Category Archives: blog

Music news and updates from WedgwoodMusic.com for orchestral, ensembles and music for schools.

Pam Wedgwood’s 2018 Musical Mini Breaks on the Isle of Wight

 

 

Have you played the piano in the past and you feel that this is the right time to rekindle your love of the instrument, but don’t know how to start?

Are you are a beginner and feel that you need a bit of inspiration?

Or have you have never played the piano before but would love to start?

Maybe you played as a child but now would like to start again? 

…Then look no further!

Introducing ‘It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano, a fun weekend of piano playing  in 2018 for adult beginners or learners.

More experienced players up to grade 4-5 are also welcome.

When

‘It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano’ runs from 11am Saturday 21st April to 3:30pm Sunday 22nd April at 3.30pm after an informal concert.

Where

Hill View House, Bedbury Lane, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, PO40 9PD. Click here for a map.

Accommodation

If you are coming from the mainland I can accommodate you for the course and you have the option of arriving on Friday evening. Accommodation is limited, so it’s whoever shouts first!

    

What the course will offer

  • Piano and musicA chance to meet other pianists and chat pianos
  • A 30-minute individual lesson for every attendee
  • Beginner taster sessions to get you going
  • Playing duets and Trios
  • A session on how to practice
  • Masterclass with Pam Wedgwood
  • An introduction to new repertoire
  • An introduction to improvising!
  • A chance to buy new music at a discounted rate
  • Open forum
  • A free copy of your choice from Pam’s collection of piano books
  • There will be an informal gathering at the end of the course where you will be able to play what you have learnt on the course (not compulsory!)

Course prices

To attend the 2-day course without accommodation (this will include refreshments during the 2 days and an evening meal on Saturday evening (including wine and soft drinks): £150

To attend the course with accommodation and breakfast plus all meals: £200

Pam WedgwoodA bit about me

I have been involved with teaching the piano for the last 30 years and hopefully inspired many pianists to enjoy this wonderful instrument .

I have written over 200 educational music books and have been fortunate enough to have travelled the world giving workshops to teachers and pupils.

Playing the piano is a skill for life.

As well as being an enjoyable experience it can also help with many coordination problems we may find in later life. Stimulating the left and right sides of the brain is hugely beneficial!

Playing the piano will also help with many things and you will also feel an amazing sense of achievement in trying to play.

It will open up a whole new world to you, so come on, give it a try!

I do hope to see you on the course. Please book a place soon before it gets booked up – click here to download the booking form.

Building Bridges – After Hours Book 4

“Building Bridges”

Pam WedgwoodWriting music has been part of my life for the last 30 years and I cannot imagine how life would have been without it.

I have been able to use my writing as a way of dealing with all the ups and downs that life presents and (thank you God!) I continue to do so.

It has kept me humorous, hopefully kept my brain in gear and I am thoroughly enjoying my composing life (although sometimes on a bad day I feel as if I am decomposing!)

I would recommend writing music to anyone out there – have a go at expressing yourself through the power of composition at any level, as it is great therapy.

Charley

Charley (and her mum)

Recently, I’ve had to face some health issues and I am currently undergoing a course of radiotherapy for my Lymphoma which rises up every few years or.
Thankfully, in a few days time, a little friend is coming into my life in the form of a puppy. She’s called Charley and I’m so excited!

I know she will also help me to overcome my cancer and the combination of music and puppy will be a wonderful way to go forwards. I am confident that it will be cured very soon and I will be back to normal (whatever that is!)

With all this in mind, I would like to share with you a piece I wrote several years ago when I was going through another difficult health period.
Thanks to the music, I never lost focus and always hoped and prayed that everything would work out – and it did, with more amazing results than I could have possibly hoped for.

Building Bridges from “After Hours 4“ (Faber music) is my musical attempt at putting everything back together again.

If you are facing your own personal challenges at the moment, keep believing and listening!

Music is a Great Healer

I hope you enjoy this track, which is from a great CD called “Light Reflections” by Corinne Marsh who is a wonderful musician. Thank you Corinne. It is available from www.corinne-marsh.com

More great music on the way!

violin

To all Wedgwood fans around the world – there is more great music on the way!

Coming soon:

  • New wind quintet ‘Evolving’ (with optional percussion and harp parts)
  • New Rhythm Riffs for mixed beginner ensemble and string orchestra
  • ‘Rhythm Riffs Go Up-Beat’
  • ‘Rhythm Riffs Go Latin’

Keep looking on wedgwoodmusic.com for lots more musical inspiration!

Arabian Youth Orchestra Play ‘The Captain & The Purple Lady’

Captain and Purple Lady coverLast week, the Arabian Youth Orchestra conducted by Peter Currie performed Pam Wedgwood’s orchestral work ‘The Captain & the Purple Lady‘.

Whilst on holiday in Cornwall, Pam spied a wooden bench looking out to the sea with the inscription:

“To the Captain and the Purple Lady. The sun is always over the yardarm”

Perhaps the Captain must have gone down with his boat “The Purple Lady”?

Inspired by this, Pam composed a piece for full orchestra using this title – a journey on the high seas. The piece is written especially for youth orchestras at about grade 6+ level.

The Arabian Youth Orchestra (AYO) offers an exciting opportunity for talented young orchestral musicians from the region who would like to experience playing in an ensemble of the highest calibre.

 

A Music Workshop in Wales!

By Pam Wedgwood

I have had the good fortune to travel to many places with my work but a recent trip to Wales stands out as one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences.

photo1Tucked away in South Gower there is a little village called Penmaen, a beautiful village in the national park complete with wild ponies. Kate who is a cordon bleu cook runs cookery courses from her beautiful home and also has a keen interest in the piano. I came to meet Kate through a pupil of mine and she decided to have a lesson and participate in one of my adult music evenings here in Surrey. She has persuaded 12 other friends to join her piano club where they meet every 2 months or so. They are people from every walk of life who have resurrected their piano playing skills and now enjoy each others company in the friendly atmosphere of photo2Kate’s home.

The workshop started at 10.30 and everyone played their prepared pieces whilst in-between I offered tips on other aspects of music. Everyone played well and quite a few duets were performed, which always good fun and provides great entertainment!

Everyone was very enthusiastic and made my morning very rewarding. It’s great to see how this group of people can get so much out of their love of music making together. Maybe there are some of you out there who are brave enough to set up your own piano club?!

Pam Wedgwood

PS. I have never tasted such amazing food – I would recommend a visit to Kate’s web site.
www.lamusechezkate.com

photo4 photo3