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Summer 2016 Concerts! 15th – 22nd May

Not long now… see you there!

This year we are raising as much money as we can for the Starr Trust (www.starrtrust.com) and as usual are sponsored by our wonderful friends at Ackerman Music. Please note that once again the concerts are scheduled for two separate weekends. We really hope you are free to play something, so please put it in your diary now as we know your weekends can get very busy. As usual all instruments, solos, duets and ensembles are very welcome. The concerts are free choice and welcome all ages and abilities. If you are new, please be assured that it’s a very relaxed environment and a great opportunity to play for friends and family in a beautiful venue. Complete beginners are very welcome (in fact we have entire concerts dedicated to you!).

“The Starr Trust has one main objective – to champion young people and help them achieve their goals. We are a family charity based in Hove who support young people in need aged 10 –18 (living in the BN postal code region) in sports, arts and education, by giving them a helping hand to achieve their goals at a time when they really need it. We believe in a world in which young people are supported to achieve their full potential; where they flourish as individuals whilst making a positive contribution to their community… and in turn are recognised for their achievements.”
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New testimonials… all in a row!

We asked our clients for feedback about their music teachers last week.  Check out our testimonials page to see what they said when prompted to comment on the list below, or mention anything else they felt was relevant. Thank you to all of our tutors for their total dedication to the cause, especially Clare, James, Rich, Priya, Jinny, Rosanna, Zara, Annalies, Jonathan, Vicky, Philip and Adrian… who have all been specifically targeted for high praise!!!

How well does your tutor demonstrate the following qualities?

  • Dedication to a pupil’s progress on their instrument
  • Inspired and engaging teaching methods
  • Good time keeping
  • Good rapport with pupils
  • Regularity of lessons
  • Friendly, polite, professional attitude
  • ‘Variety’ during a lesson (for example sight-reading, theory, scales, pieces, composition)
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2016 SUMMER CONCERTS!

This coming May we’ll be holding another run of concerts to celebrate our musical skills! I know from experience that although most of our performers will arrive on stage looking very small… they will leave having made a very big impression.  SEE OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR MORE INFO!

It is in the weeks before a concert that every music teacher notices a marked acceleration in a pupil’s progress. It’s no wonder, they are playing their instrument more than they are playing on the ipad! Parents tend to become more involved, encouraging extra practise before or after school. The practise charts suddenly re-appear, covered in stickers awarded for all the hard work. When the teacher arrives for the lesson, they are bombarded with details of the levels of practise down to the last second. ‘I did 12 and a half minutes before my bath Susanna! I did my scales and I don’t even need them for the concert!’

You may think an upcoming performance would be a time for a child to feel pressure and nerves, but if the teacher applies generous amounts of encouragement, praise and structure in equal proportions, it is the very time everyone is enjoying their music the most.

Music concerts offer so much variety too. Siblings, friends and family often play duets or in small ensembles and many of the teachers arrive at the front with their instruments too… something which is often the key to encouraging the very small ones onto the stage for their first public recital. It’s much harder to go it alone so these collaborations are greatly encouraged.

Nothing works better as an incentive when it comes to learning a musical instrument, than the chance to perform together.  If you’re not learning with us already there is a free lesson available… and once you’re on board the opportunities are endless!

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Exam preparation…

Entries are in and we’re waiting to hear when you’ll all be sitting your March exams…  so why not have a look at the ABRSM website for advice and to ensure you’re fully prepared!  It’s all there… what to expect on the day, how to prepare well, how the examiners mark each element and how to overcome those last minute nerves.  www.abrsm.org

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New testimonial… Jan 2016

Jonathan DearPlease keep them coming, we LOVE hearing how you’re getting on…

‘Our daughter has just started having piano lessons and we are so pleased with how well she has taken to them, and Jonathan her teacher.  Daisy is very shy but has been put completely at ease, during her lessons and is always looking forward to the next one.  A lot of this is thanks to how Jonathan teaches, and by adding some fun using games during the lessons, means Daisy really enjoys her weekly lessons.  Daisy has been telling all of her friends that if they want to learn piano they should ask for Jonathan to be their teacher!’ From Tammy, Daisies mum.

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CELEBRATIONS ARE DONE!… A message from Susanna.

IMG_7287Massive thanks and congratulations to all SCMT pupils and tutors that performed at our 10 Year Anniversary Christmas Concerts.  We’re so proud of you all, what an amazing achievement.  It gives us so much joy to see you play your instruments, you’re all so brave, determined and inspired.  We’re ready to say goodbye to 2015, it’s been such a lovely celebration of our ever expanding community of musicians.  Spread the word… music lives to be let out!  HAPPY CHRISTMAS from everyone at SCMT (and thanks again to Ackerman Music for all their support).

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ABRSM exam preparation…

It’s that time again… dates and time now published, countdown to the big day!  Please have a look at this link from the ABRSM website, it will give you a much clearer idea of how your performances will be assessed:

http://us.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/information-and-regulations/graded-music-exam-marking-criteria/

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Charity Fundraising…

11214044_822138054529444_835274560728631493_nWe raised lots of money during our 10th Anniversary Concerts for the Brighton Dome Umbrella Club.  Thank you so much to everyone that came along, participated and donated with such generosity.  Here is a recent article about them from the Argus, a wonderful cause that makes an enormous difference to so many poorly children.  Huge thanks also to Ackerman Music, without whom none of it would have been possible.

Theatre trips helping to raise spirits of poorly children…

A THEATRE programme aimed to give ill children the chance to attend performances has kicked off its new season.

The Umbrella Club – Brighton Dome’s membership club for children and young people with life-shortening conditions and their siblings and carers – launched its new season this weekend with a puppetry production of Michael Rosen’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

The scheme aims to offer access to the arts through the provision of free tickets to live performances and workshops, as well as special meet the cast sessions after selected shows.

Saturday’s performance was followed by a special Playmakes workshop which offered the opportunity for kids to get crafty and make a keepsake to take home.

Now in its second year, the Umbrella Club has enabled around 400 poorly children, siblings and families to attend over 30 performances since the club’s inception.

Andrew Comben, chief executive officer of Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival said: “The Umbrella Club is an invaluable way to ensure these children, their siblings and their carers are able to access the arts and hopefully share some memorable experiences.

 “We are grateful to all the funders and supporters that make it possible for us to provide this invaluable scheme as part of our on-going work to make Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival events more accessible for all.”
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SCMT 10 Year Anniversary Christmas Concerts…

pianoIt’s almost that time again… and doesn’t time fly!  Our 10 year Anniversary Christmas Concerts are fast approaching, yet another reason to celebrate.  Phew!  Here are the details:

All instruments, solos, duets and ensembles are very welcome.  The concerts are for adults and children, are free choice… and welcome all ages and abilities.

Date and times:  Sunday 22nd November, 2pm til 9pm.   5 Concerts (4 for the children… followed by 1 for the adults, advanced pupils and small groups).

Venue:  St Nicholas Chruch, Dyke Road, Brighton.  BN1 3LJ

Guest price:   £5 for adults (payable on the door, cash only, free to all children and performers).

Entry deadline:   Friday 30th October

1 or 2 pieces per performer.  Maximum total performance time of 3 minutes (children’s concerts) and 6 minutes (adults/advanced/groups concert).

Performance lists, inclusive of your particular concert time, will be emailed to you once the deadline has passed and performances have been collated.  Full programmes will also be supplied on the door, free of charge.   Drinks and nibbles will be served throughout as usual.

You can either submit your entry to Susanna in person at this email address, or simply let your tutor know. We can’t wait to see you there!  You can even play if you DON’T have lessons with SCMT (as a one off )… because we know that once you have you’ll be hooked! 🙂

At SCMT, music lives to be let out…

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Susanna’s blog

For all parents of young musicians

Check out Susanna’s new advice regarding the age a child should start to learn a musical instrument… to be found at the bottom of the home page on our website.  A brilliant guide for all parents with children aged 3 and up.  Definitely worth a read over the holidays!  Enjoy the sun, everybody…

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Fund-raising news…

IMG_0034We are DELIGHTED to let you know that the Brighton Dome Umbrella Club have decided how they would like to spend the money that we raised over the course of our 10 year Anniversary concerts.  Thank you to everyone that performed… and every parent, friend and tutor that encouraged those performances.  Look at the difference we’ve made, they’re creating a new project on the back of our efforts:
From Hilary, Brighton Dome Umbrella Club…
‘Thank you SO much for this! We would like to spend the money on workshops for children who are too unwell to come out of the hospice and see Umbrella Club shows. We will take members of theatre companies and creative workshop staff into the hospice to provide activities in situ so that they don’t miss out.’
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!  We can’t wait to see you all at the Christmas Concerts, what a year…
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*NEWSFLASH* SCMT Photo and Video competition winners are…

A huge thank you to everyone who sent in entries to our photo and video competition. We had some really great entries, you can see the winners below:

Photo competition:

IMG_00341st                     Elena Weir, Trumpets.

 

 

 

 

11214044_822138054529444_835274560728631493_n2nd                    Athina Tameresi, Jazz piano

 

 

 

 

 

marianephotoconcert3rd                    Marns Amurao, Mariane.

 

 

 

 

Video competition (All entries can be found on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/cassammusic ):

1st                     Andrew Macintosh, Caitlin.

2nd                   Marns Amurao, Matt.

3rd                   Wendy Armstrong, Juliette.

 

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Only 3 days left to enter our photo and Video competition…

photo 5The dust is slowly settling after 4 wonderful concerts to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. But there’s still time to enter our photo and video competition.  If you did take photos or videos of your/your child’s performance and would like to enter the competition, simply send your entries to [email protected]. Winners will be announced on Monday, so please get your entries to us before then. Prizes in both instances will be as follows, first prize is £20, second prize is £10 and third prize is £5. (Please be aware that upon sending photos in reply, we will assume your permission to use them on our website and social media marketing.)

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10 Year Anniversary Concert…. Adults and advanced, what a success!

IMG_6266From all here at SCMT we would like to say a massive congratulations to everybody who performed in the finale of our 10 Year Anniversary Concerts. We had a brilliant time and loved every performance.  A special well done must go to Ronny (pictured), aged 88, still having lessons and performing for us. We had some amazing duets, incredible solo performances with a wonderful range in instruments and genres, so much variety. what an amazing night to round off our series of concerts, well done to everybody who took part!

A HUGE thank you to our friends at Ackerman music for sponsoring our concerts, we really couldn’t have done it without you.  

We will be announcing the total raised for our chosen charity (Brighton Dome Umbrella Club) next monday along with winners to our photo and video the competition (still open for entries so please keep them coming).

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DON’T FORGET! SCMT photo and video competition…

IMG_5939Don’t forget SCMT are running a photo and video competition over both concert weekends, with cash prizes to be won in both categories. If you did take photos or videos of your/your child’s performance and would like to enter the competition, simply send your entries to [email protected]. Winners will be announced on the Monday 22nd June, so please get your entries to us before then. Prizes in both instances will be as follows, first prize is £20, second prize is £10 and third prize is £5. (Please be aware that upon sending photos in reply, we will assume your permission to use them on our website and social media marketing.)