May.

‘Theme GB’ celebrates the best of British music and musicians, with a range of renowned national and international performers, including the London Sinfonietta and the King’s Singers, performing a feast of new music at various venues in and around Canterbury until Tuesday 15 May.

For jazz enthusiasts, British jazz giant Julian Joseph will be appearing at the Gulbenkian Theatre, as will the BBC Big Band together with Norma Winstone and Mike Gibbs.

There’s a host of free events for children, including Worldwide Mothers’ Day celebrations at the Gulbenkian on Sunday 13 May, with free art, music, dance, drama and more throughout the day. A range of educational concerts, ‘All for One,’ will introduce new music and extended instrumental techniques to children across a series of three events. Other free events include lunchtime concerts, a poetry workshop, and more.

Children under the age of sixteen can attend any concert absolutely free (provided they are accompanied by a paying adult); a chance for young people to engage with new music, and perhaps be inspired to become the performers, composers and audiences of tomorrow!

Full details about the festival on the Sounds New website here.

Music to your ears…

Ofsted report damns one in five schools as ‘inadequate for music’

A new report from Ofsted declares that a fifth of schools is providing an inadequate music education.

A damning report, as indicated yesterday in Music Teacher magazine,  also states that there is not enough emphasis on practical music-making in sessions, and that there is a ‘scarcity of good vocal work in secondary schools.’

Amidst a litany of depressing statements, detailing the failures and short-comings Inspectors found in their assesment of music in schools across the country,  one terse fact rings out:

Too often, inspectors simply did not see enough music in music lessons.

Read the report in full here.

Music for a Summer’s Day: Classic Opera at the Village Hall

Sunday 3 July, 4.30pm

Click to enlarge

Featuring mezzo-soprano Michelle Harris and pianist Daniel Harding, together with soprano Julie Gray, Master of Ceremonies Adrian Gray and guests, Classic Opera  presents Music for a Summer’s Day, a programme of popular favourites from operatic and oratorio repertoire, and musical theatre songs.

The concert will be followed by al fresco refreshments on the playing fields: bring a picnic and relax on the grass after the performance.

Tickets £2, family tickets £5, from the Exchange Cafe on Fridays or contact the Forum.

Contemporary Music Festival Canterbury

http://www.canterbury.co.uk/events/Canterbury-Sounds-New-Contemporary-Music-Festival/details/?dms=13&feature=1113&GroupId=1&venue=3033943&easi=true

Music: a secret of longer-lasting youth ?

As reported in The Telegraph yesterday, musical training may help keep you young!

Image credit: Holden Leadership Centre

Researchers claim that musical performers have active memories and intact hearing for longer, as the ability to process and discern sounscapes and deal in patterns, a feature of musicianship, develops the faculties associated with such activities; they should be – as one of the researchers says -  ”sharpened” (no pun intended, I think…!).

The study co-author Dr Nina Kraus, at Northwestern University, in Chicago, said: “Lifelong musical training appears to confer advantages in at least two important functions known to decline with age – memory and the ability to hear speech in noise.”

The writer also claims the findings give additional support to the benefit of musical training giving a knock-on effect in a greater learning ability in the classroom.

Click here to read further.

Singing to your child is beneficial, says research

A new book published by a consultant in neuro-developmental education reveals the benefits of singing to your child every day.

Singing traditional lullabies and nursery rhymes to babies and infants before they learn to speak, is “an essential precursor to later educational success and emotional wellbeing”, argues Blythe in a book [The Genius of Natural Childhood]. “Song is a special type of speech. Lullabies, songs and rhymes of every culture carry the ‘signature’ melodies and inflections of a mother tongue, preparing a child’s ear, voice and brain for language.”

Singing to, and with, your child, can improve their ability to communicate, and moves away from too much emphasis on numeracy and literacy.

Read more in the review in today’s Guardian on-line here.

Saturday Singing Workshop: sign up at the Exchange Cafe!

Mezzo Magic: Michelle Harris

Local mezzo-soprano and singing teacher Michelle Harris will be holding the first of two singing workshops for the local children at Hernhill on Saturday 19 February, from 11.20 am – 12.50pm, at a cost of £3, and will include a range of music from popular tunes to folk songs. No experience necessary, just a willingness to get involved!

The session will also include a drink, snack and a short break.

Results of the children’s fun-filled efforts be included in the Hernhill Merry-Makers’ event which is being planned as well.

Children from six and above welcomed, although if your child is younger, contact Michelle.

If you are interested in bringing your child(ren) along on a Saturday morning to the DCA, there’ll be a sign-up sheet at the Exchange Café this Friday: make sure you add your name  and email address to the list, and Michelle will be in touch shortly with all the details!

Details about a forthcoming dance workshop, to be run on the same basis by Fiona Wilkinson, to follow. Families will need to be a member of the DCA to participate in the workshops for insurance reasons: you can join on the day for  an annual £10 fee.

Michelle would welcome some help at the session from any musically-minded parents who might like to stay and join in, or just serve the snacks….!

Hernhill Merry-Makers next January / February ?

With so many children at the school learning musical instruments and undertaking creative clasess outside the school, a few parents have been discussing the idea of putting on an event next term, in the Village Hall, to celebrate youthful music-making.

The proposed event would include dance, music and drama, and would be a terrific way of show-casing the many artistic avenues the children pursue both inside and outside school. Parental participation also welcome!

The event would be early evening (for children and parents at work the next day!) and an informal, fun opportunity to get together and be creative.

Please sign up below if your children (or you!) would like to be involved: the more, the merrier!