Wednesday 11th November 2015

Well done to Shannon, Beth, Ella, Kerry and Ashleigh for completing solo performance recordings in today's lesson.
Feedback will be given next Wednesday in our lesson.
Our next performance lesson will be Friday 20th November.
Please ensure if you have not recorded a solo yet that you complete OHL prior to Friday's lesson as I will be expecting to complete more recordings then.
Thank you
Mrs Macey x

Friday 6th November 2016

Today has seen Mitchell and Ryan record their first solo performances of 'Love Me Tender'. Feedback will be shared with you in Wednesday's lesson.
The following recording have been agreed:-
Hanah, Lucy, Elizabeth, Rianne & Callum - Friday 20th November 2015
Shannon, Ashleigh, Tinashe, Leah, Kerry, Beth, Ella, Katie H, Demi, Sammie & Katie W - Wednesday 11th November 2015
Jamie - when Mr Davis begins week beginning 16th November TBA.
Please ensure that you are rehearsing for OHL alongside time being set aside for rehearsal lessons. Keep your rehearsal diaries up to date  - setting targets and reviewing progress.

Friday 16th October 2015

Hi all,
After Friday's lesson, I thought I would share feedback on here and ideas for your targets for Wednesday's lessons.....
Ryan and Mitchell - working excellently on 'Love Me Tender'. You can both play the melody in time and are putting in some single finger chords. We discussed 7th Chords and wrote the notes you have to play onto your sheets. You should now be working with a back beat at 70bpm and attempt to play those chords in time with the backbeat and then add your melody over the top.
Katie, Sammie & Kerry - You all wrote in the notes for the seventh chords and should be attempting to play both the melody alongside the chords in time with a backbeat now. Don't go too fast set the tempo at 70bpm.
Callum - You have started to decode the drum score. Rehearse the first four bars getting the kick drum and snare in the correct place. Listen to the CD to aid your progress but keep playing the first bars slowly and then you can speed up the tempo later.
Tinashe - You have now chosen to move to 'Love Me Tender' on the keyboard. Rehearse the melody in your right hand to begin with and then if you can play this correctly, add a backbeat to ensure you can play it in time with the backing. Tempo needs to be 70bpm.
Leah - I will listen to you play on Wednesday - you should be able to play the melody of 'Love Me Tender' by now and be attempting to play the chords alongside the melody on Wednesday.
Beth, Shannon & Rianne - You have all decided to change your original choice of songs to sing. I will be expecting to hear these on Wednesday.
Demi - You were absent on Friday so I will listen to you on Wednesday with the intention to record your first performance of the Ella Henderson song you sang to me two weeks ago.
Lucy, Elizabeth, Hanah - I am hoping by Wednesday both Hanah and Lucy will have working Violas again. I will be listening to your performances on Wednesday to give some feedback on progress.
Ella - I will be looking forward to hearing your performance of 'Defying Gravity' to give you some feedback on your progress.
Katie - Rehearse the piano chords how I showed you on Friday doubling the bass in your left hand to try to improve the quality of your piano playing. Then rehearse whole piece. If you are ready we can do a first recording as a benchmark.
Ashleigh - As I suggested on Friday, work on your expression when performing your song and make my of a dynamic contrast between the sections of your piece. We can record your performance on Wednesday for a benchmark too.
Jamie - I know the bottom brace is impacting on your performance, you should build up the stamina in your lip by small and often practice. If it gets too much on Wednesday - look over your theory notes from previous lessons instead as we are ready to record your performance when we can sort a new date with your brother to accompany you.

Solo Performances September 2015

Hanah - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies Viola

Lucy - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies Viola

Elizabeth - William Tell Overture Viola

Katie - Photograph (Ed Sheeran) Voice + Pno

Ashleigh - December (Neck Deep) Voice + Gui

Ella - Defying Gravity (Wicked) Voice

Rhianne - Somewhere Only We Know (Lily Allen) Voice

Beth - Clown (Emelie Sande) Voice

Ty - Ordinary People (John Legend) Voice

Lay Me Down (Sam Smith + John Legend) Voice

Shannon - Halo – Acoustic Version (Beyonce) Voice

Demi-Leigh - Yours (Ella Henderson) Voice

Ordinary People (John Legend) Voice

Callum - Cherry Blossom (Rock School Gd 4) Drumkit

Tinashe - Cherry Blossom (Rock School Gd 4) Drumkit

Ryan - Love Me Tender Keyboard

Katie W - Love Me Tender Keyboard

Mitchell - Love Me Tender Keyboard

Sammie - Love Me Tender Keyboard

Leah - Love Me Tender Keyboard

Kerry - Love Me Tender Keyboard

Jamie - Playful Pony (Gd 5 ABRSM) Flute

GCSE Solo Performance Mark and Feedback Sheet

Week 1 - Review

You have all received advice from myself on your first solo performance. I was very pleased with the progress and attitude towards choosing and beginning to rehearse your first attempt at a solo performance.

 A special well done goes to Ryan, Mitchell, Katie, Sammie and Leah for making a good start on your keyboard piece, 'Love Me Tender'. Just remember to begin with your right hand melody. Then, add a 4/4 beat, tempo around 70 bpm and attempt to play the melody in time alongside the beat. Ask Amber or myself for help with this during lesson time.

Callum, Tinashe and Ty - look through the first page of the grade 4 rock school piece, 'Cherry Blossom', that I have given to you to begin to understand the codes for which note belongs to which drum on the drum kit. Listen to the CD as guidance on how it should sound.

Ty - you are going to come to see me Wednesday lunchtime prior to our lesson period 4 to show me your version of 'Ordinary People'.

A reminder to Shannon, Rhianne, Demi- Leigh, Beth, Katie, Ella and Ashleigh - by Wednesday, I would like to know the titles of your chosen vocal pieces and if you require me to get the karaoke backing track. Please research YouTube for backing tracks also.

Jamie- 'The Playful Pony' grade 5 ABRSM flute performance was excellent. You just need to polish your dynamics and articulation and arrange a date for your brother to come into school to accompany you.

Elizabeth, Lucy and Hanah - confirm your chosen pieces. Lucy and Hanah to purchase/hire violas. I will speak with Mrs Parkes for advice and guidance to put onto the blog for you. String group to start meeting Monday Lunchtime for ensemble performance rehearsal.

Kerry- absent from lesson. You will need to decide on your instrument for your solo and speak with me before Friday 2nd October's lesson.

Welcome!

This blog is designed to help you prepare and rehearse your solo and ensemble performances.
I will be posting advice and guidance on your individual performances on here. I will also post marks so that your parents can see your progress and what you should be completing for OHL each week.
Please feel free to share ideas for posts to be added onto here with me.