News
Folk South West Latest News
Easter School, Live Wires Graduates & Education Conference
22/02/2010
Booking Forms and Leaflets are NOW ONLINE and available to download from the events page.
Easter School - 8th - 11th April
Live Wires Graduates (14 - 18yrs) - 8th - 11th April
Making Notes Education Conference - 9th April
All events are being held at Chartmarle, Dorset.
For more info please visit the 'Events Page'.
John Kirkpatrick – BBC Folk Musician of the Year 2010
05/02/2010
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Hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of people think, as we do, that John Kirkpatrick is the musical equivalent of sliced bread! Now its official and John has been awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year at the recent Folk Awards.
Eddie was pleased and proud to collect the award on John’s behalf, although, like everyone else at the event, we would have loved to have been sitting next to John and sharing the evening with him. Anyway when the result was announced the whole room erupted and everyone was on their feet in frenzied excitement and appreciation of all that this great musician has done for English folk music. Sadly there is no way of you seeing that or even hearing it as it was not broadcast in the subsequent Mike Harding Show but I promise it was an electric moment which goes some small way to demonstrating the great love and respect for this wonderful musician.
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New Release - 'Bud, Blossom and Bloom'
28/01/2010
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'Bud, Blossom and Bloom' is a new release from Folk South West and Stanchester Quire.
This is an 18 track CD of gorgeous seasonal songs from the South West of England, with whole Quire arrangments as well as some small group, duo and solo performances. The CD finishes a specially commissioned piece by John Kirkpatrick.
The CD costs £13 including p&p and is available from Folk South West on 01935 873889, alex@folksw.org.uk or Folk South West, Church Farm, Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6HL.
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Two New Releases - Out Next Month
20/10/2009
Next month (November) we will be releasing two new exciting items.
Stanchester Quire has just finished recording a CD featuring songs from the seasons, so think Carols, Sun and Autumn Harvests. The CD also features a piece commissioned buy the Quire from John Kirkpatrick. More details coming soon.
The other release is an Early Years Resource pack which is a collaborative project. This pack includes a training DVD, Audio tracks of songs and rhymes and an information pack to guide you through Early Years Education. More details out soon.
Jim Moray Concert - Change of Date
22/09/2009
Please note the change of date of the Jom Moray Concert from Friday 25th September to SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER.
Please see Events page for up to date info.
Live Wires Residential - Last Chance to Book
22/09/2009
The Live Wires residential for ages 10 to 14 runs from 29th October – 1st November and will take place at Chantmarle Education Centre, near Evershot in Dorset.
The programme will be a mixture of singing and instrumental workshops, with an opportunity to write your own songs and compositions.
Instrumentalists can join the fiddle/violin class, or be part of the band. Instrumentalists will need to play acoustic instruments and be able to play a few tunes already.
If you don’t play an instrument come along and sing. Everyone should find an opportunity to develop their skills further under the guidance of our expert tutors, all that is needed is an enthusiasm for music and a willingness to work with others.
The cost for the Live Wires course is £87. There is a bursary fund available for families on low incomes.
To book a place or for more info please contact us:
alex@folksw.org.uk
01935 873889
Folk South West
Church Farm
Leigh
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 6HL
Book now for Live Wires & Christmas Carols courses
24/08/2009
Bookings are now open for this year's Live Wires residential (29th October – 1st November) and Westcountry Christmas Carols weekend of concerts and workshops in Sidmouth, Devon (20th - 22nd November 2009).
Folk South West on Facebook
03/06/2009
Become a ‘fan’ of Folk South West on Facebook!
Keep up to date with the latest events, news, add your own photos and share your experiences of Folk South West online.
Sing Up! Small School Choirs – Free Training Phase two
02/06/2009
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Hot News from Somerset
Small School Choirs – Free Training Phase two
Following a fabulous Sharing Day on 6th March we are now ready for the second phase of our Small School Choirs project.
The format will be similar to last time.
The aim of the project is to train and support staff in your own school who run or would like to run a school choir or singing group. This group might
· be run as part of the school day or as an after school or lunchtime activity.
· may be all the school or just a few children, or anything in-between.
· may be run by one specialist teacher or several non-specialists or support staff.
As part of this project
an experienced music leader will make 2 visits to your choir or singing group. They will teach your group (and as many school staff as wish to attend - the more the merrier!) some songs.
we will be available whenever you need us to give advice on any aspect of running your group including supplying repertoire.
beyond the possibility of a small contribution towards the cost of a coach for the sharing day there will be no other costs to your school.
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Singing Times- special offer!
11/05/2009
Our highly acclaimed singing pack for teachers (book and CD) is now available at a very special price of £11 incl. p&p (reduced from £20)
" ... a superb resource ... , with informative and evocative pictures and historical background materials supporting many fine ideas for helping children grow in musical understanding. This is a way to learn not just about music but about life itself." (TES, 16.11.2001)
Take a look in our shop for this offer and other publications, CD’s and Concert tickets. You can purchase the pack online or feel free to call the new office on 01935 873889 or send a cheque to Folk South West, Church Farm, Leigh, Dorset, DT9 6HL
Moving to Leigh
06/04/2009
From 27th April 2009 Folk South West will be based in Leigh.
New Address- Church Farm, Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 6HL
New Tel- 01935 873889
Are you willing and able to lend a helping hand?
We will be moving during the week of the 20th April and we will be thoroughly grateful for any help we can get from our friends and supporters. Are you able to lend a hand on the Monday and/or Tuesday to assist with packing up boxes and preparing? On Saturday we will have a van and would be so appreciative if we could have some help loading up at Montacute and unloading at Leigh.
Please call the office on 01935 822911 if you can help at all!
South West Schools come together to SING UP!
30/03/2009
Singing sharing day in Yeovil
Folk South West are delighted to report the success of the combined singing event which took place in The Yeovil Baptist Church on Friday 6th March. The days programme was led by SING UP Area leaders Philippa Toulson for Somerset and Christine Page for Dorset. The schools practiced and performed the songs they had all learned, sharing their own repertoire and new material. The fun filled afternoon of workshops concluded with a concert in the Baptist Church to a packed audience!
The event was the conclusion of a terms SING UP work which took place in Somerset primary and Dorset Primary and Secondary Schools in which leaders have been running workshops to teach songs and encourage children and staff to sing more as part of their daily routines.
Over 80 pupils and teachers from Elmhurst, Neroche, All Saints (Montacute) and Tatwoth primary schools all attended the event, sung and worked together having tremendous fun! Working as a young leader, Alex Cumming has been regularly visiting Neroche school and working with the children to write a beautiful song entitled ‘I like to sing when I am happy’ which was a particular highlight of the concert.
Non Davies, the Director of Gryphon School Choir, has worked with Christine for several years developing the repertoire and singing technique of her choirs. She has a whole school choir and a senior girls group. As a result of the recent SING UP project, they put together a group of Young Leaders from years 7 - 9, who have learned new repertoire to share, and will go on to work with the local primary schools, teaching singing skills and repertoire. Over 40 ‘young leaders’ from The Gryphon School Choir from Sherborne, Dorset also attended the sharing event.
“March 6th was a great occasion! We had all age ranges (including our audience for the sharing) singing together and to each other. The Gryphon School Young Leaders were aspirational for the younger singers, and we all learnt a lot from the splendid teachers from Somerset that led their school groups. There is nothing like singing for getting people to understand each other and other cultures: music links you to the way other hearts beat!" (Christine Page)
We are astounded by the progress each school has made in this project and look forward to continuing the valuable and enjoyable Sing Up work. There will be new training events for teachers and music leaders across the two counties starting after Easter. Please contact DorsetSomerset@singup.org for more details.
Extending the Tradition- Residential Easter School
30/03/2009
Returning to the beautiful setting of Chantmarle, Folk South West are delighted to announce this year’s ‘Extending the Tradition’ Residential Easter School. Within the splendid Dorset location, the four days will be dedicated to developing your craft as a singer or instrumentalist. Through the delivery of group and individual workshops, seminars, lectures and a nightly folk club you will expand your knowledge and skills and indulge your self in the tradition.
Live Wires Fundraiser Concerts
30/03/2009
We are delighted to announce the 2009 Live Wires fundraiser concerts are to be held at East Coker village hall. The concerts will take place on Fridays from 7.30- 10.30pm as follows-
March 13th – A chance to meet Billy Bragg
April 10th – Tom and Barbara Brown in performance
May 15th – Ceilidh with Dyer:Cummings
June 12th – Concert with Martyn Wyndham-Read
Please keep your eyes pealed for more information and book early to avoid disappointment!
To book please call the office on 01935 822911
Folk South West needs Friends!!
22/01/2009
Since Folk South West started in 1992 we have helped change the cultural landscape of the South West of England.
We have worked with thousands of young people, both in and out of school.
Hundreds of people have benefited from our Workshops and Workouts.
We trained the country’s first successful arts-based Modern Apprentice, who took his musical skills to the acclaimed War Horse at the National Theatre.
We were central to the survival and successful revival of Sidmouth FolkWeek.
We ran an inspirational year of events celebrating the centenary of Cecil Sharp collecting his first folk song.
We have commissioned new songs and music, produced resources for teachers, given talks to WI’s, run residential courses for young people, run an annual ground-breaking Easter School, put on concerts, lobbied for folk music song and dance in the region, and much, much more.
From 2009 we will no longer receive Arts Council core funding. We want to be able to continue our work but will not be able to do so without the help of our Friends.
JOIN US NOW
As a FRIEND you make an annual donation of £15.00 (which can be Gift Aided so that Folk South West gains even more benefit from your donation) and you will receive
· a twice-yearly Friends of FSW Newsletter
· an invitation to an annual Folk South West Garden Party
· a discounted ticket price for our new twice-yearly A Chance to Meet … events.
As a SPECIAL FRIEND you make a minimum annual donation of £30.00 (which can be Gift Aided so that Folk South West gains even more benefit from your donation) and you will receive all the above PLUS a complimentary ticket for your choice of one of our fundraising concerts.
GROUP SUPPORTER is a special scheme for your dance group, folk club, morris team, business etc. For an annual donation of £50.00 you will receive
· up to 5 copies of a twice-yearly Friends of FSW Newsletter
· discounted tickets for our twice-yearly A Chance to Meet … events
· invitations (max 5) to an annual Folk South West Garden Party.
SCHOOL FRIENDS make an annual subscription of £50.00 and will have access to a special section of our website to download a monthly song and series of lesson plans. From time to time you will be able to buy a series of these songs on CD Rom at a special discount rate. Plus a twice-yearly Friends of FSWNewsletter.
AND all Friends will have the opportunity to contribute their expertise to Folk South West’s work. Tell us what you can offer and we will find a use for your skills and enthusiasm!
To become a Friend just download a copy of the Summer 08 Newsletter, fill it in and send it back to us!
Thank you.
Sparklers
22/01/2009
Sparklers is Folk South West's latest Early Years music project and is taking place in Taunton, Yeovil and West Somerset) .
The project involves music leaders, Helen Brayley, Jackie Oates and Wendy Atkinson who have been working in children's centres and nurseries with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The sessions involve lots of practical musical activities including singing, rhymes, playing instruments and movement. The children are engaged with a range of props such as puppets, scarves and a wide variety of instruments. Staff at the settings have been involved in developing their own practice and have received training as part of the project. There have also been several trainees who have 'shadowed' the music leaders and then had the opportunity to 'have a go' for themselves! A lot of fun has been had by all!!
Odcombe Christmas Carols
22/01/2009
Odcombe is one of around just 15 places in the whole of England that has a ‘living tradition' of singing its own Christmas carols. For more information please click on the read more link.
Eddie, Philippa, Ellen and Loreena's Gloucestershire Wassail
22/01/2009
Eddie, Philippa and Ellen feature on Loreena Mckennitt's 'Midwinter Night's Dream' album track 'Gloucestershire Wassail'
Click on the link below to listen to this fantastic joyful song!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZixYTNobgME
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