the music performance education group

workshops and events

PRESS RELEASE - PLEASE READ THIS

OCTOBER 2010 WORKSHOPS

Are you a keen musician looking for regular opportunities to play with others, both in rehearsal and concert events?

Awarding-winning community music group MusicPEG are looking to recruit new people for their new set of workshops which start in October.

They are looking for enthusiastic and creative people of all ages to come together to make music (formal qualifications, grades and other technicalities are not required – energy and commitment are).

The workshops aim to help people develop their skills in a fun, social environment. During each 10 week course they aim to provide performance opportunities and help other organisations with fund-raising gigs.

Their past workshops and gigs have covered a wide range of genres – from rock, blues, ska and reggae to jazz, samba and general percussion. They have also helped people compose and arrange their own drum ‘n’ bass music using recording technology.

The content and format of the new series of workshops will be designed around the interests of those people who want to join the sessions, so it is important you come along and let us know your views and have your say! The organisers will provide plenty of information and feedback from previous workshops for you to make a contribution in shaping what how and what you want from this new series.

The Initial meeting will take place at St Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay on Monday 20th September at 7.30pm. The group was set up to bring people of all ages together, so everyone old enough to stay up to 9.30 is welcome!

For more information, visit musicpeg.org.uk  contact Steve@musicpeg.org.uk or phone Pat on 01803 523189.

This summer 2010 in "The WhiteRoom" South Devon Arms Dawlish, every Sunday night, something special from the genre of Jazz!!!!!!!!!!!    All events are entry free!

30th may - ronnie jones quartet, south devon inn

6th june - billy bottle, south devon inn

13th june  musicPEG small and big bands plus the 'ultimate' jam session for allcomers

20th june - ronnie jones quartet, south devon inn

20th june - musicPEG afternoon, cuthbert mayne fete

18th july - Dave Holdsworth and The Totnes Collective - south devon inn

21st  july - chris biscoe gig and workshop at the south devon inn, this is for musicians who want to play. £5 towards covering the costs

24th july - musicPEG and the ronnie jones quartet; ideford fete

august bank holiday 28th - musicPEG at 'blagstock' (private gig)

30th - musicPEG back at dartmoor barn north bovey.

Billy Bottle Ensemble
 
June 2010 at the South Devon Arms, Dawlish

Billy brought together musicians from the workshop, the Teignmouth Jazz workshop, DYJO (devon youth jazz orchestra), from London, Totnes Collective, Darlington and Japan to produce surely the most daring musicpeg event to date.  The guys played flute (sensational sound), clarinet, trumpet, alto sax, trombone (stonking!), bass (solid grooves), two keyboards, violin, melodica, two guitars, drums (tight as!) and Billy and Martine were stunning vocalists ... oh, and a P.A and two computers were part of the line-up!.  The style? well frankly everything you have ever heard; it was Sgt Pepper meets Pink Floyd meets Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' meets ....  Rich harmony writing, unpredictable harmonic sequences, intriguing segues, and clever solo's that could had one guessing written or improvised?  Rhythmically the grooves were compelling, the textures full and the dynamics subtle; but most of all the music was cheerful and catchy-ly melodic.  Billy was the consummate professional in dealing with last minute nerves, the house lighting, computer programming and a mountain of wiring and in dealing out softly encouraging words.  Having written all the material himself and only having had two rehearsals with this ensemble he was nonetheless upbeat and his optimism and enthusiasm did the job: everything just clicked and two hours just flew by for the audience and the musicians.  This gig was the warm-up for his CD launch gig at the Carlton Theatre on the 12th June.; one gig not to be missed, the landlord of the South Devon even booked two tickets straight after this Dawlish concert.
 
 
Our latest workshop was held in January 2010 and was for all comers. Below is a synopsis of the event - we will inform you on this page when our next event starts - likley to beearly Autumn! 

Suitable for those with very limited experience of playing with others in a band/group context.  Age is no barrier (we have had 12years old and 72years in the same band).

This initial session will have material drawn from South African 'township' music and from 'JazzRock' and will be very much about exploring what we can achieve given the abilities of those that turn up.  Make no mistake, the material will be honed to suit the performers rather than vice-versa; MUSICPEG workshops are renowned for their warm and encouraging atmosphere ... education and fun should go hand-in-hand.  The performers will be invited to take an active role in making musical judgments and decisions and developing their musical personalities.
 
Depending on the the level of interest (we hope) this initial session could well turn into yet another ten week program aimed at gently challenging musicians to acquire new skills.  It has to be said that many would-be attendees fear turning up because of the dreaded sight-reading limitations.  Well, sight reading is only one of the skills covered and certainly not the most important ... if you can play by ear then that is fine ... if you make a mistake then that is also fine, we simply do it again!  The only thing we ask is that you play in tune and know how to tune your instrument yourself (or with an electronic tuner).

As stated already, where we go during the ten weeks depends on the nature of the assembled group, but it could well include a percussion workshop special and a session sampling and using music technology, we could also do some recording.  There is usually a final concert in a friendly environment at the end.
Feel free to email us with any questions you may have rather than missing out by staying away.

Venue is St Cuthbert Mayne School. Trumlands Road, Torquay. There is plenty of off road parking and the distance for carrying gear from car to the music room can be covered in less than thirty seconds on the level!  Time is 7-9pm.
 
Some quotes from gary bayley that show his perspective on workshops ...."if the students are not working at a level in which they can exercise truly musical judgments they are unlikely to be developing the quality of their musical decisions" from 'teaching music musically' by keith swanwick
 
"the brain learns best when involved not just in experiencing but in exploring and experimenting' from 'music learning: neurobiological foundations and educational implications" by w.gruhn in 'research studies in music education'
 
there should be a lack of distinction between 'practice' and 'performance', the learning is taking place 'on the job'. a loosely graded set of opportunities and challenges are set out that allow skills to develop" from 'exploring the musical mind' by john sloboda
 

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Where to find us