Blow & Blast Workshops
Blow and Blast 'easy' workshops
aim to provide the 'entry-level' experience of
playing in a group context that is seldom available
to adults. Our programme also includes
'improver' and 'intermediate' ensembles, helping
mature learners to develop the skills that will
allow them to participate in community bands and
orchestras with confidence.
Enjoy the social side of
working with others, attempt new challenges and
develop the skills that are specific to the ensemble
situation. Places are limited, to ensure that
everyone can receive help if they require it.
Each workshop is an individual session, so there is
no need to commit to regular attendance.
If in doubt about which
workshop would be best for you,
contact us with some
information about your instrument, standard and any
previous ensemble experience. We will do our
best to advise appropriately.
Our workshops for early
2020 include:
Easy Events
If you have a very
limited range of notes, lack confidence reading
music, haven't played in a group before and/or can't
guarantee that your instrument will produce a
reliable sound (or any sound at all!), then one of
our easy-level workshops will be just the thing for you!
Our music consists of a
mixture of light classical, traditional and original
pieces, specifically designed to strengthen
sight-reading skills and build confidence.
Learn some of the techniques and terminology used in
ensemble, band and orchestral contexts while having
fun making music with others.
Find
out more about easy workshops
Improver/Intermediate
Events
Blow & Blast offers a
range of workshops for adult learners and
'returners' who are looking to extend or refresh
their skills in a friendly, not-too-demanding
environment. A rough guide to standards is as
follows:
IMPROVER -
Ideal
for those who are comfortably underway on their
instrument, sight-reading basic note and rhythm
patterns confidently and perhaps playing at around Grade
2 - 4
level. This is an opportunity to acquire or extend
ensemble skills in a friendly, supportive
environment.
The improver group may also be
suitable for players who are fairly new to their
woodwind instrument but already read
music fluently.
INTERMEDIATE - Added to our programme by
popular request - for those who are too good for the
improvers' group but not yet expert! You should be
reasonably familiar with the working range of the
instrument and comfortable about sight-reading in a
variety of not-too-intimidating key and time signatures.
Repertoire consists of a
mixture of classical, traditional and original
pieces, designed to:
-
strengthen
sight-reading skills and build confidence
-
increase awareness of
intonation, phrasing and balance
-
increase awareness of
the role of your part within the ensemble
-
produce a satisfying
musical result
Find out more about Improver/Intermediate workshops
Easy-level Workshops - more info
Never played in a
group before? You'll find that you are able to
make music with other people in no time at all,
guided by award-winning tutors who specialise in
working with adults. Group sizes are small,
ensuring you'll receive individual attention and be
given plenty of support. Each workshop
functions as a free-standing event, so there is no
need to commit to regular attendance unless you
choose!
Our easy-level
workshops are as follows:
- Easy Woodwind
(flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon only)
- Happy Honkers
(saxophones, brass, clarinets)
- Easy All at C
Mini-Orchestra (flute, oboe, bassoon, bowed
strings)
These all take
place at Birnam Arts Centre, Station Road, Birnam,
PH8 0DS
You will need your own
instrument (string players should be capable of
tuning this themselves) and should be able to play
at least a few notes!
To ensure that we have
appropriate music available, it is important that
you book in advance, letting us know your instrument
and some details of your approximate standard and
previous ensemble experience (if any).
Please visit our
dates/venues page for
dates, times, prices, etc.
Improver/Intermediate
Workshops - more info
For any of the
events listed below, you will need your own
instrument (string players shold be capable of
tuning this themselves).
Parts are specially
arranged to suit the confidence and ability level of
participants, so it is important that you book in
advance, letting us know your instrument (key, clef,
etc) and a little about your approximate standard
and previous musical experience.
IMPROVER/INTERMEDIATE
WOODWIND - Flute, Oboe, Clarinet or Bassoon
only
A mixed-ability workshop available in
Callander (approximately once a month on a Saturday
morning) or Birnam (approximately once every six
weeks or so on a Sunday morning).
Dates/Venues/Times
SAXOPHONES/BRASS
- Saxophones, Brass (band) instruments
A mixed-ability workshop for
improver/intermediate players on saxophone or brass
instruments. Ideal
for those who are comfortably underway, perhaps playing at around Grade 2 - 4
level or above, who are looking to acquire or extend
ensemble skills in a friendly, supportive
environment.
Saxophone/Brass workshops
take place in Callander (roughtly once every two
months on a Saturday morning) and Crieff (most
months, on a Wednesday evening).
Dates/Venues/Times
BLOW AND BLAST BAND - Woodwind, Saxophones,
Brass
A fun play-along for
wind/brass band instruments, catering for a mixture
of standards. To enjoy band, we would
recommend a standard of Grade 2 or above.
However, relative beginners who already read music
fluently, so can manage an easy part without
support, can also participate.
The Blow & Blast band was
originally conceived as a sort of 'mini-band', to
extend the playing experience of participants from
our woodwind ensemble workshops. It is also
ideal for those seeking an occasional fun play-along
to help keep them in practice.
Please note - this is
definitely not a
standard/conventional concert band!!
Dates/Venues/Times
ALL AT C MINI-ORCHESTRA
- C woodwind, bowed strings
A mini-orchestra
equivalent of the Blow & Blast band, for players of
instruments pitched in C - flute, oboe, bassoon and
bowed strings. Recorder players may also be
accepted - please contact us to enquire.
Parts are specially
arranged to suit the confidence and ability level of
participants, so it is important that you book in
advance, letting us know your instrument and a
little about your approximate standard and previous
musical experience. To enjoy All at C, we
would recommend a playing standard of at least Grade
2, with some previous ensemble experience.
The All at C
Mini-Orchestra takes place in Birnam on occasional
Saturday mornings or Thursday afternoons; also in
Crieff on occasional Friday afternoons.
Dates/Venues/Times
INTERMEDIATE WOODWIND -
flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon only
The standard of
this group varies between venues. The Perth
and weekend Birnam Intermediate Woodwind sessions
tend to demand a playing ability of around Grade 5+,
confident sight-reading and a quite a lot of previous
ensemble experience. Birnam mid-week
Intermediate workshops and the
Improvers/Intermediate group in Callander tend to be a little
less demanding!
Blow & Blast
Intermediate Woodwind workshops take place at Perth
Concert Hall (approximately once a month on Saturday
afternoons), Birnam Arts Centre (approximately once
a month on Sunday afternoons and occasional Thursday
mornings).
Dates/Venues/Times
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