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KENT MUSIC NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 2020
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SEASONS CHANGE, BUT MUSIC IS FOREVER
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Hi Friend,
It's been an unusual start to the new academic year, but everyone in the Kent Music family from students to teachers, to our admin staff and many more, have been working hard to make sure the music keeps playing. We think that deserves a hearty pat on the back all round!
This month's newsletter celebrates that hard work, and gives you a sneak peek at not only what's happening now, but what's to come. So make yourself a warming cuppa, sit back, and enjoy a break with us today 🍂
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What you need to know this month
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Financial Assistance
We're proud to have awarded financial assistance to over 150 beneficiaries for the academic year 20/21 so far! If you benefitted from financial assistance last year but haven't applied for this year yet, you will need to re-apply. If you have applied and not received a confirmation, please contact our Bursary Administrator Gail Batty via email at gbatty@kent-music.com
More info and T&Cs can be found on our website: https://www.kent-music.com/financial-assistance/
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Why an arts education is more important than ever
At Kent Music we've no doubt of how important arts education can be for students of all ages, but particularly young students who are returning to school after extended periods of disrupted learning.
Creative subjects are at risk, but now could be the most important time to ensure you're engaging with them. Find out more in our new article: https://www.kent-music.com/news/arts-education-now-more-important-than-ever/
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Orchestra ONE returns this half term!
Over the October half term, nearly a year after our last project, Orchestra ONE returns for our first ever virtual project. The project will look a little different from what our regular participants are familiar with, but the goal is still the same – you will be creating a brand new composition over the course of the week, with the final piece being shared on our website and across Kent Music’s social media platforms on the final afternoon of the course.
The topic for the project will be ‘Food’, and led by MD extraordinaire, Jason Rowland, with our usual team of superb tutors joining us to lead each section. Spaces are going fast and they're very limited, so sign up today on the button below!
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Read all about it! The best news from Kent Music
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KCYO Summer Sectionals
At the end of August we were very excited to hold three KCYO sectional days … in person!
Upper sting, lower string and brass days took place at King’s school, Rochester and overall 24 KCYO members attended. The session leaders were Alice Cooper-Hall, Avis Perthen and Philip White.
The rehearsals went swimmingly, receiving glowing feedback from participants:
“I had a great time – so nice to play in person again!”
“social restrictions didn’t feel awkward”
"[my child] had a great day and we're very grateful to you for arranging it. THANK YOU!”
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KYWO Autumn Sectionals
Two very successful KYWO sectional days for woodwind and brass day have taken place over the last two Sundays at Sir Joseph Williamsons Mathematical School, Rochester … again in-person with Jeremy Shoobridge and Philip White leading each day.
County Groups Auditions
Nine (in person) auditions held on 2 Sundays in September at Colyer-Fergusson Hall, Canterbury – just about the largest auditions spaces ever used by Kent Music. We also had three video audition submissions. All candidates performed to a very high standard.
One of the adjudicators said “the students played so well – you could see the enjoyment of just playing live”
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CPD Course Calendar
Our 2020-21 CPD programme is now up and running! All events planned for the Autumn Term are online events and are free for those who work and teach in Kent schools.
There is something for everyone, so if you are looking for support with composition in your secondary school teaching or looking for ways of injecting music into your primary teaching make sure to visit our webpage for details on how to book onto the courses.
https://www.kent-music.com/cpd-training/
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Online lessons get going
Online instrumental and vocal tuition is now available, whether you've just picked up an instrument, are new to Kent Music, or have learned with us for years. The quality of lessons is exactly the same with our amazing Kent Music teachers - it's just the location that's different!
You can sign up for online only tuition with at our Online Music Centre, sign up for online lessons with a view to starting face-to-face lessons when they're available, or register that you'll be interested once face to face lessons restart.
Find out more and register today through our website: https://www.kent-music.com/music-lessons/
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Teachers get to learning; "What does it mean to 'be musical'?"
We're passionate about investing in our teachers at Kent Music, which is why we've been so excited to be working with them on our new Virtual Learning Environment, Bridge. Bridge has given our staff the opportunity to share best practice and discuss themes around music education. So far this term we've gone back to basics and asked our teachers; "What does it mean to 'be musical'?"
As expected, we had a variety of responses...
"Someone who is a communicator (with a desire to tell a story /paint a picture in sound)"
"Someone who has emotional empathy : my teacher said to me (re a Brahms sonata mvt) “it’s no good, you’ll never be able to play this until you’ve had your heart broken at least
three times!”"
"Making sure the basics are understood. A simple skill of gaining a sense of rhythm and pulse can help in many other aspects. Music is highly linked to Maths and Languages, as well as in other creative arts. Although they may seem small, these small ideas could help a young child understand more in the classroom. I find this in SEND students especially."
"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture..."
"I wrote a lot of key words including practice, organisation, control, skill and performance but the three words I chose...are Fun, Creativity and Inclusivity."
We love the variety of responses, and each of them as valid as the other! Musicality is different for everyone, but with a combination of hard work, passion, practise, and a good teacher, however you approach it you'll make beautiful music.
Find out more about how you can learn with Kent Music teachers on our website:
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News, views and opportunities available in the music and education worlds
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Music@Malling Festival Returns
The Music@Malling festival is back this year - virtually! They will be offering a number of educational experiences, including Go Compose and Side by Side, as well as a streamed performance of Eleanor Alberga’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Chamber Domaine on 20th October. This performance will kick off a major education project between Kent Music and Music@Malling. leading to the first Music@Malling Primary Orchestra performance event which will take place in the Spring term.
Follow along with the festival on their website: https://musicatmalling.com/current-festivals/
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#YouthVoiceWeek 2020 is here!
Sound Connections is proud to launch the first ever Youth Voice Week for the creative and cultural sector, taking place from 5-9 October 2020.
One of Kent Music's own young trustees, Jessica Cooling, will be featured on the Morning Show on Wednesday 7th October. She'll be joining the panel to explore the powerful role youth governance can play in your organisation. The panel will be chaired by Wired4Music Presenter, Anna-Marie Descartes, along with many other voices. We hope you'll join us in cheering her along!
Youth Voice Week was created to highlight the vital importance of listening to young people and involving them in shaping the future of the creative and cultural sector. It is an interactive online schedule taking place across five days, allowing you to dip in and out however you want. Whether you’re a producer, coordinator, programme manager, marketeer, senior leader or trustee, you’ll find inspiration and ideas you need to work more collaboratively with young creatives.
You can register here for your pass and get unlimited streaming of all the week’s, for a suggested donation of just £20!
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Support Kent Music and the arts with London Mozart Players' Classical Club concert series and Season Pass
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In response to the pandemic, the London Mozart Players has launched Classical Club, a ground-breaking and eclectic series of eight classical music concerts filmed in unusual and iconic London venues. From Mozart and Schumann to Stravinsky and Strauss, The Soldier’s Tale to Little Red Riding Hood, the programme offers something for the whole family to enjoy! The concerts will be filmed in front of socially-distanced audiences and accessible through a subscription-based digital platform.
As well as providing the orchestra’s musicians with a much-needed opportunity for work, the series will see the orchestra continue its tradition of supporting emerging musicians from the Young Classical Artist Trust (YCAT), creating a platform for these brilliant young players to hone and exhibit their talents.
By joining Classical Club, you can also help Kent Music to generate much needed revenue to support our teachers and students through the pandemic, as we will receive a minimum 20% commission on all Season Passes purchased by our customers. To ensure we receive this income, please enter the code “KENTMUS” in the field marked referral code when purchasing your Season Pass. See an example of their checkout below.
For more information and to purchase tickets or passes, visit their website:
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What's got us grinning this month
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Loosey-Goosey with Debussy
We love getting creative with the classics at Kent Music! One of the great recent examples of that was in the brilliant Untitled Goose Game, which adapted Debussy's Preludes into an adaptive soundtrack to all goosey shenanigans. Read all about how the composer developed the score in the article below, and enjoy the soundtrack in this video!
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We love hearing from you!
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Do you have news, feedback or suggestions to share?
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