All posts by Chris K

Fwd: [Campaigns] How can we bring back music groups?

Lins Emails
Hi All FYI

Lin

From: “Making Music” <info@makingmusic.org.uk>
Date: 14 July 2020 at 19:25:20 BST
To: Lin Kellaway <lin.j.kellaway@ntlworld.com>
Subject: [Campaigns] How can we bring back music groups?
Reply-To: “Making Music” <info@makingmusic.org.uk>

 
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How can we bring back music groups?

The UK government has now issued guidance on reopening the performing arts.

The guidance prohibits amateur groups or groups with amateur participants – unlike professionals – to play or sing together, except in the numbers of people currently allowed to meet in public. 

It goes further to say that singing and playing wind and brass instruments isn’t even allowed in those numbers.

The guidance (England only) will only be reviewed when the results of just commissioned research into droplet and aerosol transmission of Covid-19 are available. The devolved administrations are expected to issue similar guidance shortly (Wales: this week, Scotland: next two weeks, NI: n/a).

This is disappointing, as many of us were looking forward to meeting again, even with strict risk management measures, and were already hard at work creating a new normal, just as pubs, hairdressers and gyms are doing.

It is also surprising that there is no explanation why amateurs are being treated differently to professionals in this guidance.

What can you do?

Write to your MP

Ask the government to allow leisure-time music groups to be subject to the same rules as the professionals by writing to your MP.

In the devolved nations no guidance has yet been issued, so you may be able to influence what it looks like. Write to your MSP, MS or AM.

We have put together some statistics and arguments to help you write your own letter, which is more effective than using a standard template.

Join the campaign

Join the campaign: #BringBackMyChoir #BringBackMyBand and share this video on social media, in emails, on your websites.

You can also take a photo of yourself with the hashtag (see above!) and post it on social media, tagging your MP, MSP, MS, AM and Making Music.

An important note!

It is entirely up to you if you get involved. We hope we are giving you the right tools to make your voice heard, if you wish to do so.

Safety is paramount, for your group members, for the population. This campaign is not suggesting groups should get back together, if they don’t feel it is for them or when it isn’t safe.

But it is about:

  • opening up that possibility for those who can and want to
  • allowing you to risk assess your own group’s situation and taking decisions based on that, something you are all used to doing.

Please share this email with anyone you think may wish to join in.

Best of luck

Barbara Eifler
Chief Executive, Making Music

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Making Music

8 Holyrood Street
London, SE1 2EL
United Kingdom

020 7939 6030
info@makingmusic.org.uk
www.makingmusic.org.uk
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All I Ask of You

Lins Emails

Hi All
How you getting on with you video? I have to be honest I haven’t done mine yet.
I think some people are getting a bit worried about this, it is not compulsory and is just for your own enjoyment if you want to join in.
So if you are having any problems with any of it, the singing, the recording, needing to have you hair done before people can see you on film, the sending it on, or just the time. Please don’t worry it is just a bit of fun for those that want to participate.
Do have a look at it though and learn your parts, one day WE WILL sing it but not unfortunately this week-end, which would have been our Golden Summer Spectacular. By the way don’t expect another concert video sent to you this week end, I suggest you all make yourselves afternoon tea and put on the radio!!
Lin

Sent from my iPad

Week 17 ZOOM Call this week. SAME DAY THURSDAY 9th JULY DIFFERENT TIME 8.00 PM DIFFERENT LINK. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81112693618?pwd=K09KbjV0dUVocFRiTW1ZTEFkZFFudz09

Lins Emails
Hi All

Week 17 and who would believe it I haven’t got much to say!!!  No Birthdays so no pictures.  Just the excitement of the zoom call tomorrow which I told you all about on Tuesday.  But have repeated at the bottom.  Please note it is a DIFFERENT log in 
We are still looking for people for the Committee so please send Eric your nominations, if you can’t find anyone to nominate you and are interested in joining the team let me know and we will happily nominate you.  

Election of New Music Maker’s Committee – AGM 30th July 2020


Officers and committee members standing for re-election:

Chairperson –         Lin Kellaway

Vice Chairperson – Eric Gerrey   Now standing as Secretary so position vacant

Treasurer –               Sharon Thomas

Secretary – Vacant

Committee members:

Sarah Turl

Margaret Ballard.

– Vacant

– Vacant

– Vacant


Music Librarian –  Vacant


Committee members stepping down and not standing for re-election:

Sandra Farnell, Marg Dunne, Rebecca Williams, Steve Swan

If you nominate someone to go on the committee please make sure they are in agreement, and get them to email to confirm that they are willing to stand, and also an email from the proposer , to the following email address:  ericgerrey@aol.com, and one of the Committee will second the nomination.


Candidate&Position

Proposer

Seconder

Eric Gerrey -Secretary

Lin Kellaway

Sarah Turl

Louise Staniforth –

Committee Member

Sarah Turl

Lin Kellaway

Jerry Gamble – 

Committee Member

Steve Swan

Eric Gerrey

Tony Jardine –

Music Librarian

Hilary Green

Lin Kellaway
















                                                      image1.jpeg

DIFFERENT TIME 8.00 PM

DIFFERENT LINK.             
DIFFERENT TIMINGS APPROX 45MIN

DIFFERENT FORMAT :-

This is an experiment we are going to rehearse ‘ALL I ASK OF YOU’.

We are going to try to get all of the men in one breakout room and the ladies in another.  Chris will run through the men’s parts and Lillian will run through the ladies parts.

Before then could you try out  the links. Try the rehearsal one and your part Alto, Bass etc.  If you have any specific problems let me know before hand and Lillian/Chris can go through them for you.

All I Ask of You Rehearsal: https://youtu.be/Lzkgb2AppGM
All I Ask of You Performance Backing Track: https://youtu.be/Tcpjok9Jqyo
Just Soprano & Alto: https://youtu.be/8UHHnb_tRbo
Just Tenor & Bass: https://youtu.be/0bNoIfRdZNE

It would be great to see as many of you as possible.  Can’t wait to see you all.

As I said in my letter last week if anyone is having problems with Zoom let me know and Eric will do a one to one practise with you.

Keeeeeep Singing that’s all I ask of you!!!!

Lin

CHANGES TO ZOOM THIS WEEK

Lins Emails
Hi All

SAME DAY THURSDAY 19TH JULY
DIFFERENT TIME 8.00 PM

DIFFERENT LINK.             
DIFFERENT TIMINGS APPROX 45MIN

DIFFERENT FORMAT :-

This is an experiment we are going to rehearse ‘ALL I ASK OF YOU’.
We are going to try to get all of the men in one breakout room and the ladies in another.  Chris will run through the men’s parts and Lillian will run through the ladies parts.
Before then could you try out  the links. Try the rehearsal one and your part Alto, Bass etc.  If you have any specific problems let me know before hand and Lillian/Chris can go through them for you.
All I Ask of You Rehearsal: https://youtu.be/Lzkgb2AppGM
All I Ask of You Performance Backing Track: https://youtu.be/Tcpjok9Jqyo
Just Soprano & Alto: https://youtu.be/8UHHnb_tRbo
Just Tenor & Bass: https://youtu.be/0bNoIfRdZNE
It would be great to see as many of you as possible.  Can’t wait to see you all.
As I said in my letter last week if anyone is having problems with Zoom let me know and Eric will do a one to one practise with you.
Keeeeeep Singing that’s all I ask of you!!!!
Lin

Sent from my iPad

WEEK 16 + ZOOM MEETING WEEK 16+ 7.15pm THIS WEEK https://us04web.zoom.us/j/667379474. Password Gold

Lins Emails

Hi All

So nobody noticed that it was only week 15 last week and not 16?  Perhaps time is flying when you are enjoying yourselves, or that you have just lost track of time.  Can you believe that it is July 1st another month gone!!

We don’t have any birthdays this week and due to an email malfunction Diane didn’t get hers until today, she thanked us for her birthday wishes and the lovely photograph and can’t believe that she has been married to Tom for 19 years. Neither can we Diane! How did you put up with him that long??  Love you really Tom xx


Can I remind you about the AGM on the 30th July 7.30pm.  There are some vacancies on the Committee.  If you could send an email to Eric if you would like to be nominated and if you have someone to nominate you please get them to email as well. To save having too many emails and people involved one of the Committee Members will be the seconder.  

Election of New Music Maker’s Committee – AGM 23rd July 2020

Officers and committee members standing for re-election:

Chairperson – Lin Kellaway

Vice Chairperson – Eric Gerrey

Treasurer – Sharon Thomas

Secretary – Vacant

Committee members:

Sarah Turl

Margaret Ballard.

– Vacant

– Vacant

– Vacant


Music Librarian –  Vacant

Committee members stepping down and not standing for re-election:

Sandra Farnell, Marg Dunne, Rebecca Williams, Steve Swan

If you nominate someone to go on the committee please make sure they are in agreement, and get them to email to confirm that they are willing to stand, and also an email from the proposer , to the following email address:  ericgerrey@aol.com, and one of the Committee will second the nomination.

Candidate&Position

Proposer

Seconder

Eric Gerrey -Secretary

Lin Kellaway

Sarah Turl

Louise Staniforth –

Committee Member

Sarah Turl

Lin Kellaway

                                                      image1.jpeg

The Meeting will be held on Zoom hosted by Eric.  I understand if you have never attempted zoom before it can be very intimidating but once you have done it you will find out how easy it is.  We even had Roy join us last week. He had some tuition from Peter Blake and managed to join us. It was great to see him.  Today Eric and I had a zoom meeting with Tom and Diane. Eric talked them through how to join and what to do and I think (hope) he gained confidence and will be joining us tomorrow 🤞.  Eric has very kindly offered to help anyone that would like a bit of help joining by having a one to one call with them and take them through the procedure.  If you would like to let me know I will pass your details on to Eric so that he can make a convenient time to have a one to one call with you.  

How are you getting on with Lillian and Chris’s tutorials on the Phantom songs.  Aren’t they great!  I particularly liked the SATB one, what clever people singing two voices, conducting and playing the piano all at the same time!!  There are a few discussions on WhatsApp on how to do the video. This is not compulsory but it would be great to have as many as possible joining in.  Lillian and Chris will be on hand next Thursdays Zoom call to answer questions, let me know in advance what they are so that they can be prepared with answers.  
Tomorrow’s Zoom

WEEK 16 +   ZOOM MEETING  WEEK 16+ 7.15pm THIS WEEK                             https://us04web.zoom.us/j/667379474.  Password Gold

Jerry is doing a quiz of 20 questions.  I tricked him into sending me the answers so if anyone would like to make a donation to my bank account I will send them to you!!  I haven’t read them yet 😆 
The songs of choice will be. You Raise Me Up, Can you Feel the Love Tonight?
And At Last, you should have all of these pieces of music in your Library at home. 

Lin

Sent from my iPad

Fwd: Correct YT Links for All I Ask of You

Lins Emails
Hi All

We had a zoom Music Committee Meeting today and are continuing to look at how we move forward, but although restrictions are relaxing, government guidelines still prohibit group singing, even outdoors. We are however keeping up to date with all of the information out there so that we are ready to do something as soon as it is safe and allowed.  
But for now Chris and Lillian have come up with a brilliant idea. Below are links to the song  ‘All I ask of You’, and “Music of the Night” which we would have been rehearsing now in preparation for our Golden Summer Spectacular.
We are hoping that this is something that we will be able to use in September if we can’t  go back to singing together.   If you can look at ‘All I ask of you’ before Thursday 9th July we can have a practise Zoom rehearsal of the song to see how it can work.  Before then if there are particular bits  that you are struggling with email me what the problem is and the bar numbers and we will try to cover them on the Zoom Rehearsal.  This will be useful to plan the evening. 
The links can also be accessed via the members page of the Website.
Lillian would also like to make a virtual choir recording and has given hints on how to do this.  This is not compulsory but could be great fun to do, maybe you will have more confidence after our zoom rehearsal.  If you do record yourself you can use your music but make sure it doesn’t cover your face.
If you have any questions about recording pop them in an email to me and we can discuss these at the rehearsal as well.
Have Fun!!!!  
Notes and YouTube’s from Lillian:-
If you are able to, please watch the rehearsal video and sing along. Then, listen and sing along with your part. After you feel comfortable with the notes, see if you can sing along with the Performance Backing Track video and record yourself!

Here is the New Music Makers’ Playlist of videos I’ve made: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvjwwNZmolrKDoWtL_5Mb6nthhBoe2ONe
All I Ask of You Rehearsal: https://youtu.be/Lzkgb2AppGM
All I Ask of You Performance Backing Track: https://youtu.be/Tcpjok9Jqyo
Just Soprano & Alto: https://youtu.be/8UHHnb_tRbo
Just Tenor & Bass: https://youtu.be/0bNoIfRdZNE

After you’ve recorded yourself, you can send them to me (lillian.sediles@gmail.com) using the website: wetransfer.com
Some tips for creating your own video:
  • Please set your camera running before you press play on the music and sing along to it.
  • Please wear earphones with video in so that your microphone just picks up you. (Ideally earphones – not massive headphones)
  • Please stand still for a few seconds after Chris has finished before stopping the tape, rather than as soon as you have stopped singing.

  1. Which room should I film in? Please be in a room with soft furnishings (i.e. living room rather than kitchen), as this helps with sound recording. It helps if your background is at least slightly different to your skin tone. Please consider whether there is anything distracting in your backdrop, eg flags, reflective surfaces, personal pictures, posters etc (a blank background may be your best, safe option – having said that, a few homely touches are nice!). There are too many issues with noise outside so please stay inside. 

  2. What should I film with? Use a mobile phone, rather than a webcam, as the cameras are generally superior. A DSLR or camcorder will generally be even better.

  3. Which way round? Generally please shoot landscape.

  4. What about lighting? You probably need more light than you think you need. Natural light is good! Ideally make sure natural light is coming from behind the camera roughly 45 degrees to the line between you and the camera (ie not behind you). One tip: try having the camera on the window sill and face the window. If you have to just use artificial light, try to use whiter lights rather than warmer (orange) lights. 

  5. Where should I put the camera? Please make sure you are not holding the camera – either use a tripod, or try putting it on some books / a steady surface. If you visualise the screen as three vertical sections, your eye-line should be approximately a third of the way down the image. If you are standing (as you normally will be) please shoot from approximately the waist up. Have the camera horizontal to your eyes – don’t peer down into it. You may find this video helpful.

  6. Where do I send it? This link. To my email address (lillian.sediles@gmail.com) Please give the files names which describe them eg. the name of the song and your name.

All the Best,
Lillian


Fwd: Notification from Making Music

Lins Emails
Hi 

Not sure if I sent this out 3 months ago?  But just in case anyone is interested for this one.

My name is Laurie Denman, and I wrote to you three months ago using the Making Music website Contact Form to let you know about an exciting, new online choir programme, Carry On Singing, inviting you to share it with your members.

We’ve just finished our first 10 Week Programme, with over 100 singers from across the world coming together to explore new techniques and learn and perform new repertoire, and I’m really pleased with the results – you can check out one of our Virtual Choir Performances here:

https://youtu.be/XkdCpSIM3As

I originally set up Carry On Singing as a means of supporting people not getting their regular ‘fix’ from church choirs, choral societies and other music groups, giving them an outlet for their love for music, and bringing people together through the power of song. With the performing arts still firmly closed, and currently no way forward, it’s clear that we will have to wait a little longer for normal service to resume.

So, I’m very excited to share that we will be starting our next 10 Week Online Programme on Friday 3rd July 2020, and, as well as welcoming back many of our founding members, it’d be great to see some new faces (and voices!).

I would again be really grateful if you could please share the below information with your members – even, if it’s just by forwarding this message – plus, it’s a great way of ensuring your group remain in fine voice, and raring to go when rehearsals start again!

Thank you again – with your help, we can cut through the chaos of Coronavirus, embrace the magic of music, and, of course, put the sing in social distanc-sing.

Laurie
www.carryonsinging.com

—

With Carry On Singing, participants will receive rehearsal materials every Friday (starting Friday 3rd July) as we get to know unique arrangements of three songs over a 10 week programme.

In your own time, and from the comfort of your own home, you’ll discover entertaining warmups and fun, useful exercises, before being guided through each vocal part with step-by-step video tuition. At the end of the programme, you’ll then be invited to record your part (either audio or video) to be compiled in a Virtual Choir Concert recording that you can share with your friends and family – all for the price of just one singing lesson!

Take a look at one of our Virtual Choir Performances sung by some of our previous members here: https://youtu.be/XkdCpSIM3As

If you’re interested and want to find out more, please visit: www.carryonsinging.com