Beaumont School Music Department

Orchestra resumes this Friday. Looking forward to getting back into it.  We will be in H1 because of the hall being set up for Oliver! Chamber Music: This will be focussing mainly on the strings we need to provide for the Jazz Evening.  We would like the following string players involved: Tamsin Sandford Smith Mae Lankshear Bethany Lincoln Lauren Cross Matilda Green Sadie Keaveney Michael Winter  Matika Flatau-Brown Zak Smith We will be rehearsing until 4pm on most Fridays.  The Jazz evening is on Saturday 25th February. It will be really good to get a solid string section together. Looking forward to it.

Year 11, During exam leave we expect you to attend all Big Band, Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra rehearsals. If you cannot make any of these rehearsals, please inform either me or Ms Doan asap . In terms of other clubs, we would love to see you there (it might make for a nice break from intense study). Thank you, Mr Guinane

Those of you who know Jonny, know that he is a total legend, and this just confirms it. Jonny had the opportunity to play a movement of a concerto with St Albans Symphony Orchestra (local adult orchestra) and he chose the final movement of Weber's Bassoon concerto.  Click here to have a listen. You won't regret it - it's fantastic. Well done, Jonny! 

I have just ordered the parts for Britten's Soirées musicales for next term.  Have a listen and enjoy. It will be fun!

Please be aware that SASSMA is on  Tuesday 31st March 2015 We will be leaving for the daytime rehearsal at at 10.30am and return to school by 3.20pm.  The concert starts at 7.30pm and you will be expected to be back at the Alban Arena for 7pm.  Dress code is school uniform and smart all black for 6th form.   If your parents would like to come, tickets are available from the Alban Arena box office. You must come and see us immediately if you are unable to take part. Many thanks D&G

Just to clarify what is happening next Friday.  Please arrive in the hall straight after school (2.40pm) for a rehearsal, some of which will be joint with the Luxembourg orchestra.  The rehearsal will go on until 5pm. Pieces you need: - Can Can - Marche Militaire - Night on a Bare Mountain - Ashokan Farewell Senior Strings: -Pachelbel's Canon At 5pm we will be entertaining the Luxembourg folk in the music block with snacks and Fanta.  Please join us. The concert starts at 6.30pm and will last approximately 50 minutes.  6th form please wear smart all black (usual rules about lengths of skirts, no leggings etc) and Years 7-11, your full winter uniform.  You may be required to bring in a stand but we will let you know as soon as we can. It should be a really good concert, so please encourage people to come.

Choir: The boys in Ms Doan's Year 9 desk... Orchestra: If you play like this, I will conduct like this...

Ok people, CEW is over and we are back with a bang on Monday! Click here for Wednesday's rehearsal schedule. Take ownership and be on it. Can't wait. D&G

Dear all, SASSMA this year will run on Monday 10th March. The concert takes place at 7pm in the Alban Arena. The concert will involve all members of the Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble. If you are unable to make the concert in the evening please let me know ASAP. Rehearsals for the massed choir will take place on Friday 7th March, at 0930 at Loreto school. I will be approaching those I wish to take part very soon (approx. 16 students). Monday 10th March: Beaumont Rehearsal 1130-1200. Massed Item Rehearsal 1300-1500 The coach will pick us up at 1100. You will need to leave lessons at 1050 and meet in Music. The coach will return us to Beaumont by the end of the school day. The arrangements for the concert are as follows: meet NO LATER than 1830 at the Alban Arena, dress is smart all black or full winter uniform. I hope this makes sense, I will let you know as soon as I know any more. Many thanks in advance for your support and effort for this exciting event. Any questions, ...

Hello people! The start of term is nearly upon us, and while I don't want you to think about school during your last weekend of freedom, you do need to know a few things about how the extra-curricular timetable will work this year. The Extra-Curricular Timetable A copy of the timetable can be found here , at the bottom of this blog post, and it will be up in the department when you get back. Please note a few change, notably that CHOIR WILL NOW RUN ON MONDAY LUNCHTIMES. We can't wait to start all our groups again. Auditions and the first week back No clubs will run in the first week back, EXCEPT ORCHESTRA which will run on Friday. The second week back, it all kicks off big time! There will be auditions for the Vocal Ensemble and Training Ensemble after school on Wednesday, for information see the blog post here , or come and talk to Mr Guinane on Tuesday. Big Band auditions will happen in due course. If you have any questions, feel free to tweet us @BeaumontMusic ...

Click here for the schedule. Be on it. See you Tuesday. Thanks! Mr Guinane

Please make sure you have read this and spread the word: Breaktime: Big Band to come and set up Lesson 4: Big Band Lesson 5: Orchestra Lunchtime: Vocal Ensemble followed by String Group Lesson 6: Choir, Male Voice Choir and Training Ensemble Lesson 7: Concert Band After School: Year 12 Choir 6pm: Guitar Ensemble followed by Consortium Orchestra Wind Ensemble will not perform this time due to some 6th form absence on the evening. You are required to sign into the Music Department by 6.30pm. Concert starts at 7pm. Tickets are £4/2, available on the door. Concert dress is SMART all black or black and white*, BLACK SHOES or full winter uniform.   *Girls, please wear skirts (of the correct length) or trousers, NOT leggings or skinny jeans. Those in incorrect or inappropriate dress will not be allowed to perform. See Miss Doan or Mr Guinane if you have any (quality) questions.

Friday 8th March  9.10am  Massed Choir members meet at the Music Department and leave for Loreto via minibus 9.30am Rehearsal at Loreto College 11.30am Return to Beaumont for the rest of school (and BBC filming, if you are in the orchestra) Monday 11th March (Bring a packed lunch!) 11.50am Meet at Music Department 12.00pm Go to Central Drive to get coach to Alban Arena 3.00pm Leave Alban Arena after rehearsal and return to school (unless you are in Philo) 7.00pm Meet at the Alban Arena 7.30pm Concert begins.  Tickets available at the Alban Arena box office Dress Code:  Orchestra: 6th form - everyone wear smart all black Vocal Ensemble: VE uniform Massed Choir: Black and white We will only accept quality questions. Ms Doan

We have had a call from the BBC looking for an school orchestra to film as part of their BBC Learning Zone series which is aimed at bringing classical music to younger children.  They would like to come to Beaumont and film the Orchestra (no sound!!!) including some close up shots of specific instruments after school this Friday from   2.50-4.50pm.  The school will be acknowledged in the credits and programme will be shown on BBC2 some time in the coming months between those popular hours of 3am-5am (but it will be available on iPlayer). You will need to complete permission forms (these will be available from Wednesday morning) and you can see that the time span could extend to two hours.  I think you will be required for most of it, so this is advanced warning.  Please do everything you can to make it free - this is a fabulous opportunity.  Come and see me if you think this is a problem.  We will still be rehearsing for SASSMA on Monday 11t...

As promised to the orchestra, here is the simply ravishing final movement from Ravel's Mother Goose suite.  Please listen and enjoy before Friday's rehearsal.

We will be starting this tomorrow so please have a listen.  It was written for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, so quite apt that we will perform it in the Diamond Jubilee year of another monarch!

Well done on a tough, yet fab first rehearsal. To help you along the way, you should watch these videos: The original version of Sheep May Safely Graze is the aria from Bach's Cantata BWV 208. You can hear Emma Kirkby singing it here, albeit at a quicker tempo:

There is NO ORCHESTRA tomorrow. Apologies for the late notice. Ms Doan and Mr Guinane are off-site lesson 7 and won't be back in time. Please spread the word and RT.

As promised, here is The Sorceror's Apprentice as it appeared on the Fantasia VHS.  It is simply fabulous so pleased watch it and of course, if you don't know it already, get to know the music.  Please go over your parts (ww especially), F minor is not easy and those accidentals are pretty difficult to read unless you have a closer look!

At tomorrow's rehearsal, I do not need trumpets, trombones or timps, so have a week off!  The rest of you, there will be a rehearsal as usual in the hall.  I do believe that Consortium Orchestra will come after this, but do check with Yannick or on the FaceBook group. Have a listen to this recording.  It's a bit slow but listen out for the swells in the music, as well as the varying tempi. Can we do it?! Of course. See you tomorrow.