The Old Schoolhouse Carstairs Junction ML11 8QY

t. +44 / (0)1555 870555 e. admin@themusicworkshop.co.uk i. www.themusicworkshop.co.uk______________________________________________________________________________

NEWSLETTER / Dec 2011

Happy New Year and welcome to the (slightly belated) 2011 edition of our annual newsletter!

FEEDBACK

“I absolutely loved the course. It was eye-opening, inspirational and really enjoyable; The confidence and experience of our tutor Rob Hall infused me with the certainty that I could just do it; truly a nurturing environment. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” Heba Mostafa (Harp, King’s College Cambridge)

Our thanks to all who returned the feedback forms. As in previous years students have expressed a very high satisfaction level with all aspects of our courses rated collectively as Good to Excellent. Using an average from all the feedback forms we have received the 2011 ratings are as follows:

Scale [4 Excellent 3 Good 2 Average 1 Poor]

Tutors 4.0Course Materials 3.5Explanation of Topics 3.8Organisation of Course 3.9Venue Facilities 3.6

Along with some wonderful comments sent in to us from our students around the UK which we have dotted about this newsletter.

“An excellent weekend workshop full of useful hints and tips which were all very practical. The tutor Tim Richards was helpful and encouraging and I would definitely recommend the Jazz Piano course to others.” Jan Winder (Piano, Glasgow)

Tim Richards

“Rob proved to be a very patient and understanding teacher…I was never once made to feel inadequate and returned from the course feeling inspired and encouraged” Julie Rogerson (Alto Sax, Cumbria) Rob Hall leads an ensemble

JAZZ WEEKENDERSThe Music Workshop, Clyde Valley

JAZZ WEEKENDERS are our own unique and progressive series of weekend courses between April and October. Jazz Basics 1 and 2 led by our principal jazz tutor Rob Hall are spread over two weekends in April and May providing a chance for students to grasp both practical and theoretical aspects of jazz improvisation. We’re delighted to repeat our Jazz Vocals Course in April with the outstanding vocal tutor Brigitte Beraha. Jazz 3 and 4 with Rob are more challenging courses providing a chance to work on playing Standards (Sept) and culminating with the Jazz Performance course (Oct) where students perform a set at the Biggar Festival. Our Jazz Piano Course with Tim Richards is proving very popular and will run in September again. For all dates see the diary dates in this Newsletter or go to www.jazzcourse.co.uk

About the tutor ROB HALL

Rob Hall has performed and recorded widely in the UK, Europe and US as saxophonist and clarinettist with such artists as Mike Stern, Dan Gottlieb, Kenny Wheeler, Jim Mullen, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. His many CD releases include three as leader and two in collaboration with pianist Chick Lyall on the FMR label, with frequent broadcasts. Rob's compositions have been widely performed and broadcast in the UK and abroad.

One of the most established music educators in the country, in 1994 he set up his own jazz education company Jazz Course UK and manages one of the venues The Music Workshop in Scotland. He has extensive teaching and facilitating experience with all sectors of education, both formal and informal, from Primary through to Higher & Adult education. This includes eight years as a lecturer at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire. Rob works with ABRSM as a 'Dual' Examiner (Jazz & Classical grades) and Course Presenter, and teaches Saxophone at Dollar Academy one of Scotland's leading independent schools.

“I enjoyed the excellent teaching and methodical step-by-step- approach taken by our tutor Rob Hall, who helped to foster an encouraging and supportive atmosphere within the group. I would definitely recommend the course to others.” Margaret Woods Nunn (Piano, Cambridge)

Details and secure booking for all courses and booking can be found on www.jazzcourse.co.uk

“I really enjoyed the course and will seriously consider another Jazz Course UK course in future” Mike Downes (Suffolk)

JAZZ VOCALS COURSE We’re delighted that the fabulous jazz singer and top rated vocal teacher Brigitte Beraha will be returning to Scotland in April 2012 to lead our Jazz Vocals weekend course right here in the Clyde Valley. Last year she gamely braved the sleeper train from London right after a gig and launched straight into a packed course which culminated with students directing a professional rhythm section in their own jazz standard arrangements. The learning curve was tangible and the confidence levels of the vocalists rose enormously through the course. They were all left wanting more, so here we are….more Vocals!

Harry in the performance session

JAZZ VOCALS with Brigitte Beraha BEG/INTERMEDIATE

14+/AdultInternational vocalist and educator Brigitte Beraha will lead this course which covers everything from basic breathing and vocal techniques to jazz repertoire, interpretation and improvisation. Singers will have the opportunity to sing with others and develop their own vocal abilities in a relaxed and supportive environment, as well as gaining experience in working with a rhythm section.

Group and individual singing• Learn new repertoire• Develop songs of your own choice• Vocal technique • Stylistic feels (swing, latin, modern etc) • Performance aspects• Improvisation • Harmony and rhythm exercises•About the tutor BRIGITTE BERAHA

Brigitte has performed and recorded with such artists as Kenny Wheeler, Pete King, Liam Noble, John Parricelli, Tim Garland, Tim Whitehead, Gwillym Simcock. She has worked in the US, Europe, Asia and Scandinavia and is a regular performer in London where she is based. She has also released two CD recordings to date under her own name. In demand as a vocal coach, she currently teaches voice and improvisation at North London International School, Gold-smiths College and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and tutors on a variety of jazz sum-mer schools. www.brigitteberaha.com

Details for all courses and booking can be found onwww.themusicworkshop.co.uk

“This was a fantastically enjoyable weekend and I’m truly grateful to Rob and Abi for organising it, to Tim Richards for giving amazing tuition and to the bassist and drummer who came along to provide brilliant and sympathetic rhythm section for our mini-concert. I found the relaxed nature of the Old Schoolhouse superb and I would definitely recommend the courses at The Music Workshop, Scotland.”

Andrew Dawson (Piano, Chester)

JAZZ PIANO COURSE

2010 saw the launch of our Jazz Piano Course tutored by leading educator Tim Richards who has recently announced his fourth Jazz Piano book Exploring Latin Jazz Piano published by Schott.

The students got so much out of the experience that we have made the Jazz Piano course a regular fixture and so invited Tim up from his London base again shifting the course to September so he was able to combine with a holiday on the Scottish west highland coast. Once again take up was very good and the feedback has been excellent. The next course will take place in Sept 2012. Book early!

Andrew leads the rhythm section

JAZZ PIANO with Tim Richards BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE 14+/Adult

A fantastic opportunity for pianists to study with one of the UK’s leading authorities on Jazz Piano techniques. This 2-day course is designed to give the student practical experience in the fundamental techniques of Jazz piano such as rootless chord voicings, bass lines, improvisation techniques over 12-bar blues and simple jazz standards, left hand comping styles, and experience in playing with bass and drums.

TIM RICHARDSTim Richards is one of the most active and authoritative jazz educators in the UK. As pianist he has toured widely with his Tim Richards Trio, Spirit Level and Great Spirit and has released numerous CDs as a leader. He is the author of the Schott publications Improvising Blues Piano and Exploring Jazz Piano (1&2), and the newly released Exploring Latin Piano, a collaboration with pianist John Crawford. Tim is a contributor to the ABRSM jazz piano syllabus, an ABRSM jazz examiner, and adjudicates at the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition. www.timrichards.ndo.uk

Details for all courses and booking can be found onwww.themusicworkshop.co.uk

JAZZ COURSE UK - 2012 DIARY PLANNER

2012

21st Apr 22nd Apr

JAZZ VOCALS Brigitte Beraha LANARK The Music Workshop £115* More

Info

28th Apr 29th Apr

JAZZ BASICS 1Rob Hall LANARK The Music Workshop £115* More

Info

19th May 20th May

JAZZ BASICS 2Rob Hall LANARK The Music Workshop £115* More

Info

28th Jul 29th JulSUMMER JAZZ COURSE

Rob Hall CAMBRIDGE St Faiths School £125* More Info

4th Aug 5th AugTRON JAZZ COURSE

Rob Hall GLASGOW Tron Theatre £115* More Info

15th Sep 16th Sep

JAZZ PIANO Tim Richards LANARK The Music Workshop £115* More

Info

29th Sep 30th Sep

JAZZ STANDARDSRob Hall LANARK The Music Workshop £115* More

Info

27th Oct 28th Oct

JAZZ PERFORMANCERob Hall LANARK The Music Workshop £115* More

InfoJazz Course UK

*Single course fee. Multiple booking discounts available. Click on More Info.

JAZZ WEEKENDERS 2012 Tutors: Rob Hall Jazz 1-4

Tim Richards PianoBrigitte Beraha Vocals

JAZZ VOCALS Brigitte Beraha Apr 21-22 Beg/IntermediateA course designed for vocalists to improve their technique and gain improvisation skills.

JAZZ 1 Jazz Basics 1/Blues Apr 28-29 BeginnerThe first of two weekends for musicians either new or recently introduced to Jazz.

JAZZ 2 Jazz Basics 2/Modal May 19-20 BeginnerThe second of two weekends exploring foundational jazz improvisation techniques.

JAZZ PIANO Tim Richards Sept 15-16 Beg/IntermediateAn opportunity for pianists to study with one of the most authoritative Jazz pianists.

JAZZ 3 Jazz Standards Sept 29-30 IntermediateImprove your understanding and improvisation on classic tunes from the Jazz repertoire.

JAZZ 4 Performance Course* Oct 27-28 IntermediateExploring a wide variety of jazz repertoire the course culminates in a public performance.* includes a performance in Biggar Little Festival 2011

SoundsKoolSoundsKool was launched in September 2010 providing individual and group tuition on the first Saturday of each month. By being able to provide tuition on a much wider range of instruments including Guitar, Bass, Drums, Percussion,

Steve Nelson guitar tutor Piano, Keyboard, Sax & Clarinet we hope in the future to be able to run various group activities for students such as a Scratch Band, Songwriting classes, Percussion groups and so on.

Individual tuition is available at £16 per ½ hr, group sessions will be £5 each.

If you are interested in the SoundsKool please call 01555 870555 or go to www.themusicworkshop.co.uk for more details.

JAZZ AT THE JUNCTION

This year we presented a concert as part of the Biggar Little Festival in conjunction with Carstairs Churches. This resulted in a big improvement in our audience numbers and meant we had a venue right around the corner at Carstairs Junction Church. Forming a vocal and sax led ensemble the students performed a

varied set of standards which were all given a modern edge with some great arrangements. With Carstairs Junction being famous for its rail heritage, the band took the tune Take The ‘A’ Train and concocted a quite wonderful arrangement Take The ‘C’ Train complete with improvised steam train effects!

Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Rob & Abi Hall

The Music WorkshopThe Old SchoolhouseCarstairs JunctionML11 8QY

Tel 01555 870555admin@themusicworkshop.co.ukwww.themusicworkshop.co.uk