Music Camp underway.

All is going well at the National Youth Music camp, and we have the SUN!! . As ever, there is wonderful music, and incredible talent. To top it all, Dame Cleo laine popped in for lunch! (pictured with Chloe, and this weeks camp director Jonnie Bridges).

Two new books for brass teachers.

I have been asked for a long time to do a Razzamajazz Repertoire book for E flat brass and F horn. Well here they are! . I hope they will be useful. get them from http://www.kevinmayhew.com/

Strange things happen!

It has been interesting seeing the various performance of my grade two piece pop up on youtube since the new syllabus came out a couple of weeks ago. Some of them have completeley ignored the "Jazz quaver" instruction (very common), and because of this, have changed the whole nature of the piece. (The performance above is the best ...so far). It will be interesting to see how many examiners will encounter the jazz quaver issue,.... and how many will notice.....??.

Watts V The Flintstones!

I was very excited today to go and buy my copy of the new grade 2 piano book. I have a piece in the book, and as the copy the ABRSM said they would send me hadn't arrived, I had to go and get one just to see what it looked like (and felt like). I have had pieces in the woodwind syllabus before, but this is my first piano exam piece. I have to say it did feel a bit strange, and my first thought was I wonder if the ABRSM had known that I failed grade five theory on my first attempt if they would have published my piece ( I concentrated the second time!). My piece is in the C section with an arrangement of the Flintstones, so there may be a bit of competition!. 

Harmonica Man does it again.

My lovely husband Chris Shrimpton gave an incredible performance at the 20th anniversary concert of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone in Milton Keynes last night. He played the lovely arrangement by Andrew Cottee of the Genevieve suite, and also played the Gordon Jacob harmonica suite with orchestra. It was a wonderful evening, with an exciting mix of Choral and instrumental music. Chris played brilliantly!.... very proud!

Jigsaw Jam

An exciting three days at "Music For Youth National Festival" in Birmingham, where I was workshoping my new commission "Jigsaw Jam". Its a set of ensemble pieces for any beginner pitched instrument, using just the first notes that they learn. the pieces all fit together like a jigsaw (and make a seaside picture!).

We played the main piece "The Sky" with an ensemble of 450 young people in Symphony hall Birmingham on Monday, and I was thrilled with the way it went. The music and backing tracks can be downloaded FREE! on the MFY website very soon.

The nine bits of the jigsaw are.

1. The Sky (everyone!)

2.Beach huts and bandstands (beg. brass)

3. Carousels and Candyfloss (beg. woodwind and recorders)

4. deckchair dreaming (harmonicas)

5.Ship Ahoy! (beg strings)

6.Waves on water (pitched percussion)

7.Sinister seagulls (voice and beg ukullele)

8.Parasols and picnics (beg guitars)

9.Shrimps and tiddlers (ocarinas).

The exciting thing is, I'm sure it will be really useful.