17th July 2023
We are approaching the end of term and I am delighted to report that we have had a magnificent term playing music together.
The Beginners have really become and excellent group of players – they have been playing together for only two terms and they are one of the best groups we have had. Maisy helps us as a mentor for this group and it’s always lovely to have her supporting.
The Seniors have become a mixed group of adults and young players and we have a very special atmosphere here.
We had a great visit from Frankie Davies on 19th June. Frankie is a very talented and hard-working local violinist. Just off to study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I am currently teaching on their Guildhall Young Artists Programme, which runs on Saturdays. Frankie’s input to us was invaluable and we wish her all the best in her new life as a student and hope she will come back to visit us very soon.
We are approaching the end of term and I am delighted to report that we have had a magnificent term playing music together.
The Beginners have really become and excellent group of players – they have been playing together for only two terms and they are one of the best groups we have had. Maisy helps us as a mentor for this group and it’s always lovely to have her supporting.
The Seniors have become a mixed group of adults and young players and we have a very special atmosphere here.
We had a great visit from Frankie Davies on 19th June. Frankie is a very talented and hard-working local violinist. Just off to study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I am currently teaching on their Guildhall Young Artists Programme, which runs on Saturdays. Frankie’s input to us was invaluable and we wish her all the best in her new life as a student and hope she will come back to visit us very soon.
Dan, Chloe and Emily R returned for the final summer sessions and it was great to hear about their progress since they moved on to new musical activities. It makes it feel like a family when players come back to see us and we are always very interested in what is going on for them.
Deborah, Amy, Dan and Maisy came with me to Deddington to hear the Paddington Piano Trio last night. Tuulia Hero (violin) is my teaching partner at Guildhall and her colleagues Patrick Moriarty (cello) and Stephanie Tang (piano) gave a marvellous concert of Mozart, Shostakovich and Schubert. We were blown away by their musicianship and hope they may visit VVS in the near future. They are awe-inspiring chamber music players.
I am delighted to say that 7 players took ABRSM and Trinity exams this term and the results were as follows:
Laura Grade 8 Violin: Distinction
Maisy and Lydia: Grade 4 Violin: both Distiction
Jonah, Alanis, Suzie and Alex Initial Violin: All Distinction
Very well done to all.
I can’t believe we have finished our 8th year of Village Violin School. Thank you to all the players and supporters, and parents. I really value the extraordinary community we share.
I will arrange a few informal activities over the summer but in the meantime have a wonderful break and see you all on Monday 17th September.
Veronique
Laura Grade 8 Violin: Distinction
Maisy and Lydia: Grade 4 Violin: both Distiction
Jonah, Alanis, Suzie and Alex Initial Violin: All Distinction
Very well done to all.
I can’t believe we have finished our 8th year of Village Violin School. Thank you to all the players and supporters, and parents. I really value the extraordinary community we share.
I will arrange a few informal activities over the summer but in the meantime have a wonderful break and see you all on Monday 17th September.
Veronique
7th May 2023
The Fenny Compton Coronation Street Party was a wonderful opportunity to welcome many of our VVS players to a Big Jam to entertain everyone through the afternoon celebrations. There was a great atmosphere and the friendly and informal nature of the event meant that several players enjoyed trying out their solo pieces as well as a nice chance to play through the group tunes and pieces we are currently working on.
Maisy, Maya and Lydia played the first movement of Rieding’s Concerto in B Minor.
Katie played Kreisler’s Sicilenne and Rigaudon and the first movement of Dvorak’s Sonatina in G major.
Laura played the first movement of Bach’s A minor Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Canzonetta, and CC White’s Levee Dance.
Zoe played her own arrangement of Another Love by Tom Odell. I was really impressed with this because she prepared it, and the accompaniment entirely herself.
Chloe played Massanet’s famous(ly difficult) Meditation.
Dan played the first movements of Mozart Concerto no 3 in G and Bruch’s G minor Concerto.
Maisy played Mozart’s Crabwise Canon with Katie and me and Meg played At Dusk, and Alice played The Swan by Saint Saens.
Well done to every single player - you all played beautifully, there were many lovely comments and it was great to have so many of you there.
It was marvellous to have Rosemary with us to play the piano and Deborah to do the soundtracks. Her general support is always hugely appreciated, as is Sarah and Paul’s massive contribution taking all the pics and videos. Their talent and hard work is evident on the website, so a big thank you to them.
This term, Laura prepares her Grade 8, Alice is up for Grade 5, two Grade 4s for Lydia and Maisy and 4 Initials are underway for Suzie, Alex, Jonah and Alanis.
Keep up your practice, everyone, and we meet again as usual on Monday.
Veronique
The Fenny Compton Coronation Street Party was a wonderful opportunity to welcome many of our VVS players to a Big Jam to entertain everyone through the afternoon celebrations. There was a great atmosphere and the friendly and informal nature of the event meant that several players enjoyed trying out their solo pieces as well as a nice chance to play through the group tunes and pieces we are currently working on.
Maisy, Maya and Lydia played the first movement of Rieding’s Concerto in B Minor.
Katie played Kreisler’s Sicilenne and Rigaudon and the first movement of Dvorak’s Sonatina in G major.
Laura played the first movement of Bach’s A minor Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Canzonetta, and CC White’s Levee Dance.
Zoe played her own arrangement of Another Love by Tom Odell. I was really impressed with this because she prepared it, and the accompaniment entirely herself.
Chloe played Massanet’s famous(ly difficult) Meditation.
Dan played the first movements of Mozart Concerto no 3 in G and Bruch’s G minor Concerto.
Maisy played Mozart’s Crabwise Canon with Katie and me and Meg played At Dusk, and Alice played The Swan by Saint Saens.
Well done to every single player - you all played beautifully, there were many lovely comments and it was great to have so many of you there.
It was marvellous to have Rosemary with us to play the piano and Deborah to do the soundtracks. Her general support is always hugely appreciated, as is Sarah and Paul’s massive contribution taking all the pics and videos. Their talent and hard work is evident on the website, so a big thank you to them.
This term, Laura prepares her Grade 8, Alice is up for Grade 5, two Grade 4s for Lydia and Maisy and 4 Initials are underway for Suzie, Alex, Jonah and Alanis.
Keep up your practice, everyone, and we meet again as usual on Monday.
Veronique
28th March 2023
It’s been a busy term and I am very happy to announce that all our exam candidates did very well in their recent Trinity exams: Chloe passed her Grade 6 with Distinction, as did Ruth (Grade 1) and April and Meg (Grade 2) who all achieved Distinction marks as well. Covid disruption meant that exams have featured a bit less over the last couple of years and I hope that those wishing to take them will feel confident to prepare now. It is good to have something to stretch us, and to aim for in addition to the most important thing, which is playing music together.
The Beginners are an incredibly strong group this time and they are doing wonderfully well after only a term of group work. They can play tunes together and are learning to read the notes, and can play with all three fingers confidently now. What a great term and well done everyone!!
I enjoy the mixed age groups in the Seniors very much. This is a slightly new departure and a welcome development so, HOORAY! Everyone is playing well and we are learning Rieding’s B Minor Concerto together in addition the keeping up memorising tunes and ensemble repertoire.
Well done to Chloe – through an audition process she is now the leader of the County String Orchestra – Good for you!! Several of our players have joined the CSO as a natural progression after VVS, including Alice, Laura, Katie, Emily and Dan.
VVS takes a short Easter break while I concentrate on some concerts and an opera run in Birmingham and I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday 17th April at the usual times.
Keep up your practice in the meantime!!
It’s been a busy term and I am very happy to announce that all our exam candidates did very well in their recent Trinity exams: Chloe passed her Grade 6 with Distinction, as did Ruth (Grade 1) and April and Meg (Grade 2) who all achieved Distinction marks as well. Covid disruption meant that exams have featured a bit less over the last couple of years and I hope that those wishing to take them will feel confident to prepare now. It is good to have something to stretch us, and to aim for in addition to the most important thing, which is playing music together.
The Beginners are an incredibly strong group this time and they are doing wonderfully well after only a term of group work. They can play tunes together and are learning to read the notes, and can play with all three fingers confidently now. What a great term and well done everyone!!
I enjoy the mixed age groups in the Seniors very much. This is a slightly new departure and a welcome development so, HOORAY! Everyone is playing well and we are learning Rieding’s B Minor Concerto together in addition the keeping up memorising tunes and ensemble repertoire.
Well done to Chloe – through an audition process she is now the leader of the County String Orchestra – Good for you!! Several of our players have joined the CSO as a natural progression after VVS, including Alice, Laura, Katie, Emily and Dan.
VVS takes a short Easter break while I concentrate on some concerts and an opera run in Birmingham and I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday 17th April at the usual times.
Keep up your practice in the meantime!!
20th March 2023
Bojan and Barja came back to surprise us on Monday.
13th March: Workshop with Bojan and Barja
The workshop on Monday was one of the most exciting and joyous events we have had at Village Violin School welcoming Bojan Cvetreznik and Barja Drnovsek from the Godalkanje String Players Education Project in Lubyanka, Slovenia to lead an inspiring workshop.
It was also a very important event because we invited many VVS players past and present to play, and also our friends Kath Sharman (cello), Raph Mizraki (bass), Susie Carpenter Jacobs (violin) and Matthew Turnock (violin, violin supplier and maintenance expert) so the turnout of string players was really wonderful.
Bojan and Barja are incredible musicians, educators and violinists and we were proud to invite them to VVS to share their expertise and musical culture with us. We also presented Kerry Polka, and Carolan’s Air, which we have been practising, to them.
Bojan and Barja taught us two new tunes, a Balkan folk tune and a Transylvanian traditional tune, with harmonies and rhythm, adding new techniques called the chop and the dog bark (much fun and good techniques to learn) and playing all the parts together.
Everyone worked incredibly hard, listening and keeping the energy levels up for a two hour session, finishing with a Finale of both tunes at a very exciting tempo.
Deborah kept everyone refreshed with biscuits and drinks and Sarah took pictures and videos.
Well done to the players:
Eleanor, Alanis (whose birthday it was), Astrid, Jonah, Eva, Ruby, Aoife, Suzie, Alex, Emily H, Zoe, Maya, Meg, April, Inca, Jenny, Ruth, India, Chandima, Amy, Matthew, Emily R, Alice, Chloe, Katie.
We missed Dan, Laura and Jasmine who couldn’t be there.
Thanks to Bojan, Barja, Kath, Raph, Susie, and also Deborah and Sarah.
Ruth, Meg, Deborah, Matthew and I attended Bojan and Barja’s concert in Bloxham on Tuesday evening, which was great - a wonderful blast of rosin and rhythm and tremendous variety of style, and which included two beautiful compositions by Barja.
I’ll be going to their next performance on Wednesday in Stratford Upon Avon before they leave on the next part of their UK visit, which ends at the European String Teachers’ Association Conference in Cardiff in April.
Keep practising and good luck to Ruth, April and Meg, who take Trinity exams next week.
The workshop on Monday was one of the most exciting and joyous events we have had at Village Violin School welcoming Bojan Cvetreznik and Barja Drnovsek from the Godalkanje String Players Education Project in Lubyanka, Slovenia to lead an inspiring workshop.
It was also a very important event because we invited many VVS players past and present to play, and also our friends Kath Sharman (cello), Raph Mizraki (bass), Susie Carpenter Jacobs (violin) and Matthew Turnock (violin, violin supplier and maintenance expert) so the turnout of string players was really wonderful.
Bojan and Barja are incredible musicians, educators and violinists and we were proud to invite them to VVS to share their expertise and musical culture with us. We also presented Kerry Polka, and Carolan’s Air, which we have been practising, to them.
Bojan and Barja taught us two new tunes, a Balkan folk tune and a Transylvanian traditional tune, with harmonies and rhythm, adding new techniques called the chop and the dog bark (much fun and good techniques to learn) and playing all the parts together.
Everyone worked incredibly hard, listening and keeping the energy levels up for a two hour session, finishing with a Finale of both tunes at a very exciting tempo.
Deborah kept everyone refreshed with biscuits and drinks and Sarah took pictures and videos.
Well done to the players:
Eleanor, Alanis (whose birthday it was), Astrid, Jonah, Eva, Ruby, Aoife, Suzie, Alex, Emily H, Zoe, Maya, Meg, April, Inca, Jenny, Ruth, India, Chandima, Amy, Matthew, Emily R, Alice, Chloe, Katie.
We missed Dan, Laura and Jasmine who couldn’t be there.
Thanks to Bojan, Barja, Kath, Raph, Susie, and also Deborah and Sarah.
Ruth, Meg, Deborah, Matthew and I attended Bojan and Barja’s concert in Bloxham on Tuesday evening, which was great - a wonderful blast of rosin and rhythm and tremendous variety of style, and which included two beautiful compositions by Barja.
I’ll be going to their next performance on Wednesday in Stratford Upon Avon before they leave on the next part of their UK visit, which ends at the European String Teachers’ Association Conference in Cardiff in April.
Keep practising and good luck to Ruth, April and Meg, who take Trinity exams next week.
14th February 2023
Last evening we had two lovely performances of the piece we have been working on so far in our Monday practices. The Beginners, who really are doing very well with bow holds, bow strokes and now first fingers on B and low E, played Willow Waltz, Jig, Fiddle Faddle, Open String Boogie, First Finger Rag and Apple Tree to their supporters. It’s great to hear them happy to demonstrate what they are doing, play on their own and I am impressed with the way they are keeping up their practice. You will find the videos of their performance on the Beginners link.
The Seniors played Marco Takes a Walk, Kerry Polka and the theme from Jupiter. They have really improved their ensemble playing and range of dynamics, which mean their performances are interesting and varied. We are moving our seating week by week so everyone gets to play in every seat and sit by other players. You will find the videos of the Seniors performance on the Seniors link.
On Monday 13th March we welcome Bojan Cvetreznik and Barja Drnovsek, violinists from Slovenia who are coming to run a workshop for all the VVS players, past and present. This is going to be very exciting and a marvellous experience for all out young (and not so young!) players. It will run from 4.15 to 6.30. All parents and supporters are welcome to attend the session at any point. There will be drinks and biscuits available (I do believe we might have a VVS birthday player that day….!) but feel free to send in your player with a snack if you wish.
More details about Bojan and Barja are on the link below:
www.dropbox.com/s/v6631c0zskp6d0g/TerrafolkViolnDuo2023.docx?dl=0
Well done to all and thank you to all the parents for your support. Special thank to Sarah, Paul and Ruth for the videos and pics, and to Sarah for the amazing website. Also to Deborah for her invaluable behind-the-scenes action. Have a lovely half term and see you all again on Monday 27th February
Veronique
Last evening we had two lovely performances of the piece we have been working on so far in our Monday practices. The Beginners, who really are doing very well with bow holds, bow strokes and now first fingers on B and low E, played Willow Waltz, Jig, Fiddle Faddle, Open String Boogie, First Finger Rag and Apple Tree to their supporters. It’s great to hear them happy to demonstrate what they are doing, play on their own and I am impressed with the way they are keeping up their practice. You will find the videos of their performance on the Beginners link.
The Seniors played Marco Takes a Walk, Kerry Polka and the theme from Jupiter. They have really improved their ensemble playing and range of dynamics, which mean their performances are interesting and varied. We are moving our seating week by week so everyone gets to play in every seat and sit by other players. You will find the videos of the Seniors performance on the Seniors link.
On Monday 13th March we welcome Bojan Cvetreznik and Barja Drnovsek, violinists from Slovenia who are coming to run a workshop for all the VVS players, past and present. This is going to be very exciting and a marvellous experience for all out young (and not so young!) players. It will run from 4.15 to 6.30. All parents and supporters are welcome to attend the session at any point. There will be drinks and biscuits available (I do believe we might have a VVS birthday player that day….!) but feel free to send in your player with a snack if you wish.
More details about Bojan and Barja are on the link below:
www.dropbox.com/s/v6631c0zskp6d0g/TerrafolkViolnDuo2023.docx?dl=0
Well done to all and thank you to all the parents for your support. Special thank to Sarah, Paul and Ruth for the videos and pics, and to Sarah for the amazing website. Also to Deborah for her invaluable behind-the-scenes action. Have a lovely half term and see you all again on Monday 27th February
Veronique
3rd January 2023
Happy New Year to everyone!
Thank you all very much for playing so well at our Christmas get-together and concert last month. I am looking forward to a great term ahead, with quite a number of changes.
We welcome our new Beginners – Aoife, Astrid, Ruby, Luna, Eleanor, Alex, Eve and Inca. It’s great to have you all with Village Violin School.
Olivia, Alice, Mila, and Charlie have moved on to a VVS Quartet session which rehearses on a Tuesday. The VVS Soloists (past players Emily R, Dan, Chloe, Laura, Katie) meet up when they are available in the holidays – some of them are playing together this evening and it is always lovely to have them back.
The Seniors are joined by April, Meg, Zoe and Ruth and this is going to be a very exciting term ahead for the ensembles. In addition, Meg and April preparing to take Grade 2, we are (still) awaiting Chloe’s Grade 6 exam result, and Laura takes Grade 8 this term.
VVS starts on Monday 9th January and individual lessons from Tuesday 10th January.
Keep up your regular violin practice and you will make great progress!
Veronique
Ps.
The VVS Soloists had a festive meet up today and managed sight-read through Mozart’s Mirror Canon with delightful ease.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Thank you all very much for playing so well at our Christmas get-together and concert last month. I am looking forward to a great term ahead, with quite a number of changes.
We welcome our new Beginners – Aoife, Astrid, Ruby, Luna, Eleanor, Alex, Eve and Inca. It’s great to have you all with Village Violin School.
Olivia, Alice, Mila, and Charlie have moved on to a VVS Quartet session which rehearses on a Tuesday. The VVS Soloists (past players Emily R, Dan, Chloe, Laura, Katie) meet up when they are available in the holidays – some of them are playing together this evening and it is always lovely to have them back.
The Seniors are joined by April, Meg, Zoe and Ruth and this is going to be a very exciting term ahead for the ensembles. In addition, Meg and April preparing to take Grade 2, we are (still) awaiting Chloe’s Grade 6 exam result, and Laura takes Grade 8 this term.
VVS starts on Monday 9th January and individual lessons from Tuesday 10th January.
Keep up your regular violin practice and you will make great progress!
Veronique
Ps.
The VVS Soloists had a festive meet up today and managed sight-read through Mozart’s Mirror Canon with delightful ease.
15th November 2022
This term has been a very busy one with the addition of an extra group ‘Village Violin Soloists’ which meets on an occasional basis to include our players who have moved to new activities and another stage in their musical development. It is great to keep everyone in touch and the WhatsApp groups have proved invaluable in an easy and immediate way to talk and share information.
There is an end of term concert on Monday 12th December. The Allcomers and the Seniors will play and I am hoping that we will be joined by our new Beginners group – VVS@The Dassett School.
The staff and pupils at The Dassett have welcomed us in and there is a very promising new group of players, supported by their VVS Buddy, Allcomers player Megan. It is lovely to have a new group once more – this was somewhat delayed by past covid restrictions.
We have had a quartet practice involving Alice, India and Amy (and me) to introduce players to the art of chamber music playing and Kate Fawcett, my esteemed viola playing colleague and friend, has kindly helped with some coaching and support at two VVS sessions this term.
We wish Chloe well in her forthcoming Grade 6 Violin exam, and to those who are working towards exams soon - Laura (Grade 8) April and Megan (Grade 2) – keep up your regular daily practice. In fact, that is the best tip for all players, whether or not you are preparing for an exam. It’s the daily practice that keeps you making good progress. I have generally found parents and players less focussed on exam preparation since the pandemic and instead, we have made excellent progress exploring lovely music, which is the best reason for playing together.
Veronique
This term has been a very busy one with the addition of an extra group ‘Village Violin Soloists’ which meets on an occasional basis to include our players who have moved to new activities and another stage in their musical development. It is great to keep everyone in touch and the WhatsApp groups have proved invaluable in an easy and immediate way to talk and share information.
There is an end of term concert on Monday 12th December. The Allcomers and the Seniors will play and I am hoping that we will be joined by our new Beginners group – VVS@The Dassett School.
The staff and pupils at The Dassett have welcomed us in and there is a very promising new group of players, supported by their VVS Buddy, Allcomers player Megan. It is lovely to have a new group once more – this was somewhat delayed by past covid restrictions.
We have had a quartet practice involving Alice, India and Amy (and me) to introduce players to the art of chamber music playing and Kate Fawcett, my esteemed viola playing colleague and friend, has kindly helped with some coaching and support at two VVS sessions this term.
We wish Chloe well in her forthcoming Grade 6 Violin exam, and to those who are working towards exams soon - Laura (Grade 8) April and Megan (Grade 2) – keep up your regular daily practice. In fact, that is the best tip for all players, whether or not you are preparing for an exam. It’s the daily practice that keeps you making good progress. I have generally found parents and players less focussed on exam preparation since the pandemic and instead, we have made excellent progress exploring lovely music, which is the best reason for playing together.
Veronique
20th September 2022
A warm welcome to everyone for the new term!
I have been delighted to see all the players after the summer break. The two sessions we have already had were tremendously encouraging, and with all players contributing and reaching a high standard of ensemble playing so early in the term I feel very positive about the year ahead.
The VVS Allcomers were very happy to welcome Suzie and Jenny – it’s nice in particular for Ruth to have a new adult player with Jenny’s interest. Suzie (in Year 3) is already doing so well and keeping up beautifully with this group of mixed ages and musical experience. We are working on new tunes that have suitable parts for each player. Zoe and Emily H enjoy spending part of the session in the café, preparing duets, which inspires the younger players.
I will be offering taster sessions at The Dassett School, thanks to Ruth and Ms Corry, later this term so we can include new young learners to VVS – it was difficult to start a new group in the era of Covid restrictions but it will be good to have some new starters again.
The VVS Seniors have amazed me with the excellent playing and sound they are already producing. We are having a ‘solos and concertos’ focus on the term and have made good progress already on new repertoire, including Tchaikowsky’s Chanson Triste, Saint-Saens’s The Swan, Vivaldi Violin Concerto in G and some new string orchestra repertoire.
There is a new group – VVS Soloists – to which I have invited players who have left VVS to go on to other schools, such as Emily R and Dan at Chethams School of Music, and Laura and Chloe who attend the Regional String Orchestra, and also Katie and Alice, both of whose playing is also of a fine and standard. This group will meet occasionally, keep the players in touch with each other and we used the opportunity of the Bank Holiday on Monday to rehearse Handel’s Sarabande, Haydn’s Violin Concerto in G major and a Vivaldi Concerto. Chandima and Amy provided viola and bass line, and we were also grateful to my colleague and friend, distinguished musician Kate Fawcett, who helped out all afternoon, with each group.
With such a great start to the term, I am looking forward to a hearing all these marvellous young (and not quite so young!) players develop and enjoy their music making this year. I also have a new challenge myself, having accepted a job for Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, working on the Guildhall Young Artists initiative.
Thanks to all parents and supporters – your input, enthusiasm and kind words are invaluable and much appreciated by me.
Veronique
A warm welcome to everyone for the new term!
I have been delighted to see all the players after the summer break. The two sessions we have already had were tremendously encouraging, and with all players contributing and reaching a high standard of ensemble playing so early in the term I feel very positive about the year ahead.
The VVS Allcomers were very happy to welcome Suzie and Jenny – it’s nice in particular for Ruth to have a new adult player with Jenny’s interest. Suzie (in Year 3) is already doing so well and keeping up beautifully with this group of mixed ages and musical experience. We are working on new tunes that have suitable parts for each player. Zoe and Emily H enjoy spending part of the session in the café, preparing duets, which inspires the younger players.
I will be offering taster sessions at The Dassett School, thanks to Ruth and Ms Corry, later this term so we can include new young learners to VVS – it was difficult to start a new group in the era of Covid restrictions but it will be good to have some new starters again.
The VVS Seniors have amazed me with the excellent playing and sound they are already producing. We are having a ‘solos and concertos’ focus on the term and have made good progress already on new repertoire, including Tchaikowsky’s Chanson Triste, Saint-Saens’s The Swan, Vivaldi Violin Concerto in G and some new string orchestra repertoire.
There is a new group – VVS Soloists – to which I have invited players who have left VVS to go on to other schools, such as Emily R and Dan at Chethams School of Music, and Laura and Chloe who attend the Regional String Orchestra, and also Katie and Alice, both of whose playing is also of a fine and standard. This group will meet occasionally, keep the players in touch with each other and we used the opportunity of the Bank Holiday on Monday to rehearse Handel’s Sarabande, Haydn’s Violin Concerto in G major and a Vivaldi Concerto. Chandima and Amy provided viola and bass line, and we were also grateful to my colleague and friend, distinguished musician Kate Fawcett, who helped out all afternoon, with each group.
With such a great start to the term, I am looking forward to a hearing all these marvellous young (and not quite so young!) players develop and enjoy their music making this year. I also have a new challenge myself, having accepted a job for Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, working on the Guildhall Young Artists initiative.
Thanks to all parents and supporters – your input, enthusiasm and kind words are invaluable and much appreciated by me.
Veronique
VVS sight-reading session on 11th July. It was lovely to welcome Emily R back for the summer holiday.
11th July 2022
PS
Dan’s result is in and I’m very happy to report that he got a well-deserved Distinction for his ABRSM Grade 8 exam. Well done to him, and to all the players for every single personal achievement over the last year. Have a wonderful summer break.
PS
Dan’s result is in and I’m very happy to report that he got a well-deserved Distinction for his ABRSM Grade 8 exam. Well done to him, and to all the players for every single personal achievement over the last year. Have a wonderful summer break.
6th July 2022
The Summer Concert took place last Sunday in the Village Hall and was well attended by parents, friends and neighbours in the village. They enjoyed the wonderful music played by our string players, followed by tea and excellent cake.
The Allcomers played their set of pieces, followed by genuinely emotional solo performances by Chloe, Katie, Dan and Laura. Georgina, Alice, Lydia, Maisy and Maya also played solo parts in the ensemble pieces. The Seniors played the ensemble pieces they have been preparing, to an outstanding standard and then the Allcomers joined the Seniors for the final pieces – a favourite, Carolan’s Air and the finale, Camptown Races. I am very proud of all the players for their bravery and willingness to prepare and then stand up and find the courage to play out to an audience.
Alice was awarded the Merrie Lion Trophy for her progress, commitment and hard work, and Laura had a well-deserved award for her versatility and contribution to VVS. Maya deserved her prize for her recent excellent progress.
A big thank you goes to Deborah for arranging the tea, and to Paul and Sarah for the pictures and videos. The event raised £400, much of which will be given to the Ukraine Relief Fund.
I am hugely grateful to Sarah for designing and looking after the website. It is an amazing record of the history of VVS and the people learning through it.
Since then (busy week!) Dan has taken his ABRSM Grade 8 and we are waiting for the result. He has reached a very high standard of playing through phenomenal hard work this year and fully deserves his Sixth Form place at Chethams School of Music in September.
Georgina, Meg and April all took their Trinity Grade 1 exams on the same day and they all gained Distinctions.
Latest news of Jasmine, our VVS 2015-2017 volunteer and great inspiration and joy to all the original intake of players, has finished her second year studying Music (violin) at Leeds University and has won a place for her third year to study in Strasbourg. We hope to see her over the summer at VVS which, although taking a break, will organise some fun events before re-starting in September.
Well done and thanks to everyone for a wonderful year of music making, learning and fun.
Veronique
The Summer Concert took place last Sunday in the Village Hall and was well attended by parents, friends and neighbours in the village. They enjoyed the wonderful music played by our string players, followed by tea and excellent cake.
The Allcomers played their set of pieces, followed by genuinely emotional solo performances by Chloe, Katie, Dan and Laura. Georgina, Alice, Lydia, Maisy and Maya also played solo parts in the ensemble pieces. The Seniors played the ensemble pieces they have been preparing, to an outstanding standard and then the Allcomers joined the Seniors for the final pieces – a favourite, Carolan’s Air and the finale, Camptown Races. I am very proud of all the players for their bravery and willingness to prepare and then stand up and find the courage to play out to an audience.
Alice was awarded the Merrie Lion Trophy for her progress, commitment and hard work, and Laura had a well-deserved award for her versatility and contribution to VVS. Maya deserved her prize for her recent excellent progress.
A big thank you goes to Deborah for arranging the tea, and to Paul and Sarah for the pictures and videos. The event raised £400, much of which will be given to the Ukraine Relief Fund.
I am hugely grateful to Sarah for designing and looking after the website. It is an amazing record of the history of VVS and the people learning through it.
Since then (busy week!) Dan has taken his ABRSM Grade 8 and we are waiting for the result. He has reached a very high standard of playing through phenomenal hard work this year and fully deserves his Sixth Form place at Chethams School of Music in September.
Georgina, Meg and April all took their Trinity Grade 1 exams on the same day and they all gained Distinctions.
Latest news of Jasmine, our VVS 2015-2017 volunteer and great inspiration and joy to all the original intake of players, has finished her second year studying Music (violin) at Leeds University and has won a place for her third year to study in Strasbourg. We hope to see her over the summer at VVS which, although taking a break, will organise some fun events before re-starting in September.
Well done and thanks to everyone for a wonderful year of music making, learning and fun.
Veronique
13th June 2022
VVS Seniors rehearsing on 6th June for the next concert on 3rd July. Get your tickets soon!!
VVS Seniors rehearsing on 6th June for the next concert on 3rd July. Get your tickets soon!!
31st May 2022
Yesterday we were very happy to welcome the fabulous pianist and accompanist Lynn Arnold who came to do a coaching session for Katie, Laura, Chloe and Dan who are preparing exams and for the VVS concert on Sunday 3rd July.
All the players had prepared very thoroughly for this event and I was extremely proud of the gorgeous playing from each violinist.
I’m very much looking forward to our concert for which this time we are raising money for the Ukraine Relief Fund.
Please keep practising your pieces - the group pieces are coming on well, but we still have improvements to make.
The concert, at 3.30, will be followed by tea and cake at 4.30.
Have a lovely half term, everyone, and see you all for our next practice on Monday 6th June.
Veronique.
Yesterday we were very happy to welcome the fabulous pianist and accompanist Lynn Arnold who came to do a coaching session for Katie, Laura, Chloe and Dan who are preparing exams and for the VVS concert on Sunday 3rd July.
All the players had prepared very thoroughly for this event and I was extremely proud of the gorgeous playing from each violinist.
I’m very much looking forward to our concert for which this time we are raising money for the Ukraine Relief Fund.
Please keep practising your pieces - the group pieces are coming on well, but we still have improvements to make.
The concert, at 3.30, will be followed by tea and cake at 4.30.
Have a lovely half term, everyone, and see you all for our next practice on Monday 6th June.
Veronique.
6th April 2022
I just cannot believe how long it is since I wrote up the VVS News. I would offer my apologies for this, except we have been so busy actually doing the project that writing up the diary seems to be the thing that gets forgotten. Doing it is the more important, I feel.
I will start with the most recent events because they are fresh in my mind. First, we had a superb set of exam results from Jess, April, Meg and Ruth, who took Trinity Initial exam, and all passed with Distinction. Maisy took Grade 3 and passed with Merit.
Georgina will soon take Grade 1, it would be nice for Maya to take her Grade 2 soon – she is well able to – and Emily H, Maisy and Lydia are working towards their Grade 4 exams together. It is nice to get back some structural normality with live exams for those who want to take them. Dan takes Grade 8 next term and Laura also has Grade 8 in her sight. In addition, several Seniors will be taking Grade 5 before long.
(Note to Chloe, get your Grade 5 theory exam done, please – your Grade 6 pieces are gorgeous and we can’t do Grade 6 till the theory exam is passed!)
Big news from Dan: inspired by Emily R’s application and successful audition to Chethams School in Manchester (specialist music school), he visited for the open day last October, and began his own process to apply for entry to Sixth Form. I am proud and delighted to say that, after a 5 month intensive period of extremely hard work, Dan was offered an audition and then won a place at the school for his Sixth Form studies in September.
Emily R continues to thrive there, playing the music she loves and enjoying her new life. She stays in touch and hopefully will come and see everyone at VVS soon.
Both groups made great progress this year – we spent the Autumn term mostly without sheet music, learning folk tunes from memory and introducing some jazz violin to the Seniors. I found this new venture quite challenging myself but it was amazing to see how powerful it is to learn music from memory. We ended the Christmas Term with these tunes rather than the more traditional Carols, although we introduced the Allcomers to an old favourite, ‘Christmas In a Minute and a Half’ which we all played together.
Maisy was awarded the Merrie Lion Trophy, which she deserved so much for her committed and excellent work over the term.
Zoe and Emily H have made an excellent spin-off group during the Allcomers session where they work together, sometimes with some of the younger children, learning duets or trios without my help. I’m really happy to see them doing so well – the main aim of VVS is that everyone gets confident to have a go themselves. Zoe has brought in a guitar and done some singing too and it is nice to see people sharing new ideas with confidence. This term Allcomers have been preparing for their exams, sharing experiences of feeling nervous and apprehensive and helping each other as we gain practice in playing confidently in formal situations. I’m very proud of the way each group supports its players. Allcomers ended the term with a play through of the pieces we have been learning – some nice duets with a great backing track – will I ever tire of Chicken on a Fence Post?!
There standard of playing in the Seniors is something to be proud of. Well done to all of you! Yours is is a real achievement and everyone is a part of it and makes an individual and unique contribution. We have been learning some new string music – everyone sight reads very well now, and each session also incorporates some technique. I am delighted with the sound and ensemble achieved by this group. Emily H should be praised for attending both the Allcomers and the Seniors each week. Well done, it’s lovely that she wants to do that! Maisy joins us in the Seniors from next term, and welcome also to India – an actual viola player! Seniors did not have a concert at the end of term but we will be ready to play soon after the holiday – Windmills of your Mind, Allegro Con Brio, Black Eyes and A Time For Us. Pachelbel seems to be ready for another outing with a few people wanting to learn it.
Laura, Dan and Chloe are going to the Regional String Orchestra, which has restarted after the stop during the pandemic, and they enjoy that. I’d be delighted for Olivia, Alice, Mila and Charlie to consider this as well.
Thank you to Deborah, Amy and Chandima – it’s lovely to have you all there. Thank you to all the parents – life just wouldn’t be the same without VVS.
I wish everyone a lovely break – keep up some playing over the holidays (Chloe, take that theory exam, please!!!) and see you all at the next session on 25th April.
I just cannot believe how long it is since I wrote up the VVS News. I would offer my apologies for this, except we have been so busy actually doing the project that writing up the diary seems to be the thing that gets forgotten. Doing it is the more important, I feel.
I will start with the most recent events because they are fresh in my mind. First, we had a superb set of exam results from Jess, April, Meg and Ruth, who took Trinity Initial exam, and all passed with Distinction. Maisy took Grade 3 and passed with Merit.
Georgina will soon take Grade 1, it would be nice for Maya to take her Grade 2 soon – she is well able to – and Emily H, Maisy and Lydia are working towards their Grade 4 exams together. It is nice to get back some structural normality with live exams for those who want to take them. Dan takes Grade 8 next term and Laura also has Grade 8 in her sight. In addition, several Seniors will be taking Grade 5 before long.
(Note to Chloe, get your Grade 5 theory exam done, please – your Grade 6 pieces are gorgeous and we can’t do Grade 6 till the theory exam is passed!)
Big news from Dan: inspired by Emily R’s application and successful audition to Chethams School in Manchester (specialist music school), he visited for the open day last October, and began his own process to apply for entry to Sixth Form. I am proud and delighted to say that, after a 5 month intensive period of extremely hard work, Dan was offered an audition and then won a place at the school for his Sixth Form studies in September.
Emily R continues to thrive there, playing the music she loves and enjoying her new life. She stays in touch and hopefully will come and see everyone at VVS soon.
Both groups made great progress this year – we spent the Autumn term mostly without sheet music, learning folk tunes from memory and introducing some jazz violin to the Seniors. I found this new venture quite challenging myself but it was amazing to see how powerful it is to learn music from memory. We ended the Christmas Term with these tunes rather than the more traditional Carols, although we introduced the Allcomers to an old favourite, ‘Christmas In a Minute and a Half’ which we all played together.
Maisy was awarded the Merrie Lion Trophy, which she deserved so much for her committed and excellent work over the term.
Zoe and Emily H have made an excellent spin-off group during the Allcomers session where they work together, sometimes with some of the younger children, learning duets or trios without my help. I’m really happy to see them doing so well – the main aim of VVS is that everyone gets confident to have a go themselves. Zoe has brought in a guitar and done some singing too and it is nice to see people sharing new ideas with confidence. This term Allcomers have been preparing for their exams, sharing experiences of feeling nervous and apprehensive and helping each other as we gain practice in playing confidently in formal situations. I’m very proud of the way each group supports its players. Allcomers ended the term with a play through of the pieces we have been learning – some nice duets with a great backing track – will I ever tire of Chicken on a Fence Post?!
There standard of playing in the Seniors is something to be proud of. Well done to all of you! Yours is is a real achievement and everyone is a part of it and makes an individual and unique contribution. We have been learning some new string music – everyone sight reads very well now, and each session also incorporates some technique. I am delighted with the sound and ensemble achieved by this group. Emily H should be praised for attending both the Allcomers and the Seniors each week. Well done, it’s lovely that she wants to do that! Maisy joins us in the Seniors from next term, and welcome also to India – an actual viola player! Seniors did not have a concert at the end of term but we will be ready to play soon after the holiday – Windmills of your Mind, Allegro Con Brio, Black Eyes and A Time For Us. Pachelbel seems to be ready for another outing with a few people wanting to learn it.
Laura, Dan and Chloe are going to the Regional String Orchestra, which has restarted after the stop during the pandemic, and they enjoy that. I’d be delighted for Olivia, Alice, Mila and Charlie to consider this as well.
Thank you to Deborah, Amy and Chandima – it’s lovely to have you all there. Thank you to all the parents – life just wouldn’t be the same without VVS.
I wish everyone a lovely break – keep up some playing over the holidays (Chloe, take that theory exam, please!!!) and see you all at the next session on 25th April.
19th July 2021
The final VVS sessions included a visit from Mark Lee who kindly arranged both The Wellerman and Cossack Dance for our players at VVS. It was great to welcome him to our practice on 5th July and we enjoyed listening to him playing part of The Flight of the Bumblebee, by Rimsky Korsakov, and we enjoyed our own Bumbly improvs playing along with him! Mark spoke to everyone about his own violin learning experiences and how important it is to practise, practise, practise. But at least it was nice to hear the message from a new face! Thank you to Mark for making our session fun and interesting.
Maisy and Freida both took live Trinity Grade 2 violin exams and each were awarded a Distinction, having played very well. Well done to them!
Jasmine gave a recital at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, to prepare for her Diploma this week. She played a great programme of sonatas by Beethoven, Grieg and Hindemith to a high standard. I was very proud to be at her concert and watching all the players grow up and mature, playing better than ever is one of my favourite things. We wish her every success in her final recital.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and helped to keep VVS going since March 2019, with very minimal breaks, most of all a huge CONGRATULATIONS to every single player.
VVS now takes a well-earned break until September. Enjoy the summer holiday!
Veronique
The final VVS sessions included a visit from Mark Lee who kindly arranged both The Wellerman and Cossack Dance for our players at VVS. It was great to welcome him to our practice on 5th July and we enjoyed listening to him playing part of The Flight of the Bumblebee, by Rimsky Korsakov, and we enjoyed our own Bumbly improvs playing along with him! Mark spoke to everyone about his own violin learning experiences and how important it is to practise, practise, practise. But at least it was nice to hear the message from a new face! Thank you to Mark for making our session fun and interesting.
Maisy and Freida both took live Trinity Grade 2 violin exams and each were awarded a Distinction, having played very well. Well done to them!
Jasmine gave a recital at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, to prepare for her Diploma this week. She played a great programme of sonatas by Beethoven, Grieg and Hindemith to a high standard. I was very proud to be at her concert and watching all the players grow up and mature, playing better than ever is one of my favourite things. We wish her every success in her final recital.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and helped to keep VVS going since March 2019, with very minimal breaks, most of all a huge CONGRATULATIONS to every single player.
VVS now takes a well-earned break until September. Enjoy the summer holiday!
Veronique
5th July 2021
Words can’t quite convey my delight and relief at the success the players at VVS have experienced with the lovely events that we were able to do in the last week of June.
First, I took a small group to Leamington Festival on June 20th. It wasn’t possible to take everyone as we usually do, because of the limited numbers allowed, but Emily R, Jenny, Laura, Alice, Olivia, Dan, Charlie, Emily H, Lydia, Maya, Maisy, Chandima and Amy all came and played Cossack Dance and Sarabande at Dale Street Methodist Church to an audience of parents and Cath Yates, the adjudicator. It was a wonderful occasion; the comments from Cath Yates were so positive and encouraging to all the players. VVS were awarded the trophy for a third consecutive year. Jenny also played the 4th movement of Dvorak’s Sonatina in an earlier class very well indeed. Thank you to Kathryn Heathcote who runs the Strings section of the Festival tirelessly to provide great opportunities for the young players.
On 21st June, Susie Carpenter Jacobs, the remarkable violinist who composed the Loch Down Suite, came from London to spend the VVS Monday sessions doing workshops with all three groups. The All-comers and Seniors joined up to rehearse the Loch Down pieces for the concert later in the week. It was the first time we had all been able to play together for many months and the players made a terrific sound and really enjoyed having a visitor. Susie was so inspiring for us all, and managed to get all 6 pieces rehearsed with skill and flair. It was a joy to be able to watch and listen to such a great session. We were also joined by Raph Mizraki, a most exceptional musician, playing the cello and Kath Sharman, also a cellist of note, on this occasion setting up to video the workshop. I am immensely grateful to all three phenomenal musicians for sharing their time and expertise with VVS.
The concert on 26th June was a tremendous event, with all players on top form, apart from Olivia who had the bad luck to hurt her hand just before we were due to rehearse. She coped really well, and was in the audience rather than on The Carpet. We missed her playing but she was there, luckily, because it wouldn’t have been the same without her. The Beginners opened the show with their set of pieces; the first concert ever for Sweetcorn, she said, and maybe for other Beginners, too. They were fabulous; they included my favourite showstopper, Sheila Nelson’s Hoe Down and Deborah’s nemesis, Apple Tree! The All-Comers soon joined in, first with German Tune, then with their own set of tunes. Natalie and Lydia played a difficult duet well in the middle section of ‘I See The Light’ and the set finished with a lively Camptown Races. The Seniors then joined them for the world premiere of the Loch Down Suite, which bowled along, with all repeats remembered apart from the one The Teacher forgot! Cossack Dance had a great opening from Chloe and the stylish final cadenza from Dan, and The Wellerman, with a lovely solo line from Alice, ended the All-Comers’ set, leaving the Seniors alone to end the concert. Jenny and Laura played the Largo from Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins exceptionally beautifully with Raph and me playing continuo. Emily R followed with a gorgeous Introduction before the Seniors ensemble Sarabande. Please listen to the whole concert by clicking on the June Concert link.
Emily R won the Merrie Lion Trophy – she has just been offered a place at Chethams School of \Music in Manchester, after a lengthy audition process – deservedly so because she has worked extremely hard to gain successful entry. Well done to her.
Huge thanks to Raph and Kath for their work in editing the concert video so it runs quickly without the concert chat. I know it has taken them hours. Also thanks to Suzie King for all the stage management on the day of the concert. It ran incredibly smoothly because of her efficiency. Thanks as always, goes to Deborah for constant and generous support week by week.
Veronique
Words can’t quite convey my delight and relief at the success the players at VVS have experienced with the lovely events that we were able to do in the last week of June.
First, I took a small group to Leamington Festival on June 20th. It wasn’t possible to take everyone as we usually do, because of the limited numbers allowed, but Emily R, Jenny, Laura, Alice, Olivia, Dan, Charlie, Emily H, Lydia, Maya, Maisy, Chandima and Amy all came and played Cossack Dance and Sarabande at Dale Street Methodist Church to an audience of parents and Cath Yates, the adjudicator. It was a wonderful occasion; the comments from Cath Yates were so positive and encouraging to all the players. VVS were awarded the trophy for a third consecutive year. Jenny also played the 4th movement of Dvorak’s Sonatina in an earlier class very well indeed. Thank you to Kathryn Heathcote who runs the Strings section of the Festival tirelessly to provide great opportunities for the young players.
On 21st June, Susie Carpenter Jacobs, the remarkable violinist who composed the Loch Down Suite, came from London to spend the VVS Monday sessions doing workshops with all three groups. The All-comers and Seniors joined up to rehearse the Loch Down pieces for the concert later in the week. It was the first time we had all been able to play together for many months and the players made a terrific sound and really enjoyed having a visitor. Susie was so inspiring for us all, and managed to get all 6 pieces rehearsed with skill and flair. It was a joy to be able to watch and listen to such a great session. We were also joined by Raph Mizraki, a most exceptional musician, playing the cello and Kath Sharman, also a cellist of note, on this occasion setting up to video the workshop. I am immensely grateful to all three phenomenal musicians for sharing their time and expertise with VVS.
The concert on 26th June was a tremendous event, with all players on top form, apart from Olivia who had the bad luck to hurt her hand just before we were due to rehearse. She coped really well, and was in the audience rather than on The Carpet. We missed her playing but she was there, luckily, because it wouldn’t have been the same without her. The Beginners opened the show with their set of pieces; the first concert ever for Sweetcorn, she said, and maybe for other Beginners, too. They were fabulous; they included my favourite showstopper, Sheila Nelson’s Hoe Down and Deborah’s nemesis, Apple Tree! The All-Comers soon joined in, first with German Tune, then with their own set of tunes. Natalie and Lydia played a difficult duet well in the middle section of ‘I See The Light’ and the set finished with a lively Camptown Races. The Seniors then joined them for the world premiere of the Loch Down Suite, which bowled along, with all repeats remembered apart from the one The Teacher forgot! Cossack Dance had a great opening from Chloe and the stylish final cadenza from Dan, and The Wellerman, with a lovely solo line from Alice, ended the All-Comers’ set, leaving the Seniors alone to end the concert. Jenny and Laura played the Largo from Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins exceptionally beautifully with Raph and me playing continuo. Emily R followed with a gorgeous Introduction before the Seniors ensemble Sarabande. Please listen to the whole concert by clicking on the June Concert link.
Emily R won the Merrie Lion Trophy – she has just been offered a place at Chethams School of \Music in Manchester, after a lengthy audition process – deservedly so because she has worked extremely hard to gain successful entry. Well done to her.
Huge thanks to Raph and Kath for their work in editing the concert video so it runs quickly without the concert chat. I know it has taken them hours. Also thanks to Suzie King for all the stage management on the day of the concert. It ran incredibly smoothly because of her efficiency. Thanks as always, goes to Deborah for constant and generous support week by week.
Veronique
26th May 2021
I sat down to write some VVS news this evening and I simply cannot believe that it is almost 6 months since I last did this. I am afraid to say this is the first News item of 2021, but it is more because we have been tremendously busy and productive that the time has flown by.
We have kept going through a second (or was it a third?) lockdown, both online and in the Village Hall, and the players have all made phenomenal progress in the most challenging circumstances. I am full of respect for the hard work and attitude of the members (of any age) of VVS players.
The Beginners have welcomed April to the group and I must say, this is a very strong group. Jessica has even coped VVS rehearsals with a broken elbow! Megan and Bethan are doing well, and the grown ups, Ruth and Sweetcorn, are also making progress. The bow strokes are long and straight and everyone has learned to do all three fingers, so our next step will be a scale. The Beginners are practising their concert pieces very diligently and I am looking forward to hearing them play in the concert.
The Allcomers and Seniors have been working hard at the Loch Down Suite, Cossack Dance and The Wellerman, which they are playing together at the concert on 26th June. We have been preparing the parts in our group sessions and we met up all together for the first time in over a year on Monday, which was really exciting. It was great to make a big string sound again.
The Seniors have been invited to play at Leamington Festival on Sunday 20th June – the Festival has a different format this year and it is an honour to be asked to play. This year it will be held at Dale Street Methodist Church in Leamington Spa and it will be the first outing for VVS for some time.
The Allcomers and Seniors are participating in a workshop with violinist and composer Susie Carpenter Jacobs on Monday 21st June. She will be coaching VVS on the Loch Down Suite which we have been practising for the occasion. Susie composed the set of 6 pieces for string orchestra and we are very much looking forward to the session she will be leading.
The VVS concert will be on Saturday 26th June at 4pm. All players will be involved and the venue will be confirmed as soon as the latest government advice about the lifting of restrictions is announced. Tickets (Adults £5, children free) are from Deborah (01295 770652). There will be a donation for our supporters, The Merrie Lion from the proceeds.
There will be some informal concerts including solos, duets, Laura’s composition and anything else we haven’t yet covered, in July.
There will be no VVS rehearsal in half term, or on Monday 7th June. The next one is on Monday 14th June, followed by the dates given above. Please keep everyone practising every day. It’s the only way to keep the skills developing and the team depends on each player being well prepared. Thanks to all the parents and supporters, as ever.
Have a lovely half term.
Veronique
I sat down to write some VVS news this evening and I simply cannot believe that it is almost 6 months since I last did this. I am afraid to say this is the first News item of 2021, but it is more because we have been tremendously busy and productive that the time has flown by.
We have kept going through a second (or was it a third?) lockdown, both online and in the Village Hall, and the players have all made phenomenal progress in the most challenging circumstances. I am full of respect for the hard work and attitude of the members (of any age) of VVS players.
The Beginners have welcomed April to the group and I must say, this is a very strong group. Jessica has even coped VVS rehearsals with a broken elbow! Megan and Bethan are doing well, and the grown ups, Ruth and Sweetcorn, are also making progress. The bow strokes are long and straight and everyone has learned to do all three fingers, so our next step will be a scale. The Beginners are practising their concert pieces very diligently and I am looking forward to hearing them play in the concert.
The Allcomers and Seniors have been working hard at the Loch Down Suite, Cossack Dance and The Wellerman, which they are playing together at the concert on 26th June. We have been preparing the parts in our group sessions and we met up all together for the first time in over a year on Monday, which was really exciting. It was great to make a big string sound again.
The Seniors have been invited to play at Leamington Festival on Sunday 20th June – the Festival has a different format this year and it is an honour to be asked to play. This year it will be held at Dale Street Methodist Church in Leamington Spa and it will be the first outing for VVS for some time.
The Allcomers and Seniors are participating in a workshop with violinist and composer Susie Carpenter Jacobs on Monday 21st June. She will be coaching VVS on the Loch Down Suite which we have been practising for the occasion. Susie composed the set of 6 pieces for string orchestra and we are very much looking forward to the session she will be leading.
The VVS concert will be on Saturday 26th June at 4pm. All players will be involved and the venue will be confirmed as soon as the latest government advice about the lifting of restrictions is announced. Tickets (Adults £5, children free) are from Deborah (01295 770652). There will be a donation for our supporters, The Merrie Lion from the proceeds.
There will be some informal concerts including solos, duets, Laura’s composition and anything else we haven’t yet covered, in July.
There will be no VVS rehearsal in half term, or on Monday 7th June. The next one is on Monday 14th June, followed by the dates given above. Please keep everyone practising every day. It’s the only way to keep the skills developing and the team depends on each player being well prepared. Thanks to all the parents and supporters, as ever.
Have a lovely half term.
Veronique
29th December 2020
This will be the last news post of 2020, a year to which many of us will be glad to say goodbye, but as far as I am concerned anyway, the Village Violin School has been the best of it. I have been inspired and encouraged by each person involved, from the youngest, to all the adults who support us in so many ways. Thank you to everyone – we have helped to keep each other going in a challenging year.
It has not all been bad news, though. We have been amazingly lucky to have the Village Hall as a venue for lessons and practices and we have very much appreciated being able to use this space, despite a memorable visit from the local Law Enforcement Representatives towards the end of one VVS session in November.
In addition to the concerts (yes, we did several of these from February, through the summer, and right to the final one at the end of October) and competitions (cast your memories back to January and February, the Banbury Young Musician of the Year). We have had WhatsApp competitions, learned to learn on Zoom and we have taken ABRSM and Trinity exams. Each player prepared for an exam or an assessment from Initial right through to Grade 8, and I am delighted to say that every player passed with either Merit, or Distinction, a remarkable achievement, even without the challenging circumstances caused by the virus.
I can’t single out any player because each one did magnificently, aiming high, and doing themselves justice at a really difficult time, and I am beyond proud of each one. So I am naming them all.
Congratulations and respect to: Mila, Chloe, Alice, Ben, Charlie, Laura, Emily R, Jenny, Olivia, Dan, Natalie, Zoe, Maya, Emily H, Lydia, Georgina, Freida, Maisy and Daisy.
Also a great big, Well Done! to Jessica, Megan and Bethan for the terrific start they have made, along with Ruth and Sweetcorn.
I am thinking ahead to next term and although the news is currently looking dismal in terms of required distancing measures, I am excited to launch Project 21 for all our (more or less) 21 young players. This will culminate in a concert later in the year, and we will be building this project together in the New Year, either on Zoom, or face to face, as we go along. We need a purpose and an aim and this concert, when it arrives, will be very special.
I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and another big thank you, from me.
Veronique
This will be the last news post of 2020, a year to which many of us will be glad to say goodbye, but as far as I am concerned anyway, the Village Violin School has been the best of it. I have been inspired and encouraged by each person involved, from the youngest, to all the adults who support us in so many ways. Thank you to everyone – we have helped to keep each other going in a challenging year.
It has not all been bad news, though. We have been amazingly lucky to have the Village Hall as a venue for lessons and practices and we have very much appreciated being able to use this space, despite a memorable visit from the local Law Enforcement Representatives towards the end of one VVS session in November.
In addition to the concerts (yes, we did several of these from February, through the summer, and right to the final one at the end of October) and competitions (cast your memories back to January and February, the Banbury Young Musician of the Year). We have had WhatsApp competitions, learned to learn on Zoom and we have taken ABRSM and Trinity exams. Each player prepared for an exam or an assessment from Initial right through to Grade 8, and I am delighted to say that every player passed with either Merit, or Distinction, a remarkable achievement, even without the challenging circumstances caused by the virus.
I can’t single out any player because each one did magnificently, aiming high, and doing themselves justice at a really difficult time, and I am beyond proud of each one. So I am naming them all.
Congratulations and respect to: Mila, Chloe, Alice, Ben, Charlie, Laura, Emily R, Jenny, Olivia, Dan, Natalie, Zoe, Maya, Emily H, Lydia, Georgina, Freida, Maisy and Daisy.
Also a great big, Well Done! to Jessica, Megan and Bethan for the terrific start they have made, along with Ruth and Sweetcorn.
I am thinking ahead to next term and although the news is currently looking dismal in terms of required distancing measures, I am excited to launch Project 21 for all our (more or less) 21 young players. This will culminate in a concert later in the year, and we will be building this project together in the New Year, either on Zoom, or face to face, as we go along. We need a purpose and an aim and this concert, when it arrives, will be very special.
I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and another big thank you, from me.
Veronique
25th October 2020
Half term has arrived, but not without informal concerts last Monday from the Beginners, the Allcomers and the Seniors to small, socially distanced and facemasked audiences of parents, an achievement in itself in these troubled times.
The Beginners excelled themselves in playing Trick or Treat (so seasonal) both verses, one plucked and one with the bow. They have done tremendously well in only four weeks and I’m looking forward to seeing if their half term practice charts are filled up when we next meet.
The Allcomers played Camptown Races really well and I loved hearing them play this tune. It’s turned out to be a real favourite. All the players played through some solos, some in preparation for out exams on 5th December.
The Seniors are also practising their exam solos – we have recently heard Jenny’s solo Bach, Chloe’s Handel, Alice’s Cossack Dance, Emily H’s Habanera, Emily R’s Cossack Dance, Olivia’s Neapolitan Song, Charlie’s also, and Laura’s Handel.
Charlie has broken his ankle, and has his leg in a cast so we all sat down to keep him company for Beethoven Symphony no 1 themes and an arrangement of Beethoven Symphony no 7 Allegretto.
These great pieces went very well and it is a credit to everyone that we have been able to keep going (so far) with all the disruption and challenges everyone is facing in daily life.
You can hear the videos of the group pieces on the link: 19th October Half Term Concert.
Please keep practising over half term – everyone has the opportunity of either an informal assessment or an exam to prepare for 5th December so there is much to do.
Rebecca L has just gained a Merit for her ABRSM Grade 7 Performance Exam.
This is the first one we have done – they are a new initiative from ABRSM and are presented as a complete recording of a recital. Well done to Rebecca.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone again on Monday 2nd November
Veronique
Half term has arrived, but not without informal concerts last Monday from the Beginners, the Allcomers and the Seniors to small, socially distanced and facemasked audiences of parents, an achievement in itself in these troubled times.
The Beginners excelled themselves in playing Trick or Treat (so seasonal) both verses, one plucked and one with the bow. They have done tremendously well in only four weeks and I’m looking forward to seeing if their half term practice charts are filled up when we next meet.
The Allcomers played Camptown Races really well and I loved hearing them play this tune. It’s turned out to be a real favourite. All the players played through some solos, some in preparation for out exams on 5th December.
The Seniors are also practising their exam solos – we have recently heard Jenny’s solo Bach, Chloe’s Handel, Alice’s Cossack Dance, Emily H’s Habanera, Emily R’s Cossack Dance, Olivia’s Neapolitan Song, Charlie’s also, and Laura’s Handel.
Charlie has broken his ankle, and has his leg in a cast so we all sat down to keep him company for Beethoven Symphony no 1 themes and an arrangement of Beethoven Symphony no 7 Allegretto.
These great pieces went very well and it is a credit to everyone that we have been able to keep going (so far) with all the disruption and challenges everyone is facing in daily life.
You can hear the videos of the group pieces on the link: 19th October Half Term Concert.
Please keep practising over half term – everyone has the opportunity of either an informal assessment or an exam to prepare for 5th December so there is much to do.
Rebecca L has just gained a Merit for her ABRSM Grade 7 Performance Exam.
This is the first one we have done – they are a new initiative from ABRSM and are presented as a complete recording of a recital. Well done to Rebecca.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone again on Monday 2nd November
Veronique
30th September 2020
We are now well into our new term and, despite current restrictions and regulations, I am happy to say that VVS is not only continuing but we have also welcomed our new Beginners Group. They have now had their first two sessions, and I am already so impressed by their GOLD STAR progress. Well done to Meg, Jessica, Grace, Bethan and Ruth, and also to Daisy for being a good model to the new learners.
The All-comers are delighted to see Zoe again – she has already come up with a challenge for them – Wash, wash, wash your hands, wash them nice and clean (now finish with your own words….to the tune of Row, row, row your boat). We are also enjoying playing The Camptown Races and sight-reading through some of the tunes in Violin Star books that we didn’t play previously. I am very happy at the progress everyone is making in this group.
The Seniors are playing Beethoven in this, his 250th anniversary year. We have arrangements of themes from Beethoven 1st Symphony and the 7th and we are practising great ensemble playing and the dramatic dynamic contrasts that this music needs.
Everyone is working hard and being very sensible in making our Monday sessions work well and so big pats on the back for all. Well done, keep it up!
Composer (Not) In Residence:
Susie Carpenter-Jacobs is a wonderful violinist and musician, an experienced player and educator in many of London’s top orchestras and my dear friend and colleague. We are very excited to be playing her music this term, the Loch Down Suite, which are 6 beautifully composed tunes in Scottish style with parts for everyone to enjoy.
All three groups are learning the tunes in preparation for a workshop led by Susie later in the term and we are very grateful to her for generously sharing this music with us.
I am so looking forward to our first post Lock Down concert at which we will be able to give a performance of these lovely melodies, along with our other repertoire.
Graded violin exams, informal assessments, and masterclasses will be on Saturday 5th December in the Village Hall. More details about that will follow in due course.
Veronique
We are now well into our new term and, despite current restrictions and regulations, I am happy to say that VVS is not only continuing but we have also welcomed our new Beginners Group. They have now had their first two sessions, and I am already so impressed by their GOLD STAR progress. Well done to Meg, Jessica, Grace, Bethan and Ruth, and also to Daisy for being a good model to the new learners.
The All-comers are delighted to see Zoe again – she has already come up with a challenge for them – Wash, wash, wash your hands, wash them nice and clean (now finish with your own words….to the tune of Row, row, row your boat). We are also enjoying playing The Camptown Races and sight-reading through some of the tunes in Violin Star books that we didn’t play previously. I am very happy at the progress everyone is making in this group.
The Seniors are playing Beethoven in this, his 250th anniversary year. We have arrangements of themes from Beethoven 1st Symphony and the 7th and we are practising great ensemble playing and the dramatic dynamic contrasts that this music needs.
Everyone is working hard and being very sensible in making our Monday sessions work well and so big pats on the back for all. Well done, keep it up!
Composer (Not) In Residence:
Susie Carpenter-Jacobs is a wonderful violinist and musician, an experienced player and educator in many of London’s top orchestras and my dear friend and colleague. We are very excited to be playing her music this term, the Loch Down Suite, which are 6 beautifully composed tunes in Scottish style with parts for everyone to enjoy.
All three groups are learning the tunes in preparation for a workshop led by Susie later in the term and we are very grateful to her for generously sharing this music with us.
I am so looking forward to our first post Lock Down concert at which we will be able to give a performance of these lovely melodies, along with our other repertoire.
Graded violin exams, informal assessments, and masterclasses will be on Saturday 5th December in the Village Hall. More details about that will follow in due course.
Veronique
1st September 2020
After a (short) break we are re-starting Village Violin School on Monday 7th September and we have plans to celebrated Beethoven’s 250th Centenary. Most of the concerts around the world to mark this event have sadly been cancelled because of the Coronavirus, but there is still time for VVS to do something for the great composer!
We had an impromptu rehearsal and concert on 31st August with the Seniors. We had the opportunity to get together and we took it!! The (socially distanced, more or less, doors and windows open) concert was such an amazing joy and success that it’s obvious that concerts at the START of term are the way to go.
All the players (orchestra led by Jasmine) gathered to rehearse Pirates of the Caribbean (conductor Richard Tanner), Bach’s A minor Violin Concerto (soloist Ben T) and Handel’s Lascia Ch’io Pianga (Pippa Hyde, soprano) and the rehearsal was followed by an informal concert which included solos from Jasmine (Smetana’s Aus Der Heimat), Tom D (Saint Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso) and Ben T (Bloch’s Vidui), all with Richard Tanner playing the piano.
It was so kind of Richard and Pippa to join us, and wonderful to see Jasmine again before she goes to read Music at Leeds University and great to welcome Tom (for the first time) and Ben (again). It is a great inspiration to everyone to hear these advanced players and to see the next steps in becoming confident musicians and communicators.
All in all, it was a triumph, a great way to start our uncertain term, and all the better for being brilliantly and unexpectedly videoed by Helen, Alice’s mum. Please do watch and see the videos on the website link: Bank Holiday Performance 31st August.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday for VVS and at your lessons.
Veronique
After a (short) break we are re-starting Village Violin School on Monday 7th September and we have plans to celebrated Beethoven’s 250th Centenary. Most of the concerts around the world to mark this event have sadly been cancelled because of the Coronavirus, but there is still time for VVS to do something for the great composer!
We had an impromptu rehearsal and concert on 31st August with the Seniors. We had the opportunity to get together and we took it!! The (socially distanced, more or less, doors and windows open) concert was such an amazing joy and success that it’s obvious that concerts at the START of term are the way to go.
All the players (orchestra led by Jasmine) gathered to rehearse Pirates of the Caribbean (conductor Richard Tanner), Bach’s A minor Violin Concerto (soloist Ben T) and Handel’s Lascia Ch’io Pianga (Pippa Hyde, soprano) and the rehearsal was followed by an informal concert which included solos from Jasmine (Smetana’s Aus Der Heimat), Tom D (Saint Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso) and Ben T (Bloch’s Vidui), all with Richard Tanner playing the piano.
It was so kind of Richard and Pippa to join us, and wonderful to see Jasmine again before she goes to read Music at Leeds University and great to welcome Tom (for the first time) and Ben (again). It is a great inspiration to everyone to hear these advanced players and to see the next steps in becoming confident musicians and communicators.
All in all, it was a triumph, a great way to start our uncertain term, and all the better for being brilliantly and unexpectedly videoed by Helen, Alice’s mum. Please do watch and see the videos on the website link: Bank Holiday Performance 31st August.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday for VVS and at your lessons.
Veronique
22nd July 2020
Postscript!
We had a wonderful impromptu event yesterday after one of my ‘bright’ ideas – to prepare the first movement of Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor in just two days for a rehearsal/informal performance with Ben T playing the solo part, which he has been learning for his forthcoming Grade 8 exam.
I did wonder if I might have under-estimated the task but in fact all the players had worked tremendously hard on their parts in a very short time (thank goodness for WhatsApp videos!) and the result, achieved between 12 and 1pm on Tuesday was beyond my wildest expectations.
In addition to two play-throughs to parents and friends of the first movement, we also read through the second slow Andante. I would like to congratulate Ben for his gorgeous and expressive violin playing, and the members of the Seniors group led by Emily R, Chloe, Jenny, Charlie and Dan who had learned the repertoire so quickly and professionally, and also sight-read the slow movement beautifully. Thanks also to Andrew for playing cello with Richard playing the clavinova (which was pretending to be a harpsichord!)
It was a real treat to play (socially distanced) live music together, and a fitting way to end the term.
Have a good break – it really has arrived, at last!
Veronique
Postscript!
We had a wonderful impromptu event yesterday after one of my ‘bright’ ideas – to prepare the first movement of Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor in just two days for a rehearsal/informal performance with Ben T playing the solo part, which he has been learning for his forthcoming Grade 8 exam.
I did wonder if I might have under-estimated the task but in fact all the players had worked tremendously hard on their parts in a very short time (thank goodness for WhatsApp videos!) and the result, achieved between 12 and 1pm on Tuesday was beyond my wildest expectations.
In addition to two play-throughs to parents and friends of the first movement, we also read through the second slow Andante. I would like to congratulate Ben for his gorgeous and expressive violin playing, and the members of the Seniors group led by Emily R, Chloe, Jenny, Charlie and Dan who had learned the repertoire so quickly and professionally, and also sight-read the slow movement beautifully. Thanks also to Andrew for playing cello with Richard playing the clavinova (which was pretending to be a harpsichord!)
It was a real treat to play (socially distanced) live music together, and a fitting way to end the term.
Have a good break – it really has arrived, at last!
Veronique
7th July 2020
Village Violin School Performance and Picnic
What a great day we had yesterday afternoon! It was our first meet-up since 16th March and we celebrated by playing our own VVS composition, Bilbo’s Magical Zoo, complete with animal pictures in the garden at Kit’s Close, followed by prizes and a picnic which included Cornettos, Chloe’s cookies and cupcakes and Emily R’s raspberry sponge (mostly eaten by Andrew…)
All the players were wonderfully sensible; we had a music stand each in a big circle and all the children’s compositions were played, with a tutti section of Laura’s Hoppiton tune in between each, in the style of Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ (There’s some summer listening to do…)
I loved all the characterful compositions each player had spent some weeks writing and practising, and how lovely it was to have an opportunity to play together to our families, after so many weeks.
Freida opened with her Overture (The Hobbit) followed by Natalie’s Panda, Lydia’s Wolf, Daisy’s Elephant, Georgina’s Zebra, Maisy’s Dog, Emily H’s Cat, Chloe’s Rabbit, Emily R’s Cat, Alice’s Rhino, Charlie’s Deer, Mila’s Giraffe, Laura’s Penguin, Maya’s Monkey, Jenny’s Walrus, Margot’s Panda, Olivia’s Shark and Amy’s Donkey. We heard Hoppiton 18 times, in between each solo and it was lovely to have Frances and Chandima playing as well after so long. Amy held up the pictures, all in the right order. I had ideas of pinning them to the stands but it was a windy day and the music was already carefully sellotaped on to the stands, which had all blown over earlier in the day. Gosh, weren’t we lucky with the weather, just in time. The wind settled and the sun shone. (Thank goodness!)
The Merrie Lion Trophy, kindly donated by Daphne, was awarded for the first time to Chloe, for sustained outstanding effort and progress over the last two years. I am hoping to award this cup regularly so there will be many opportunities for players to receive it.
There were bags of prizes for everyone, all earned over the lockdown period and all much deserved. The winner of the Allcomers competition was Lydia, for her Wolf, and in the Seniors, Laura for her Penguin.
I would like to end this by saying how proud I am of all the players. They have done so well over a difficult time. They have made huge progress in their violin playing and musicianship which could not have happened without the support of the team of parents and other helpers, including Deborah and Andrew behind the scenes. Thank you also for the generous gifts which we appreciated so much.
I believe VVS is the most worthwhile project and I want to thank you all for making this possible.
Although VVS is taking a break, I will be continuing to see the children till the end of July.
Have a wonderful summer,
Veronique
Village Violin School Performance and Picnic
What a great day we had yesterday afternoon! It was our first meet-up since 16th March and we celebrated by playing our own VVS composition, Bilbo’s Magical Zoo, complete with animal pictures in the garden at Kit’s Close, followed by prizes and a picnic which included Cornettos, Chloe’s cookies and cupcakes and Emily R’s raspberry sponge (mostly eaten by Andrew…)
All the players were wonderfully sensible; we had a music stand each in a big circle and all the children’s compositions were played, with a tutti section of Laura’s Hoppiton tune in between each, in the style of Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ (There’s some summer listening to do…)
I loved all the characterful compositions each player had spent some weeks writing and practising, and how lovely it was to have an opportunity to play together to our families, after so many weeks.
Freida opened with her Overture (The Hobbit) followed by Natalie’s Panda, Lydia’s Wolf, Daisy’s Elephant, Georgina’s Zebra, Maisy’s Dog, Emily H’s Cat, Chloe’s Rabbit, Emily R’s Cat, Alice’s Rhino, Charlie’s Deer, Mila’s Giraffe, Laura’s Penguin, Maya’s Monkey, Jenny’s Walrus, Margot’s Panda, Olivia’s Shark and Amy’s Donkey. We heard Hoppiton 18 times, in between each solo and it was lovely to have Frances and Chandima playing as well after so long. Amy held up the pictures, all in the right order. I had ideas of pinning them to the stands but it was a windy day and the music was already carefully sellotaped on to the stands, which had all blown over earlier in the day. Gosh, weren’t we lucky with the weather, just in time. The wind settled and the sun shone. (Thank goodness!)
The Merrie Lion Trophy, kindly donated by Daphne, was awarded for the first time to Chloe, for sustained outstanding effort and progress over the last two years. I am hoping to award this cup regularly so there will be many opportunities for players to receive it.
There were bags of prizes for everyone, all earned over the lockdown period and all much deserved. The winner of the Allcomers competition was Lydia, for her Wolf, and in the Seniors, Laura for her Penguin.
I would like to end this by saying how proud I am of all the players. They have done so well over a difficult time. They have made huge progress in their violin playing and musicianship which could not have happened without the support of the team of parents and other helpers, including Deborah and Andrew behind the scenes. Thank you also for the generous gifts which we appreciated so much.
I believe VVS is the most worthwhile project and I want to thank you all for making this possible.
Although VVS is taking a break, I will be continuing to see the children till the end of July.
Have a wonderful summer,
Veronique
25th June 2020
The final Village Violin School session is fast approaching and we have planned a Violin School picnic in the garden at Kit’s Close on Monday 6th July at 5.30pm. We are hoping for a dry day - as I write the sun is shining, and I really hope we will be as lucky on the Big Day.
The violinists have been composing their own animal themed pieces, which will be put together into a final piece, for the first performance of Bilbo’s Magical Zoo by all the violinists.
Following this (there will be videos soon on the website of each animal composition) we will give out the prizes, including the new Merrie Lion Trophy, which have been awarded for the most amazing work during the summer lockdown.
I am proud of each and every member of our terrific group and salute all the players and parents/supporters for the dedication everyone has shown at this challenging time.
In the meantime, lessons have been going on in the Village Hall and I can congratulate each player on the tremendous progress that has been made in violin playing skills during the spring and summer. It is wonderful to be able to hear your gorgeous playing live, instead of through the cyber connections, not always so good!
The Picnic on 6th July will be the first time we will have been together since March, and we look forward to seeing everyone for the Five Ps: Performance, Pictures, Prizes, Picnic and Party!
See you then.
Veronique
The final Village Violin School session is fast approaching and we have planned a Violin School picnic in the garden at Kit’s Close on Monday 6th July at 5.30pm. We are hoping for a dry day - as I write the sun is shining, and I really hope we will be as lucky on the Big Day.
The violinists have been composing their own animal themed pieces, which will be put together into a final piece, for the first performance of Bilbo’s Magical Zoo by all the violinists.
Following this (there will be videos soon on the website of each animal composition) we will give out the prizes, including the new Merrie Lion Trophy, which have been awarded for the most amazing work during the summer lockdown.
I am proud of each and every member of our terrific group and salute all the players and parents/supporters for the dedication everyone has shown at this challenging time.
In the meantime, lessons have been going on in the Village Hall and I can congratulate each player on the tremendous progress that has been made in violin playing skills during the spring and summer. It is wonderful to be able to hear your gorgeous playing live, instead of through the cyber connections, not always so good!
The Picnic on 6th July will be the first time we will have been together since March, and we look forward to seeing everyone for the Five Ps: Performance, Pictures, Prizes, Picnic and Party!
See you then.
Veronique
5th June 2020
Following a much needed break over half term, Village Violin School is back in business for the final stretch of the summer with a new project: Each player will be contributing their own music to an Animal themed piece which will be put together and performed by the All-comers and Seniors on our first face to face meeting, hopefully in the (not too distant) future.
As ever, the idea of a competition was highly popular, so there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in each group for quality and effort in individual work.
Great ideas have already started flowing and there are sharks, wolves, monkeys, hobbits and bunnies all currently in musical creation. I am really looking forward to hearing the results of this process.
Violin lessons are going on in the gazebo in my garden. It has been kindly lent by Deborah and is proving invaluable – we can meet face to face, at last, and we have really enjoyed seeing each other again this week. Mila suggested a Violin School picnic and maybe this will be something we can do later in the summer.
Laura, Emily and Jenny took part in the Benedetti Virtual Session over a three week period in May. They benefited and enjoyed these greatly and the videos of all three girls were chosen to appear in the final concert on 31st May. The whole event is on Nicky’s YouTube channel, along with other wonderful material at the link at the end of this post.
There are some pictures of Laura, Emily and Jenny playing for the concert on the Virus Violin School Summer Project link.
www.youtube.com/thenicolabenedetti
Following a much needed break over half term, Village Violin School is back in business for the final stretch of the summer with a new project: Each player will be contributing their own music to an Animal themed piece which will be put together and performed by the All-comers and Seniors on our first face to face meeting, hopefully in the (not too distant) future.
As ever, the idea of a competition was highly popular, so there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in each group for quality and effort in individual work.
Great ideas have already started flowing and there are sharks, wolves, monkeys, hobbits and bunnies all currently in musical creation. I am really looking forward to hearing the results of this process.
Violin lessons are going on in the gazebo in my garden. It has been kindly lent by Deborah and is proving invaluable – we can meet face to face, at last, and we have really enjoyed seeing each other again this week. Mila suggested a Violin School picnic and maybe this will be something we can do later in the summer.
Laura, Emily and Jenny took part in the Benedetti Virtual Session over a three week period in May. They benefited and enjoyed these greatly and the videos of all three girls were chosen to appear in the final concert on 31st May. The whole event is on Nicky’s YouTube channel, along with other wonderful material at the link at the end of this post.
There are some pictures of Laura, Emily and Jenny playing for the concert on the Virus Violin School Summer Project link.
www.youtube.com/thenicolabenedetti
22nd May 2020
Congratulations to the All-comers for winning the Virus Violin School Summer Competition with a total of 233 points.
You win the £100 prize, to be shared between the team members.
Seniors were worthy runners-up with a total of 163 points and deserve many congratulations excellent work!
Well done everyone!
Bonus £1 winners for excellent work are:
Dan £3
Alice £2
Emily R £3
Laura £2
Charlie £1
Mila £2
Olivia £1
Jenny £3
Chloe £4
Amy £1
Daisy £1
Georgina £3
Freida £1
Margot £1
Maisy £2
Lydia £2
Natalie £1
Maya £2
Well done everyone!
Have a lovely break and see you after half term.
Congratulations to the All-comers for winning the Virus Violin School Summer Competition with a total of 233 points.
You win the £100 prize, to be shared between the team members.
Seniors were worthy runners-up with a total of 163 points and deserve many congratulations excellent work!
Well done everyone!
Bonus £1 winners for excellent work are:
Dan £3
Alice £2
Emily R £3
Laura £2
Charlie £1
Mila £2
Olivia £1
Jenny £3
Chloe £4
Amy £1
Daisy £1
Georgina £3
Freida £1
Margot £1
Maisy £2
Lydia £2
Natalie £1
Maya £2
Well done everyone!
Have a lovely break and see you after half term.
18th May 2020
As we head towards ‘half term’ at the end of the week, I would like to thank all the parents for keeping the violinists playing and working hard at their music despite the challenges we have faced since the coronavirus lockdown in March. I have been amazed by the hard work and enthusiasm of the violinists as we have learned new ways to work together and I would have found this time very lonely without all of them to keep me company!
I have been impressed and surprised by the genuinely outstanding progress that all our wonderful players have made, not to mention the fact that everyone can now tune their own violins. I have rescued several abandoned, poorly ones from my doorstep over the past 8 weeks, and my Marigolds, sadly normally unused, have come into their own at this time! The violins were re-tuned and returned safely to their player.
A tremendous WELL DONE!! to you all, from me for your magnificent efforts over this period.
The All-Comers and the Seniors are currently battling for the outcome of a long contest via WhatsApp started on 23rd March and which will end on Friday. As I write, the All-Comers are in the lead but there is still everything to play for and I look forward to announcing the winning team at the end of the week. The teams are hoping to win the £100 team prize but many £1 bonuses for outstanding contributions have been awarded in the course of this contest. Thank you to Deborah for keeping the scores. This is not an easy job, but she is a woman with A Spreadsheet, so there has been no skulduggery in the competition!
The violinists’ 12 Challenges and the many performances/compositions can be seen on the Virus Violin School Summer Challenge link.
Laura, Emily and Jenny (and also Chandima) are currently doing the Benedetti Foundation Virtual Sessions. There are many excellent videos on Nicky’s YouTube channel and if you are interested in looking and learning more, please go to her channel at www.youtube.com/thenicolabenedetti where you can click on PLAYLIST and find lots of helpful ideas.
You can also see her excellent Back To Basics videos which Sarah puts on to our own Nicola Benedetti link on this website.
I am truly grateful to Sarah for keeping up such an amazing record of life at Village Violin School in Fenny Compton. Thanks to her expertise, these experiences we share can become valued memories for the future.
I look forward to being able to see everyone, face to face, before too long.
As we head towards ‘half term’ at the end of the week, I would like to thank all the parents for keeping the violinists playing and working hard at their music despite the challenges we have faced since the coronavirus lockdown in March. I have been amazed by the hard work and enthusiasm of the violinists as we have learned new ways to work together and I would have found this time very lonely without all of them to keep me company!
I have been impressed and surprised by the genuinely outstanding progress that all our wonderful players have made, not to mention the fact that everyone can now tune their own violins. I have rescued several abandoned, poorly ones from my doorstep over the past 8 weeks, and my Marigolds, sadly normally unused, have come into their own at this time! The violins were re-tuned and returned safely to their player.
A tremendous WELL DONE!! to you all, from me for your magnificent efforts over this period.
The All-Comers and the Seniors are currently battling for the outcome of a long contest via WhatsApp started on 23rd March and which will end on Friday. As I write, the All-Comers are in the lead but there is still everything to play for and I look forward to announcing the winning team at the end of the week. The teams are hoping to win the £100 team prize but many £1 bonuses for outstanding contributions have been awarded in the course of this contest. Thank you to Deborah for keeping the scores. This is not an easy job, but she is a woman with A Spreadsheet, so there has been no skulduggery in the competition!
The violinists’ 12 Challenges and the many performances/compositions can be seen on the Virus Violin School Summer Challenge link.
Laura, Emily and Jenny (and also Chandima) are currently doing the Benedetti Foundation Virtual Sessions. There are many excellent videos on Nicky’s YouTube channel and if you are interested in looking and learning more, please go to her channel at www.youtube.com/thenicolabenedetti where you can click on PLAYLIST and find lots of helpful ideas.
You can also see her excellent Back To Basics videos which Sarah puts on to our own Nicola Benedetti link on this website.
I am truly grateful to Sarah for keeping up such an amazing record of life at Village Violin School in Fenny Compton. Thanks to her expertise, these experiences we share can become valued memories for the future.
I look forward to being able to see everyone, face to face, before too long.
27th March 2020
A wonderful review from the April edition of the Compton Chronicle
Violin Concert Apologies for this belated review but would like to take the opportunity to say what a superb violin concert it was in Fenny Compton Village Hall on 8th February last.
Congratulations must be given to all the children who gave fantastic performances either as a group or as a soloist.
More astonishing was the fact that some of the youngest children were not much bigger than the violin itself yet they played so, so, well.
A wide range of music was performed including a piece from Swan Lake, which was just brilliant, literally bringing the house down!
There was not a dry eye in the house, parents were bursting with pride and the audience in awe!
All the hard work and practising paid off! It must have been a very nerve-racking experience to play in front of a packed hall, yet the children’s concentration and confidence, never faltered. Congratulations and thanks must be given to Veronique, the children’s most remarkable and enthusiastic music teacher, whose dedication is such that she gives music lessons free of charge, in order that all children can have the chance to learn to play, should they wish to.
A special thanks too to all helpers and accompanists who worked and played so brilliantly. Thanks too to all the folk who made and served the delicious cakes and sandwiches afterwards, which were the icing on the cake so to speak, after such a fantastic afternoon.
Finally, thanks to the video recorder for making such a wonderful film of the concert.
Congratulations and thanks again to you all. Brian Hague
A wonderful review from the April edition of the Compton Chronicle
Violin Concert Apologies for this belated review but would like to take the opportunity to say what a superb violin concert it was in Fenny Compton Village Hall on 8th February last.
Congratulations must be given to all the children who gave fantastic performances either as a group or as a soloist.
More astonishing was the fact that some of the youngest children were not much bigger than the violin itself yet they played so, so, well.
A wide range of music was performed including a piece from Swan Lake, which was just brilliant, literally bringing the house down!
There was not a dry eye in the house, parents were bursting with pride and the audience in awe!
All the hard work and practising paid off! It must have been a very nerve-racking experience to play in front of a packed hall, yet the children’s concentration and confidence, never faltered. Congratulations and thanks must be given to Veronique, the children’s most remarkable and enthusiastic music teacher, whose dedication is such that she gives music lessons free of charge, in order that all children can have the chance to learn to play, should they wish to.
A special thanks too to all helpers and accompanists who worked and played so brilliantly. Thanks too to all the folk who made and served the delicious cakes and sandwiches afterwards, which were the icing on the cake so to speak, after such a fantastic afternoon.
Finally, thanks to the video recorder for making such a wonderful film of the concert.
Congratulations and thanks again to you all. Brian Hague
25th March 2020
The VVS hot news is that we are learning a new way of doing everything since the outbreak of the Corona Virus which has closed down our usual activities.
We are all currently under ‘house arrest’, looking after our families and neighbours and not able to see each other in person.
But this has not stopped our violin playing activities even though our Trinity exams are postponed, our Leamington Festival competition is cancelled this year and rehearsals and face to face violin lessons are on hold.
We are running a summer competition called Virus Violin School Summer Project (see the new link, where you will find the videos of the excellent contributions players are sending in) in which the All-Comers have taken on the Seniors with two tasks each week.
The winners will have £100 prize money to be shared between the team players. The winning team is the one with the most tasks completed. The teams are neck-and neck as I write, after the first task.
Tasks must be sent on WhatsApp BEFORE the next challenge is sent otherwise they don’t get counted. Players making an outstanding contributions get a £1 bonus.
Deborah has made a spreadsheet and is keeping score. Good luck and may the best team win!!
I am giving individual violin lessons using the App Zoom and these are going well so far. I am learning a new teaching style and we are all going to benefit from the challenges we are facing even though we might not have chosen this difficult path.
Keep practising, keep in touch with everyone and we will look forward to a ceilidh on the other side!
Veronique
The VVS hot news is that we are learning a new way of doing everything since the outbreak of the Corona Virus which has closed down our usual activities.
We are all currently under ‘house arrest’, looking after our families and neighbours and not able to see each other in person.
But this has not stopped our violin playing activities even though our Trinity exams are postponed, our Leamington Festival competition is cancelled this year and rehearsals and face to face violin lessons are on hold.
We are running a summer competition called Virus Violin School Summer Project (see the new link, where you will find the videos of the excellent contributions players are sending in) in which the All-Comers have taken on the Seniors with two tasks each week.
The winners will have £100 prize money to be shared between the team players. The winning team is the one with the most tasks completed. The teams are neck-and neck as I write, after the first task.
Tasks must be sent on WhatsApp BEFORE the next challenge is sent otherwise they don’t get counted. Players making an outstanding contributions get a £1 bonus.
Deborah has made a spreadsheet and is keeping score. Good luck and may the best team win!!
I am giving individual violin lessons using the App Zoom and these are going well so far. I am learning a new teaching style and we are all going to benefit from the challenges we are facing even though we might not have chosen this difficult path.
Keep practising, keep in touch with everyone and we will look forward to a ceilidh on the other side!
Veronique
9th February 2020
The Seniors and All-Comers presented a wonderful concert in the Village Hall yesterday to a full house. I was delighted to see Lara (now in Upper 6th) and Kathryn Heathcote from Leamington Festival among the many supporters in the enthusiastic audience.
The All-Comers opened with a rousing Gypsy Fiddle, great slurred bows from Georgina and Amy, well done! Everyone played Skye Boat Song with very smooth, long bow strokes and a lovely sound. Margot led the ‘Let’s Rock’ calls with gusto, and there were little solos for Emily H, Lydia, Freida and Margot in All Night, All Day. Pachelbel’s Canon is always a winner, and one of Daisy’s favourites. Tinga Laya whizzed along and all too soon it was time for a stunning performance of Vivaldi’s Winter slow movement from Natalie, with a lovely accompaniment from her ‘orchestra’. She started the piece by bringing everyone in (not an easy skill to learn) and played with a beautiful sound and real poise. It was one (of many) highlights of the afternoon, for me.
Gorgeous solo playing from Maisy, Olivia and Laura, and great chamber music playing and listening from Emily R and Chloe in their duet.
The Seniors played The Lord of the Rings once more, and it feels very settled and well prepared. Mila did the final solo with an excellent haunting atmosphere.
Swan Lake went down very well with the audience (‘BRILLIANT!!’ they shouted!) – obviously because Chandima (viola) Amy and Andrew (cellos) had joined in for this….
The Seniors finished with Martin Barenz’s Rumbling Rumba and the concert was brought to a fantastic finish with the entire Village Violin School playing ‘The Piper O’Dundee’ TUTTI.
We’ve never done that before but I hope it will be the first of many such opportunities for the groups to come together and inspire each other..
We finished at 4.00, in time for tea and cake (many of which were provided by Deborah) and I can announce that the marvellous sum of £450 was raised to help with the Church Roof Fund.
I am really proud of the players and of the high standard that everyone has achieved in working towards this concert.
Please see the videos and photos on the Village Violin School Concert 8th Feb 2020 link.
Laura, Jenny and Emily R have been invited to go to Birmingham Town Hall to join Nicola Benedetti on a Benedetti Foundation workshop day; I am going as a string teacher.
Please go to the Nicola Benedetti link to see the inspiring videos of the Benedetti Foundation workshop in Birmingham, at which Laura and Jenny played. Veronique accompanied them and attended the String Teachers event.
I hope this will inspire everyone to practise lots and keep working together to play our very best.
Leamington Festival date is Saturday 20th June. Please put it in your diaries.
I look forward to seeing everyone at Village Violin School on 24th February.
The Seniors and All-Comers presented a wonderful concert in the Village Hall yesterday to a full house. I was delighted to see Lara (now in Upper 6th) and Kathryn Heathcote from Leamington Festival among the many supporters in the enthusiastic audience.
The All-Comers opened with a rousing Gypsy Fiddle, great slurred bows from Georgina and Amy, well done! Everyone played Skye Boat Song with very smooth, long bow strokes and a lovely sound. Margot led the ‘Let’s Rock’ calls with gusto, and there were little solos for Emily H, Lydia, Freida and Margot in All Night, All Day. Pachelbel’s Canon is always a winner, and one of Daisy’s favourites. Tinga Laya whizzed along and all too soon it was time for a stunning performance of Vivaldi’s Winter slow movement from Natalie, with a lovely accompaniment from her ‘orchestra’. She started the piece by bringing everyone in (not an easy skill to learn) and played with a beautiful sound and real poise. It was one (of many) highlights of the afternoon, for me.
Gorgeous solo playing from Maisy, Olivia and Laura, and great chamber music playing and listening from Emily R and Chloe in their duet.
The Seniors played The Lord of the Rings once more, and it feels very settled and well prepared. Mila did the final solo with an excellent haunting atmosphere.
Swan Lake went down very well with the audience (‘BRILLIANT!!’ they shouted!) – obviously because Chandima (viola) Amy and Andrew (cellos) had joined in for this….
The Seniors finished with Martin Barenz’s Rumbling Rumba and the concert was brought to a fantastic finish with the entire Village Violin School playing ‘The Piper O’Dundee’ TUTTI.
We’ve never done that before but I hope it will be the first of many such opportunities for the groups to come together and inspire each other..
We finished at 4.00, in time for tea and cake (many of which were provided by Deborah) and I can announce that the marvellous sum of £450 was raised to help with the Church Roof Fund.
I am really proud of the players and of the high standard that everyone has achieved in working towards this concert.
Please see the videos and photos on the Village Violin School Concert 8th Feb 2020 link.
Laura, Jenny and Emily R have been invited to go to Birmingham Town Hall to join Nicola Benedetti on a Benedetti Foundation workshop day; I am going as a string teacher.
Please go to the Nicola Benedetti link to see the inspiring videos of the Benedetti Foundation workshop in Birmingham, at which Laura and Jenny played. Veronique accompanied them and attended the String Teachers event.
I hope this will inspire everyone to practise lots and keep working together to play our very best.
Leamington Festival date is Saturday 20th June. Please put it in your diaries.
I look forward to seeing everyone at Village Violin School on 24th February.
4th February 2020
Last Saturday was the Final of Banbury Young Musician of the Year at which the Seniors, joined by Emily H and Lydia, were in tremendous form, gaining the Runner Up Prize in the Ensemble Class.
Emily and Chloe were awarded 3rd Place in the Duet Class and Laura won the overall Junior Young Musician of the Year trophy.
Please find photos, videos and more details on the Banbury Young Musician link on this website.
Thank you to all supporters who share their photos etc, and to Sarah, who looks after the website.
Keeping a record of the players’ achievements is so valuable and I really appreciate your contributions..
The Village Violin School Concert on Saturday 8th February is almost here and I was delighted with the standard of playing at our last rehearsal yesterday.
We played Happy Birthday to Chloe, who had brought in goodies to share. I was able to report that one of the adjudicators had contacted me to praise the standard of playing of the Village Violin School and she said that there was a very special dynamic in the group.
I agree – it’s first-rate teamwork, excellent standards and care for each other.
Deborah handed out certificates and Jenny and Emily H each received a small reward for having been the only team members to last out till the very end of the looooooong night!! Well done to them – they were on hand to collect certificates from the competition organisers at the prize giving.
She also invited us to join the Bochmann String Quartet for a possible concert later in the year, if it can be arranged. Everyone thought this was a very exciting idea.
Please encourage all the children to keep practising this week so they can play their best at the concert.
Seniors, please be ready to play at 1.40pm, All-Comers please be ready to play at 2.00pm. Dress: Red tops, black bottoms and badges if you can find them!
The concert starts at 3.00 and there will be tea and cake at 4.00. Proceeds are in aid of the Church Roof Fund.
There will be no violin school rehearsal on Monday 10th February. Everyone deserves a rest.
The following week is half-term and Violin School will resume on 24th February.
Last Saturday was the Final of Banbury Young Musician of the Year at which the Seniors, joined by Emily H and Lydia, were in tremendous form, gaining the Runner Up Prize in the Ensemble Class.
Emily and Chloe were awarded 3rd Place in the Duet Class and Laura won the overall Junior Young Musician of the Year trophy.
Please find photos, videos and more details on the Banbury Young Musician link on this website.
Thank you to all supporters who share their photos etc, and to Sarah, who looks after the website.
Keeping a record of the players’ achievements is so valuable and I really appreciate your contributions..
The Village Violin School Concert on Saturday 8th February is almost here and I was delighted with the standard of playing at our last rehearsal yesterday.
We played Happy Birthday to Chloe, who had brought in goodies to share. I was able to report that one of the adjudicators had contacted me to praise the standard of playing of the Village Violin School and she said that there was a very special dynamic in the group.
I agree – it’s first-rate teamwork, excellent standards and care for each other.
Deborah handed out certificates and Jenny and Emily H each received a small reward for having been the only team members to last out till the very end of the looooooong night!! Well done to them – they were on hand to collect certificates from the competition organisers at the prize giving.
She also invited us to join the Bochmann String Quartet for a possible concert later in the year, if it can be arranged. Everyone thought this was a very exciting idea.
Please encourage all the children to keep practising this week so they can play their best at the concert.
Seniors, please be ready to play at 1.40pm, All-Comers please be ready to play at 2.00pm. Dress: Red tops, black bottoms and badges if you can find them!
The concert starts at 3.00 and there will be tea and cake at 4.00. Proceeds are in aid of the Church Roof Fund.
There will be no violin school rehearsal on Monday 10th February. Everyone deserves a rest.
The following week is half-term and Violin School will resume on 24th February.
Warwickshire Regional Youth Orchestra weekend
On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th January Dan, Laura and Emily took part in a Regional Youth Orchestra weekend held at the University of Warwick Arts Centre.
Since September they have been playing in the Regional String Orchestra held at Warwick Prep School on Friday evenings with Alex Laing, but this was the first time the full orchestra met.
The weekend consisted of full orchestra rehearsals and sectional rehearsals with a closing concert in the Butterworth Hall on the Sunday evening.
he weekend was led by Alex Walker who has conducted many top orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic and the City of London Sinfonia. It was a demanding and exhausting experience for our violin school members but they coped admirably and found it very rewarding.
A highlight on Saturday was the chance to play alongside members of the National Youth Orchestra in a ‘Come and Play’ session, followed by a chance to hear about life in the NYO then a truly inspiring NYO concert in the evening.
The weekend was the first of three this year, the next two taking place in February and June.
On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th January Dan, Laura and Emily took part in a Regional Youth Orchestra weekend held at the University of Warwick Arts Centre.
Since September they have been playing in the Regional String Orchestra held at Warwick Prep School on Friday evenings with Alex Laing, but this was the first time the full orchestra met.
The weekend consisted of full orchestra rehearsals and sectional rehearsals with a closing concert in the Butterworth Hall on the Sunday evening.
he weekend was led by Alex Walker who has conducted many top orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic and the City of London Sinfonia. It was a demanding and exhausting experience for our violin school members but they coped admirably and found it very rewarding.
A highlight on Saturday was the chance to play alongside members of the National Youth Orchestra in a ‘Come and Play’ session, followed by a chance to hear about life in the NYO then a truly inspiring NYO concert in the evening.
The weekend was the first of three this year, the next two taking place in February and June.
27th November 2019
The All-Comers and Seniors groups have been rehearsing well both for the Concert on 8th February and for the Banbury Young Musician of the Year heats in January (please put the dates in your diaries).
This week I was impressed by the All-Comers who are playing Gypsy Fiddle really well and also the Seniors, who are getting to grips with an arrangement of The Lord of the Rings music.
Trinity Violin Exam results are in:
Freida and Margot did their Initial exam this week and both passed with Distinction.
Lydia passed her Grade 2 with Distinction and Mila and Charlie also passed their Grade 3 exams with Distinction.
This is another excellent set of exam results, achieved with real commitment, hard work and PRACTICE!
Well done to all of you!
The All-Comers and Seniors groups have been rehearsing well both for the Concert on 8th February and for the Banbury Young Musician of the Year heats in January (please put the dates in your diaries).
This week I was impressed by the All-Comers who are playing Gypsy Fiddle really well and also the Seniors, who are getting to grips with an arrangement of The Lord of the Rings music.
Trinity Violin Exam results are in:
Freida and Margot did their Initial exam this week and both passed with Distinction.
Lydia passed her Grade 2 with Distinction and Mila and Charlie also passed their Grade 3 exams with Distinction.
This is another excellent set of exam results, achieved with real commitment, hard work and PRACTICE!
Well done to all of you!
8th November 2019
It’s been great to get everyone together again after a delayed start to the Village Violin School term following my orchestral playing commitments at the Royal Opera House.
The All-Comers Group has made an excellent start, with Natalie and Emily H helping out the younger members of the team and everyone is playing together well, learning new tunes and practising note reading.
The Seniors have welcomed Chloe, a new member of the Village Violin school – she is doing really well and is a great addition to a tip-top team.
The Seniors are playing Swan Lake, Jenkins’ Palladio and a quartet currently involving Dan Laura Chandima and Andrew are learning Journey, from Destiny 2, coached by Andrew.
There are exam entries at the end of the month: Freida and Margot doing their Initial exam, Lydia is taking Grade 2 and Mila and Charlie are working hard to take Grade 3. Good luck to them – keep up your practice!
There will be an informal run through of the pieces we are learning in December, and I am hoping to send some solo and group entries to Banbury Young Musician of the Year in January.
There is also a big concert planned for mid-February. More news soon.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday as usual. It’s exciting hearing the groups improve over the next few weeks!
It’s been great to get everyone together again after a delayed start to the Village Violin School term following my orchestral playing commitments at the Royal Opera House.
The All-Comers Group has made an excellent start, with Natalie and Emily H helping out the younger members of the team and everyone is playing together well, learning new tunes and practising note reading.
The Seniors have welcomed Chloe, a new member of the Village Violin school – she is doing really well and is a great addition to a tip-top team.
The Seniors are playing Swan Lake, Jenkins’ Palladio and a quartet currently involving Dan Laura Chandima and Andrew are learning Journey, from Destiny 2, coached by Andrew.
There are exam entries at the end of the month: Freida and Margot doing their Initial exam, Lydia is taking Grade 2 and Mila and Charlie are working hard to take Grade 3. Good luck to them – keep up your practice!
There will be an informal run through of the pieces we are learning in December, and I am hoping to send some solo and group entries to Banbury Young Musician of the Year in January.
There is also a big concert planned for mid-February. More news soon.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday as usual. It’s exciting hearing the groups improve over the next few weeks!
30th August 2019
Village Violin School will restart on Monday 14th October this term and details of groups and new projects for everyone will follow in the next few weeks.
There will be a late start because I am playing in a production of Handel’s ‘Agrippina’ at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
www.roh.org.uk
Please contact me if you have any queries in the meantime.
Village Violin School will restart on Monday 14th October this term and details of groups and new projects for everyone will follow in the next few weeks.
There will be a late start because I am playing in a production of Handel’s ‘Agrippina’ at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
www.roh.org.uk
Please contact me if you have any queries in the meantime.
12th July 2019
I have now received the ABRSM exam results and I'm very happy to write that Laura gained a Distinction for her Grade 5 and Rebecca also had a Distinction for her Grade 6 exam. They were both recently among the players at the Open Gardens teas.
This has been an outstanding set of Trinity and ABRSM exam results, with all candidates gaining Distinction.
Congratulations to everyone!
Now enjoy your holidays and remember play your violins, violas and cellos often. Try out new tunes and pieces, listen to music, catch up on Nicola Benedetti's videos and experiment just for fun.
I have now received the ABRSM exam results and I'm very happy to write that Laura gained a Distinction for her Grade 5 and Rebecca also had a Distinction for her Grade 6 exam. They were both recently among the players at the Open Gardens teas.
This has been an outstanding set of Trinity and ABRSM exam results, with all candidates gaining Distinction.
Congratulations to everyone!
Now enjoy your holidays and remember play your violins, violas and cellos often. Try out new tunes and pieces, listen to music, catch up on Nicola Benedetti's videos and experiment just for fun.
8th July 2019
News just in:
I am very pleased to announce that the latest Trinity exam results are as follows:
Maisy passed her Initial Grade with Distinction
Alice passed her Grade 4 with Distinction, as did Chloe (who is joining us at Village Violin School next term).
Dan passed his Grade 5 with Distinction.
This is an excellent set of results produced with some exceptionally hard work and commitment by these players, so well done to everyone!
ABRSM results are still to come.
News just in:
I am very pleased to announce that the latest Trinity exam results are as follows:
Maisy passed her Initial Grade with Distinction
Alice passed her Grade 4 with Distinction, as did Chloe (who is joining us at Village Violin School next term).
Dan passed his Grade 5 with Distinction.
This is an excellent set of results produced with some exceptionally hard work and commitment by these players, so well done to everyone!
ABRSM results are still to come.
26th June 2019
Summers Cool
Dear Veronique,
Our thanks go to you for your kind invitation to us. We were both amazed at the opportunities you are giving to these young musicians. We really enjoyed their playing and observing how well they were receiving all the information they were given. Their response was so encouraging too. Like-minded youngsters working together and supporting each other as we saw, is so similar to how we aim to work through Summer's Cool, so it was a wonderful opportunity to witness the amazing work you are doing with all the young musicians. Please pass on our thanks and praise to all the students.
Best wishes for the future success of the groups!
Andrew & Sue
Summers Cool
Dear Veronique,
Our thanks go to you for your kind invitation to us. We were both amazed at the opportunities you are giving to these young musicians. We really enjoyed their playing and observing how well they were receiving all the information they were given. Their response was so encouraging too. Like-minded youngsters working together and supporting each other as we saw, is so similar to how we aim to work through Summer's Cool, so it was a wonderful opportunity to witness the amazing work you are doing with all the young musicians. Please pass on our thanks and praise to all the students.
Best wishes for the future success of the groups!
Andrew & Sue
25th June 2019
The Beginners played really well in their rehearsal today. Having practised ‘Nobody Else But Me’ last week, they can play it nicely and from memory. It’s what I call a Jam Sandwich piece, with a second tune in between a repeated first tune. And it is making us look forward to our summer holiday.
We learned to play William Tell theme today and practised getting our low Es in tune with each other. Well done, Beginners! There’s lots of good playing going on here.
Andrew and Sue Mock visited the Improvers and Seniors groups today.
They run an excellent music Summer School with the help of a number of other musicians. Dan thoroughly it enjoyed last year.
The dates this year are from 28th July – 2nd August providing a range of activities for young musicians aged 8 – 16 and if you are interested please see the link below, or ask me for a leaflet.
www.summerscool.co.uk
The Improvers are now learning an arrangement of Morning has Broken but enjoyed playing their Pirate Pieces of Ten to Andrew and Sue.
The Seniors are getting their fingers around a couple of movements of Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, which we will continue with next term, and it was great to have Andrew conducting and Sue playing the viola. Thank you very much to them both for spending the time with us.
There are still have exams to go next week but I can’t believe how much has been achieved by all our wonderful violinists, viola players and cellists this term already.
Our final session of the term is next Tuesday 2nd July and, as has already been posted, the Village Violin School session day moves to Mondays next term, with classes staying at the same times, starting on Monday 9th September.
The Beginners played really well in their rehearsal today. Having practised ‘Nobody Else But Me’ last week, they can play it nicely and from memory. It’s what I call a Jam Sandwich piece, with a second tune in between a repeated first tune. And it is making us look forward to our summer holiday.
We learned to play William Tell theme today and practised getting our low Es in tune with each other. Well done, Beginners! There’s lots of good playing going on here.
Andrew and Sue Mock visited the Improvers and Seniors groups today.
They run an excellent music Summer School with the help of a number of other musicians. Dan thoroughly it enjoyed last year.
The dates this year are from 28th July – 2nd August providing a range of activities for young musicians aged 8 – 16 and if you are interested please see the link below, or ask me for a leaflet.
www.summerscool.co.uk
The Improvers are now learning an arrangement of Morning has Broken but enjoyed playing their Pirate Pieces of Ten to Andrew and Sue.
The Seniors are getting their fingers around a couple of movements of Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, which we will continue with next term, and it was great to have Andrew conducting and Sue playing the viola. Thank you very much to them both for spending the time with us.
There are still have exams to go next week but I can’t believe how much has been achieved by all our wonderful violinists, viola players and cellists this term already.
Our final session of the term is next Tuesday 2nd July and, as has already been posted, the Village Violin School session day moves to Mondays next term, with classes staying at the same times, starting on Monday 9th September.
25th June 2019
Violin school finishes this term on 2nd July.
It will restart on MONDAY 9th September.
Classes will be at the usual times.
.
Violin school finishes this term on 2nd July.
It will restart on MONDAY 9th September.
Classes will be at the usual times.
.
16th June 2019
For news of our success at Leamington Spa Competitive Festival please look at the Leamington Festival section.
Players from Village Violin School will be playing next on Sunday 23rd June in the Village Hall from 2.00 -4.00 as part of the Fenny Compton Flower Festival and Open Gardens.
For news of our success at Leamington Spa Competitive Festival please look at the Leamington Festival section.
Players from Village Violin School will be playing next on Sunday 23rd June in the Village Hall from 2.00 -4.00 as part of the Fenny Compton Flower Festival and Open Gardens.
21st May 2019
We were delighted to welcome Alex Laing to the Seniors’ rehearsal today for a coaching session. Alex is Artistic Director at Kings High School for Girls in Warwick. He is fine violinist and teacher and is a conductor and string coach for the National Children’s Orchestra. It was a great experience to have the benefit of his time with us.
It was good to have the Improvers there to rehearse Classic Bits and Pieces together and Alex gave some excellent tips with practice and performance ideas for everyone. The Seniors then had a rehearsal of Pachelbel’s Canon, which they played through together very well, with a great sound and learning to vary their bowstrokes. Alex helped everyone work on listening and playing musically together which helped bring the music to life.
Jasmine joined us for the Pachelbel, and it was lovely to welcome her back to Violin School for the afternoon. As she is currently working on Beethoven’s Romance in F major she had a violin lesson with Alex following the Violin School session.
I would like to remind everyone that Leamington Festival is fast approaching and that some violinists also have exams to practise for this term.
Beginners need to learn their tunes from memory over half term, please!
I look forward to seeing everyone again on Tuesday 4th June.
Veronique
We were delighted to welcome Alex Laing to the Seniors’ rehearsal today for a coaching session. Alex is Artistic Director at Kings High School for Girls in Warwick. He is fine violinist and teacher and is a conductor and string coach for the National Children’s Orchestra. It was a great experience to have the benefit of his time with us.
It was good to have the Improvers there to rehearse Classic Bits and Pieces together and Alex gave some excellent tips with practice and performance ideas for everyone. The Seniors then had a rehearsal of Pachelbel’s Canon, which they played through together very well, with a great sound and learning to vary their bowstrokes. Alex helped everyone work on listening and playing musically together which helped bring the music to life.
Jasmine joined us for the Pachelbel, and it was lovely to welcome her back to Violin School for the afternoon. As she is currently working on Beethoven’s Romance in F major she had a violin lesson with Alex following the Violin School session.
I would like to remind everyone that Leamington Festival is fast approaching and that some violinists also have exams to practise for this term.
Beginners need to learn their tunes from memory over half term, please!
I look forward to seeing everyone again on Tuesday 4th June.
Veronique
10th April
Emily R won third place at the Southam’s Got Talent Contest, playing Paul Desmond’s ‘Take Five’ to a packed audience!!
Emily R won third place at the Southam’s Got Talent Contest, playing Paul Desmond’s ‘Take Five’ to a packed audience!!
10th April
More Hot News!!
We had the final Violin School session yesterday after an excellent contribution by the Seniors and Improvers at the Methodist Chapel for the Songs of Praise service on Sunday.
The Beginners will play, along with Marcus, Lydia, Una and Maisy, at the Dassett School on Friday morning which will be a lovely event.
Thank you to all the parents who bring, support, hear practice, play, take pictures/videos supporting the website and help with all the stands. I really appreciate the teamwork we have built up over the time we have been working together.
Have a lovely Easter break and see you all again on Tuesday 30th April.
Veronique
More Hot News!!
We had the final Violin School session yesterday after an excellent contribution by the Seniors and Improvers at the Methodist Chapel for the Songs of Praise service on Sunday.
The Beginners will play, along with Marcus, Lydia, Una and Maisy, at the Dassett School on Friday morning which will be a lovely event.
Thank you to all the parents who bring, support, hear practice, play, take pictures/videos supporting the website and help with all the stands. I really appreciate the teamwork we have built up over the time we have been working together.
Have a lovely Easter break and see you all again on Tuesday 30th April.
Veronique
5th April 2019
News just in!
Natalie achieved a Merit in her Grade 3 exam this week.
Many congratulations to all the hard working violinists who took exams this term.
I’m looking forward to hearing the Improvers and Seniors playing on Sunday 7th April at the Methodist Chapel and the Beginners plus Marcus, Lydia and Una at The Dassett School on Friday 12th April.
Emily R takes part on the Final of Southam’s Got Talent on Tuesday 11th April – She is playing ‘Take Five’ and we wish her lots of success.
What a busy end of term – we will have deserved our holiday!
Thank you,
Veronique
News just in!
Natalie achieved a Merit in her Grade 3 exam this week.
Many congratulations to all the hard working violinists who took exams this term.
I’m looking forward to hearing the Improvers and Seniors playing on Sunday 7th April at the Methodist Chapel and the Beginners plus Marcus, Lydia and Una at The Dassett School on Friday 12th April.
Emily R takes part on the Final of Southam’s Got Talent on Tuesday 11th April – She is playing ‘Take Five’ and we wish her lots of success.
What a busy end of term – we will have deserved our holiday!
Thank you,
Veronique
1st April 2019
Trinity Exam results are back in and there is great news for Marcus who passed his Initial exam with Distinction, Lydia passed Grade 1 with Distinction, Emily H passed Grade 2 with Merit, Emily R passed Grade 4 with Distinction, Charlie passed Grade 2 with Distinction and Mila (our very first VIOLA candidate) passed her Grade 1 with Distinction.
These are great results!! Well done to you all!
We wish Natalie good luck (and no crossing of her fingers) for her Grade 3 which she is taking later this week.
The Seniors and Improvers have been invited to play at the Methodist Church for the Songs of Praise event at 5.00pm on Sunday 7th April.
Trinity Exam results are back in and there is great news for Marcus who passed his Initial exam with Distinction, Lydia passed Grade 1 with Distinction, Emily H passed Grade 2 with Merit, Emily R passed Grade 4 with Distinction, Charlie passed Grade 2 with Distinction and Mila (our very first VIOLA candidate) passed her Grade 1 with Distinction.
These are great results!! Well done to you all!
We wish Natalie good luck (and no crossing of her fingers) for her Grade 3 which she is taking later this week.
The Seniors and Improvers have been invited to play at the Methodist Church for the Songs of Praise event at 5.00pm on Sunday 7th April.
Village Violin School Concert:
Spring Sing 24th March 2019 in St Peter’s Church, Wellesbourne
Village Violin School joined Junior St James’ Singers, St Peter’s Singers and Wellesbourne Sings! in a performance of Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus last night to a packed church.
This was a milestone in the (many) achievements of the Village Violin School members, because it was the first time we have played a choral piece as an orchestra and it was a privilege to have a great musician and conductor Julian Harris, to direct this performance.
Earlier the evening we played a blistering rendition of Kerry Polka, with excellent solos from Dan, Olivia, Laura and Emily R, and Emily H and Lydia joined us for a magnificent performance of Classic Bits and Pieces.
Part of the fun of responding to invitations for Village Violin School to play with others groups is being inspired by other players and singers communicating through their performances.
I was (as always) proud of my excellent group of violinists (and cellists!) and I am myself inspired by the high standards of all the players involved.
Thank you also to Deborah for supporting us, to Sam, Kate and Frances for standing in for Sarah and Paul to take some videos and to Peter, who despite some recent ill health and not inconsiderable mature years, drove all the way to Wellesbourne to hear us play.
Well done and thank you!
Veronique
Spring Sing 24th March 2019 in St Peter’s Church, Wellesbourne
Village Violin School joined Junior St James’ Singers, St Peter’s Singers and Wellesbourne Sings! in a performance of Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus last night to a packed church.
This was a milestone in the (many) achievements of the Village Violin School members, because it was the first time we have played a choral piece as an orchestra and it was a privilege to have a great musician and conductor Julian Harris, to direct this performance.
Earlier the evening we played a blistering rendition of Kerry Polka, with excellent solos from Dan, Olivia, Laura and Emily R, and Emily H and Lydia joined us for a magnificent performance of Classic Bits and Pieces.
Part of the fun of responding to invitations for Village Violin School to play with others groups is being inspired by other players and singers communicating through their performances.
I was (as always) proud of my excellent group of violinists (and cellists!) and I am myself inspired by the high standards of all the players involved.
Thank you also to Deborah for supporting us, to Sam, Kate and Frances for standing in for Sarah and Paul to take some videos and to Peter, who despite some recent ill health and not inconsiderable mature years, drove all the way to Wellesbourne to hear us play.
Well done and thank you!
Veronique
4th March 2019
Concert with Junior St James’ Singers at St Peter’s Church, Wellesbourne at 6pm on Sunday 24th March.
We are looking forward to playing with this excellent young choir conducted by Julian Harris and we will be joining them for Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus in addition to performing Kerry Polka and Classic Bits and Pieces.
All players are welcome – it would be great to see the Beginners supporting the more experienced players here - Please see the poster for more details.
There are Trinity exams in the next few weeks for Marcus (Initial), Lydia (Grade 1) Emily H (Grade 2) Charlie (Grade 2) Natalie (Grade 3) Emily R (Grade 4) and Mila Viola (Grade 1) so keep working hard so you are well prepared.
Next week, 12th March, there will be NO Beginner’s session, and the Improvers and Seniors will rehearse together, starting at 5.30, rather than 4.15. Improvers note the change of time for you.
It’s been a really exciting term so far – well done to everyone.
Veronique
Concert with Junior St James’ Singers at St Peter’s Church, Wellesbourne at 6pm on Sunday 24th March.
We are looking forward to playing with this excellent young choir conducted by Julian Harris and we will be joining them for Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus in addition to performing Kerry Polka and Classic Bits and Pieces.
All players are welcome – it would be great to see the Beginners supporting the more experienced players here - Please see the poster for more details.
There are Trinity exams in the next few weeks for Marcus (Initial), Lydia (Grade 1) Emily H (Grade 2) Charlie (Grade 2) Natalie (Grade 3) Emily R (Grade 4) and Mila Viola (Grade 1) so keep working hard so you are well prepared.
Next week, 12th March, there will be NO Beginner’s session, and the Improvers and Seniors will rehearse together, starting at 5.30, rather than 4.15. Improvers note the change of time for you.
It’s been a really exciting term so far – well done to everyone.
Veronique
13th February 2019
Yesterday brought some excellent performances from the Beginners, Improvers and Seniors classes to welcome in the half term break next week.
The Beginners excelled themselves with their concert for the Over 60s and played their tunes with real style. They are now using their first fingers to play B and low E and Maisy played two tunes as her first solo, getting confident as she went along. Well done to her for modelling how to manage playing to a real audience!
The Improvers have made great strides this term and played the Theme Park Suite together, and the Drunken Sailor, also. All the members of this group are working towards Trinity exams so they each played a solo, with great confidence and showing ever improving skills. Mila played our first ever viola solo with Rocking Horse. Well done to all of these children and good luck with your exams.
The Seniors have worked tremendously hard to put together the Pirates of the Caribbean as a string orchestra. Thank you to Andrew for coming along to boost the cello section. I can’t put into words how proud I am of this achievement – do listen to the video on the Seniors link.
We also split into three groups for quartets which is a new experience for all the players and Emily played Take Five which she has been working hard on.
I am constantly surprised by the delight of working with all three groups and just want to say a huge WELL DONE! to all of you for your efforts, standard of playing and team work.
Yesterday brought some excellent performances from the Beginners, Improvers and Seniors classes to welcome in the half term break next week.
The Beginners excelled themselves with their concert for the Over 60s and played their tunes with real style. They are now using their first fingers to play B and low E and Maisy played two tunes as her first solo, getting confident as she went along. Well done to her for modelling how to manage playing to a real audience!
The Improvers have made great strides this term and played the Theme Park Suite together, and the Drunken Sailor, also. All the members of this group are working towards Trinity exams so they each played a solo, with great confidence and showing ever improving skills. Mila played our first ever viola solo with Rocking Horse. Well done to all of these children and good luck with your exams.
The Seniors have worked tremendously hard to put together the Pirates of the Caribbean as a string orchestra. Thank you to Andrew for coming along to boost the cello section. I can’t put into words how proud I am of this achievement – do listen to the video on the Seniors link.
We also split into three groups for quartets which is a new experience for all the players and Emily played Take Five which she has been working hard on.
I am constantly surprised by the delight of working with all three groups and just want to say a huge WELL DONE! to all of you for your efforts, standard of playing and team work.
10th January 2019
Happy New Year to all Violinists and their families!
I hope everyone had a lovely break and this is to say how happy I was with the first session of 2019 yesterday.
Beginners News:
All the Beginners swapped sponges for a shoulder rest and have been learning how to put them on. We’ve been practising our first finger positions, remembering how to hold the violin properly and to make a little curve with our wrists so we keep good hand positions while we play our new note, B.
We’ve also started learning a new tune, Hoe Down, which is full of good rhythms.
Improvers News:
This group is learning several new pieces, including a suite of tunes called ‘Set Sail To Sea’. Several Improvers have exams to work for this term and we are enjoying the sound of the viola players in the group.
Seniors News:
The Seniors have welcomed Andrew (cello) this term, which means we have two string quartets, complete with viola, for chamber music and a third group of 4 violin soloists learning a Telemann Concerto. We join up together for a String Orchestra session and we are loving the sound we make as we rehearse The Pirates of the Caribbean.
Dates for your diary!
ALL GROUPS will be going to the LEAMINGTON SPA COMPETITIVE FESTIVAL this summer so please put the date in the new diaries!
Saturday 15th June 2019 at The Kingsley School, Leamington Spa. We did tremendously well last year, bringing home two trophies so it’s important that we prepare our best work.
Other events will be announced as the term goes on.
Happy Practising and remember that Practice Makes Progress!
Veronique
Happy New Year to all Violinists and their families!
I hope everyone had a lovely break and this is to say how happy I was with the first session of 2019 yesterday.
Beginners News:
All the Beginners swapped sponges for a shoulder rest and have been learning how to put them on. We’ve been practising our first finger positions, remembering how to hold the violin properly and to make a little curve with our wrists so we keep good hand positions while we play our new note, B.
We’ve also started learning a new tune, Hoe Down, which is full of good rhythms.
Improvers News:
This group is learning several new pieces, including a suite of tunes called ‘Set Sail To Sea’. Several Improvers have exams to work for this term and we are enjoying the sound of the viola players in the group.
Seniors News:
The Seniors have welcomed Andrew (cello) this term, which means we have two string quartets, complete with viola, for chamber music and a third group of 4 violin soloists learning a Telemann Concerto. We join up together for a String Orchestra session and we are loving the sound we make as we rehearse The Pirates of the Caribbean.
Dates for your diary!
ALL GROUPS will be going to the LEAMINGTON SPA COMPETITIVE FESTIVAL this summer so please put the date in the new diaries!
Saturday 15th June 2019 at The Kingsley School, Leamington Spa. We did tremendously well last year, bringing home two trophies so it’s important that we prepare our best work.
Other events will be announced as the term goes on.
Happy Practising and remember that Practice Makes Progress!
Veronique
9th December 2018
Village Violin School Concert and Afternoon Tea
What a concert!! WOW!!
I was delighted by the concert and the wonderful afternoon tea spread provided by the WI, organised by Deborah, who also looked after the technical requirement of the Beginners and Improvers. Thank you to her for sharing her talents on both sides of the event.
To say that this concert was well-attended would be an understatement, and I don’t think the audience was disappointed, either in the music or the refreshments. The violinists (since the arrival of our violas, Mila and Chandima and cellist, Amy, I should start referring to as ‘string players’) excelled themselves in wonderful music making, supportive teamwork and great violin playing.
And excellent professional behaviour, which was no mean feat, in the excitement of a very crowded Hall with 30 instrumentalists using 30 precious and breakable instruments.
The Beginners were supported by Marcus and Alice, doing a great job with music charts, and I have never heard this group play so well. We played eight tunes, some from memory, and using long smooth bows; the sound was impressive.
The Improvers followed on, with the violas joining them for their concert debut, and I was impressed with the quality of playing from this group, with first violins Natalie, Anna, Zoe and Emily really taking a lead, and superb sound from Lydia, Una and Marcus with support from Dan and the violas, Mila and Chandima.
Seniors played their four pieces beyond my expectations, with developing ensemble skill, including successful dynamic contrasts, solos and tuttis, supported by Frances, with Chandima playing the viola and Amy playing the cello. There was some very capable leading from Dan, a great quality first violin section with Laura, Alice and Emily. Olivia and Mila rose to the challenge of delivering an excellent-sounding second violin section. Charlie (2nd and 3rd violin) also deserves a special mention for his playing and contribution after only 4 terms of violin playing.
Sarah and Paul gave their time and expertise to photograph and video this concert so you will have the opportunity to look back at a lovely event. Thanks again to them, and to Sarah in particular for looking after the website.
I am full of delight and pride by what has been achieved this term by each violinist. I am inspired by this project and what we can all do when we work together. I have been overwhelmed by the support (and cake!) that parents are giving, and also I would like to thank all the parents for the generous and unexpected gifts Deborah and I received at the end of the concert.
The final Village Violin School session of the term is this coming Tuesday, 11th December.
Veronique
Village Violin School Concert and Afternoon Tea
What a concert!! WOW!!
I was delighted by the concert and the wonderful afternoon tea spread provided by the WI, organised by Deborah, who also looked after the technical requirement of the Beginners and Improvers. Thank you to her for sharing her talents on both sides of the event.
To say that this concert was well-attended would be an understatement, and I don’t think the audience was disappointed, either in the music or the refreshments. The violinists (since the arrival of our violas, Mila and Chandima and cellist, Amy, I should start referring to as ‘string players’) excelled themselves in wonderful music making, supportive teamwork and great violin playing.
And excellent professional behaviour, which was no mean feat, in the excitement of a very crowded Hall with 30 instrumentalists using 30 precious and breakable instruments.
The Beginners were supported by Marcus and Alice, doing a great job with music charts, and I have never heard this group play so well. We played eight tunes, some from memory, and using long smooth bows; the sound was impressive.
The Improvers followed on, with the violas joining them for their concert debut, and I was impressed with the quality of playing from this group, with first violins Natalie, Anna, Zoe and Emily really taking a lead, and superb sound from Lydia, Una and Marcus with support from Dan and the violas, Mila and Chandima.
Seniors played their four pieces beyond my expectations, with developing ensemble skill, including successful dynamic contrasts, solos and tuttis, supported by Frances, with Chandima playing the viola and Amy playing the cello. There was some very capable leading from Dan, a great quality first violin section with Laura, Alice and Emily. Olivia and Mila rose to the challenge of delivering an excellent-sounding second violin section. Charlie (2nd and 3rd violin) also deserves a special mention for his playing and contribution after only 4 terms of violin playing.
Sarah and Paul gave their time and expertise to photograph and video this concert so you will have the opportunity to look back at a lovely event. Thanks again to them, and to Sarah in particular for looking after the website.
I am full of delight and pride by what has been achieved this term by each violinist. I am inspired by this project and what we can all do when we work together. I have been overwhelmed by the support (and cake!) that parents are giving, and also I would like to thank all the parents for the generous and unexpected gifts Deborah and I received at the end of the concert.
The final Village Violin School session of the term is this coming Tuesday, 11th December.
Veronique
6th December 2018
STOP PRESS!!!!
Violin exam results have arrived and I would like to congratulate the following violinists for their wonderful preparation, performances and results:
Jasmine for her Grade 8 pass with Distinction
Anna and Olivia for their Grade 3 passes with Merit
Una and Lydia for their Initial Grade passes with Distinction
Well done!
I am bursting with pride at these achievements and very much looking forward to hearing everyone playing together on Saturday.
Veronique
STOP PRESS!!!!
Violin exam results have arrived and I would like to congratulate the following violinists for their wonderful preparation, performances and results:
Jasmine for her Grade 8 pass with Distinction
Anna and Olivia for their Grade 3 passes with Merit
Una and Lydia for their Initial Grade passes with Distinction
Well done!
I am bursting with pride at these achievements and very much looking forward to hearing everyone playing together on Saturday.
Veronique
4th December 2018
The performances are sounding promising! Well Done Everyone!
Please keep practising your parts every day till I collect up the violins on Friday.
Here are final details for the Village Violin School Concert on Saturday 8th December:
Beginners: All violins need to be taken to school on Friday morning.
I will collect them and take them to the Village Hall on Saturday morning so I can tune them.
Do NOT bring your music folder to school, please.
Please arrive at the Village Hall for your rehearsal at 2.25 PROMPTLY. There will be very little time on the day.
Improvers:
Please bring your violin and concert music (black folder and purple book) to my house on Friday afternoon. Or please make a separate arrangement with me.
Please arrive at the Village Hall for your rehearsal at 1.40 PROMPTLY. There is very little time to rehearse on the day.
Seniors:
Please bring your violin and concert music (black folder) to my house on Friday afternoon.
Please arrive at the Village Hall for your rehearsal at 1.50 PROMPTLY.
Dress: Red Tops, Black Bottoms, No Trainers, Violin School Badges if you wish.
Some children are playing at the Dassett School Christmas Fayre so I will collect those violins after that event.
Don’t forget your tickets – the concert is almost sold out.
Any queries, please contact me.
Thank you,
Veronique
The performances are sounding promising! Well Done Everyone!
Please keep practising your parts every day till I collect up the violins on Friday.
Here are final details for the Village Violin School Concert on Saturday 8th December:
Beginners: All violins need to be taken to school on Friday morning.
I will collect them and take them to the Village Hall on Saturday morning so I can tune them.
Do NOT bring your music folder to school, please.
Please arrive at the Village Hall for your rehearsal at 2.25 PROMPTLY. There will be very little time on the day.
Improvers:
Please bring your violin and concert music (black folder and purple book) to my house on Friday afternoon. Or please make a separate arrangement with me.
Please arrive at the Village Hall for your rehearsal at 1.40 PROMPTLY. There is very little time to rehearse on the day.
Seniors:
Please bring your violin and concert music (black folder) to my house on Friday afternoon.
Please arrive at the Village Hall for your rehearsal at 1.50 PROMPTLY.
Dress: Red Tops, Black Bottoms, No Trainers, Violin School Badges if you wish.
Some children are playing at the Dassett School Christmas Fayre so I will collect those violins after that event.
Don’t forget your tickets – the concert is almost sold out.
Any queries, please contact me.
Thank you,
Veronique
28th November 2018
Great excitement yesterday as I was able to hand out our new Village Violin School badges, kindly designed and given to us by John Kendall, a keen and interested supporter of the violinists.
He hopes that, as well as being fun to wear, they will be a nice souvenir for everyone in years to come, as memory boxes are rediscovered in the attic!
We have sent John a card with our thanks and hopefully the badges will help us to look smart at the concert on 8th December.
WELL DONE to the new IMPROVED Improvers! You have all done exactly what I asked last week and are sounding really good together.
I am also very happy with the progress from the Beginners and Seniors, this week.
Please keep up all your good work so we are well prepared for our performance next week. Details will follow about bringing violins to the Village Hall so I have them in good time to tune them.
A few violinists will be playing carols at The Dassett School Christmas Fayre on 7th December from 6.30.
The final Village Violin School session of the term and year, will be on Tuesday 11th December.
Well done to everyone!
Veronique
Great excitement yesterday as I was able to hand out our new Village Violin School badges, kindly designed and given to us by John Kendall, a keen and interested supporter of the violinists.
He hopes that, as well as being fun to wear, they will be a nice souvenir for everyone in years to come, as memory boxes are rediscovered in the attic!
We have sent John a card with our thanks and hopefully the badges will help us to look smart at the concert on 8th December.
WELL DONE to the new IMPROVED Improvers! You have all done exactly what I asked last week and are sounding really good together.
I am also very happy with the progress from the Beginners and Seniors, this week.
Please keep up all your good work so we are well prepared for our performance next week. Details will follow about bringing violins to the Village Hall so I have them in good time to tune them.
A few violinists will be playing carols at The Dassett School Christmas Fayre on 7th December from 6.30.
The final Village Violin School session of the term and year, will be on Tuesday 11th December.
Well done to everyone!
Veronique
20th November
All groups are preparing for the concert on 8th December and everyone needs to prepare their pieces well by practising every day, please.
The Beginners will be playing:
Irish Washerwoman, Willow Waltz, Jig, Trick or Treat, Fiddle Faddle, Open-String Boogie, Snowflakes and The Hundred Pipers
We are aiming to play most of these from memory so lots of listening, plucking and bowing is good!
The Improvers definitely need to IMPROVE by next week, please! I am looking forward to hearing a great improvement in their preparation…
They are playing the following pieces:
Sword Dance, Chicken on a Fence post, Mellow-D, Take Your Partners, Skye Boat Song, Tinga Layo, Jupiter and Hark The Herald
The Seniors are playing:
Music from the Royal Fireworks, Kerry Polka, Yankee Doodle, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Jupiter and Hark The Herald.
Senior AND Improvers: please practice playing with real dynamic contrast (think about your sound points) and correct bowing. Up bows and Down bows should be moving all together, ideally.
Dress for the concert is as usual: Red tops, Black bottoms, no trainers, please.
It is likely to be fairly warm in the Village Hall.
Rehearsal Times are:
Improvers: Ready to play at 1.45, please
Seniors: Ready to play at 2.00, please
Beginners: Ready to play at 2.30, please.
Concert: 3.00
Afternoon Tea: approx. 4.00
There will be arrangements for parents to bring all violins to the Village Hall on Friday 7th Dec or Saturday 8th in the morning so I can tune them in good time.
I am really looking forward to this concert and hearing everyone playing their best. Don’t forget to order you tickets. Violinists (and the cellist) get a free tea!
Veronique
All groups are preparing for the concert on 8th December and everyone needs to prepare their pieces well by practising every day, please.
The Beginners will be playing:
Irish Washerwoman, Willow Waltz, Jig, Trick or Treat, Fiddle Faddle, Open-String Boogie, Snowflakes and The Hundred Pipers
We are aiming to play most of these from memory so lots of listening, plucking and bowing is good!
The Improvers definitely need to IMPROVE by next week, please! I am looking forward to hearing a great improvement in their preparation…
They are playing the following pieces:
Sword Dance, Chicken on a Fence post, Mellow-D, Take Your Partners, Skye Boat Song, Tinga Layo, Jupiter and Hark The Herald
The Seniors are playing:
Music from the Royal Fireworks, Kerry Polka, Yankee Doodle, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Jupiter and Hark The Herald.
Senior AND Improvers: please practice playing with real dynamic contrast (think about your sound points) and correct bowing. Up bows and Down bows should be moving all together, ideally.
Dress for the concert is as usual: Red tops, Black bottoms, no trainers, please.
It is likely to be fairly warm in the Village Hall.
Rehearsal Times are:
Improvers: Ready to play at 1.45, please
Seniors: Ready to play at 2.00, please
Beginners: Ready to play at 2.30, please.
Concert: 3.00
Afternoon Tea: approx. 4.00
There will be arrangements for parents to bring all violins to the Village Hall on Friday 7th Dec or Saturday 8th in the morning so I can tune them in good time.
I am really looking forward to this concert and hearing everyone playing their best. Don’t forget to order you tickets. Violinists (and the cellist) get a free tea!
Veronique
Concert at The Royal Festival Hall 11th November 2018
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Brahms: A German Requiem
Marin Alsop - conductor
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Tonight there is a BBC Radio 3 broadcast at 7.30pm of this lovely concert I was playing in last night to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.
The first work in the programme is Vaughan Williams’ great string orchestra piece, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. In this piece, the musicians are grouped as two string orchestras and a string quartet. It was first played in 1910 in Gloucester Cathedral where the groups were placed in different parts of the cathedral to make great sound effects using the echo of the performance space. We weren’t able to do that in the same way on the stage at the RFH but we did use all the space and the stage risers to get a great effect.
The orchestra leader in the first performance was a famous violinist called Fritz Kreisler.
There will be a prize for the first person who can tell us about this great player!
There were no women in the orchestra at all although the second violinist in the quartet was a player called Muriel Pickup. There will be a MASSIVE prize if anyone finds out any information about HER!
Listen out for the gorgeous viola solos and the eerie sound of the off stage orchestra.
The other piece in the concert is by Johannes Brahms, a German composer, and it was first played in 1868. It has a choir, an orchestra and a soprano soloist and a tenor soloist. A conductor is needed to help everyone play and sing together and to choose the way the musicians express the music. It is a BIG piece of music in seven sections and lasts over an hour. It is often played at solemn moments which is why it was chosen for this concert.
There are no violins playing in the first section – just the violas, cellos and double basses to represent the string sound. There are lots of woodwind and brass players and drums too, called timpani in this piece which Vaughan Williams doesn’t use in the Fantasia. Listen to some of it so you hear new sounds and how orchestras can work with singers for great effects.
it.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00013xd
7th November 2018
Tuesday rehearsals have been going well in the Village Hall and we had a visit from local luthier and violin repairer Matthew Turnock on 16th October. This was a really interesting session because he showed us how wood is chosen for violin making and brought in a violin in pieces which we could look at to see how they are made. Matthew also joined us for two informal performances by the Improvers and the Seniors. We are very grateful that he took the time to come and we enjoyed his visit tremendously. We always look forward to welcoming visitors.
The Village Hall is a nice venue – everyone has settled well into the new routine and the children are really helpful in the way they set up the rehearsal space, and the help from parents to tidy up after is great. Thank you to all.
We have a VIOLA in our midst now, which is really exciting – Chandima is learning to read the alto clef, and all the Seniors have had the opportunity to play the violas we now have. I hope some people will want to play viola parts in some of our repertoire.
We have a new quartet group which has occasional rehearsals and, time permitting, I am hoping to encourage more small ensemble playing. If you are interested in this idea, please let me know.
Lydia and Una are preparing for their Trinity Initial exam, Anna and Olivia for their ABRSM Grade 3, and Jasmine for her ABRSM Grade 8 at the end of November. Good luck to them!
Laura has auditioned for the National Children’s Orchestra and we wait to hear if she has been successful this time. Well done for such excellent preparation.
Preparation is well under way for the Village Violin School performance on 8th December, also at the Village Hall, a concert and afternoon tea in aid of the W.I.
All three groups will be playing and it promises to be a very nice occasion with some excellent music. And cake. Details of timings for the afternoon will follow shortly. Please buy your tickets in good time – there is a FREE afternoon tea for all violinists (and the cellist!).
Veronique
Tuesday rehearsals have been going well in the Village Hall and we had a visit from local luthier and violin repairer Matthew Turnock on 16th October. This was a really interesting session because he showed us how wood is chosen for violin making and brought in a violin in pieces which we could look at to see how they are made. Matthew also joined us for two informal performances by the Improvers and the Seniors. We are very grateful that he took the time to come and we enjoyed his visit tremendously. We always look forward to welcoming visitors.
The Village Hall is a nice venue – everyone has settled well into the new routine and the children are really helpful in the way they set up the rehearsal space, and the help from parents to tidy up after is great. Thank you to all.
We have a VIOLA in our midst now, which is really exciting – Chandima is learning to read the alto clef, and all the Seniors have had the opportunity to play the violas we now have. I hope some people will want to play viola parts in some of our repertoire.
We have a new quartet group which has occasional rehearsals and, time permitting, I am hoping to encourage more small ensemble playing. If you are interested in this idea, please let me know.
Lydia and Una are preparing for their Trinity Initial exam, Anna and Olivia for their ABRSM Grade 3, and Jasmine for her ABRSM Grade 8 at the end of November. Good luck to them!
Laura has auditioned for the National Children’s Orchestra and we wait to hear if she has been successful this time. Well done for such excellent preparation.
Preparation is well under way for the Village Violin School performance on 8th December, also at the Village Hall, a concert and afternoon tea in aid of the W.I.
All three groups will be playing and it promises to be a very nice occasion with some excellent music. And cake. Details of timings for the afternoon will follow shortly. Please buy your tickets in good time – there is a FREE afternoon tea for all violinists (and the cellist!).
Veronique
September 2018
Change of Venue
From this coming Tuesday 25th September, Village Violin School will be held at the Village Hall.
I am sorry for the unexpected change and hope that this will work for everyone.
The Beginners Class 3.30 - 4.10
The Improvers Class 4.15 - 5.15
The Seniors Class 5.30 - 6.30.
Thank you all for your support and patience.
Veronique
Change of Venue
From this coming Tuesday 25th September, Village Violin School will be held at the Village Hall.
I am sorry for the unexpected change and hope that this will work for everyone.
The Beginners Class 3.30 - 4.10
The Improvers Class 4.15 - 5.15
The Seniors Class 5.30 - 6.30.
Thank you all for your support and patience.
Veronique
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
It’s been a very exciting start to the new term, with 11 new children joining the Beginners Group, and a re-organisation of the groups which means the addition of a new one for the Seniors.
The Beginners now runs from 3.15 to 3.55, followed by the Improvers from 4.00 – 4.45 and then the Seniors from 5.00 till 6.00.
We have already had a small group including Alice, Zoe and Natalie play in assembly – well done to them for being so ready to play after the long holiday.
This term will see the Village Violin School playing at the Village Hall on 8th December:
Village Violin School Concert and Afternoon Tea, organised by the W.I. Tickets will be on sale nearer the time, but all violinists will get a free tea!
Lizzie passed her Grade 5 following a very hard working time with her GCSEs in the summer and this term, Lydia and Una will be preparing for their Initial exam later in the term. Anna and Olivia will take Grade 3 and Jasmine is working hard for her Grade 8.
Please remember that making good progress depends on doing your daily practice. Enthusiasm gradually comes from making that daily discipline part of the routine which helps us all develop really useful skills like patience and persistence.
I’m still practising, many years on….!
Veronique
It’s been a very exciting start to the new term, with 11 new children joining the Beginners Group, and a re-organisation of the groups which means the addition of a new one for the Seniors.
The Beginners now runs from 3.15 to 3.55, followed by the Improvers from 4.00 – 4.45 and then the Seniors from 5.00 till 6.00.
We have already had a small group including Alice, Zoe and Natalie play in assembly – well done to them for being so ready to play after the long holiday.
This term will see the Village Violin School playing at the Village Hall on 8th December:
Village Violin School Concert and Afternoon Tea, organised by the W.I. Tickets will be on sale nearer the time, but all violinists will get a free tea!
Lizzie passed her Grade 5 following a very hard working time with her GCSEs in the summer and this term, Lydia and Una will be preparing for their Initial exam later in the term. Anna and Olivia will take Grade 3 and Jasmine is working hard for her Grade 8.
Please remember that making good progress depends on doing your daily practice. Enthusiasm gradually comes from making that daily discipline part of the routine which helps us all develop really useful skills like patience and persistence.
I’m still practising, many years on….!
Veronique
Friday, 22 June 2018
ABRSM violin exam results for our summer candidates are out and are excellent.
Well done to all!
Congratulations to Charlie for his Distinction at Grade 1, Natalie for achieving a Merit for her Grade 2. Alice was awarded Merit for her Grade 3, Emily R Distinction also for Grade 3 and Dan achieved Distinction for Grade 4.
Lizzie is about to take her Grade 5 exam following her GCSEs and we wish her luck.
Everyone worked very hard and deserved their super marks. It's good to remember that all the Violin School players had not even started learning to play the violin 3 short years ago. You've all made superb progress in a short time.
ABRSM violin exam results for our summer candidates are out and are excellent.
Well done to all!
Congratulations to Charlie for his Distinction at Grade 1, Natalie for achieving a Merit for her Grade 2. Alice was awarded Merit for her Grade 3, Emily R Distinction also for Grade 3 and Dan achieved Distinction for Grade 4.
Lizzie is about to take her Grade 5 exam following her GCSEs and we wish her luck.
Everyone worked very hard and deserved their super marks. It's good to remember that all the Violin School players had not even started learning to play the violin 3 short years ago. You've all made superb progress in a short time.
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Dates for the Diary Sunday 29th April 2pm - 5pm at The Dassett School - Improvers Workshop.
Saturday 16th June Leamington Festival - All in the Beginners Group plus Dan, Laura, Emily R, Olivia, Zoe and Una.
Saturday 30th June Leamington Festival - Composition Class - All Improvers.
Dates for the Diary Sunday 29th April 2pm - 5pm at The Dassett School - Improvers Workshop.
Saturday 16th June Leamington Festival - All in the Beginners Group plus Dan, Laura, Emily R, Olivia, Zoe and Una.
Saturday 30th June Leamington Festival - Composition Class - All Improvers.
Sunday, 25 March 2018
I can hardly believe that the last newsletter I wrote was in 2017! This term has been characterised to some degree by snowy weather and, in my case, a long-lasting nasty virus which knocked my energy levels and I have been remiss in keeping the newsletter up-to-date, which is not to say that nothing has been going on. The hard work continued and the custard creams kept coming on Tuesday afternoons despite everything!
The Orchestra Afternoon at the Croft School was postponed because of the snowy roads but I was very pleased that a new date has been arranged for Sunday 29th April. I am very much looking forward to hearing the violinists playing the music which they worked hard to learn for the original date.
Una, Michael and Charlie have made excellent progress and, following our fantastic and well-attended Violin School Concert on 26th January, are now playing in the Improvers Group, which was delighted to have some new players also including Chandima Dutton, who was inspired to come and join in. Her own violin, having been neglected for a few years, is now being repaired and we are pleased that she will be joining the Village Violin School. New members of all ages are always welcome.
ABRSM results have been excellent:
Zoe got a Merit for her Grade 1, Olivia and Gracie got Merit for their Grade 2 Violin exams in December. Anna, Mila and Emily R got Distinctions for their Grade 2 exams, also in December.
The most recent violin exam results were from Emily H, who got a Distinction for her Grade 1 and Laura who got a Distinction for her Grade 4. All these violinists worked very hard and deserved their good results. I am very proud of them. There will be a group of violinists preparing exams this summer, including Lizzie (Grade 5), Dan (Grade 4) Alice (Grade 3) and Charlie, Michael and Una (Grade1)
The Beginners are making good progress also – they will be taking part in the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival in June, along with those Improvers who are not away on a residential trip that weekend. They are entered in the Group Class, all playing together. Then there is a second entry later in June for the Composing Class, at which we will present a piece written and performed by the Improvers. Dan and Laura have already made a great contributions to this event – Dan’s piece, Illusions, is finished, and was performed in January, Laura’s is well underway, and Zoe has made a good start to her part in the project.
Sarah and Paul Grant kindly made a DVD of the concert in January which is a wonderful memento of an evening that demonstrated some of the achievements of the Violin School players of all ages. It’s available for a small charge. Please do contact Mrs Hine, or Sarah Grant if you would like one. They make excellent presents for family and supportive friends. I continue to be very proud of what we are all achieving and very much appreciate the tremendous teamwork and friendships that are developing between everyone involved.
Happy practising over the Easter break!
Veronique
I can hardly believe that the last newsletter I wrote was in 2017! This term has been characterised to some degree by snowy weather and, in my case, a long-lasting nasty virus which knocked my energy levels and I have been remiss in keeping the newsletter up-to-date, which is not to say that nothing has been going on. The hard work continued and the custard creams kept coming on Tuesday afternoons despite everything!
The Orchestra Afternoon at the Croft School was postponed because of the snowy roads but I was very pleased that a new date has been arranged for Sunday 29th April. I am very much looking forward to hearing the violinists playing the music which they worked hard to learn for the original date.
Una, Michael and Charlie have made excellent progress and, following our fantastic and well-attended Violin School Concert on 26th January, are now playing in the Improvers Group, which was delighted to have some new players also including Chandima Dutton, who was inspired to come and join in. Her own violin, having been neglected for a few years, is now being repaired and we are pleased that she will be joining the Village Violin School. New members of all ages are always welcome.
ABRSM results have been excellent:
Zoe got a Merit for her Grade 1, Olivia and Gracie got Merit for their Grade 2 Violin exams in December. Anna, Mila and Emily R got Distinctions for their Grade 2 exams, also in December.
The most recent violin exam results were from Emily H, who got a Distinction for her Grade 1 and Laura who got a Distinction for her Grade 4. All these violinists worked very hard and deserved their good results. I am very proud of them. There will be a group of violinists preparing exams this summer, including Lizzie (Grade 5), Dan (Grade 4) Alice (Grade 3) and Charlie, Michael and Una (Grade1)
The Beginners are making good progress also – they will be taking part in the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival in June, along with those Improvers who are not away on a residential trip that weekend. They are entered in the Group Class, all playing together. Then there is a second entry later in June for the Composing Class, at which we will present a piece written and performed by the Improvers. Dan and Laura have already made a great contributions to this event – Dan’s piece, Illusions, is finished, and was performed in January, Laura’s is well underway, and Zoe has made a good start to her part in the project.
Sarah and Paul Grant kindly made a DVD of the concert in January which is a wonderful memento of an evening that demonstrated some of the achievements of the Violin School players of all ages. It’s available for a small charge. Please do contact Mrs Hine, or Sarah Grant if you would like one. They make excellent presents for family and supportive friends. I continue to be very proud of what we are all achieving and very much appreciate the tremendous teamwork and friendships that are developing between everyone involved.
Happy practising over the Easter break!
Veronique
18th December 2017
The members of the Violin School have had a very busy term, with a HUGE Beginners Class, which is well-supported by a team of Buddies from last year's Beginners and from the Improvers Classes.
They are making excellent progress and have already started using their left hand to learn new notes, a skill we usually progress to in January. Well done to them!
The Beginners and Improvers performed in separate school assemblies this term, and Laura, Emily and Dan were able to join us from their own schools. It is much appreciated that the Violin School project is valued and supported by all the schools with pupils attending. The Violin School also played at the Dassett Christmas Fayre, and entertained parents and visitors with a selection of tunes and pieces the groups have been working on during the term and a variety of Christmas Carols.
This term, Mila, Emily R, Gracie, Olivia, Anna (Grade 2) and Zoe (Grade 1) all worked hard to prepare for their ABRSM exams and we are awaiting results. Well done to them for their excellent performances on the day.
This term I have been really impressed by the team spirit and support that the players offer to each other at weekly rehearsals and at times when someone is experiencing difficulty. There have been many instances of great care and thoughtfulness for each other. Well done to all of you for your kindness. It’s not just about how to play the violin, but also about how we all experience the activity.
I would like to thank Sarah Grant for taking pictures and videos and looking after the blog page. Also, thanks to Frances Scott-Brown, Lizzie and Amy Alyward for joining in on the piano, violin and cello, to Karl Hine for putting the newsletter and photos on the website and to Mrs Hine for enabling the project to go ahead.
Next term brings preparation for our Big Concert on Friday 26th January at 7.00pm at The Dassett School. There are not many weeks to go, so please keep up your DAILY practice and note the date in your new diaries! The next Violin School session is on Tuesday 9th January at your normal class time.
Some players will also be going to The Croft School Orchestra Day on Sunday 4th March. Next term we will be learning the music for this event.
Christmas is coming up, and I wish everyone a really lovely break in the meantime.
Veronique
The members of the Violin School have had a very busy term, with a HUGE Beginners Class, which is well-supported by a team of Buddies from last year's Beginners and from the Improvers Classes.
They are making excellent progress and have already started using their left hand to learn new notes, a skill we usually progress to in January. Well done to them!
The Beginners and Improvers performed in separate school assemblies this term, and Laura, Emily and Dan were able to join us from their own schools. It is much appreciated that the Violin School project is valued and supported by all the schools with pupils attending. The Violin School also played at the Dassett Christmas Fayre, and entertained parents and visitors with a selection of tunes and pieces the groups have been working on during the term and a variety of Christmas Carols.
This term, Mila, Emily R, Gracie, Olivia, Anna (Grade 2) and Zoe (Grade 1) all worked hard to prepare for their ABRSM exams and we are awaiting results. Well done to them for their excellent performances on the day.
This term I have been really impressed by the team spirit and support that the players offer to each other at weekly rehearsals and at times when someone is experiencing difficulty. There have been many instances of great care and thoughtfulness for each other. Well done to all of you for your kindness. It’s not just about how to play the violin, but also about how we all experience the activity.
I would like to thank Sarah Grant for taking pictures and videos and looking after the blog page. Also, thanks to Frances Scott-Brown, Lizzie and Amy Alyward for joining in on the piano, violin and cello, to Karl Hine for putting the newsletter and photos on the website and to Mrs Hine for enabling the project to go ahead.
Next term brings preparation for our Big Concert on Friday 26th January at 7.00pm at The Dassett School. There are not many weeks to go, so please keep up your DAILY practice and note the date in your new diaries! The next Violin School session is on Tuesday 9th January at your normal class time.
Some players will also be going to The Croft School Orchestra Day on Sunday 4th March. Next term we will be learning the music for this event.
Christmas is coming up, and I wish everyone a really lovely break in the meantime.
Veronique
Wednesday, 13 September 2017
The first Village Violin School rehearsal of the year hit the ground running on the very first Tuesday of the new school term. Well done to everyone for making arrangements to be there!
There are now 26 members of Village Violin School, and in the 3.15 class we have 10 new Beginners, already holding their violins comfortably, plucking their strings, and playing three pieces along with the Beginner Buddies, and Gracie and Mila from the Improvers, who help me run this group. It’s a strong group of new starters and I have hopes for excellent progress. Play your violins for 10 minutes every day and that progress will certainly happen.
The Improvers (at 4.30) always lift my heart as I remember that they were all Beginners themselves only two years ago. Now all those children have passed ABRSM exams, all at Grade 1. This time, Dan and Laura each received Distinction for Grade 3 in July. Alice had a Distinction for Grade 2, Natalie also got Distinction for her Grade 1 and Lizzie, our Improver Buddy got a Merit for Grade 4. Jasmine, who helped us for 4 terms (I know many of you remember her well) got a Distinction for her Grade 7 exam. Following auditions she has now been offered the position of Principal Second Violin of the Coventry and Warwickshire Youth Orchestra.
We also have the opportunity of children attending the new Cadenza Youth Orchestra run by David Iles in Leamington. This is a non-auditioned group and some of the Improvers enjoyed the first rehearsal and will be going along regularly for a fun orchestral experience.
In the meantime, there are scales to be learned, new pieces to explore (we are enjoying learning Jupiter, from Holst’s The Planets Suite), and new folders to keep our music in. Oh, and custard creams to eat…
Happy Practising!
Veronique
The first Village Violin School rehearsal of the year hit the ground running on the very first Tuesday of the new school term. Well done to everyone for making arrangements to be there!
There are now 26 members of Village Violin School, and in the 3.15 class we have 10 new Beginners, already holding their violins comfortably, plucking their strings, and playing three pieces along with the Beginner Buddies, and Gracie and Mila from the Improvers, who help me run this group. It’s a strong group of new starters and I have hopes for excellent progress. Play your violins for 10 minutes every day and that progress will certainly happen.
The Improvers (at 4.30) always lift my heart as I remember that they were all Beginners themselves only two years ago. Now all those children have passed ABRSM exams, all at Grade 1. This time, Dan and Laura each received Distinction for Grade 3 in July. Alice had a Distinction for Grade 2, Natalie also got Distinction for her Grade 1 and Lizzie, our Improver Buddy got a Merit for Grade 4. Jasmine, who helped us for 4 terms (I know many of you remember her well) got a Distinction for her Grade 7 exam. Following auditions she has now been offered the position of Principal Second Violin of the Coventry and Warwickshire Youth Orchestra.
We also have the opportunity of children attending the new Cadenza Youth Orchestra run by David Iles in Leamington. This is a non-auditioned group and some of the Improvers enjoyed the first rehearsal and will be going along regularly for a fun orchestral experience.
In the meantime, there are scales to be learned, new pieces to explore (we are enjoying learning Jupiter, from Holst’s The Planets Suite), and new folders to keep our music in. Oh, and custard creams to eat…
Happy Practising!
Veronique
Thursday, 31 August 2017
New Youth Orchestra
David Iles is starting this new orchestra for young players on 3rd September and it will be a great opportunity for the Violin School players to gain orchestral experience.
Follow the links below for more details.
http://www.cadenzamusic.org.uk
New Youth Orchestra
David Iles is starting this new orchestra for young players on 3rd September and it will be a great opportunity for the Violin School players to gain orchestral experience.
Follow the links below for more details.
http://www.cadenzamusic.org.uk
Tuesday, 25 July 2017
Hot News!I
have now received the ABRSM exam candidates results for July 2017.
Congratulation to Jasmine, who achieved a Distinction for her Grade 7 exam. Lizzie with her Merit at Grade 4. Also to Dan and Laura who were each awarded Distinction for their Grade 3 examinations, Alice who has a Distinction for her Grade 2, and Natalie who had top marks this time with her Distinction at Grade 1.
Well done to each of you for your consistent hard work and excellent, well-deserved results.
Hot News!I
have now received the ABRSM exam candidates results for July 2017.
Congratulation to Jasmine, who achieved a Distinction for her Grade 7 exam. Lizzie with her Merit at Grade 4. Also to Dan and Laura who were each awarded Distinction for their Grade 3 examinations, Alice who has a Distinction for her Grade 2, and Natalie who had top marks this time with her Distinction at Grade 1.
Well done to each of you for your consistent hard work and excellent, well-deserved results.