Highnotes, September 2011

HighnotesIssue 17 • September 2011

Like many people myfirst experience of musicmaking came when myenthusiastic fatherinsisted that I learn thepiano and violin. Ofcourse I started out as areluctant pupil but now Iam so grateful to him forintroducing me to theworld of music.

As a broadcaster with a passion for classical music, I wasdelighted to be invited to join Classic FM last year. I countmyself very lucky to be able to bring my favourite musicto such a large and appreciative audience. I love toreceive messages from listeners who have been touchedby the music; there isn't anything as powerful as musicfor stirring emotions. That's probably why so many of usenjoy making music, whether alone or as part of a group.

I am a proud supporter of the work Classic FM does inthe community through its charity, The Classic FMFoundation. Recently, I was invited to see the work thatthe charity has funded through Nordoff Robbins' musictherapy centre in north London. Here, specialist musictherapists use their classical training to help disabled anddisadvantaged children. By using call-and-responsetechniques, they can teach an autistic child how to taketurns; strumming on a guitar can show a toddler withcerebral palsy how to organise their movements; singingtogether can help a child who has never spoken to saytheir first word. It's an incredible and inspiring centre.

This year, The Classic FM Foundation is hoping to raiseenough money to provide over 4,000 Nordoff Robbinsmusic therapy sessions for children across the UK. To helpreach that target, Classic FM has joined with MakingMusic to organise an exciting nationwide fundraisingevent for singers. 123sing! is the UK's biggest celebrationof singing and takes place from Friday 30 Septemberto Sunday 2 October. By dedicating a performance orrehearsal to 123sing! or inviting friends to your homefor a sing-along, you can make a real difference todisadvantaged children. As well as benefitting from thepleasures of singing – and sharing it with others – your

choir or group could win the chance to have yourconcerts promoted on Classic FM. And don't forget thatyour group can keep 25% of whatever you raise. I dohope you can join us.

To find out more about 123sing!, visitclassicfm.com/123sing

Tune in to John Suchet on Classic FM everyweekday from 9am to 1pm, on 100 – 102 FM,digital and online at classicfm.com

Jonathan Ray

Page 4

Superact health andwellbeing project managertalks about their music inhospitals programme

Kathryn Deane

Page 7

Director of Sound Senseannounces a new project tocreate ten new community-changing choirs

Andrew Potter

Page 8 and 9

Retiring Making Music Chairshares the Making Music storyand invites you to help spreadthe word

Highlights

By John Suchet

Join me for123sing!

SUPPORTING & CHAMPIONING VOLUNTARY MUSIC

The Classic FM Foundation helps disadvantagedchildren through music education and therapy

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The Cottontown Chorus from Bolton, the

2011 Mens Barbershop Chorus Champions

Become one of the 6000 who are now singing barbershop harmony!

Join the growing number of adults and youngersingers who are experiencing the thrill ofmaking chords ring in the distinctivebarbershop harmony style.

We are encouraging choirs, quartets and individuals to try it for themselves. If youwant to add a barbershop song to yourrepertoire, start a barbershop choir orquartet, join a barbershop club, attend anyof our events or become a member of theassociation - send for further details.

There are 6000 barbershop singers in theUK, with 100,000 worldwide. All share thejoy of singing - but it’s the harmony thatmakes the difference!

The British Association of Barbershop SingersDruids Lea, Upper Stanton Drew,

Bristol BS39 4EG Registered Charity No: 1080930

Crossfire, the 2011

Mens Barbershop Quartet Champions

Singing in a barbershop quartet

Performing in a barbershop chorus

Add some Harmony to your Performance

Sing Barbershop - It’s the Harmony that makes the difference!

www.singbarbershop.com

Event DiaryYouth/College Quartet ContestBirmingham Conservatoire20th November 2011Open to all young men 25 years of age and under. Just sing two barbershop songs - Entry is Free!

38th Annual Barbershop ConventionSouthport 25th - 27th May 2012A weekend of singing, competitions, shows and fun. Everyone is welcome to attend.

For details of any of our events visit our web site

Become a MemberJoin Today!

Join the British Association of Barbershop Singers as an individual, as a quartet or as a choir.

For details email:[email protected]

Free Information PackFor a copy please write to the address

alongside or email: [email protected]

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Registered Charity 1014284

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Antonia Köster, piano; Sindri Lederer, violin; Liisa Randalu, viola; Florian Streich, cello

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As we go to pressmany of us willhave been having asummer breakfrom our musicmaking, and will beanticipating withgrowing excitementgetting togetherwith our groups inthe new season,and enjoying themusical challenges

that lie ahead. We will meet old friends andmake some new ones; for many of us the socialside of participating in music, or listening to it,is as important as the music itself. Volunteeringalso helps connect us with different people.And, for many, music can help us create somesort of balance in our busy lives. This issue ofHighnotes coincides with Making Music’sannual gathering, this year in Glasgow anddedicated to the important area of music andwellbeing; so if you can’t get there, turn topage 5, or visit our website.

Music directors and committees will have theircurrent season plans in place. In this Highnotesyou will find additional opportunities to takepart in the BBC’s Music Nation weekend (acountdown event for London Festival 2012,the finale of the Cultural Olympiad), and inClassic FM’s 123sing! (an annual fundraiser)later this month.

Over the past six years the Making MusicBoard has worked hard under the excellentstewardship of Andrew Potter to improvecommunications with our members, and wedevote the middle spread to telling theMaking Music story and thanking Andrew forhis patient leadership. Andrew has a naturalempathy for people, and great listening skills.Long may that continue!

Karen CardyEditor and Marketing [email protected]

If you have any suggestions for articles oryou would like to contribute to Highnotes,please contact the Commissioning Editor,Sarah Hayward on 020 7422 8291 [email protected]

Copy deadline for the next issue of Highnotes,January 2012 is 30 September 2011

Any views or opinions expressed by externalcontributors may not necessarily representthose of Making Music

In brief

Welcome

Highnotes • September 2011 • 3

Making Music is working with the BBC onMusic Nation, a spectacular weekendof music all around the UK, as part of theCultural Olympiad. Live music eventswill take place on 3 and 4 March 2012,involving over a hundred member groups.

Music Nation will include the premièreof the Making Music Overture, a piececommissioned by Making Music, writtenby Orlando Gough and John Agard that issuitable for all performing groups. Thepiece is available for performance until theclosing ceremony of the Paralympic Gameson 9 September 2012. The Making MusicOverture is part of the Cultural Olympiad inits own right, so groups who perform it willbe supporting London 2012.

You are invited to apply now to performthe piece yourself. Spaces are also availablefor participating MDs on free training sessions with Richard Frostick, Orlando Gough and theBBC Singers in London and Salford in November. Applications must be received by Friday7 October to secure a space at the training sessions.

For further information and application forms visitwww.makingmusic.org.uk/overture. The music will be available to downloadfrom the website in September

How has music affected your life?In July, we asked all of our member representatives to tell us how music has affected their life– in no more than two sentences! We did this to help us build a collage of what music reallymeans to the people of the UK. We had a wonderful response, with around 300 entries.Taken together they reveal a nation with live music making woven into its fabric. We willpublish some of the best entries on our website soon, and use this remarkable and movingtestimony to persuade government and funders to support more music participationprojects next year.

Wilton's Music Hall saved!

The Choir with No Name is one of 15members running their own project forMusic Nation

www.flickr.com

/photos/simonswatman

Wilton's Music Hall, the world's oldestsurviving music hall, will remain opendespite uncertainty following the HeritageLottery Fund's decision to reject its £2.25million funding bid to help pay for essentialbuilding work in May of this year. Wilton'shas been putting on events since 1858,but following the HLF decision the venueannounced it would be closing by theautumn. There was an overwhelmingresponse to the 'Save Wilton's' fundraisingcampaign, including one significant matchfunding donation, which means they nowhave the money to start urgent repairs.More money is needed to complete repairsand for ongoing maintenance.

www.wiltons.org.uk/support

Perform the MakingMusic Overture

By Karen CardyMarketing Director

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4 • Highnotes • September 2011

Volunteering

Why I volunteer for Making MusicBy Jean Renno, Making Music Scotland volunteer

I started my musical journey aged sixwhen my unmusical mum sent me topiano lessons. Music has been an integralpart of my life ever since. From thoseschool sessions throughout my workinglife, I've always had music. I've joined achoir wherever I've been, and havestarted up choirs too, and I can't imaginelife without listening or participating.

I'm on the committee of Making Musicmember Fife Festival of Music because I

am very keen to support young singers and players in the region. Theyproduce fantastic results every year during the festival, and the joy ofhearing the players progress from beginners scraping and tweeting to aGrade 8 performance standard – albeit a good 15 years on – is so

Jean Renno

Young Scottish Jazz Musician, The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Kevin Garrity

Jean volunteers because she loves supporting young talent

The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, one of the Scottishmembers Jean and the volunteer team helps to support

Making Music CouncilMaking Music is currently establishing a formally constituted Council(to be called the Making Music Council) to provide a means of interactionbetween the Board, the executive and the volunteers who representMaking Music. The Council will be made up of the Board, Chief Executive,senior management team, the national and regional managers,volunteers representing Strategic Action Groups, volunteers representingdifferent genres, and volunteers representing the regions and nations.

Appointments to the Council will be announced before the inauguralMaking Music Council meeting at our conference in September. In future,you will be able to raise issues and communicate your views throughcouncil representatives, and we will also use council representatives toconsult and communicate with you.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/council

worthwhile. My volunteering runs from stewarding at classes, assistingadjudicators, or just going along to the sessions and concert to listen.I also help out at a couple of schools playing for choirs, and there too it'sworking with youngsters and watching them grow in confidence andskills that makes it for me.

I can't say that I decided to volunteer for Making Music – rather I becameMaking Music Representative for my own choral society in 1980 after myreturn from working overseas. Shortly after that, I was invited to join theMaking Music Scotland Committee, becoming Chair in 1998 and servingin that capacity until 2007. I thought that I'd probably done my bit forthe organisation at that point, but I'm still around, working with theScottish Development Officer on setting up the Scottish members''clusters' initiative – all as a volunteer, of course.

I've never considered any of my time with the organisation as a chore –in each case it was a job that needed doing and I was interested in what itoffered me in terms of worthwhile involvement. I enjoy interacting withothers, and the roles I have had with the committee certainly fulfilled thatpurpose. I've met lots of people right across the musical spectrum, froma well-organised orchestral group which shared innovative ideas aboutinvolving youngsters and increasing audiences, to a small promotinggroup keen to involve the local school in their programming, to choralgroups seeking advice about working with other groups in their area. AsChair I reported to the Scottish Arts Council annually. Nowadays in myposition as co-ordinator of the clusters in Scotland, I never know whatwe're going to be asked at meetings, so that keeps me on my toes!

I can't promise you would have the same range of opportunities if youvolunteered with Making Music in your area, but your skills will be used,whether people skills, organisational expertise, legal knowledge, workingwith youngsters, contacts with other agencies, fundraising – the sky's thelimit. And I can promise that you will be involved with the developmentof music making, locally and/or nationally, and that whatever you give interms of time and energy will be returned immeasurably in satisfactionand in the knowledge that you've made a difference.

To find out more about volunteering for Making Music, pleasevisit www.makingmusic.org.uk/volunteers

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Music makes us happier and healthier

Spread the music &wellbeing messageHave you thought about how what you do in your group has a beneficialimpact on those who take part? Ask anyone what they get out ofmaking music in a group and you will hear a wide range of answers; butamongst those will almost certainly feature a feeling of wellbeing, asense of community, more energy and positive thinking. Take a look atour new information sheet on the benefits of music on wellbeing to helpyour group highlight the benefits to others.

Download Information sheet 74: The benefits of music onwellbeing in the Resources area of our website

Making Music's music& wellbeing surveyWe had a terrific response to the Making Music music and wellbeingsurvey, showing how many voluntary music groups across the UK areactively involved in using music to enhance wellbeing. One such exampleis Resound Choir in the North West, which aims to improve its localcommunity through the shared enjoyment of singing. Congratulations toits Chair Sarah Monteith who wins our £50 Amazon voucher drawn fromall survey respondents.

From our survey we have developed a number of case studies whichare now available on our website. We will be adding to these as we hearof more programmes and initiatives, to help inspire you if you areconsidering undertaking music and wellbeing activities, and to shareideas and advice about how to go about it. If you know of a good projectthat we could share with other groups, please get in touch.

Find out more atwww.makingmusic.org.uk/musicandwellbeing

Realising the power of music

Working with North Bristol NHS Trust, Superact has devised a 15-monthprogramme, taking live music performances to the wards and waitingrooms of Frenchay and Southmead Hospitals. The programme waslaunched in January 2011 and runs until early 2012. It features a variety ofmusicians including a guitar and violin duo, accordionists, singers,storytellers and a harpist. The music programme was created to entertainpatients and staff, provide a focal and talking point, help to create a morerelaxed atmosphere and a positive healing environment to support therecovery process, and to inspire and support wellbeing for both patientsand staff.

Musicians visit the hospitals once a month and spend three hours at eachsite. They are accompanied during their performances by Ruth Sidgwick,North Bristol NHS Trust's Arts Programme Manager.

During the first six months of the music programme, there have beenmany positive and powerful responses that go some way todemonstrating the influence of music and performing arts within ahealthcare setting. The programme has helped create upbeat and relaxingatmospheres, provided a distraction, created a talking point for patients,carers and staff and has supported the medical staff in their work. It hasprovided many memorable and affecting moments as well, not just for therecipients but the performers too. So far, the music programme has beenpositively received by patients and staff, with some wards requestingfurther visits, and general awareness of the programme is building.

Superact and Making Music are currently working together, exploringways to help voluntary music groups and volunteers. Superact’s musiciansare experienced in performing in various areas including hospitals,residential and care homes, prisons and other settings. Their experience asperformers in these areas allows them to pass on their knowledge andwisdom to volunteers who wish to perform in community settings.www.superact.org.uk

Come and hear Jonathan Ray and Ruth Sidgwick speak at‘Music and Wellbeing: the opportunity for volunteers' onSaturday 10 September at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.Book at www.makingmusic.org.uk/conference

Trevor Hilton

At Making Music we feel passionately that the more music people make together, the healthier and happier we all are; thatapplies to everyone, and is supported by a growing body of research. We plan to contribute significantly to the development ofmusic and health through our national network of members, who are in a unique position to bring music to others within theircommunities. Our conference in September explores the many opportunities for voluntary music groups within this area.Taking music into hospitals is one such possibility we will be considering, and which may form part of our strategy; Superact –introduced here – represents the kind of partner we are working with in this field.

By Jonathan Ray, Health and Wellbeing Project Manager, Superact

Superact will be talking about their music in hospitals programmeat our conference on 10 and 11 September

North West-based Resound Choir aims to improve its local communitythrough singing

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Getting groups involved

Inspiring projects for Music NationMaking Music is representing the voluntary music sector at the BBC's Music Nation event. The weekend of live music on 3 and 4 March2012 is one of a select group of countdown events for the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad. Here we sharetwo of the 15 member projects that have been selected to showcase the quality and creativity within the sector across the weekend.

Spirit and SteelBy Andrea Encinas, Arts Manager, British Gospel Arts and Terry Noel, leader of BT Melodians Steel Orchestra

British Gospel Arts and the BT Melodians Steel Orchestra have cometogether to create Spirit and Steel as a partnership project for theMaking Music part of Music Nation. Spirit and Steel is a celebration ofchildren's gospel voices blended with the unique sound of steelpansperforming an original piece promoting the spirit of the Olympics. Boththe steelpan and the gospel voice were tools of revolution during theslave trade. Spirit and Steel honours our ancestors who, through theirpersonal resilience, encouraged great Olympians, such as Jesse Owens.

The new work, to be created by members of the children's choir andthe adult pan players, will reflect the rhythms and voices of Africa thatresonate throughout its diaspora; welding artistic excellence, cross-cultural friendship and inter-generational respect, all ideals and valuespromoted through the Olympics.

We think Spirit and Steel is an ambitious project that speaks of a faiththat goes beyond hope. Faith is what the Olympics give us: faith todream; faith to achieve. The project raises the bar for both the children'schoir and the steel orchestra as it will be our first song-writing project.

Performances will take place at the Waterfront Studio in Belfast and inWalthamstow, London, on 3 and 4 March 2012. Performance days willinclude free afternoon workshops in gospel singing and steelpan playing,as well as evening concerts with celebrity guests.

www.spiritandsteel.com

From zero to heroBy Valerie Taylor, conductor, Vocal Dimension

Vocal Dimension is a womens' a cappella closeharmony chorus based in Redhill, Surrey. Started ayear ago, we have grown rapidly from a handful ofmembers to a 22-strong, award-winning chorus.Members are from all walks of life, of varying ages andsinging experience. We have a diverse repertoireincluding traditional barbershop material, show songsand modern classics such as Valerie, all in four-partharmony. Being part of Making Music has given us theopportunity to take part in exciting events like theVoices Now festival at London's Roundhouse lastMarch and has also provided a wealth of informationand support that enabled us to flourish as a group –to the point where we won the silver medal for smallchoruses in a national competition held at SymphonyHall, Birmingham, in May. As one of our members saidrecently, 'It's a great place to be on a Tuesday night!'

www.vocaldimension.co.uk

Exploring Wiltshire'shistorical musical routesBy Iona Hassan, Assistant Artistic Director, Superstrings

Superstrings is a vibrant music club for young string players based in Wiltshire, and providesafter-school orchestras and holiday courses for children regardless of age or ability. Thisautumn we are embarking on an ambitious musical project to engage local children in theirown local history and heritage.

The Superstrings Folk Project, part of the Music Nation weekend, will see young string playersfrom across Wiltshire learn to play and explore folk music alongside outstanding English folkduos through a series of workshops. Participating children will also prepare for the worldpremière of a commissioned collaboration with award-winning folk super group Bellowhead.

Composed by Pete Flood and Paul Sartin of Bellowhead, the new piece is inspired by the lifeand work of hammerman, renowned folksongcollector and local hero, Alfred Williams. Born atSouth Marston in 1877, Williams toiled longhours for the Great Western Railway whilst avidlypursuing his passion as a writer and collector,publishing six volumes of poetry and booksdescribing his world; most notably Life in aRailway Factory, the most important socialdocument in Swindon’s history.

Making Music has offered Superstrings supportand advice, helping to develop and enable morechildren to experience the joy of music making.The première performance will be at STEAMSwindon on Sunday 4 March 2012; it promisesto be a spectacular event.

www.superstringsclub.co.uk

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Getting more people involved

Community-changing choirsBy Kathryn Deane, Director of Sound Sense, the UK professional association for community musicians

Singing is great, right? It makes you feel good, it enables you to expressemotions, it can bring communities together. Except that, singingtends not to bring different communities together. Many choirs appealonly to the middle-classes; and because of that, many people don't geta chance to take part.

There are exceptions, of course, of which the most famous are theSouth Oxhey Choirs, initiated by TV's Gareth Malone. There are manyother examples, led by community musicians, but their value incommunity development terms is not widely understood and theydon't often develop an autonomous life beyond that of their originalvocal leader.

This gap has sparked a new collaboration between Sound Sense andMaking Music. Sound Sense members have huge skills in communitydevelopment through music, and know all about working with peoplewho don't normally get chances to participate. Making Music knows allthere is to know about how music groups should be run. Put the twotogether, and you have the best chance of setting up a choir in adeprived area, and then empowering it to become self-sustaining.In the process we will all learn more about ways of developingcommunities through the use of music – knowledge we'll share so thatothers can also set up similar groups.

In the first wave we're setting up some ten new singing groups, fundedby the Hedley Trust and others, based widely across the UK, andincluding rural and urban locations, working in villages and housingestates, with a broad mix of the population or with a community ofinterest such as refugees and asylum seekers. Sound Sense members willbe pounding the streets, using their contacts with local developmentworkers and making new contacts with community leaders to recruitpeople who want to sing, and who wouldn't normally have theopportunity. They'll also check to see what other singing is going onlocally, and ensure they're not stepping on any toes. Then they'll do thefun bit: the singing.

As a choir becomes more confident in itself and in its community, MakingMusic steps in to support it with all it needs to know about taking on a lifeof its own: how to form a committee, raise funds, hire its own vocal leader.Here's where other Making Music members in the vicinity might help,offering the hand of friendship. Because singing is great – and it can evenbring communities together.

Look out for more details about the locations of these newcommunity choirs and how your group could help – comingsoon on our website and in our enewsletter iNotes.

New to folkBy Alice Little, Regional Development Officer, Making Music South East

Last autumn, 40 players of various instruments, abilities and backgrounds gathered inOxford for a course entitled 'Form a Folk Band'. By the end of the 12 weeks six bands hadbeen formed, and they all went on to perform at the Oxford Folk Weekend in April.

The aim of the course, created by Making Music South East, was to provide an opportunityfor 'musical networking' between peopleinterested in playing in an ensemble butwho didn't have many opportunities tomeet like-minded musicians.

Seven tutors taught repertoire, led exercisesand advised the ensembles on arrangingtheir music. Some of the groups stuck totraditional tunes and songs, whilst othersincorporated unusual instruments in musicthat ranged from traditional to popular.

Overall the course helped more peoplemake different kinds of music, whilst at thesame time bringing six new folk groups into Making Music.

A new study published in the British Journal ofPsychiatry in August has found that adults diagnosedwith depression who were given music therapysessions showed fewer symptoms of depression thanthose who received standard counselling. Theclinical trial involved 79 people aged between 18and 50. 46 received anti-depressants, psychotherapyand counselling and the remaining 33 were alsogiven 20 music therapy sessions. The one-hoursessions led by a music therapist got subjects playingan African djembe drum and a digital malletinstrument. Prof Christian Gold said: 'Music therapyhas specific qualities that allow people to expressthemselves and interact in a non-verbal way – evenin situations when they cannot find the words todescribe their inner experiences.'

Find out more at tinyurl.com/musther

DID YOU KNOW

Sue Lacey

www.flickr.com

/photos/theilr

South Oxhey Choirs famously turned a failing community around

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Wider advocacy

Creating inspiring opportunitiesVoices Now was a celebration of all things singing which attracted 7,000people to London's Roundhouse last March. Some of the best choirs in theworld came together to perform, for the first time on one stage over oneweekend. Making Music ran the Open Stage, where an amazing variety ofvoluntary choirs took to the platform. One of the most memorable of thesewas one formed by people brought together by loneliness. Singers with anyor no experience joined Gareth Malone in our Come and Sing event. Over450 people at this session had never sung in a choir before!

Bringing the Making Music st Retiring Chair Andrew Potter shares the Making Music story and looks back over his six years to illustrate it with his fav will help to spread our story in their own communities so that Making Music can help more people to flourish in their m

Music is everywhere, enriching lives.

As the UK's number one organisation for voluntary music, we feelpassionately that the more music people make together, the healthier andhappier we all are.

That goes for the youth of today and older people alike.

At Making Music, we thrive on encouraging all kinds of voluntary music groups – bands,festivals, orchestras, music clubs, choirs – and individuals to be part of our vibrant multi–cultural music scene.

With our volunteers, we work hand in hand with communities all over the UK.

From remote villages in the Outer Hebrides, across the tarns of Cumbria and river valleys ofNorthumberland, from the coastline of North Wales, farmlands in Suffolk and Devon, andfrom the heart of London and many city centres, our members come to us for the expert helpthey need to set up, run and grow music in their communities.

Being there for our members – 3,000 and growing – in person, on the phone or online is vital.We make sure our services are kept up to date and are readily available for newcomers andmore experienced users.

Creating inspiring opportunities for music makers everywhere to push boundaries; helpingmusic groups with local funding applications, audience development or providing them withinsurance, putting people in touch with their local music community, as well as getting ourvoice heard in the right political circles – are all part of a day's work for our dedicated team of22 staff and 150 invaluable volunteers.

Since 1935, the spirit of our organisation has been to share a passion for voluntary music.We are here to support everyone to flourish in their music making.

It all starts with having a go.

By Andrew PotterChair, Making Music

Voluntary choirs enjoyed performing to new audiences atLondon’s legendary Roundhouse

Katura Jenkins

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Getting our voice heardOur response to the recent Henley Review ofmusic education is an example of the force withwhich we get our messages across. We wereone of a few organisations asked to a face-to-face interview. The review acknowledges theimportance of community musical activities,and we are to be consulted by the Departmentfor Education about the process of constructingthe National Music Education Plan.

Music making for a healthier and happier communityIn Making Music, we all know from our own experience that music is good for you and there is a growing bodyof evidence to back this up. A number of members run music and wellbeing projects, some working alongsideSing for Your Life, a charity aiming to improve quality of life, health and wellbeing for older people throughmusical activities. They promote Silver Song Clubs and there are now over 50 of these. Similarly SilverSounds (pictured left) is a flourishing group of older musicians in Brighton keeping young by playing samba andmaracatu music. In the Midlands, volunteer musicians from Harmonie Wind Bandworked in partnership withMaking Music and the Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull to play music with patients, their families and carers.

The Board has formed a strategic Music and Wellbeing Group and is now developing a national strategy to realisemembers' potential to become a major promoter and supplier of music and wellbeing.


Spreading the Making Music story

From remote villages...In far flung areas, Making Music members provide an especially vital ingredient for a healthy community. Earlierthis year we welcomed a new member operating half way between London and the Arctic – the newly formedShetland Community Orchestra (pictured left). Recruited from a population of just over 22,000, theorchestra aims to provide local audiences with a diverse and high quality programme of classical music. One ofthe leading lights, Donald MacDonald, says, ‘Music at its best brings people together. It is hoped that theorchestra will provide a supportive environment for players to hone their instrumental skills whilst enjoying theexperience of rehearsing and performing great music.'

Being there for our membersTwickenham Choral Society (TCS) approached us last year following HMRC'srejection of its Gift Aid claim, on the grounds that membership subscriptions wereperceived as securing tuition for members. This raised a wider issue about rehearsalsand tuition, which we addressed with HMRC with the support of an expert solicitor.We reached an agreement with HMRC and developed revised guidance notes formembers. Like other groups in their position, TCS has now had itsclaim honoured, bringing them an additional £8,000 in incomeand avoiding a hefty repayment for previous settled claims.

ic story to life ate it with his favourtie examples from our work and the activities of our 3,000 members. Andrew hopes that members and volunteer ambassadors

ourish in their music making.

Goodbye Andrew:we will miss youRobin Osterley, Making Music CEO, pays tribute to Andrew Potter, retiring Chair

The six years have flown by. Thanks for working so hard. Thanks for having the courageto confront some of the serious internal issues we have had to deal with over the years,and the determination to see through the changes to fix them. Thanks for leading,encouraging and improving the Board and for having faith in and support for the staff.Thanks for sticking with us while you were seriously ill. Thanks for nurturing our volunteerforce, realising its potential, and taking steps to maximise that potential. Thanks formaintaining a cool head when all around were in danger of losing theirs … Thanks foreverything in other words … We will really miss your guidance and leadership, and thevoluntary music sector is hugely grateful for all you've done.

www.flickr.com

/photos/darkdwarf

To learn more about the Making Music story visitwww.makingmusic.org.uk/ourstory

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Musical musings

What gets my goat … traditionalistsAs I get older it seems that I am turning intoa variation of the ‘grumpy old woman’beloved of television commissioners – ithappens to everyone, doesn’t it? In my caseI am irritated by people who stand at thetop of the entrance or exit to the tubestation, map in hand trying to work outwhere to go next – excuse me guys but afew steps to one side would make all thedifference! Then there are those people whosit on the outside seat in the bus with theirbags on the inner seat seemingly oblivious

to the fact that the rest of us are having to stand as a result – maybe it’s thefact that they are all listening to their iPods that seems to cut them off fromthe world around them.

Going to a concert then is a blessed relief – away from all the trials andtribulations of the world outside – and many of the things that used toirritate me there are thankfully things of the past: no more handbags onstage for instance, giving the impression that the members of theorchestra can’t wait to get away. No it’s not the players who get my goatby and large but more often than not it is the audience!

I have long since ceased to be irritated by those who read scores all theway through, as if waiting to spot the least mistake, or those who readthe programme notes rather than listening – but I am irritated by thetraditionalists who want everything to be just the same as it has alwaysbeen. How often do we see people arriving late when a new work hasbeen programmed at the top of a concert? Or worse still, making a quickgetaway to the bar when a new piece is programmed just before the

interval? Why so much reluctance to celebrate the new? No wonder somany new compositions are so short – the line of least resistance perhaps?

And why these endless comparisons with performances and performersof yesteryear when so many new interpretations of familiar works are sothrilling today? And let’s try as many new venues as possible – and newprogramme shapes and themes, early concerts, late concerts, mixedmedia events, making us think afresh about the familiar. One of thegreatest pleasures I find is precisely the shock of the new, challengingmy old grey cells, keeping the grumpy old woman at bay for as longas possible!

Susannah Simons is the BBC’s Project Executive for the London 2012 Festival.She is responsible for Music Nation – a nationwide celebration of the richnessof the musical life of the UK on 3 and 4 March 2012.

Oh no,not againCEO Robin Osterley's next fundraisingchallenge

Well I've finally recovered from walking 200 miles across the Swiss Alpsin 2008. My legs have regained their strength and my feet havestopped hurting. But wait, what's this? I appear to have signed up to dothe London Marathon in April 2012! How did that happen? Surely Ican't train for four days a week for seven months? Surely I can't raise the£5,000 to be split between Making Music and our charitable partnersCLIC Sargent, can I? Oh no, this can't be happening … I thought I was asane and sensible person …

Support Robin in his stupid brave endeavour atwww.makingmusic.org.uk/marathon

Alex Rum

ford

Christmas cardsWe are selling our popular Christmas cards once more this year. Raisemoney for your group and help us do more to increase participation inmusic making around the UK by choosing our musically-themeddesigns for your Christmas cards this year.

Download an order form from www.makingmusic.org.uk/gifts

German Chancelloradopts youth orchestra

Baltic Youth Philharmonic

By Susannah Simons

In the midst of the Eurozone crisis, the German Chancellor Angela Merkelhas shown her personal support for the Baltic Youth Philharmonic (BYP) bysponsoring the orchestra's entire fourth season. BYP, founded in 2008 bythe Usedon Music Festival and Nord Stream AG, brings together the mostpromising young musicians aged 19 to 30 from the entire Baltic Sea region.Each year around 90 young musicians from music academies in Denmark,Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland andGermany are selected and challenged to overcome cultural differences toforge, in record time, an orchestra that tours the Baltic region and beyond.

We love the idea of politicians, individuals or businesses'adopting' their local orchestra, choir or band. Why not trythis approach with your local MP, wealthy individuals or localbusinesses?

www.flickr.com

/photos/hseoane

91448 MM__ 26/08/2011 17:51 Page 11

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Classified section

• Meeting your choral needsmotets, carols and anthems for upper voice and SATB choirs

• New music for stringsincluding music for beginner to intermediate level ensembles &

three string quartets

contact: Chris Wiggins, Tilsdown Lodge, Dursley GL11 5QQPhone: 0796-266 8098 e: [email protected]

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NEW MUSIC FOR A NEW CENTURY

Would you like to see your advert in a future issue of Highnotes?Making Music members benefit from a discount on displayand classified advertising. Please contact Sharon Maslen atSpace Marketing directly on 01892 677740 or email:[email protected] for reasonable rates and bookings

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Great Choral Works Scored for Reduced Orchestra

Joseph Haydn's 'The Creation' and 'The Seasons'are available for hire

Haydn's 'The Creation' uses nine fewer wind players and has been

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Now Haydn's ' The Seasons' using ten

fewer wind players is also available for hire

Mozart's Requiem Mass - 2 trumpets and 3 trombones reduced

to 1 trumpet and 1 trombone is available

Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' will be available in 2012

More details from Ian Bauers Email: [email protected]

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conductors, including Marin Alsop and Sir Colin Davis.

Email [email protected] or call 020 7382 2522

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Making Music event

Saturday 24 September, 10.00 to 5.00pm, Rutland

Making Music East and abcd

Conductors CourseLed by Keith Orrell and Nick Thorpe

Oakham School, RutlandCosts £65 for non members, £55 for members of Making Music or abcdIncludes full day of tuition, music hire, light refreshments and afternoonperformance.

Full details and booking form available from Becky Stickland [email protected] or 07980 915 660

91448 MM__ 26/08/2011 17:52 Page 15


To subscribe please contact us directly.

Highnotes is the official journal of Making Music,

The National Federation of Music Societies2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NWTel: 020 7422 [email protected] www.makingmusic.org.uk

In August, representatives of Making Music, Surrey County Council’s Library Service and local choirs gath

ered at the

Surrey Performing Arts Library in Dorking to launch the Making Music Kirby Collection, made poss

ible by a £135,000

legacy from Alan Kirby, Making Music’s first Chair.

The collection of thousands of vocal scores and their accompanyin

g orchestral sets contains such choral favourites as

the Brahms Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Duruflé’s Requiem, as

well as contemporary pieces such as Ave Maris

Stellaby Cecilia McDowall, the Westminster Mass by Roxanna Panufnik, and music by Eric Whitacre.

These scores are available on a first-call system to choirs in Surrey

who belong to the library, and can be booked up to six months in

advance in person,

by email, or via an online form. Choirs from further afield can ask t

heir local library to borrow them from Surrey via the interlibrary lo

an service too.

Visit www.surrey.gov.uk/performingartslibrary for more information about the collection and the library.

Kirby Collection launches for choirsBy Peter Baxter, Senior Librarian, Surrey Performing Arts Library

Noticeboard

If you need us to make any of this information moreaccessible, please call Making Music on 020 7422 8280 oremail [email protected]

Letters

Peter Lawson, ChairIt’s a delight to havebeen elected Chair ofMaking Music. Over theyears, I’ve sung withchoirs, played withorchestras, served as amusical director andchaired a concert club:I hope this gives me aninsight into the immense opportunities andchallenges of our members. If our member groupsflourish, then everyone in the UK will have anopportunity to make music, and share the benefitsand joy of music making that many of us haveenjoyed throughout our lives. Working with ourwonderful Board and management team, I hope wecan make that happen.

Linda Young,Vice ChairI can't call being Vice-Chair my 'new' role asI've been there before,but certainly MakingMusic has movedforward dramaticallyin the past 12 years andI look forward tosupporting Peter's aspirations as the organisationgrows still further. In particular, having alwaysworked closely with Making Music's dedicatedvolunteer force, I will be excited to see how ourvolunteering programme develops, with itspotential to raise Making Music's profile in allparts of the UK.

Dear Making Music

I am delighted to tell you that HMRChas concluded their investigation intoour choir's Gift Aid position and we havenow received cheques in excess of£8,000 for our outstanding claims.

As you know, we were first contacted byHMRC in December 2009 in respect ofour outstanding claims and also settledclaims going back to 2002. We werevery concerned when HMRC indicatedthat in their view our membersubscriptions did not qualify for Gift Aidand that we may be liable to repay over£18,000 of Gift Aid and interest.

We were therefore very pleased withthe outcome that Making Musicsecured, which means HMRC's newposition on Gift Aid will only be appliedto future claims made after1 September 2011. I think MakingMusic has achieved the best result thatcould have been expected.

The support we have received on thisissue alone makes the Making Musicmember subscription excellent valuefor money.

Yours sincerelyJo Underdown ACATreasurer, Twickenham ChoralSociety

Send your letters [email protected]

New Chair and ...Vice Chair

Are you searching for a new conductor/musicaldirector or accompanist for your group? Are youa conductor or an accompanist looking foropportunities in your area? If so, visit the newvacancy noticeboard on our website where youcan post a vacancy or find out which voluntarymusic groups are in search of a newconductor/musical director or accompanist.

Conductor & accompanist vacanciesnoticeboard

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The noticeboard is open to the public to browse,but to post a vacancy you need to be a registereduser and logged in to the website. Visit‘Conductor & accompanist vacancies' in theCommunity section of our website.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/conductor-and-accompanist-vacancies

91448 MM__ 26/08/2011 17:52 Page 16

Documents

Highnotes, September 2011