Introduction

Podcast

• I'm Nic Plum and this is ...6th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

BBC Play It Again TV Series

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order
• BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.
• This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London.
• Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute

Format - last of 3 episodes

• first one dealt with the arrival and settling in
• second one looked at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• in this episode - we talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly.

Setting the background

• - some 200 + members of public taking part playing with BBC Concert Orchestra
• - varying amounts of experience from complete beginners, never having played to experienced
• - set the task of playing part of Bernsteins' West Side Story including an arrangement of "Tonight" appopriately titled "Not Tonight"
• - everyone has been split up into instrument or voice groups and rehearsed separately
• - each musical part split into 4 lines of increasing difficulty so that everyone can still take part

Orchestral Section - All Together

• - each has been rehearsed and the following is the orchestral section minus saxophones, percussion, singers, others
• - can hear each of the 4 lines being played.
• Quite a lot going on - not everyone is playing same line and therefore have to keep keen eye for the direction from Tim Steiner

Breaktime

• Everyone from the separate groups gathers together for refreshments and biscuits. Good opportunity to share experiencess.

Sharps?

• - break time
• - everyone from all the individual groups gets together for tea & biscuits
• - opportunity to chat to find out how it's going

Meeting People

• - provided opportunity to meet other people
• - hear how two previously strangers meet with a view to joining an ensemble

Duelling Banjos

• - hear how the 'Others' group got on
• - playing 'duelling banjos'?
• - how one person took up the banjo

All Together

Introduction in the Hall

• Everyone gathering in the main hall - all 200+ members of public +70-strong BBC Concert Orchestra + BBC singers. Getting ready for rehearsal as a complete ensemble.

Tim Steiners' Welcome

The 'Others'

• guitars- classical, electric, acoustic and at least 2 banjos. We get to here what they've been rehearsing.

Plus Singers

• singers show what they've done in combination with 'The Others'

Sounding Better - All Together

• everyone plays together

Mambo - Reprise

• practising shouting "Mambo" at the opportune time

Total Confusion - Hah!

• Each group has been practising their version of random note playing at the direction of Tim Steiner. Here we see what random really means. For the violas it appears that it's not so random at all...

Singers ...Singing 'Tonight'

• Singers sing the song 'Tonight' from Bernstein's West Side Story

Tonight - The Performance

• The final performance of 'Not Tonight' with all 200+ public plus the BBC Concert Orchestra & singers 

Outro

• Final episode in audio diary of Play It again event.
• If you are within striking range of Huntingdon - we can provide musical tuition & fun whether adult or child.

Feedback welcomed - particularly on this episode and if you've attended a BBC Play It Again event. Send e-mail/audio feedback to humsaloud@googlemail.com

Introduction

Podcast

• I'm Nic Plum and this is ...6th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

BBC Play It Again TV Series

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order
• BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.
• This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London.
• Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute

Format - last of 3 episodes

• first one dealt with the arrival and settling in
• second one looked at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• in this episode - we talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly.

Setting the background

• - some 200 + members of public taking part playing with BBC Concert Orchestra
• - varying amounts of experience from complete beginners, never having played to experienced
• - set the task of playing part of Bernsteins' West Side Story including an arrangement of "Tonight" appopriately titled "Not Tonight"
• - everyone has been split up into instrument or voice groups and rehearsed separately
• - each musical part split into 4 lines of increasing difficulty so that everyone can still take part

Orchestral Section - All Together

• - each has been rehearsed and the following is the orchestral section minus saxophones, percussion, singers, others
• - can hear each of the 4 lines being played.
• Quite a lot going on - not everyone is playing same line and therefore have to keep keen eye for the direction from Tim Steiner

Breaktime

• Everyone from the separate groups gathers together for refreshments and biscuits. Good opportunity to share experiencess.

Sharps?

• - break time
• - everyone from all the individual groups gets together for tea & biscuits
• - opportunity to chat to find out how it's going

Meeting People

• - provided opportunity to meet other people
• - hear how two previously strangers meet with a view to joining an ensemble

Duelling Banjos

• - hear how the 'Others' group got on
• - playing 'duelling banjos'?
• - how one person took up the banjo

All Together

Introduction in the Hall

• Everyone gathering in the main hall - all 200+ members of public +70-strong BBC Concert Orchestra + BBC singers. Getting ready for rehearsal as a complete ensemble.

Tim Steiners' Welcome

The 'Others'

• guitars- classical, electric, acoustic and at least 2 banjos. We get to here what they've been rehearsing.

Plus Singers

• singers show what they've done in combination with 'The Others'

Sounding Better - All Together

• everyone plays together

Mambo - Reprise

• practising shouting "Mambo" at the opportune time

Total Confusion - Hah!

• Each group has been practising their version of random note playing at the direction of Tim Steiner. Here we see what random really means. For the violas it appears that it's not so random at all...

Singers ...Singing 'Tonight'

• Singers sing the song 'Tonight' from Bernstein's West Side Story

Tonight - The Performance

• The final performance of 'Not Tonight' with all 200+ public plus the BBC Concert Orchestra & singers 

Outro

• Final episode in audio diary of Play It again event.
• If you are within striking range of Huntingdon - we can provide musical tuition & fun whether adult or child.

Feedback welcomed - particularly on this episode and if you've attended a BBC Play It Again event. Send e-mail/audio feedback to humsaloud@googlemail.com

This is the same as episode 005 - except that it is a plain MP3 - some folks have trouble with enhanced podcasts 

Introduction

Podcast

• 5th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

BBC Play It Again

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order
• BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.
• This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London - together with over 200 other members of the public.
• Self - tuba (9 months), daughter on flute

Format - second of 3 episodes

• first one dealt with the arrival and settling in
• this one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• third episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete c. 300-strong ensemble.

Setting the background

• - initial introduction to the session complete
• - when signing up participants specified themselves as singing, percussion, instrument, saxophone (clearly not an instrument!) or others
• - others included banjos, classical and electric guitars and anything unclassifiable
• - each of the groups taken to separate parts of the building to rehearse leaving main orchestra and the 'instrument' participants
• - just walked over to the bass section of the BBC Concert Orchestra to meet my 'BBC Friend' - Kevin Morgan together with one other tuba player.

Reasons for taking up the tuba

• - is that a tuner? No it's a recorder
• - originally a euphonium player
• - retirement present

Getting started

• - my 'BBC Friend' - very inclusive
• - 4 lines of increasing difficulty
• - orchestra tuning up
• - it's in bass clef - normally read treble (add 3 sharps - now 4...)
• - trying to find a part

Learning the Signals

• - pick a note, any note
• - responding to different hand signals from conductor
• - louder, softer
• - accented attack note & hold
• - ease into it
• - short note, different (young child in pushchair adds own interpretation!)

4 lines of increasing difficulty

• - need to provide a way of allowing everyone to take part
• - range from complete beginners to experienced
• - musical score for each instrument divided into 4 lines of increasing difficulty from 1 (easiest) to 4 (the full orchestral part)
• - lots of trouble to ensure inclusivity and break down the fear factor

Line 1
- bass section - tubas, trombones, rhythm
- strings & wind
- brass

Line 2
- brass & bass

Line 3
- BBC only
- play what you can

Line 4 - My Lips won't Take any More
- brass - "my lips can't take any more"
- BBC

Outro

• This is the end of episode 2
• Each of the groups has rehearsed separately
• Next and final episode get to talk to some participants in the break to find out how they got on
• Rehearse the 'super orchestra' (almost 300 strong) to the concluding performance

The Huntingdonshire Music School is glad to provide instrument, theory tuition together with playing with ensembles to any child or adult who can get to us!

Introduction

Podcast

• 5th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

BBC Play It Again

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order
• BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.
• This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London - together with over 200 other members of the public.
• Self - tuba (9 months), daughter on flute

Format - second of 3 episodes

• first one dealt with the arrival and settling in
• this one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• third episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete c. 300-strong ensemble.

Setting the background

• - initial introduction to the session complete
• - when signing up participants specified themselves as singing, percussion, instrument, saxophone (clearly not an instrument!) or others
• - others included banjos, classical and electric guitars and anything unclassifiable
• - each of the groups taken to separate parts of the building to rehearse leaving main orchestra and the 'instrument' participants
• - just walked over to the bass section of the BBC Concert Orchestra to meet my 'BBC Friend' - Kevin Morgan together with one other tuba player.

Reasons for taking up the tuba

• - is that a tuner? No it's a recorder
• - originally a euphonium player
• - retirement present

Getting started

• - my 'BBC Friend' - very inclusive
• - 4 lines of increasing difficulty
• - orchestra tuning up
• - it's in bass clef - normally read treble (add 3 sharps - now 4...)
• - trying to find a part

Learning the Signals

• - pick a note, any note
• - responding to different hand signals from conductor
• - louder, softer
• - accented attack note & hold
• - ease into it
• - short note, different (young child in pushchair adds own interpretation!)

4 lines of increasing difficulty

• - need to provide a way of allowing everyone to take part
• - range from complete beginners to experienced
• - musical score for each instrument divided into 4 lines of increasing difficulty from 1 (easiest) to 4 (the full orchestral part)
• - lots of trouble to ensure inclusivity and break down the fear factor

Line 1
- bass section - tubas, trombones, rhythm
- strings & wind
- brass

Line 2
- brass & bass

Line 3
- BBC only
- play what you can

Line 4 - My Lips won't Take any More
- brass - "my lips can't take any more"
- BBC

Outro

• This is the end of episode 2
• Each of the groups has rehearsed separately
• Next and final episode get to talk to some participants in the break to find out how they got on
• Rehearse the 'super orchestra' (almost 300 strong) to the concluding performance

The Huntingdonshire Music School is glad to provide instrument, theory tuition together with playing with ensembles to any child or adult who can get to us!

 This is the same as episode #004 except that it is a plain MP3. Some people have trouble with enhanced podcasts.

Introduction
Podcast

• 4th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series 25th march to 7th May BBC 1
• Jo Brand - piano
• Frank Skinner - banjo
• Aled Jones - rock drummer
• Robert Winston - saxophone
• Diane Abbott - piano
• Bill Oddie - rock guitarist

Took part at exhibitor for HUMS at Comberton event on 13th May
300 participants in each of 2 sessions
Everyone having fun - have a go. Next nearest event at Watford, 50 miles south of home.
Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute
First of 4 sessions over the weekend

Format

• first of 3 episodes
• split into reasonable lengths
• this one deals with the arrival and settling in
• second one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• third episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly.

At the Watford Colosseum - Nic's intro
Initial event introduction/welcoming speech

• BBC Concert Orchestra
• BBC singers
• Peter Hayward - Learning Manager, BBC Concert Orchestra
• Watford Colosseum - home of BBC Concert Orchestra
• Tim Steiner - Creative Director of Play It Again
• Bernstein's West Side Story Overture - played by orchestra (the professionals)
• Relaxed style

much like a camp-fire warm-up
humour

"Mambo"

• vocal part - all join in, not just singers

Tunes to Listen for

• - explanation/demonstration of musical phrases to keep ears peeled for
• - built up
• Musical phrases

trombones
bassoons & basses
"2 notes" - professional
upper strings (3 notes!)
drums
flutes & oboes

• complex whole built from simpler parts - important
• 'Tonight' - for the singers

Not Tonight

• slightly different version. Specially written. Not 'America' either!
• Not many attending actually live in Hertfordshire.

Outro

• next part covers initial practice by participants - orchestral (instrument) group

• 4th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series 25th march to 7th May BBC 1
• Jo Brand - piano
• Frank Skinner - banjo
• Aled Jones - rock drummer
• Robert Winston - saxophone
• Diane Abbott - piano
• Bill Oddie - rock guitarist

Took part at exhibitor for HUMS at Comberton event on 13th May
300 participants in each of 2 sessions
Everyone having fun - have a go. Next nearest event at Watford, 50 miles south of home.
Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute
First of 4 sessions over the weekend

Format

• first of 3 episodes
• split into reasonable lengths
• this one deals with the arrival and settling in
• second one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• third episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly.

At the Watford Colosseum - Nic's intro
Initial event introduction/welcoming speech

• BBC Concert Orchestra
• BBC singers
• Peter Hayward - Learning Manager, BBC Concert Orchestra
• Watford Colosseum - home of BBC Concert Orchestra
• Tim Steiner - Creative Director of Play It Again
• Bernstein's West Side Story Overture - played by orchestra (the professionals)
• Relaxed style

much like a camp-fire warm-up
humour

"Mambo"

• vocal part - all join in, not just singers

Tunes to Listen for

• - explanation/demonstration of musical phrases to keep ears peeled for
• - built up
• Musical phrases

trombones
bassoons & basses
"2 notes" - professional
upper strings (3 notes!)
drums
flutes & oboes

• complex whole built from simpler parts - important
• 'Tonight' - for the singers

Not Tonight

• slightly different version. Specially written. Not 'America' either!
• Not many attending actually live in Hertfordshire.

Outro

• next part covers initial practice by participants - orchestral (instrument) group

As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Huntingdonshire Music School we had an event, the 'Leader's Excuse-Me' on the Saturday evening. This concert provided an opprtunity to be entertained by the teachers/staff - makes a change for the boot to be on the other foot.

Luckily there was an audio-recorder in the neighbourhood so it was possible to record the evidence. It was some concert and full of variety and surprises. One of these was provided by Robin Norman, who directs the Senior Concert Band, who showed that rather than hiding his talents behind a bushel he had clearly been hiding his behind a large double E-flat tuba!

 One of the pieces Robin played was Monte's Czardas (a gypsy dance - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Csárdás) - accompanied by Gwynn Jones on piano. Just listen to the pitch and length of notes (& speed!).

Wow!

We've a talented bunch at the music school. The teachers aren't bad, either!

They teach anyone from the age of 4 to 84+ - it's never too late to learn.

The Huntingdonshire Music School is 40 years old this year.  To celebrate this we arranged a complete weekend's worth of concerts and music-making activities - running through from Friday 23rd March through to Sunday lunchtime on the 25th March.

Obviously part of this involved some poor fools having to play during the night or unsociably early hours of the morning. These slots were referred to as the 'Twilight Zones'. Mostly they involved solo or duet performances (have you tried getting an orchestra to play at 4 o'clock in the morning? )

We did, however, manage to persuade the Intermediate Concert Band to arrive for 8 o'clock on the Sunday morning and to stage a rehearsal for an hour. In this short clip we see them perform a selection of Sousa marches under the banner of 'The March King'.

You'll notice a wide range of ages of players - we have no age barriers. Anyone who wants to have musical fun is more than welcome to come and join in.