HUMS Aloud HUMS Aloud #005a - BBC Play It Again event, Watford (Part 2 of 3) - Plain M

This is the same as episode 005 - except that it is a plain MP3 - some folks have trouble with enhanced podcasts 

Introduction

Podcast

• 5th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

BBC Play It Again

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order
• BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.
• This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London - together with over 200 other members of the public.
• Self - tuba (9 months), daughter on flute

Format - second of 3 episodes

• first one dealt with the arrival and settling in
• this one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• third episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete c. 300-strong ensemble.

Setting the background

• - initial introduction to the session complete
• - when signing up participants specified themselves as singing, percussion, instrument, saxophone (clearly not an instrument!) or others
• - others included banjos, classical and electric guitars and anything unclassifiable
• - each of the groups taken to separate parts of the building to rehearse leaving main orchestra and the 'instrument' participants
• - just walked over to the bass section of the BBC Concert Orchestra to meet my 'BBC Friend' - Kevin Morgan together with one other tuba player.

Reasons for taking up the tuba

• - is that a tuner? No it's a recorder
• - originally a euphonium player
• - retirement present

Getting started

• - my 'BBC Friend' - very inclusive
• - 4 lines of increasing difficulty
• - orchestra tuning up
• - it's in bass clef - normally read treble (add 3 sharps - now 4...)
• - trying to find a part

Learning the Signals

• - pick a note, any note
• - responding to different hand signals from conductor
• - louder, softer
• - accented attack note & hold
• - ease into it
• - short note, different (young child in pushchair adds own interpretation!)

4 lines of increasing difficulty

• - need to provide a way of allowing everyone to take part
• - range from complete beginners to experienced
• - musical score for each instrument divided into 4 lines of increasing difficulty from 1 (easiest) to 4 (the full orchestral part)
• - lots of trouble to ensure inclusivity and break down the fear factor

Line 1
- bass section - tubas, trombones, rhythm
- strings & wind
- brass

Line 2
- brass & bass

Line 3
- BBC only
- play what you can

Line 4 - My Lips won't Take any More
- brass - "my lips can't take any more"
- BBC

Outro

• This is the end of episode 2
• Each of the groups has rehearsed separately
• Next and final episode get to talk to some participants in the break to find out how they got on
• Rehearse the 'super orchestra' (almost 300 strong) to the concluding performance

The Huntingdonshire Music School is glad to provide instrument, theory tuition together with playing with ensembles to any child or adult who can get to us!