Razzamajazz

Go Bryony!

2012-02-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Just to say, that I'm rather proud of my ex saxophone pupil Bryony Hannah who is in "Ask the Midwife" on a Sunday evening at the moment. First I would like to say that I am very much enjoying the series, and am getting very emotionally involved, but I would also like to say ( in case you hadn't realised), I KNOW HER!!

Music and the Thames

2012-02-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

I am a member of the Royal Society of Musicians of which Handel was a founding member. The society holds many musical archives, including a copy of Handel's Water Music in the earliest extant edition. As part of celebrations for the Queens diamond jubilee, it is being lent to the National Maritime museum for their exhibition "Pageantry and the Thames" which is open from the 27th April to the 9th September. Its exciting to remember that Handel wrote the water music and the Royal fireworks for similar events.

Watch this!

2012-02-04T10:26:00.001-08:00

I love this!

2012-02-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

I just came across this fantastic retro ad!. I love it, and it reminded me of our trip to the Hohner factory a couple of years ago when we went to the World harmonica fest. I had a melodica for Christmas, and am hooked!!!. The Shrimps have been playing quartets for harmonica, Melodica, Ukulele and bassoon. (awesome!). I have done arrangements of old swing numbers, some cafe house music and some tangos. We have a booking for a friends wedding, to play during afternoon tea. I haven't been so excited about playing in an ensemble for ages!. Harmonicas and melodicas would be such good instruments to put together for wider ops ensembles.

Red Hot Song Library Folksongs.

2012-01-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

This is the new addition to my song library. These are traditional folksongs with a lively twist, and because there are easy second and third parts, I think they will be really useful for choirs or classroom singing. Its such a shame that a lot of our traditional songs are being lost because the repertoire that many of our young people are singing is based on popular songs. I really wanted this to be a fun way to re introduce these songs...really hope it works.

The product of an evening on youtube

2012-01-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

Avril Dankworth teachers days.

2012-01-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have just come across some old photos of Avril dankworth leading some teachers workshop days in the 60s. Avril was a great innovator in her time and became well known as a music Educator all over the world. This photo shows some of her home made instruments. The photo is damaged unfortunately,but it looks as if the gong she has made is expolding!.

The photo below looks scarily like the one I posted in the next post of me doing a teachers day in berkshire recently...spooky!!

Berkshire teachers day

2012-01-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

A really nice day today in Reading with eighty Berkshire music teachers . I lead some workshops with ideas for "First access" ( wider ops) group teaching. I really enjoyed my day and met a lot of "Kindred spirits". These pictures are from one of the group sessions.

"Out in the field"

2011-12-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

I am writing Red Hot song library Christmas songs at the moment. Hearing of composers who went out "into the field" (Bartok etc) to get inspiration for their projects, I decided to sit in a coffee shop among the Christmas shoppers to get some of the Christmas "Buzz" as I (hopefully) wrote lyrics.
The coffee was nice, and I may have wandered into a few sales. I did write one verse, but had to wear Ipod headphones to block out "Jinglebell rock" playing in the background. Perhaps I'll sit in a Stable next.....

Cleo plays trombone!

2011-12-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

A few pictures from the rehearsal yesterday for the Christmas shows we are doing at the Stables theatre. Here is Cleo Laine playing the TROMBONE. Cleo asked Mark Nightingale (her trombonist..pictured) if he would sing some backing vocals for her. He said he would only do it if she played trombone!. She has been having secret lessons with my friend Rachel Coles, and they are doing a duet in the Christmas show.... brilliant! not bad for 83!.

Wednesday at Williams

2011-12-15T03:26:00.000-08:00

In my "Red Hot duet" books, I dedicated a tune to my sister in law Roz, and some girl friends who meet in the Williams coffee pub in Burlington Ontario Canada. While on my trip to the States and Canada a couple of weeks ago I was able to be a "Willams girl" for the night.... fantastic!!. The girls posed for this photo with "Their piece". Happy Christmas Williams girls!!.

All ready for Cleo's Christmas show!

2011-12-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

This year the shows are on Thursday the 15, Friday the 16th and Saturday the 17th of December at 8pm. Tickets are £29.50 or £32 each and the concerts are fundraisers in aid of Wavendon Allmusic Plan Ltd. So come along and have a wonderful time supporting a good cause!Every year Dame Cleo Laine celebrates Christmas at The Stables in her own inimitable way with her special guests. This year's band lineup is as follows: John Horler (piano), Alec Dankworth (bass), Jim Hart (drums), Mark Nightingale (trombone), Andy Panayi (sax), Sarah Watts (sax), Jimmy Hastings (sax), Karen Sharp (sax), Henry Lowther (trumpet), Robbie Robson (trumpet).This year's Special Guest Stars are Jacqui Dankworth, Lorna Dallas, Peter Fisher (violin), Emily Dankworth, Martha Shrimpton, Woburn Sands Brass Band, Pete Churchill and the London Vocal Project.The Woburn Sands Band will be performing in the foyer pre-show to get you into an appropriately festive mood!

Just back from America!

2011-12-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

We have just got back from attending the New York state music educators conference where I was presenting. We had a lovely time, and were made to feel very welcome. A session with New York state music teachers.

Denise, Hans and George from JW Pepper. It was lovely to meet them, and I would like to thank them for selling my books.

The Rochester convention centre where the conference took place. A choir warming up .

Sarah Watts brochure

Casually placed on a table ( or two.... or...)

New website!

2011-11-29T14:33:00.001-08:00

I am very excited. My publisher kevin Mayhew Ltd have just built me a posh new website! . I am very thrilled with it. have a look !! www.sarah-watts.com

Extreme cups!

2011-11-22T05:17:00.000-08:00

The cup song/cup game is quite a topical subject in our house, as I have to say my daughters do it rather well. I found this video on youtube of an Orff teachers workshop. I must say I like the music they chose to "cup" to when they all got going. ( I liked the way they learned the routine using words).

New Trinity exam repertoire books

2011-11-18T05:12:00.000-08:00

I have contributed to a new set of exam resource books for Trinity Guildhall. They can be used for the exams, or as stand alone repertoire books. They arrived this morning, and look really good. Other people who were commissioned to write pieces were James Rae, Sally Adams, Karen Street Andy Hampton, , Malcolm Miles, Paul Harris and Mike Mower to name a few. There are also classical graded repertoire pieces. I think they will be very useful.

Day in London

2011-11-13T04:43:00.000-08:00

I had a lovely day in London on Friday, first visiting Chloe at Wigmore, and then on to The National Portrait Gallery where Martha was in a play about a Woman playwright. The play was part of a conference about the first women actresses as portrayed in what were then their pin ups, actually beautiful portraits.
I was thrilled to see the above on a building in Wigmore Street. Its always nice to see bassoons represented. I have to say that my first thought on a November morning though, was bet they're cold!

Pentatonic songs

2011-11-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

The pentatonic and ostinato song books now have their new covers ready for my trip to the New York State Educators conference. all very exciting really....

Bonfire night

2011-11-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Chloe and I played the Handel Royal Fireworks at Stowe tonight. It was quite stirring, and when we came home and heard a local fireworks display playing canned music I felt pleased that ours was live.

Ring out those bells!!

2011-11-04T04:36:00.000-07:00

Was very interested to read the article below about the big peel of bells that will start the olympics. I must confess to being more excited about this than the olympics itself!

A mass bell-ringing will be held to mark the launch of the Olympics as part of the London 2012 Festival, a UK-wide programme of cultural events.
Masterminded by artist Martin Creed, the three-minute nationwide bell-ringing will start at 0800 on 27 July.
Stonehenge, The Giant's Causeway and other iconic heritage sites will be transformed by art installations as part of the 12-week festival.
The arts celebration will cost £52.4m and include 1,000 events.
The full programme of the London 2012 Festival - the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad - was unveiled in central London on Friday.
Music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, fashion and film will all be included in the festival that will run concurrently with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Speaking to the BBC News website on Thursday, Cultural Olympiad chair Tony Hall said the London 2012 Festival would be "the country's biggest ever cultural celebration

Watts hits youtube!

2011-10-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

After the horror of seeing myself on these videos ( actually looking unusually respectable...) I think Kevin Mayhew Ltd have done a wonderful job of producing them. there are four altogether. There are two featuring all the "Red Hot Song library" books, and one showing the recorder tutor/method ( above), and one showing the "Red Hot Recorder Songs.

Grand Concerto gastronomique

2011-10-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

Martha was playing the part of the waitress in Malcolm Arnolds Grand Concerto Gatronomique as part of the Malcolm Arnold festival at the weekend. I love Arnolds music, and the evening brought back memories of my Dad listening to the Hoffnung concerts on the radio. The review below said it was very "English", and it was! gloriously so!!

Arnold’s non-symphonic orchestral music was understandably little in evidence, though Saturday evening’s concert featured two pieces stemming from his involvement with the Hoffnung Music Festivals. Carnival of Animals (1959) is occasionally revived and should be heard more regularly for the piquancy of its depictions of gawky Giraffes, canonic sheep, cavorting cows, scurrying mice, dextrous elephants and aleatoric bats – interspersed with witty poems from members of Northampton’s Malcolm Arnold Academy, stylishly read by Martha Shrimpton and William Sitwell. The Ealing Symphony was in its collective element here as in Grand Concerto Gastronomique (1961), which appears to have gone unheard for half-a-century: scored for ‘Eater, Waiter, Food and Orchestra’, this 20-minute (and highly English!) precursor of 1960s performance-art was admirably ‘served up’ by Richard Brooman, Shrimpton and an elegantly Schubertian vocalise from Jennifer Smith, yet the musical content proved surprisingly effective on its own terms: a conflation of Arnold off-cuts, to be sure, though one that was not merely apposite to the course at hand but deftly assembled as an extended span of superior library music. Well worth periodic revival and not just at Arnold-centred events such as this

Please "Like my facebook page

2011-10-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Please "like" my facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sarah-Watts/171268012950413

I can't believe this!

2011-10-27T10:25:00.001-07:00

This was sent to me today!

"Scary Fairground ride!"

2011-10-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

There is a great performance of "Scary Fairground Ride" from my "Ostinato song book"

http://www.kevinmayhew.com/red-hot-songs-library-ostinato.html by Warmister Prep school on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvkm33d8uAQ. They have sung the song and then added the ostinatos (with actions!), to make four parts. For young voices this is really quite something. I visited Warmister prep earlier this year to do a workshop day. They have an excellent music dept with every child learning the recorder and benefiting from a a very vibrant syllabus. Very exciting!

EMBARRASSING MOMENT!!!!

2011-10-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was in the Medici gallery in South kensington a couple of days ago ( one of my favourite shops). While I was in there, there was some music playing, and I instantly listened because it was a song that I had done an arrangement of, and it sounded very like my arrangement. I continued to browse, and the next track came on which was also familiar.. definately one of mine. Intrigued ( and frankly quite excited now), I went to the man at the till, (where there were quite a few people in the queue behind me), and said "Excuse me, can you tell me what CD you are playing?". He Said "We're not playing anything". We both listened.... It was my Ipod on in my bag!.

New pentatonic song book.

2011-10-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am excited that my pentatonic song book is out now. Twenty NEW pentatonic songs. I hope these will be a welcome resource for those teaching the Orff method. The cover will say "Pentatonic songs" on the next printing. Hang on to the first cover, it may become valuable!!!!
I am probably more excited about the Ostinato song book, as it is ultimately flexible and can be used in so many ways. The songs are written around short four or two bar harmonic patterns, and each comes with a set of ostinatos which can be sung as extra choral parts, or played as instrumental parts. There is also an easy ostinato bass line, and a set of improvising notes. The teacher can make a creative performance of each song using the elements. There are songs in all styles, including a Christmas ostinato song, and ostinato Olympics!

Does anyone remember the North Bucks Music Centre?

2011-10-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

So sad the other day to see what has happened to the old pavilion which was the North Bucks music centre. It was there I dreaded my violin lessons, enjoyed my first introduction to wind chamber music, trembled before associated board exams, played my first Beethoven symphony and goofed my scales.... ahh... memories.

A nice day with the Fellers.

2011-10-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

A real treat this week, to meet up with Ron and Marsha feller of "Fellers Art Factory"
http://www.fellersartsfactory.com/
We originally met in Spokane when I visited America for the Orff conference last year. Ron and Marsha are performers who tour schools in America making masks and writing plays and songs with the students. Pictured below is Ron with some of the incredible masks he made by sculpting paper. We had a wonderful day catching up and sharing creative ideas.

To make you smile

2011-09-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Ann Dickens

2011-09-21T07:06:00.001-07:00

It is with great sadness that I report the death on Monday of Ann Dickens. Ann , along with her husband Ron was one of our Music camp directors. She was a special lady who inspired me greatly. She wrote many music camp shows, and was a genius with words and lyrics. We wrote a "Who dunnit" musical together called "Murder at Mainbrace Manor", and it was a privilege to (almost) see her brain whirring into action as new ideas came. She had energy, drive, and the creativity of ten people. All this, made for some of the most exciting and vibrant music camps I can remember.

Watts with the jazz bassoon?

2011-09-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

When I was in my early twenties (not that long ago!!) I made two recordings of Jazz bassoon (now fortunately unavailable). Mike Hatchard wrote a lovely Jazz suite for me, and I jazzed to standards like the rest.

Meeting some American friends today, they introduced Chloe and I to Bela Fleck and the flecktones. This is worth a watch on youtube. have to say the bassoon does sound a bit like a muted trumpet at times, but he knows his way around the instrument... very impressive, as its hard to play jazz on the bassoon. I think my jazz was a bit more genteel!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v6j_JbOlpA&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL6A84144EA26090CE

Week of insets.

2011-09-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

A really great day today doing four workshops with 130 teachers in Northants. This is the third lot of inset workshops I have done this week. A great day with Derbyshire teachers on Monday, a session at Stowe yesterday, and onto surrey for the next one. Really enjoyable.

Foray into Facebook!

2011-09-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

I have made a facebook page to share my writing with friends, people who find my books useful and anyone that is just interested.

If you are feeling kind, please will go pay a visit and click on "like"

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sarah-Watts/171268012950413

Thank you!

Elgar woz ere.

2011-09-04T04:18:00.001-07:00

We have just come back from the lovely Isle of Wight, and I was thrilled to see this blue plaque on a house in Ventnor. Then I thought, I wonder how many days Elgar spent there on his honeymoon... a few?. Then I thought, that if there were blue plaques on all the places that Elgar spent a few days, the country would be full of blue plaques. (sorry, couldn't think of anything intelligent to write about this).

Great performance !

2011-09-04T04:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this on youtube, and thought it was really good, and exactly as I had intended it. There are occasionally performances like this, but often the player ( or teacher) doesn't notice ( or doesn't understand) the "Jazz quaver" instruction at the top of the music. Many composers write jazzy pieces with dotted rhythms, and I just cant bring myself to do that.... for a start its not how they should be played. So, well done boy in the green jumper, you are very cool.

Camera trauma!!

2011-08-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

I had a good, but traumatic day on Monday. I filmed some YouTube videos to introduce and explain some of my books. It was all done in front of a green screen, so I may have books whizzing behind me! ( They have promised not to put me on a airport runway!). I am a bit worried about seeing the finished result, as I find looking at myself in a mirror bad enough.

To cap it all, I had new photos taken for brochures etc. (aughhhh!). in front of a white screen this time... . Quite an adventure, but good job I'm not a newsreader or something....For someone who hates having their photo taken, it was like having shock therapy.

New book out

2011-08-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

My new string ensemble book is now out. I hope it will be a useful addition to elementary ensemble repertoire.The pieces are for violins and cellos with the third violin part also scored for viola.

Thursday

2011-08-11T04:33:00.000-07:00

A bit wet today

Accordions

Recorders

Jazz

Pop

Yesterdays Circus skills

Recording New backing tracks

2011-07-30T01:29:00.001-07:00

I spent yesterday recording the backing tracks for the two new books coming out in September . "Ostinato Songs" and "Pentatonic songs" are both part of my "Red Hot Song library" which now has eight books!. It was a long day recording , but I am excited about hearing the final mixes. Pictured below is Kevin Duncan who produced the tracks, and worked his usual magic on them. This is Cate Mellor who did the vocals. She also appears on the "Sparkling songs for Starter Choirs" CD.

Kevin Mayhew popped in to see how it was all going.

Music camp starts

2011-07-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

The national Youth Music camp 2011 (I am the artistic director) has started today and will go on for the next three weeks. It is always a very exciting time full of creative happenings and diverse and broad minded music making. We will be doing a blog if you would like to follow the weeks as they unfold www.nationalyouthmusiccamp.blogspot.com
Jeremy ( a gifted pianist) arrived on camp today for a week of one handed music making!. He has just had a tendon operation after an accident which involved a baked bean can!.

Goodbye to Lacey

2011-07-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Martha finishes her year with Lacey theatre company this year. It has been a year of wonderful experiences.
http://lacey.withtank.com/

Fun in Folkestone!!

2011-07-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Have just come back for a great Primary music day in Folkestone organised by Dorothy Driscoll. There were wider ops classes from several schools which made up an orchestra of nearly 300!.
I conducted three pieces from my "Band in a book" then we had other individual schools instrumental items and songs. The day was a mammoth project and came together very smoothly... well done Dorothy ... fantastic and very inspiring.

Its another world!

2011-07-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

We have been very lucky to get Olympic tickets for next year (table tennis!). I was disappointed not to get synchronised swimming (really), but seeing this video on YouTube of the Japanese baton twirling team almost made up for it .... Awesome!.

Congratulations Chlo!! (BMus Hons)

2011-06-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our daughter Chloe who has just graduated from her degree in music . She got a 2.1, and a first in her professional investigation, also a first for her placement year with the LSO. Whats more, she has a really interesting job working for a musicians management company. .........actually, quite proud parents!.

This is Brilliant!!

2011-06-23T00:35:00.000-07:00

My Friend Rake sent me this link. Its brilliant!!!. I think the composer of the CATcerto is a genius, and I think the cat went to a Sarah Watts improvisation workshop!. A MUST!!

Have you seen this?

2011-06-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

2011-06-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

We went to Worthing this weekend for the Artists "Open Houses"... Fantastic!. We stumbled across this piano by the beach which said "Play me".... so I did!

2011-06-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Its been so wet here for the past few days and we have been as busy as ever. We have planted courgettes but the weeds around them are starting to take over. We have eight tomato plants ready to go in the ground. Oh for the time to do it!. The song is how I would like it to be!

Inspiration

2011-06-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

We have just been in Wales for a week. One of the highspots of our visit was a trip to Llangrannog. It was no surprise to find this plaque stating that Elgar had found musical inspiration for his visits there. I plan to get musical inspiration there as soon as possible! .... I wonder if thats tax deductable?.

Musical Hill in Cumbria

2011-06-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is worth a watch!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13602686

Orchestra of two hundred?

2011-05-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely day yesterday conducting an orchestra of about 200 children all playing from "Band in a book" in the Sandwich guildhall. The surroundings were inspiring, and it was thrilling to see the rows of instrumentalists who have only been playing a short while, but had achieved so much.

The day was organised by Beryl Sampson who is lead music teacher for Deal and Sandwich cluster. Her enthusiasm and dedication shone through the event, and made this a really wonderful experience for all... especially me.

Sarah Stays with Rupert!

2011-05-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Some people may know what a huge Rupert bear fan I am. I am especially keen on the Rupert artwork done by Alfred Bestall, but thats another story...

I arrived at Canterbury travel lodge last night after a long journey ( I was in Kent doing a workshop day today).

Imagine my excitement when I arrived and found that the travel lodge building was the home of Mary Tourtell the creator of Rupert. Woo hoo!

182nd Anniversary

2011-05-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

Its the 182nd anniversary of the accordion!. How I love that instrument. Its a shame there are so many accordion jokes!

Having said that, I couldn't find one! . the accordion does feature in these banjo jokes though.

(I actually quite like the banjo too.... is it me?)

Banjo Jokes
1) Q. What's the difference between a banjo and a cattle grid?
A You drive slowly over the cattle grid...

2) You're driving down the street- there's an accordion on one side and a banjo on the other ... which do you go for first?...... the accordion , because it' s business before pleasure.
3) How do you know when you have a banjo player at your door? He keeps getting louder and louder and doesn't know when to come in.
4) What is a definition of perfect pitch?
When you toss an accordion into the dumpster and it lands right on top of a banjo.

Mmmmm!

Watch this.

2011-05-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

I tried to upload this video of Martha and her friend Sarah doing their "Tin can song" but couldn't. Have a watch, it may give inspiration for how to be creative with baked bean tins!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEgvsq48dik

2011-05-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

Martha is in a six woman show in the garden season at the Stables theatre. A wonderful opportunity for her to be acting alongside Cleo laine, Jacqui Dankworth and Fenella Fielding.

http://www.stables.org/Whats_on/Event/Woman_Talk

Make yourself at home

2011-05-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is a neighbourhood cat that wanders into our house from time to time.
Talk about make yourself at home !

Music cuts.

2011-05-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday leading a teachers workshop. We had a great time sharing ideas and making music. These were the "Lead music teachers" for this large county, about thirty of them who head up smaller clusters of teachers. They are a creative and inspirational bunch who feel passionately about the importance of music in the curriculum. They have provided excellent opportunities for all children in their areas to benefit from the life enhancing experience that music making gives, and over several years under the leadership of their excellent music advisor have worked hard to provide a music programme that has been the envy of many in other counties.

I felt so sorry for them yesterday. Not only has their inspirational advisor been made redundant, but all the work they have done to build something really good seems as if its all coming crashing down because of huge cuts and changes to their structure implemented by people who possibly don't know what they do, or what value it has. aughhhhh!

Why?

German Red Hot Recorder!

2011-05-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Very excited at the arrival of the latest version of the Red Hot Recorder tutor!!

Didn't know I was fluent in German did you!

2011-05-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

I have a whole new series of teachers workshops coming up which have been kindly sponsored by Kevin Mayhew ltd. They seemed a long time off, but are looming now now with the first one on Wednesday. Most of the sessions are aimed at those delivering whole class instrumental lessons, but I am also doing some for specialist and non specialist key stage one and two teachers.

The workshops are going to be very practical, and I hope a lot of fun. I think we all need a few new ideas sometimes to get us thinking and enthusiastic again. Sometimes its just nice to be reminded of old ideas and creative thoughts we may have forgotten.

Some of the material I am going to use will come from the Red Hot song library, I am particularly excited about introducing some of the new ostinato songs. I think these will be useful for general class and instrumental teaching.

Royal Wedding music

2011-04-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Still moved from watching the royal wedding it struck me how music created the atmosphere both in the beautiful meditative Hubert Parry and the rich and spiritual Paul Mealor . I thought the arrangement of Jerusalem was masterful , and nobody could fail to be stirred by the Walton "Crown Imperial" as the bride and groom left the Church.

Sadly the musicians were shown only briefly, and named simply as The London Chamber orchestra. Was this an orchestra especially fixed for today?. Who was the lucky fixer?

Again Music stirs the soul.

Royal wedding!

2011-04-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

We are all very excited here at Shrimp Manor about THE wedding tomorrow. Chloe and I have put up bunting outside (nice surprise for Chris tonight!). I gave the girls a mug each and and Kate and Wills tea towel.... slightly worried that Martha is going to wear hers as a cape tomorrow (!).

I have finished "Ostinato songs" and taking a short bank holiday break before taking a run at the new pentatonic song book (20 NEW pentatonic songs). I have quite a few teachers workshops coming up soon, so trying to get ahead of the game for that too...... all very exciting.

Had to share these.

2011-04-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

The Streetlight trust team are back from the Philippines. Had to share these pictures from Chris and Simon.

Wind bags have arrived!

2011-04-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

My two new Recorder ensemble collections are out now available from http://www.kevinmayhew.com/

Book one goes up to about grade two standard, and book two is grades two to four (ish!).

The ensembles which are in usual Wacky Watts style can be played with or without accompaninent, so will work in the middle of fields!!.

Really want to find some friends and play them with me ( any offers?). String bags are coming soon... watch this space.

Bongos on board!

2011-04-16T03:19:00.000-07:00

The photo shows our friend Simon in the Philippines. Marshalls amplification kindly donated some bongos for Chris and Simon to take out there for "Kanalungans" work with street children.

I believe it was interesting taking two lots on the plane.

The next generation!

2011-04-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Chris was very thrilled yesterday to find that our God daughter is learning the harmonica at school!. She is part of a wider ops project, and is already playing tunes confidently. I am always surprised that more schools don't teach the harmonica. Its almost as cheap as a recorder, and the chromatic harmonica when played to a high standard is a beautiful instrument.

There was a big drive in the sixties by Hohner to teach harmonica in the classroom alongside the recorder. Such composers as Gordon Jacob were very much behind the project, and Hohner ran teachers courses where they could learn the instrument...... Lets do it again!!.

Thoughts at 3.am

2011-04-09T01:23:00.000-07:00

Lying awake in bed last night I had a sudden urge to write a blog post (I didn't!).

I know that I have a song project in full creativity mode, because I can't sleep!!. I am working on two more books for the Red Hot song library (which I am actually very excited about).

I am writing a whole book of new fun pentatonic songs, and also an ostinato song book ( which is incredible exciting because its so flexible). All the songs in this book have short ostinatos which can be sung or played on instruments which can accompany the whole song. The exciting thing (I think) about this, is that its possible to achieve a multi part sung piece or a totally flexible instrumental piece with no music!! ... there are improvising notes too so the piece/song can be as flexible as you like. ( I am particularly pleased with a song called Ostinato Olympics). Both books will be out by September.

The trouble is!!!. Not only do I have the words and tunes of the songs whizzing round in my head at 3 am, I also have the words and tunes of the ostinatos!. AUGH!!!!

Bach in the woods! Really worth a watch

2011-04-05T08:28:00.001-07:00

Watts in Norway!!

2011-04-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Some of my pieces have just appeared in a Norwegan book... exciting...

http://noteservice.net.dynamicweb.no/new-editions.aspx?ID=409&PID=902&Action=1&NewsId=698&currentPage=2

Intercountry musical relations.

2011-04-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

We have just had a wonderful few days with friends Joy, Lorna and Jerker in Sweden. Can you believe ( I expect so!), that within hours of landing there Chris was playing the harmonica!.

It was an interesting medley, but I have to say that the Beatles and Abba did feature heavily!.

Lacey theatre company

2011-03-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

Our daughter Martha has been working for Lacey theatre company this year. Her and fellow intern Sarah are starting to write a diary on the Lacey Web site http://laceytheatrecompany.com/. Its early days yet, but go to the site and click on "hand drawn".

This photo was taken by Anna Barton.

Birthday surprise.

2011-03-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

Chris and I went to London to mooch around the capital and maybe out for a little lunch(HA!).

There lurking (heavily disguised!) in a cafe in Covent Garden were our two (lovely but cunning) daughters. Chris handed me something to hold while he searched for his phone (two HAs !). It was tickets for "The Mouse trap". The theatre just happened to be around the corner, and there was just time to get there for the afternoon performance (three HAs !!).

We really enjoyed the spoof like nature of it.... It was probably quite serious when it opened all those years ago. I love Who dunnits.... I feel a musical coming on.

How very English!

2011-03-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

We have just spent a charming afternoon at a charity tea dance at our church. We learned how to do a cha cha cha and a foxtrot, then had afternoon tea and cake. It was great fun, but we had to admit it would have been more fun playing the music!

This is sweet!

2011-03-09T04:57:00.000-08:00

My teaching room!!

2011-03-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

I do a bit of teaching a couple of days a week, and love it. I am extremely blessed to teach in two nice locations. The other day when my teaching room wasn't available I taught in the "State music room" and took this picture!!. It was a bit of a strange experience and I kept thinking I should make a speech. The accoustic was rather nice though. It is odd however that when you are playing in a room like that, Mozart does seem more appropriate than B Groovy!.

New year Events starting to happen.

2011-03-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

I always think January and Febuary are strange months in my calender. Bookings start coming in for March, but the beginning of the year is very quiet ( so no posts!).

The exciting news is that all three "Two at a time" books are out, and new ensemble packs "Wind bags" and "String bags" (!) are set to appear at any time.

A new German version of the Red Hot recorder tutor has just been translated (very exciting), and lots of teachers days and workshops are in the diary.

Spring is in the air, the frogs have come back to the pond, the sun is shining, and all is well.

Watch blog for more thrilling tales!

happy new year!

2011-01-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-23T00:54:00.000-08:00

"Two at a time" Two!

2010-11-15T04:48:00.000-08:00

The first two books from my new series are now out. The flute and clarinet book, and now the descant and treble recorders book. (Violin and cello out very soon!).

The series aims to introduce two instruments at the same time and I am very excited about it. I hope that in the current times of whole class instrumental teaching, where teachers are being expected to multi task and achieve the impossible, this may help ( even a bit!). There are also lots of really useful early ensemble pieces from lesson one for the looming Christmas concert.

Wow!

2010-11-12T10:17:00.001-08:00

Just back from the American Orff Schulwerk conference.

2010-11-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

I have just had a very inspiring few days at the American Orff Schulwork conference in Spokane in Western America. The idea was to meet more American music teachers and introduce the American versions of some of my books, and to meet retailers, conference organisers and those in music Education so they could put a face to a name. It was very exciting. There were nearly two thousand delegates there from twenty states.

This was the archway to the exhibition and display areas. There was a huge exhibition hall at the conference centre, and many rooms for presentations and workshops. All the delegates were given all workshop notes and a recorder!

Our stand at the beginning of the conference. We had many visitors, and it was VERY exciting to meet people who were already using my books and knew who we were ( I had a few hugs!). Also many people had seen the review of Red Hot Recorder Method that appeared in an American music magazine in October.

There were a LOT of brightly coloured recorders!

Each Chapter of the Orff Schulwerk Association from all the states had their own banner which they paraded around the exhibition hall after the opening ceremony. They were hung around the hall for the duration of the conference.

The conference was inspiring, and the breadth of the Orff musical philosophy was evident in the workshops and activities offered. Quite an experience!

Bristol Harmonica fest.

2010-10-31T04:02:00.001-07:00

We had a nice day in Bristol yesterday at the Harmonica Fest. Not only was Chris "Chromatic player of the year" again, but his pupil James won the junior section. (very proud).

What instrument??

2010-10-31T03:56:00.000-07:00

Recently in Brugge, I came across a couple of solutions for people who are unsure what instrument to play.

Just found this!

2010-10-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

Music camp 40th anniversary.

2010-10-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of memories shared yesterday at the music camp reunion.
For more photos see www.nationalyouthmusiccamp.blogspot.com

Watch this!

2010-10-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

All music teachers watch this.

2010-10-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDF3CHqqb-4

A friend alerted me to this today. Worth a watch if you want to smile.

New term well underway.

2010-10-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

The new term is always exciting with new projects , and an important time for me in that its the main time for introducing my new music. I love the thought that someone may be discovering th "EBGB's" and other major works of mine for the first time. September also brings the NAME conference, and teachers inset days and workshops. I have been to a few places this month and met with teachers to share ideas and get creative. Every workshop is different and I tailor it to the interests of the group. Sometimes there are a few teachers in a twilight session where we will sing some songs and I will show some new ideas for the classroom, but recently I have worked with a group of seventy woodwind and brass teachers (all with instruments!). Never a dull moment!. I am very lucky.

"Two at a Time" has landed

2010-09-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

The Flute and clarinet version of "Two at a time" is now out, the descant and treble recorder version is at proof stage, and the the violin and cello version is waiting in the wings...... very exciting!

2010-09-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Things are hotting up now the summer holidays are over. I have done a couple of inset days, and it was really nice to meet teachers that have been using my books and to talk to them for inspiration.

I am off to the NAME conference with Kevin Mayhew ltd tomorrow, and am looking forward to seeing old friends there and seeing whats going on .

The summer camps were special this year being the 40th anniversary, and plans are afoot for a big reunion on the tenth of October. Anyone who has been to camp is welcome, and details are available from the education dept at the Stables theatre Milton keynes (01908) 280820.

Visit to Avril Dankworth

2010-08-19T04:07:00.000-07:00

Music camp is all finished now, and I have to admit to feeling completely exhausted, having said that, all three weeks were as wonderful as ever. One of the high spots was visiting Avril (our founder and inspiration) to celebrate the 40th anniversary with her. We played music, sang and ate cake. Avril really enjoyed the visit.

Thursday

2010-07-29T07:36:00.001-07:00

I am artistic director of the National youth music camp which is in full swing at the moment. You may like to look at our blog. www.nationalyouthmusiccamp.blogspot.com
A few pictures from this afternoon at camp. All is going well, and there are some very exciting projects emerging. It was nice today seeing groups of campers preparing group items, and forming their own ensembles and groups. The camp orchestra did a full run through of all three of its pieces, which went well, especially an arrangement of a tango with complete accordion section!.

Strings and woodwind

How many orchestras have you seen with a accordion section?

Some choreography to accompany vocals.

A campers group.

We were able to come by footage of the first camps that Avril had put onto video. Dave edited some of it, and showed the campers. They were amazed at how basic everything was, and will be recreating some of what they saw in the sports this afternoon (Walking backwards race and egg and spoon). A few familiar faces in the film, Avril, Jacqui and Alec Dankworth, Alison Tumber, Jane Lloyd, Neil Conti among others. We hope to show it all three camps.

Class Act Two

2010-07-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Class Act 2 is now out!. People have been asking for it for a while having found book one useful for both private teaching and a mixed ability group. The book takes the player into the next octave and adds a few more accidentals while still providing accessible and fun pieces to inspire. I hope It will provide a valuable resource for reinforcing note and rhythm reading while having fun.

Back from Scotland

2010-07-24T02:05:00.000-07:00

Plenty of inspiration while away. I sat in our van writing out music surrounded by lakes, mountains and cups of tea ( wonderful). We hoped to hear some traditional folk music while there, and did hear three numbers in two hours ( they took lots of beer and cigarette breaks).

Weren't bothered by midges.... they are all in this tube!.

Kerry Camden

2010-07-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

It was with sadness that I found out that Kerry Camden had died aged 74.
Kerry was my bassoon professor at The Royal College of Music for four years, and gave me many opportunities for playing and exploring the wind chamber music repertoire he loved. He supported me when I was a penniless music student by allowing me scholarships to attend Stowe summer school and the wonderful Berwang holiday music course in Austria that I went to for six years. He even gave me reeds and a bassoon crook that belonged to his famous bassoonist father Archie Camden. I will always be very grateful for this.
Kerry will be sadly missed.
http://www.musicholiday.com/index.html

Watts in Washington DC

2010-06-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

Have just flown back today from the States. Exhausting but very exciting. We went to the MENC music week in Washington to promote the American versions of my books, and to also meet a few people and fact find. The few days were very enjoyable and a great success. We met so many nice people and learned a lot about how things work in their music education system. The books were very well received, especially Red Hot Recorder Method and the Red Hot Song Library. It looks as if I may be returning to do other events and workshops very soon. (!).

To review or not to review?

2010-06-19T02:14:00.000-07:00

I felt moved to do a post on reviews in general.

Apparently the golden rule in show buisness is never to read your reviews. I have been lucky to have had a few good ones lately,but there is always a slight bit of negativity in them that must be seen by the reviewer to show their ability for critical thinking. The comments are generally about something that I have agonised about, and I feel frustrated that in true Harry Potter style a little paragraph cant magically appear under the review with the title "YES BUT!".

The negative points usually are about the fact that synthesised instruments are used on backing tracks. (YES BUT! do they think how long it would take an instrumentalist to record all these tracks perfectly, and how much it would cost for a top notch player to do this... there is more to all this than meets the eye....).

Then, in the same paragraph they say how wonderful it is to have two speeds of backing tracks.... ( add another few days with instrumentalist onto the recording time in a busy in house studio which is trying to produce quality backing tracks for every publication....

Actually what made me laugh, was a few months ago I had a review of a saxophone book from a very eminent prof. of the instrument. His negative comments were that he didn't like the tone made by the tenor sax player on the backing CD ( It was a book for alto sax), and that the player had unwisely decided not to use vibrato in his playing..... not sure he realised it was synthesised!.

Harmonica review

2010-06-14T01:38:00.000-07:00

nice review. Click on it to enlarge.

Exciting times.

2010-06-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

As a composer I am constantly working on something, but there are times when everything seems to come together and get exciting. I have just taken delivery of Red Hot two, finished proofing class act two, and just finished writing the second of the "Two at a time series".

To top this, things are hotting up for my trip with Kevin Mayhews to the big MENC conference for Music Education in Washington USA. Its been very exciting seeing the six foot banners which will go behind the stand to promote my books. There are new American mailers and instrument stickers. We even have RED HOT MUGS!!. How exciting is that!.

Here at last

2010-06-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Red Hot recorder 2 has arrived! Its always very exciting when the man arrives with the parcel.

I am very pleased with the finished product and hope it will be useful. There is plenty of opportunity for adding treble and tenor for ensemble playing, and some new additions like scales to an accompaniment and an "All made up" section for on the spot composition and improvisation. Its very hard to do a book two of anything, so I am hoping it pleases.