United World College Maastricht

Music School. Info Bulletin no.2

Lessons November 2nd 2009 As mentioned in the school calendar November 2nd 2009 will be a lesson free day for all the students (Primary and Secondary School), however the lessons of the Music School will continue on this day! There will be no lessons for Music Wonderland on Monday November 2nd 2009! New members of Staff United World College Maastricht Music School We are happy to inform you the following musicians have joined the staff of the United World College Maastricht: Inti de Maet Guitar Sara Noordkamp Cello Edith van Rijswijck Voice At the moment we are in the process of employing a third guitar teacher. Students who are placed on the waiting list will be informed as soon as possible. Invoices Due to the large number of registrations all invoices (lesson fee 1st term/registration fee) will be sent to you in November 2009 Important dates November 2nd 2009 Normal lessons Music school (no Music Wonderland!) December 16th 2009 Student concert evening ( Date is changed!!!) December 18th 2009 Christmas Assembly Secondary school. Canceling of lessons etc. If you would like to cancel lessons or change group/course always contact one of the coordinators (Mrs. Tine Vandewege or Mr. Ludo Roijen) to see if it is possible.

NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!

United World College Maastricht Choir Singing together at the United World College Maastricht!

On Tuesday November 17th 2009, we will start a UWCM choir. The choir is part of the UWCM Music School, and is open to all members of the school regardless of experience or age. Everyone is welcome from Kindergarten to IB, and also staff and parents - all that you need is enthusiasm! The Primary School children will get an choir introduction on Tuesday November 10th 2009 from 15:15 – 16:00 together with Mrs. Tine Vandewege & Ms. Catherine Copeland. At the core of the choir we have the Whole School Group. Alongside we will also have two further groups: Shout! and Ensemble (our first task will be to have a competition to find some good names). The aim is to allow each member of the choir to participate in the groups that sing the sort of music he or she really likes and is at a level that is challenging, but not disheartening. So the groups are not necessarily separated by age, but by the type of singing. Shout! will sing more “fun“ songs (more unison singing and action songs, perhaps appealing more to the younger members of the choir), and Ensemble will concentrate on a more chamber repertoire from early music to minimalism, improvisation and jazz. So the typical choir practice will run like this: 15.30-15.45 We will start with some whole group warm-up exercises and singing. 15.45-16.15 We will split into two groups, Shout! and Ensemble. Typically Ensemble would

be given a challenge- e.g ‘work out an arrangement together of this song to perform for the whole group at 16.15.

16.15-16.30 We will come together to perform to each other and to sing with each other before the younger children leave at 16.30.

16.30-17.30 ‘Ensemble’ will continue. The rehearsals will take place at the UWCM Secondary School, room 0.10 There will be an opportunity for older children to help with Shout! to help them developing their leadership skills, and in both the whole group and Ensemble there will be opportunities to improvise and to develop arrangements of songs and music. Also, we will use video and audio clips to look at different styles of singing and performance to develop our own skills. And we will perform regularly, both in school and in the local community, for fun and to raise money for the UWC Music School and for local charities. The choir will be conducted by Mr. David Townend. David Townend has two children in the primary school (Lottie year 6 and Alice year 2), he works in Health Law in Maastricht University. Whilst he has never directed a choir before, he has sung in a variety of different groups since the age of seven from church choir and Cathedral music, trough symphonic choral works and chamber groups, to ‘light’ music and jazz.