The importance of scales

Posted on 20/05/2011 by Will Hay

There’s little chance of escaping the fact that scales aren’t the most exciting thing to practice, especially when you have a piano exam coming up in the next few weeks.  However they are the building blocks of much music and being able to play them fluently is fundamental in the ability to play any instrument.

My students have been incorporating “musical curve” into their scale technique. Playing duet scales helps focus on the rhythm with some lovely arrangements  in “Get Ready for Major Scale Duets”

This collaborative performance of Twinkle Twinkle Little C from the book demonstrates some of the “musical curve” technique they have been exploring. With thanks to Amelia, Kathleen, Lauren, Beth, Mattea, Shea, Alice, Emily, Grace, Ruth, Felicity, Izzie, Emma, Kirsten, Jacob, Oliver and Sylvia for their contributions to the video.

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Scales are also a useful tool to experiment with in composition. This 12 bar work by Beryl looks at the relationship between relative major and minor scale.
“Major and Minor Creativity” by Beryl

Why not have a go at making your own composition using scales? Log in to your noteflight account to get started.

Summer Charity Concerts

Posted on 14/05/2011 by Will Hay

This term there will be two charity concerts taking place:
“Playing Together” on Saturday 18th June, 2011 at 10:30am at Upton Village Hall, and
“Ludus Cantiones” on Saturday 25th June, 2011 at 11am at St. Columba’s Hall.

At “Playing Together” you can expect a programme of piano and instrumental solos, piano duets and other small ensembles.

“Ludus Cantiones” translates as play sing, reflecting the vocal and choral content of the programme alongside piano solos and ensembles. We are looking forward to welcoming the Chester Music Society Youth Choir and Preludes to sing in this concert.

Both concerts should last no more than an hour.

Watch the Chester Music Society Youth Choir and Preludes in rehearsal for “Ludus Cantiones”

Funds raised from the concert tickets will continue to support a lesson bursary for Betina, a student at Kampala Music School, Uganda

Tickets are £3/adult and £1/child for either concert. A special price of £5/adult for both concerts is also available. They can be purchased either directly from Will Hay or via paypal

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LCM Pre-Prep Results

Posted on 11/05/2011 by Will Hay

Following my first student entry into the LCM foundation exams, Lucy came away with a great mark (82/100) and she agreed to share some of her favourite pieces from the exam in this video.

Lucy’s PrePrep Pieces

Piano Lessons for Mum: 4 for £40

Posted on 01/04/2011 by Will Hay

Piano Lessons for Mother's DayHas your mum been wanting to learn the piano or thinking of looking for a teacher?

How about a course of piano lessons as a gift for Mother’s Day?

I can offer lessons at my home studio in Deeside on a Wednesday morning with the first four lessons for £40 so that she can try them out. Contact me for availability. (Offer running throughout April 2011)

CMS Youth Choirs Eastertide Concert

Posted on 27/03/2011 by Will Hay

Next Saturday 2nd April at All Saint’s Church, Hoole starting at 7:30, Chester Music Society Youth Choir will be presenting their Eastertide Concert.

They are pleased to welcome special guest choir, ‘Cantabile’ from Overleigh St. Mary’s Primary School. The programme will include popular anthems by John Rutter along with excerpts from Chilcott’s ‘Little Jazz Mass’ and Pergolesi ‘Stabat Mater’.

By way of a preview of an item in the concert, see the video below which was recorded while the choir were rehearsing on residential back in October 2010. This is an excerpt of one of the piece which will be performed on the night.

Badgers and Hedgehogs excerpt video