Cafe Sessions 2013

Mr Corbett's Class with leader

Well done to all the boys and girls who gave their first performance in the cafe for their third class colleagues. Here is the programme

Mrs Faherty

Pizz Vivaldi in G O Come All Ye Faithful
        First finger riff / Drunken Sailor Last

       Toreador’s March

Arco Cross Lake Blues Riff / March
         Kilfenora Ceili Dancer //Reel

         Rock You

          Irelands Call

         Jingle Bells   Everybody Down Up

Mr Ryan
Vivaldi in G
 Toreadors March
Cross Lake Blues / Dawning of the Day  D D sh sh A A sh sh
Joy to the World./
Mary Had Baby

Rock You

Ireland’s Call

Jingle Bells

Mr Corbett

Vivaldi in G
Foxtrot

Ireland's Call .
Rock You

Wintertime in Russia

Jingle Bells    Every Body Down Up

Stock Take  19 stringschool 1/2 size
4 HFSS 1/2 size
1 4/4 stringschool

Dec 6th

Violin Classes cancelled today to facilitate rehearsals for show .

Announcing Cafe Sessions 2013

Leaders

Announcing the first performance of all three HF String groups at the

Café Bleu sessions on 13th Dec 2013 

We had some excellent leaders today.  We added 2 players on bass strings and some percussion in Mr Corbett's group. Preparations continue next week.

Very good work from all classes .Mr Ryan's group were on fire today. Bravo tutti!

Draft Programme  

Terrific concentration form ll three groups today.  Here is the concert programme for each group
We will polish these up over next two weeks . Bravo tutti!

4 numbers per class

Class 1

O Come All Ye Faithful pizz Vivaldi in G
First finger riff / Drunken Sailor Last
Cross Lake Blues/ March
Kilfenora Ceili Dancer //Flute tune

Class 2

 Toreadors March
Cross Lake Blues / Dawning of the Day  D D sh sh A A sh sh
Joy to the World./
Mary Had Baby

Class 3
Foxtrot
Ireland's Call .
Rock You
Jingle Bells    Every Body Down Up

Kilfenora Ceili Dancers & Cross Lake Blues

We added two new steps today  We learned how to change string and a new rhythm.

1**NEW Cross Lake Blues, string crossing   D  D z z    A A z z  Elbow down Elbow Up Track 3

2  New Rhythm  Kilfenora ceili Dancer   8 small tiptoe beats Track 6

8 Quavers 

Quavers not to be confused with 

3 Class 1 and 2 Ode to Joy with added tremelo 

Mr Corbett's class tremelo on all 4 strings 

Rap and 'Rock You'

The programme resumed today with a 5 task challenge . Here is what we did today



1 Fox Trot  /Toreadors March


2 Balloon Bows   Ireland's Call

3 First Finger Riff

4 Rock You

Sports Anthems Flag Waving and Rocket Bows

Sports Day Two Anthems

     

1 Shoulder hold.   Putting our violins in rest position we used our left hand on the underneath shoulder to put our violins in play position.

      

2. Balloon Bows to Irelands Call .  We use Down Bow retakes on D for this popular rugby song. we added some flag waving and some tremelo for a bit of added spice .

   

   3. Toreadors March  Another D and A tune . We learned how to read these notes on the stave . The notes are below. Are the notes on lines or spaces?   

     

 4.   Rocket bows this  week  (tip first and pointing skwards)

  

Oops ! What is wrong here 

Rabbits and Snails

 Lots of good work this week . We moved on to our first two note tune . Foxtrot uses D and A, the two middle strings.  Here are the notes

Foxtrot 

DDD _ AAA_ DDD_ AAA_           

DDD_ DDD_ AAA_ AADsh

Here is our programme today

Vivaldi in G                       pizzicato on open G
 Twinkle                            pizz.       on open D
Toreadors March              pizzicato on open A

**New today**  Carrot pencils and bunny rabbit hands. Using our right hands we practiced making snail shapes and bunny rabbit hands before biting down on our pumpkin straws

Finally Mr Corbett's class get their hands on bows

            Things to remember  Bend your thumb
            Fingers well over the pencil to make those bunny rabbit teeth

New Today  Our First Rhythm Win ter Time In  Rus -Sia

Away we Go: Rest and Play

We had a very exciting day at Holy Family Senior School Ennis  as all the 4th classes began the HFSS String  2013 programme .    Well done to the classes of Mrs Faherty,, Mr Corbett and Mr Ryan.  Super attention and concentration in the first class today!

How many instruments are in the picture

1 We learned how to hold the violin in rest and play position .

T

2 Each met all four  members of the bowed string family.  can you remember what they were  (C_ _ _ _ . D_ _ _ _ _ _B _ _ _) ?

3 *We learned about low pitched and high pitch . What  is the lowest pitched string  on the violin. ?

We played pizzicato ( plucking the string on  lowest string G to Old McDonald track 18)

4 We learned the names of all four violin strings (see above)

Can you remember what your coordinates were Row and spot 

Rest Position

Play Position

*We practiced a bow . 

Love Live Music Day :

Midsummer Day String Fever at Holy Family School

It was standing room only on the balcony of Holy Family Montessori School when the  4^th class violin students called around to give an impromptu  performance  for their youngest colleagues. The performance was part of a ‘proms’ class  to mark Love Live Music Day .  The youngsters clapped and cheered and sang along as the group of seventeen 4^th class students played children’s favourites, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Old Mac Donald had a Farm.

Cathy Desmond, director of the string programme at the school explained.   'The Level 1 Stringschool programme provided violin tuition to every 4th class student. That  finished in May and there was an option for interested students to continue.Over the last six weeks a group of eighteen students drawn from three 4th classes have continued to have violin lessons in small groups as part of their curriculum. The final class of term fell on 21^st June , Midsummer Day . Love e Live Music Day, an initiative which encouraged live music events all over Europe. At Holy Family School we marked the day in our own way with a special promenade music class. We marched around the grounds of the school yard playing different rhythms as we went ,  and paused at each corner to play one of our tunes . When we got to the corner where the Montessori school is sited, the boys and girls  came  out to see  what was going on and stayed  to hear the older children play.

Staff member Pauline O Neill, said it was a lovely surprise to see the students. We were really impressed with how much they have come on. Our students really enjoyed the impromptu performance' she said

Play On Group 2013 at HFSS

Day 5 . Gold and Silver Stars

Silver and Gold Stars awarded to Raschida and Tomek 

Shay shows us how it's done

Well done everyone . Keep up the practice . Some students have their three tune challenge 

completer . Well done to Tomek and Raschida . Gold and silver star winners .  The final task list of term is included below. Bronze stars to Liyanah and Nicola 

Task List 4

Scale D to D’  1  4 bows to each note 1 1 1 1

                        2   2 bows to each note

                        3   1 note to each bow

                        4    Hot Cross Buns

                         5   Twinkle   A

                                               ABA

                         6   Old Mac Donald Had a Farm

                         7   Frere Jacque a       DE F# D

                               Frere J            b      F#GA_

                                Frere J           c      abag F# D

                                 F    J               d    D A D _       Use low A  G(1)

 

                            Rhythm 1    vv vv l   l      Wintertime in Russia

                                            2   vvvv vvvv     Kilfenora Ceili Dancer         

                                            3    1vv1vv        Bow River

                                            4    vvv vvv        123 456  Hopping and Skipping

                                                                                        

Press article May 2013

An abreviated form of this article appears in this week's Champion

Press Release 

A Matinée with Strings Attached at Holy Family

It was a fiddle fest at Holy Family School Hall last week as 80 violin students took to the platform  to showcase their musical skills for an invited audience of friends and  family in their debut concert. For a second year running , pupils  of 4th class at Holy Family Senior School have had regular violin  lessons timetabled as part of their curriculum and all three class ensembles joined their colleagues in the school choir and marching band to  delight  the capacity house with their newly acquired skills .

In her introduction to the young performers, Principal Sarah Barnes said she was very proud of them all. She spoke also about the commitment of Holy Family School   to inclusivity in its’ artistic endeavors.  It was an aim at Holy Family that every child in the class had an opportunity to receive a good quality music  education she said.  ‘There is much evidence in studies to show that,  literacy, numeracy and attention focus all benefit from even a small amount of instrumental tuition’ she added. She said she was particularly delighted to see a group of  last years beginners  carry on and take an active part in the Holy Family Band.

Director of the Holy Family Choir, Ms Jillian Bridge  said the choir members were excited to be part of the morning showcase with their peers. They had been busy with various engagements since representing Holy Family in their winning entry in the Walton’s Music in Schools competition last March. A highlight was being part of massed choirs at  the Peace Proms at University Concert Hall in February and working with acclaimed  conductor Gearóid Grant, she said . ‘Part of the Walton’s prize money went to purchase new violins for the string programme but we are seeking to add to our instrument bank and the school are seeking donations of old violins so if you have one lying under a bed or in the attic at home please consider donating it and we will put it to good use’ she said.

Over the course of the concert, students stepped forward to introduce items drawn  from classical,  popular and traditional genres.  For a finale musicians and singers joined forces in a terrific rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star before the band under director Mr Hugh Connolly  closed the proceedings with a rousing medley of marches.

Cathy Desmond , director of Stringschool said she was. thrilled with the students and what they had accomplished .  ‘ Every student has learned  the basics of what is involved in playing violin and has acquired skills they can transfer to whatever instrument they may take up’ . ‘Classes continue for the remainder of term with a smaller group and interest has been strong with 25% of the original cohort opting for a follow on course’. Further information on the music at Holy family School including the string project can be found on the school website www.hfss.org and  www.holyfamilystrings.blogspot.com .  

Strings in the Sunshine Lesson 4

 Task List 3 

Stringschool Task List                                                                     T  W  Th  F  S  S   M  Put a tick each day when you do a task

1 Scale on D  Play each note  three times

2 Scale on D Play each note twice

3 Play an insect rhythm, eg cat-er-pil-lar, lad-y-bird

4 Play your name rhythm on each note

5 Hot Cross Buns

6 Twinkle

7 Old McDonald

8 Frere Jacque Part 1 ,2 3 4 

Violin returned Dami 

Good work Most improved student Tomazck

Lesson 3

Classes continued today in the afternoon after Maths tests were complete .

17 students  (Ayomide absent)

Some very good practice done by most students . Stars go to  Raschida and Jane and Eugene .

Programme

Hot Cross  Buns
Old McDonald
Twinkle
Part 1 Frere Jacque
Play your name

Try these steps
1 Sing the song through . If you can sing it, you can play it.
2 Bow the rhythmon open string D
3 Play pizzicato
4 Work on a small section at a time.

No Class Friday NEXT CLASS Tuesday 4th June  Remember to bring your instruments.

Level 2 Tutti Session

Boys Turn 

Here is task list for this week . Next class Tuesday small groups 

Task List      Put a tick when you do each task                             S   S  M  T  W Th  F

1 Play Your name  all 4 strings

2 Blues 13

           New Tunes

3 Hot Cross Buns   all 4 strings

4Old Mac  17    a Rhythm only b pizz  fingers down  c arco

5 Beguine  Tr 12

6Bow  River  29

7Twinkle  24 Rhythm Only  Then with fingers down

8Twinkle Variation 19  ┌┐┌┐││  Win=ter time in Rus-sia

Hot Cross Buns

  2  1  0_ 2 1 0_ oooo   llll   2 1 0_    

  F#E D                DDDD     EEEE F#E D

D________________________

Old McDonald   17

                                                 

            3 3 3  0   1 1 0 _  1 1 0 0 3_ _ Repeat

            GGGD    E E D_   B B AA G

     Oo 3 3 3 oo  3 3 3     333333 33333_3_ middle line 

            3 3 3 0   1  1 0    1 1  0  0 3_ _

Frere Jacques

DE F#D x 2               F#G A x2

ABAG F#_D_ x 2      D A D_   x2 

Track List for Class Cd

Track Listing Backing Tracks 
1 Vivaldi in G          
2 Foxtrot
3 Cross Lake Blues ( D and A ) 
4 Attacama Crossing  (rhythm Wintertime in Russia with string crossing D to A)
5 Chopstixs on D Hopping and Skipping and 
6 Kilfenora Ceili Dancer
7 I stop and you stop 1 
9 I stop and you stop 2 
10 Carnival in Rio
11 Prelude to Carmen
12 Beguine (Samba)
13 Blues
14 Toreadors 
15 Mr Cool
16 Ode to Joy    
17 Old McDonald
18 We Will We Will Rock You
19 Twinkle Variations 
20 Two String Reggae
21 Irelands Call
22 Macchu Piccu Mountain 
23 Scale on A 
24 Scale on D
25 Twinkle Twinkle with violin
26 Twinkle Twinkle with Backing track 
27  Wintertime in Russia Fast 
28 Wintertime in Russia Slow 
29 Bow River 

Level 2 Begins

Group 4 with Nicola's I Love Fiddle Poster 

Fintan fixes his bow hand 

 Great start to the Level 2 programme today

4 groups had lesson under the stairs in HFSS .  5 Tasks for next week

Task1 Foxtrot Arco (with bow ) short short long___

Task 2 Cross Lake Blues D D z z A A z z  Track 3

Task 3 D to A  with new rhythm

Task 4  Scale on D tarck 24

Task 5 Twinkle Track 25

17 students present

Good position

A Matinée to Remember at Holy Family School Ennis

Corbett Ensemble 

What a morning to remember with all the performing groups in the Holy Family School Hall this morning The 4th class string groups  of Mr Corbett, MS Griffin, Ms Leahy and Ms Loftus  accompanied by Ms Bridge on piano performed their diverse  programme for an invited audience of friends and family in a conclusion to the Level 1 Stringschool programme.   I loved the choir's rain drop percussion effects, a suitable prelude to Burt Bacharach's Raindrops' Keep Falling On My Head . The rain didn't keep the audience away and there was a full house .  There were teas and coffees courtesy of the Parents' Association and the welcoming team greeted patrons and escorted them to their seats. We had some blues violin jamming from Mr Connolly with the Corbett Ensemble and how stirring was the Band's selection of marches.    .
Among the band members were nine fiddlers who participated in last year's  string programme and went on to take the Play On programme. You can hear some of their voices below. While choirs are accessible to all students, instrumental ensembles tend to consist of students availing of extracurricular private tuition.
I am very proud of all the string students on the curricular programmes at Holy Family School and it is a privilege and a pleasure to be part of the many stranded inclusive music activity at Holy Family School Ennis.

Nicholas leads Griffin/Leahy Ensemble

Loftus Ensemble led by Jane 

Welcome Committee

Loftus Ensemble Bass section

Principal's Address from Ms Barnes 

Rock You  Fabian and Eugene

   






Programme 

Play On Group 2012

Holy Family  4^th class String Ensembles 2013 with the Holy Family Chamber Choir and School Band

A matinée recital  at the Hall  on Wednesday 17^th April at 11.30pm. The classes of Ms Loftus, Mr Griffin, Ms Leahy and Mr Corbett  present some of the repertoire we have worked during the terms.

Piano accompaniment Ms Bridge . Band director Mr Connolly assisted by Ms Diane Hennessy

Programme

        Choir Feel the Beat

Loftus Ensemble

Vivaldi in G   pizzicato   Vivaldi  

Foxtrot          pizz.             P Martin

Carnival in Rio  arco               J Martin

Scale on D          arco     1, 23   Fingers down 

    Choir :A Thunderstorm , Singing in the Rain

Griffin/Leahy  Ensemble

Toreadors March           pizz           Bizet

Wintertime in Russsia   arco           J Martin

Ireland’s Call                 arco           Phil Coulter

We Will Rock You        arco            Queen

       Choir For Just a Little While

Corbett Ensemble

The Station Road Blues

A Mozart Melody    with fiddle section Holy Family Band          (Twinkle Twinkle)

Grand Finale March Medley  Holy Family Marching Band                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

    

    -                          This is to certify       

______________________________________________

Participated in the Holy Family String Project at

                    Holy Family Senior School 2012/2013

and has  successfully completed

Level 1 of  the Stringschool Programme

Signed ___________________          Director CD Stringschool

Date ____________________

Cathy Desmond ( Teacher)  BA HDip LTCL     www.holyfamilystrings.blogspot.com  

Some voices of the children from the morning .
                                                      

listen to ‘Welcoming Ushers at Holy Family School Ennis’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Stringschool at HF’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Stringschool at Holy Family’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Stringschool Graduate’ on Audioboo