My NZ trip - Part 2
Underpass - John Foxx
Musicate
The first sessions I've done with Richard have been in a school in Coventry encouraging school children to make music using technology. The school currently has Cubase VST running on Windows, or rather not running. There were problems with the signal routing and drivers, file management and other annoying obstacles to getting on with making music. After 2 lessons of having difficulty getting their Windows computers to work, we switched to using GarageBand - see QuickTime tour here and www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/. Within seconds we were making music with the children particpating as a group composing a song. We resolved then to research the possibility of implementing the use of Apple computers and software in our future sessions.
- More Musicate photos at Flickr here
- Introduction to GarageBand - Wikiversity
Martyn Ware at the Birmingham Conservatoire
Unknown Tune
Transit Of Venus 4
Birminghamusic.com
Splendid. Nice site guys! Just discovered birminghammusic.com and registered as an artiste. See my page here.
Flash MP3 Player
The playlist currently contains:
- My Funny Valentine by Richard Rogers
played on a Technics digital piano by John Wesley Barker - Rise & Fall by John Wesley Barker
recorded by Lost Jockey in a session produced by John Leckie at Abbey Road Studio 2.
Previously released by Operation Twilight Cat. No. OPT11 - Rainstick by Bag 'O Cats and John Wesley Barker
from the album Out Of The Bag produced for Greentrax Recordings by John Wesley Barker. - Temptation Brothers In Rhythm Remix - by Heaven 17
orchestral arrangement by John Wesley Barker, recorded at Air Studios. From the album The Luxury Gap. Session detail here - Eccho Ring for organ by John Wesley Barker
originally written for the wedding of Clare & John, this solo organ version from the CD Stormin' Norma 2 by Kemp English. Recorded in Dunedin Town Hall, New Zealand. See Eccho Ring web page.
Scilly Isles Photo Set
Click here to play the 3 page Slideshow. Hope you enjoy.
EDEXCEL stop GCE Music and Music Technology
I have today been informed, in writing, by Edexcel that they have decided not to seek re-accreditation for GCE Music and Music Technology from QCA.
This in effect means that they are not going to offer these A level subjects after 2009 – thus the last AS intake of students will be in September 2007.
The reasons given behind this decision are (and I quote) ….’ We believe that the complexity of the current assessment model and constraints of the new subject criteria have made it impossible to produce a sustainable specification which will be attractive to schools and colleges. Therefore our strategy is to focus on the BTEC Music and Music Technology provision which has proved popular in our centres. We hope that centres will choose to move to the appropriate BTEC National Awards in Music and Music Technology….’
This decision has been reached without ANY consultation from senior examiners. I have not been asked to attend any meetings about this matter, or to submit my opinions or ideas in relation to the ‘viability’ of a new music technology syllabus. QCA have created separate subject criteria for Music Technology, and these would, in my opinion, make it feasible to develop a very creative and attractive qualification for schools and colleges.
There appears to have been little thought given to the implications of this decision. As the sole examination board providing Music Technology, this decision in effect kills off A level music technology – at a time when student numbers are growing, centre investment in resources has been significant, and university acceptance of the subject is good.
The assumption that centres will migrate easily to BTEC is at best naïve and at worst demonstrates a total lack of understanding of the two very different qualifications. The majority of centres offering AS and A2 do not offer BTEC qualifications and are unlikely to do so.
I would urge you to help force Edexcel to reconsider this decision by sending an email or letter to various interested parties such as the Chief Exec of Edexcel, Mr Jerry Jarvis jerry.jarvis@edexcel.org.uk, QCA, your local MP or another interested supportive party. I believe that it would be very useful to enlist the assistance of your Headteacher or Principal in securing additional writing communication to Edexcel about this matter, and please feel free to print out a copy of this letter and show it to them.
It is my considered opinion that we must unite to stop an American PLC (Pearson who own Edexcel) dictating the content and format of music education within the UK, and that we must ensure that future generations of students have the ability to study and be accredited with, GCE AS and A2 qualifications in Music Technology.
If you have any suggestions as to how we can progress this campaign over the next few days, please feel free to email me.
Yours truly, Andrew J Kitchenham, Chair of Examiners, Music Technology
ajk@moveonup.co.uk
Heaven 17 - The Line Of Beauty
I always jump out of my skin when I hear stuff I've done on the radio or TV. Temptation was used by Burger King a number of years ago, my blood boiled. Coincidence this time is that I want to start a performing group soon to play stuff I've been writing, the name for the group is Beauty, mm... strange... but...
Now I wonder, do I get any money for this? Will the musicians?
Watch this space.
All Prayers Are Answered
Last.FM Transit Of Venus
Saxes
- Birdland - JO ZAWINUL
- Moaning - ART BLAKEY
- Watermelon Man - HERBIE HANCOCK
An accompaniment CD-Extra with also be made for flexible performance and practising options. 3rd alto and 1st tenor are the same part.
> CD-Sax 01 instrumentation is 2 altos, 2 tenors , baritone and percussion with piano, bass and drums.