Friday 7 March 2014

South West Music School Easter Courses in Brass, Percussion & Music Theory Monday - Thursday 14 - 17 April 2014 - A Message from Kate Wannell

Kate Wannell
South West Music School
Programmes, Projects &
Marketing Co-ordinator

Paul Archibald
English Brass Academy
The South West region is ready to welcome back the English Brass Academy and the Easter Brass Course this April 2014. The Easter Brass Course is back for another year, and this time will include a Percussion Academy and Grade 5 Theory Course.

Richard Wainwright
Owing to the success of 2013's Easter Brass Course, South West Music School and English Brass Academy have teamed up once more to offer high quality tuition to young musicians aged 8 - 21. This year, as well as brass courses, the residential will also offer a Percussion Academy and a Grade 5 Theory course.

Jon Hopes
Led by international trumpet soloist Paul Archibald, the English Brass Academy team of tutors and staff, inclusive of Richard Wainwright (horns), Victoria Curran (trumpet), Jon Hopes (trombone) and Julie Edwards (Music Theory) to ensure the best in tuition and care for all participants. Together, they will be presenting a Brass Works course and a Brass Studio course for young musicians from across the UK during Easter 2014.

Victoria Curran
English Brass Academy offers creative performance opportunities for young musicians, (specialising in brass) aged 8 - 18 years of all abilities. The inspiration for EBA came from the realisation that Paul owed much of his musical approach and technique to the training provided by brass bands and the opportunity to travel the world with his ensemble English Brass. EBA gives Paul the opportunity to inspire young brass players, and to pass on his array of experiences.

Julie Edwards
SWMS and EBA are out to find young brass players and percussionists who would benefit from specialist coaching from some of the UK's biggest names in the orchestral profession. Paul Archibald, English Brass Academy Artistic Director, says:

"Our collaboration with South West Music School is a crucial element inaffording English Brass Academy the opportunity to provide high quality teaching and music-making for brass and percussionists in the South West. The experience and skills, complimented by administrative and musical expertise in supporting young musicians provided by SWMS, allows us to share the talents of our tutors, all of whom are dedicated performers and educators, with young players within the region. I am delighted that we are introducing this year our first courses for percussion and Grade 5 theory at Wellington School and I look forward to meeting and working with the talented young musicians who will be joining us at Wellington School."

Wellington School
The English Brass Academy and South West Music School Easter Courses for Brass, Percussion and Grade 5 Theory run from 14th - 17th April 2014 at Wellington School, Somerset.

To book onto one of the courses you can download an application form from

For more details: Visit Youtube to hear the ensemble English Brass

EASTER BRASS COURSE

Brass Works is for brass players aged 8 - 13 from beginner to grade 8 standard. This course contains small and large ensemble work, creative composition workshops, performance preparation and sports and activities.

Brass Studio is for brass players aged 14 -17 & 18-21 who would like to take their playing to the next level. This course contains masterclasses, chamber music, orchestral excerpts, creative composition workshops, mock auditions, health and well-being and early music performance practice.

Percussion Academy is for percussionist aged 8-13 & 14-21. This course focuses on percussion ensembles, brass group repertoire and sectional skills development including work on timpani, tuned percussion, snare drum, drum kit and latin percussion. There will also be options for individual coaching together with masterclasses from the tutors.

Grade 5 Music Theory  - Julie Edwards, Director of Music at Beechwood Park School, delivers fun-filled lessons using her own specially-devised material culminating in a theory examination at the end of the course. Grade 5 theory can be a bit of a chore, but not with this exciting week of music and music theory.


South West Music School is a Centre of Advanced Training working with exceptionally talented young musicians providing individually tailored learning opportunities at the highest professional level possible.

South West Music School is a music charity working with talented young instrumentalists, singers and composers aged 8-18yrs in the South West. Due to the geographical nature of the South West we are not building based but are a 'virtual' school working with young people on an individual basis in their local area.

Feeder Scheme: For performing musicians, if successful at audition, the first year with South West Music School will be as part of the Feeder Scheme. This is a year-long programme of 6 workshops spread across the year and the region, covering topics such as improvisation, performance practice, listening & rhythm and performance health. These sessions will also provide mentor advice on what other opportunities are available, contacts for teachers/workshop leaders and support for practise.

Core Programme: If applicants are successfully accepted on the Core Programme they will be provided with an individual tutor(s) and a mentor as well as being involved in residential projects, workshops and master-classes. South West Music School offers a new learning experience individually tailored to the students' specific musical needs. Students learn and develop in their own planned time therefore enabling them to continue to participate, as much as possible, in their current musical life. Students can stay on the Core Programme until they are 18 (subject to reaching agreed targets and annual re-assessment).

Composer Programme: South West Music School has formed a partnership with 'Sound and Music' to provide a package of specialist mentoring, individual tuition and residential projects for talented young composers. This training and education is led and guided by composers from the professional music world who have a proven record of successful work in music training. There will be three residential learning experiences during the academic year, these will be held in October, April and August.

For more information on any of our courses and programmes please visit our website: www.swms.org.uk

Bookings are now open for the SW Rock & Pop Day to be held on 23rd March 2014. Designed specifically for bassists, guitarists, drummers and singer/songwriters (singer/songwriters on guitar and keyboard) aged between 8-18 of an intermediate/advanced standard and living in the south west.
Visit www.swms.org.uk for more info.

Running alongside the Rock and Pop day we will also be running a soul and classical vocal day in collaboration with the Welsh National Opera.
To register your interest in this day please email info@swms.org.uk

Make this year extra special by downloading our charity single:

"What We All Need" by 'Assembly' aka SWMS
now from iTunes or CD Baby!

 Would you like to make a donation to SWMS?

It's easy Text SWMS01 followed by £1, £5, £10
(whatever you can afford) to 70070
to donate to South West Music School
and make a difference today. Thank you :)

JustTextGiving by Vodafone

Kate Wannell
Programmes, Projects and Marketing Co-ordinator
South West Music School
PO Box 730
Exeter EX1 9RA




Paul Archibald
English Brass Academy
South West Music School
English Brass Academy
Wellington School, Somerset
Monday-Thursday 14-17 April
EASTER BRASS COURSE
Brass Works  Brass Studio
Percussion Adacemy
Grade V Music Theory
Leader: Paul Archibald
French Horn: Richard Wainwright
Trumpet: Victoria Curran
Trombone: Jon Hopes
Julie Edwards
Music Theory
Music Theory: Julie Edwards
Residential: £400
Non-Residential: £280
Deadline for Bursaries: Wednesday 5 March
(Leverhulme Trust info@swms.co.uk)
Deadline for Grade V: Friday 28 March
Deadline for Percussion & Brass: Friday 4 April
Paul Archibald: 01396 508060
Book Online:  Brass Works  Brass Studio
Percussion Academy  Grade V Music Theory

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