matters Issue #06 Apr/May 2013

ST. JOHN’S PREP SCHOOL’S MUSIC MAGAZINE

ARTISTE OF THE MONTH Country singer Taylor Swift and her progress toward

fame

WHAT’S ON Charlie and the Chocolate

Factory moves to the big stage

DIDGERIDOO Australia’s spiritual

instrument

MUSIC LESSONS

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Editor’s MESSAGE

Dear reader,

Welcome to the brand new issue of Music Matters!

How quickly time flies, and we are now fast

approaching the middle of 2013. The choir is currently

busily preparing for a choir visit in June to Gordonstoun

School, a boarding school in the Scottish Highlands. I

recently received some very insightful feedback from

parents regarding the choir’s recent competition

performance at the Barbican Centre, and I would like

to thank everyone who has written in to express their

support towards our endeavours. I do carefully

consider all suggestions and I look forward to

implementing these changes towards our upcoming

choir visit.

I recently went on a holiday to Japan and had the

opportunity to watch a classical performance on the

koto. It is a traditional Japanese instrument placed

horizontally on the floor, with many strings stretched

tightly over a wooden frame. The strings are then slid,

bent and plucked with fingers, producing a most

mesmerising quality of sound. There were three koto

playing together in unison, and it was amazing to

watch these musicians perform in such tight

synchronicity. You can see a photo of this at the

bottom of this page.

As always, I would like to encourage you to be as

adventurous as possible when it comes to music, and

seek out as many different types of music as possible to

experience and learn.

MR. JONATHAN ANG

Editor

Music Matters

CONTENTS

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4

5

6

8

9

10

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Instrument of the Month

What’s On

Artiste of the Month

Practical Challenge

Lower School Corner

Teacher Feature

Into The Woods Feature

Featured Article: Music Lessons Make You Smarter

Young Musician of the Month

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DATA BANK

Continuing on our series of unusual notation symbols, here are four more uncommon markings

that will help propel your music notation knowledge to a solid Grade 8 level!

Breath mark

This symbol tells the wind instrument players

and singers to take a breath. This short pause

usually does not affect the overall tempo.

Double flat

As the name suggests, this symbol lowers a

note by two chromatic semitones instead of

just one.

Sforzando

This marking refers to an abrupt, fierce accent

on a single note or chord. The literal meaning

of this term is “forced”.

Giù arco or Down bow

On a bowed string instrument (e.g., violin) the

note is played while drawing the bow down-

ward. This results in slightly more emphasis.

INTO THE WOODSINTO THE WOODSINTO THE WOODSINTO THE WOODS was selected as the musical to be performed by

the senior school at St. John’s for their annual theatre production. The

music and lyrics are written by the great American musical theatre

maestro, Stephen Sondheim. He is famous for writing what most

people would consider as “quirky”-sounding music, with very lengthy

melodic lines in odd, unusual keys such as D-flat major!

Mr. Coleman was the director of the production, while Mr. Ang was

the musical director in charge of all music-related matters such as

organising the band and providing the music for all the rehearsals.

Our very own Mrs. Farenden was the costume supervisor, which

meant she was in charge of hiring and organising all the costumes, as

well as mending or fixing any of the props or costumes used in the

show. Miss Webster was the choreographer, which meant that she had

to come up with all the dance steps and movements and make sure all

the actors could do it very well. Even Jasmine Prasad from sixth form

helped by beautifully designing the cover for the programme booklet,

which you can see on the left.

All pupils from UT onwards at the Prep school were fortunate enough

to enjoy the musical when they attended the final dress rehearsal at

the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar.

Kate in 2nd Form playing the role of Granny.

Thomas from 5th form having a light-hearted moment with the show’s donkey, performed by Rochea and Jasmine in 6th form.

Artemis from 4th form playing the role of Cinderella, with English teacher Miss Jones playing the role of her stepsister Florinda.

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Of the month

Featured Instrument

Every month we will feature an instrument, which might be a common instrument,

or sometimes a strange and mystic-looking one instead! If you would like to see it in action,

simply visit YouTube and type in the instrument name, and there you have it!

If you would like to learn a new instrument, simply speak to your music teacher and they will point you in the right direction.

DIDGERIDOO A didgeridoo is a wind instrument first

developed by native

Australians about

1,500 years ago. It is

one of the few instru-

ments that are still

commonly found

around the world

today despite its

long history, and has

managed to stand

the test of time well.

The didgeridoo has

not changed much

at all since it was first developed. A modern

didgeridoo can measure anywhere from three

to ten feet long. Generally, the longer the

didgeridoo, the low-

er the key of the in-

strument. There are

often elaborate

paintings and deco-

rations found on did-

geridoos, which de-

pict scenes found in

Aboriginal Australian

folklore and tales.

Here is an interesting

fact about this instru-

ment: in 2005 a British

medical study found

that learning and

practising the didgeridoo helped reduce snor-

ing! This is because playing the didgeridoo re-

quires very strong muscles in the airway.

INSTRUMENT

#1 #1 #1 #1 I’m silver and narrow and held in your hands.

Just blow across me for you woodwind fans.

A piccolo’s my cousin, but I’m just a bit longer.

I bet you know now, or do you still have to wonder?

IIII’’’’m a ________________.m a ________________.m a ________________.m a ________________.

#2#2#2#2 I’m held in your hand, and sometimes I’m round.

I need you to shake me or I won’t make a sound.

I jingle and jangle with small metal pieces.

When you leave me alone, my melody ceases.

IIII’’’’m a ________________.m a ________________.m a ________________.m a ________________.

#3 If you ask for keys you won’t get a car. But they are black and white, on the bench sits a star.

IIII’’’’m a ________________.m a ________________.m a ________________.m a ________________.

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{ PRACTICAL CHALLENGE }

The loudest natural sounds ever made on our

planet Earth are most likely gigantic volcanic

eruptions, such as the one which took place in

1883 on the Indonesian island of Krakatoa.

To achieve a “gold” disc

status in terms of sales, an

album needs to sell 100,000

copies in Britain and 500,00

copies in the United States.

Sound travels 15

times faster through

steel than air.

Wind does not make a

sound until it blows against

an object.

DVDs are the same size and thickness as CDs, but are

able to store more than 13 times of data than a CD.

To crack a whip, the tip of the

whip must be travelling faster

than the speed of sound!

The irrational fear of music

is called melophobia. It is

a little-understood but a

very real physiological

condition.

Do you fancy winning something on be-

half of your house this month? Well, here is

your chance! The first person to seek out

Mr. Ang and perform this popular tune on

the recorder will be given a house point.

Everything that you need to accomplish

this challenge, including a fingering chart,

has been provided for you below. So get

started with the practice - there will only

be one winner!

BBBB BBBB GGGG GGGG DDDD DDDD BBBB AAAA

●●●● AAAA F#F#F#F# F#F#F#F# CCCC ●●●● AAAA GGGG

●●●● GGGG GGGG GGGG GGGG F#F#F#F# EEEE F#F#F#F#

●●●● DDDD DDDD CCCC1111 CCCC1111 BBBB AAAA GGGG

Just Give Me A Reason by P!nk

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TEACHER FEATURE In this month’s issue, we speak to Mr. Richard Bateman. Mr. Bateman is a

versatile drummer who teaches the drum kit at both the Prep and the Senior

school. He speaks to Music Matters and tells us more.

I am from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. I moved to West London back in 2002 to study at Drumtech

where I gained a Diploma in Popular Music Performance. Upon leaving, I played in various bands

around the South East of England whilst working a day job for the Royal Mail.

I gave this up in 2006 and went to Brunel

University in Uxbridge where I gained a BA in

Music. Shortly after graduating, I started

building up my roster of private students. I

then sent out letters to schools advertising my

services as a peripatetic drum teacher; this is

how I came to work at St John's.

In regards to private tuition, I am a big fan of putting

my pupils through their grades. Not only does this

enable them to improve with each grade, they also gain

a certificate and an internationally-recognized

qualification. As well as providing private tuition at St.

John's, I also like to partake in various additional

activities.

Firstly, the Rock school club at the Senior school. Over

there, we work with students to form bands, learn

famous tunes and then perform them live in front of an

audience. This kind of experience is vital for anyone

wishing to pursue a career as a musician, and for those

who do not intend to be a career musician, it is still a

great experience and a confidence booster.

What I do atWhat I do atWhat I do atWhat I do at St. JohnSt. JohnSt. JohnSt. John’’’’s.s.s.s.

I also enjoy playing the drums in both the Prep and

Senior school productions. My favourite one so far was

the senior school production of Little Shop of Horrors.

This was tremendous fun to play and some of the

school's pupils contributed drums to the production

themselves; making a great job of it!

What I am currentlyWhat I am currentlyWhat I am currentlyWhat I am currently listening to.listening to.listening to.listening to.

I am very much living in the past with my

musical tastes and enjoy the likes of the Beatles,

Led Zeppelin and The Police. However there

have been some more recent bands that I

enjoy such as 2 Door Cinema Club, particularly

their tune 'Do You Want it All’. The cool thing

about this tune is that it is all in an odd time

signature, with odd times can be jagged and

irregular to the listener. However, the band play

it in a way that makes the song flow and feel

natural as if it was in regular 4/4 - there is a real

art to that!

What his studentWhat his studentWhat his studentWhat his student has to say...has to say...has to say...has to say...

Mr. Bateman is a great teacher. He choos-

es songs that I enjoy playing, and always

makes sure we start each lesson with

some note-reading. He also has backing

tracks which we play along to during the

lesson, which is great fun. Max Cohen, UT

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IN LONDON

EVENTS

As half term approaches, Music Matters has compiled a brief list of events taking part across

London in May and June. Fun for the whole family!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 18th May - 30th Nov. Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine St., London WC2B 5JF

A brand new musical will be opening in London, as Charlie and the Choc-

olate Factory holds its world premiere during the summer. The surrounding

pre-show hype has already helped set itself as one of the must-see perfor-

mances of the year! While most of you will be already familiar with the

brave tale of Charlie and his chance encounter with a golden ticket,

many will be pleased to know that the musical will be an adaptation that

is much closer to the book unlike the previous two movie versions.

If you manage to get a ticket - preview tickets are selling fast - you will get

to see the crazy world of the chocolate factory unfold onstage with stun-

ning set designs that will immerse you in this magical realm. This musical is

directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, whose last critical ac-

complishments was the James Bond movie Skyfall, Shows begin at 7:30

p.m. and can be bought online at bit.ly/YzxF0w

Butterfly House @ The Natural History Museum National History Museum, Cromwell Rd., London SW7 5BD Until 14th Sep.

The National History Museum has opened its new Butterfly Explorers

attraction, which allows visitors to walk among hundreds of butter-

flies. There, butterflies and moths from North and South America,

Africa and Southeast Asia flutter around exotic plants. You will get

the opportunity to hold the insects and learn on how to attract

butterflies into your garden! There is also a warm hatchery with

windows through which you can observe butterflies emerging

from their chrysalises. So come meet these colourful and delicate

creatures before popping out to the outdoor garden complete

with a maze, a treehouse and of course - butterflies!

Half Term @ Tate Modern 30th May - 2nd Jun. Bankside, London SE1 9TG

Come join in with London’s arty crowd at the Tate Modern, as you

learn more about the peculiar works in its collection and create

some weird and wonderful art of your own. You will get to experi-

ment with different materials, use paper to create two-

dimensional sculptures and apply your own designs on coloured

glass. All half term activities are free to attend and suitable for

children aged five and over. Do not forget to collect your activity

pack when you arrive!

All information regarding ticket prices, dates and venues in this listing are correct at the time of printing. They

might be, however, subject to change. Please check all relevant websites for any possible updates.

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OF THE MONTH

FEATURED ARTISTE

Every month this newsletter will feature a musician, artiste, composer or singer for you to discover.

Remember, if you want to know more about the featured artiste of the month,

you can always find more on the internet, especially on YouTube!

TAYLOR SWIFT Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter who first broke into the music scene singing country music at the age of fourteen. Two years later, however, she decided to switch to pop crossover, having spurred on by her success with “Love Story” and “You Belong To Me”, both

songs which were considered more pop than country.

To date, she has sold over 26 million albums and 75 million digital

downloads worldwide. However, her musical beginnings were far more

humble, When she was twelve, she was shown by a computer

repairman how to play three chords on a guitar, inspiring her to write

her first song, “Lucky You”. After winning a national poetry competition,

she decided to focus her efforts on song-writing. Two years later, she

moved to Nashville, Tennessee, notably known as the centre of the

music industry in the United States.

DID YOU KNOW?

Taylor Swift’s lyrical prowess and melodic intuition quick-

ly propelled her to the top of her charts, Her music con-

tains elements of country, pop and pop rock, and while

she has received praise for her “sweet but soft” voice,

she has also been criticised when it comes to perform-

ing live. While some critics have described her voice as

“flat, thin and wobbly”, she has received praise for re-

fusing to correct her pitch with Auto-Tune. It was report-ed in 2010 that she still continues to take singing lessons.

In addition to her music career, she has also appeared

as an actress in the crime drama CSI as well as films

such as Valentine’s Day and The Lorax.

Here’s a selection of less-known Taylor Swift facts which you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy!

• Her grandmother was a professional opera singer.

• She grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania, USA.

• Her first hobby is horse-riding, and was first put on a horse’s saddle when she was nine months old.

• She has, over the course of her career, written more than 200 songs to date.

• When she was twelve, she started learning the 12-string guitar and practised for four hours a day.

• When she was only nine years old, she performed the American national anthem in front of a packed stadium for an American football game in Philadelphia.

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LOWER SCHOOL CORNER

Aileen has just been given a djembe drum, brought all the way from West Africa! She has been practising

hard to make sure she is ready to perform it in front

of her school during assembly.

The djembe is a wooden drum, and can be used to

make many different sounds. People in Africa say

that a good djembe player will be able to “make

the djembe talk”, similar to a real human being!

Colour this page in with your best colours. This issue’s

best entry will be awarded a special prize! Deadline:

7th June, 2013.

Cut or tear along dotted line

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YOUNG MUSICIAN

OF THE MONTH

Q: Hi Nitu, first of all, congratulations! I heard you scored a distinction for your recent flute exam,

A: Thanks! That is right - I recently sat for my Grade 3 exam.

Q: And how long have you been playing the flute?

A: I have been learning it since I was 6, so that is three years ago.

Q: Fantastic, Tell us more about your exam. What was it like?

A: I had to play three different pieces, perform my scales, sit through a listening test and demonstrate some sight reading. I was quite nervous before the exam! Especially because I find sight reading to be quite

challenging.

Q: Which part of your exam did you score the best in?

A: I did best in my scales, but it did take lots of practice!

Q: What made you pick up the flute when you were younger?

A: My brother, Kush, learns the flute as well, and my mum thought it would be good for me to start lessons with the same teacher.

Q: Do you play any other instruments?

A: Yes, I do. I have been playing the piano for three years now.

Q: And how far do you hope to go with your flute playing?

A: I intend to go all the way to grade 8, and sit for that exam! I would like to also learn a few jazz songs if possible.

Q: Would you say you come from a musical family?

A: Fairly so, I would say! Apart from my brother, my mother plays the recorder, and my cousin plays the guitar.

If you would like to train to be a singer or instrumentalist, speak to Dr. Rosswick and she will point you to a suitable teacher for you to have lessons within St. John’s. The

school offers various teachers who will train you up for different types of exams that

suit your strength, including ABRSM, Trinity and LAMDA exams. Who knows, you just

might be the featured soloist at the next school concert!

M U S I C M A T T E R S

Published by St. John’s Prep. School © 2013 Jonathan Ang

THE FLUTE FAMILY

Bass flute Piccolo

Subcontrabass flute

Double contrabass flute