The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

Chaminade Flute Concertino

Posted on 13th April 2024 at 09:53

Cécile Chaminade was a prolific composer, publishing more than 400 pieces in her lifetime, as well as being a successful international touring solo pianist.

Perhaps her most well known piece is her “Flute Concertino in D Major” Op. 107, which is listed in the Model Music Curriculum, however her vast repertoire is well worth exploring. She composed piano pieces (solo and duo), Piano Trios, songs, a ballet, an opera and concerto style works.

In her many recital tours, Chaminade would feature programmes entirely made up of her own music.

On the 80th anniversary of her death, we explore her life and most famous piece. Our activity this month explores composition within limitations.

Image: Cécile Chaminade

Originally from en:Wikipedia en:Image:Cecile chaminade.jpg

Henrici, L. O. Representative Women. Kansas City, Mo.: The Crafters Publishers. 1913

Original source: What We Hear in Music, Anne S. Faulkner, Victor Talking Machine Co., 1913.

Introducing Yukee

Posted on 30th March 2024 at 14:51

Our guest post this month comes from Mark Gordon, composer, founder of Score Draw Music and one of the producers behind Yukee, a new CBeebies show that puts music centre-stage. The programme, which hit TV screens in February, gives its preschool audiences a gentle introduction to musical concepts, and crucially, shows them that music is for everyone.

Here, Mark explains where the idea for the show came from, and how he and his team set about bringing it to life with the help of some talented musicians and educators. Read on to learn more and access the show’s free learning resources…

JS Bach St John Passion

Posted on 14th March 2024 at 10:24

J. S. Bach’s St John Passion was first performed on Good Friday, 7th April 1724. This year we celebrate the 300th anniversary of this remarkable work.

Bach is one of the most famous composers of the Baroque era and his work has been celebrated by many notable composers including Mendelssohn.

The Chorale from the first part of St John Passion is recommended in the New Model Music Curriculum.

Taking inspiration from Bach's use of written text, our activity explores some things to consider when writing songs based on poems.

Image: Johann Sebastian Bach (aged 61) in a portrait by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, second version of his 1746 canvas. Bach is holding a copy of the six-part canon BWV 1076.

ABBA Waterloo

Posted on 15th February 2024 at 10:16

ABBA is one of the most popular and best selling musical groups of all time. The four-piece first as a group between 1974 and 1982, and reunited in 2016. In 1974 they won the Eurovision Song Content with the song "Waterloo" which kick started their International Career.

The song is recommended by the Model Music Curriculum. Our suggested activity links to preparing for performance based on ABBA's iconic stage presence.

Image: Bert Verhoeff for Anefo

Jazz in our community

Posted on 31st January 2024 at 15:26

When the Watford Jazz Junction was founded in 2020, its festival put inclusion and mental wellbeing at its heart. (It’s one reason we at the Music Workshop Company didn’t hesitate when we were asked to be involved, and we’re delighted to be back this year delivering a special workshop for young people aged 4-12).

Each year, Watford Jazz Junction works to ensure its events represent the various communities it serves, offering people of all backgrounds a way to connect and express themselves. With the organisers busy preparing a diverse programme for 2024, Chris Newstead, the festival’s Director and Founder, took time out to tell us more about the ethos behind the event.

(Image: participants at the Music Workshop Company's 2023 workshop at Watford Jazz Junction.)

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

Posted on 16th January 2024 at 12:04

This month our blog explores the life and work of George Gershwin. Famous as a songwriter with his brother, Ira, Gershwin mixed European Classical music traditions with Blues and Jazz to create a sound that is particularly linked to his birth city of New York.

Despite a relatively short life, Gershwin's musical output was huge, including musicals, an opera, orchestral music and film scores.

The Model Music Curriculum suggests listening to two of his most famous songs “I Got Rhythm” and “Summertime” as well as “Rhapsody in Blue”.

This blog explores “Rhapsody in Blue” and suggests activities linked to creating arrangements.

Image credit: Carl Van Vechten, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons