Saturday, February 23, 2008

I've made it!


Not only am I now a composer of organ music, but someone else has arranged my music for a new book called "cool meditations for organ* (published by Kevin Mayhew). Some of my more mellow piano pieces have been arranged very nicely by Richard Lloyd to form a book of numbered "meditaions" to be played at quiet and reflective time during a service. I am pleased with the pieces, I just need to find a free organist to play them to me (!).

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Save our service!





























We have just been singing and playing ( in the freezing cold) outside the council offices as councillors arrived to decide if they were going to cut a hundred and sixty thousand pounds of funding to the local music service (!!).







Everyone joined in with a rousing ( and varied) performance of "Music Alone Shall Live" and councillors did everything in their power to get into the building without walking through the singing and playing young people.







In these days of ASBO's and Binge drinking teenagers, it seems a shame that the council sees fit to remove money from worthwhile causes which are not only educationally benificial, but that definately keep kids off the streets!!,

Thursday, February 14, 2008




Brilliant morning

I have just had the best morning doing "Sizzling Songz" with an over 50's group group.
They all really enjoyed the old songs that they probably haven't sung for many decades. there was a real sense of joy in the place, and the gathering was transformed at the end of the session from what had been a lot of resigned looking people who didn't want to sing, to a euphoric group who queued to tell me about the memories some of the songs had stirred.
I can see why singing has so many health benefits....Brilliant!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Listen to this!


After my post on "The musical saw" , a lady from New York city left a comment. She drew my attention to a website of a player who shows that the instrument can be taken very seriously indeed. This is well worth a listen.

Friday, February 8, 2008


What's happening?

Quite often at this time of year, I find myself writing Christmas music!!. This is all rather odd, and one is strangely removed from the seasonal glitter.
I have just finished two new carols for treble voices, and am working on a Christmas piano book for intermediate players. It all gets a bit difficult when I am writing in a practise room somewhere, I try and play festive music very quietly so people don't think I really am crazy.
the two choral pieces are also going to form a new book of twelve pieces for treble voices. This is an exciting project for me as I have been able to use deeper compositional skills. It is all taking a long time with writing parts etc, but I am half way there, and would very much like to put in an instrumental accompaniment.
a few people have asked me about another "Band in a book" or "Really easy band book". I'm hoping to work on that next, once I get christmas over!!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

How about the musical saw??




A very cheap instrument, ideal for wider ops. May have problems with health and safety but well worth clicking on the picture of the book to read about its merits!. ( not very good at scanning things straight!)