The City will be working in partnership with theNational Centre for Early Music to launchVocalise, a new music programme that has beendesigned to support the NCEM’s Early MusicEnsemble – the Minster Minstrels – and provideyoung people in York with the opportunity toenjoy singing from an early age.

Delma Tomlin, Director of the NCEM, wasdelighted with the award. She said: “This is awonderful opportunity for young people to learnhow much fun singing is and to find out aboutmusic of the past at the same time.The launch ofthis vocal ensemble widens this opportunity tothose who have not previously had theopportunity to make music.”

The Minster Minstrels instrumental ensemble willcontinue its active life alongside the vocalensemble and is now seeking new membersplaying a wide range of instruments.

Set up three years ago to explore the music ofthe medieval, renaissance and baroque periods,the ensemble provides young people agedbetween 10 and 18 with the opportunity tolearn about the instruments, musical styles andhistorical events that would have influencedmusic from the past. Musicians are offered thisrare opportunity of chamber music coachingevery Saturday morning as part of the City ofYork’s Performing Arts Service.

The Minster Minstrels perform regularly in theYork Early Music Festival and the York EarlyMusic Christmas Festival, and in July 2006 theyentertained the crowd in between scenes at theYork Mystery Plays.

To find out more, contact the NCEM byvisiting www.ncem.co.uk and go to theCommunity and Education section.

NEW VOCAL ENSEMBLE FOR YORK

intune

Young people who are interested in singingnow have the chance to join an early musicgroup, thanks to an award from Youth Music tothe City of York Performing Arts Service.

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2006

Welcome to the firstedition of the NCEM’s bi-annual Education andCommunity newsletter - the space for you to learnmore about events andactivities.

In this issue find out aboutthe new early music singingprogramme, the innovativeTudor teaching resourceand what is happening aspart of the Early MusicChristmas Festival andChinese New Yearcelebrations.

a chance for you to get involved!

MELODY MONKEY’SMAKEOVER

Are youinterested in theTudors? Have youdiscovered thenew CounterpointTudor CD-Romteaching resourceyet?

The resource,produced by theNCEM with fundingfrom the HeritageLottery Fund, is aimed

at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. It islinked to the National Curriculum and uses a range of

subjects including music and drama to explore the religiouschanges that took place in England during the turbulentyears of the Reformation and the impact these had on themusicians who lived and worked in York Minster.

Now, thanks to the Department for Education and Skills, it is possible to buy Counterpoint with e-learning credits.Tofind out more, go to the Curriculum Online website atwww.curriculumonline.gov.uk for more information.

Released earlier in the year, Counterpoint has been praisedby users and media alike. Primary Music Today said: ‘Thisresource will draw pupils into the world of the Tudors asactive participants’ and Classroom Music said that from asecondary music perspective ‘it provides ample – and flexible– resources related to most of the programmes of study atthis level.’

Counterpoint costs just £30 and is available fromthe NCEM. For more information and to seesample sections of the CD-ROM visit:www.ncem.co.uk/counterpoint

E-LEARNING CREDITS FOR TUDOR RESOURCE

creative learning

Melody Monkey’s Marvellous MusicBox, created by the NCEM as anearly years musical resource, hasjust had a makeover!

A newly designed box, with newinstruments, a new puppet and a newSong Book, will be available in 2007.

The musical resource has provedextremely popular since it was launchedin 2002. It is designed to help adults withno formal musical training lead music-making sessions with groups of youngchildren.

The exciting new Song Book contains 20entertaining songs and rhymes, togetherwith five stories. Included with the newsongs are suggested movements andactions together with ideas for activitiesusing the musical instruments. All thestories have been specially written for thenew book and features the four animalglove puppets – Melody Monkey,Crotchet Crocodile, Octave Owl andForte Frog – toexploreconcepts suchas finding andusing our singingvoices, higher andlower voices,pulse and rhythm,and the sounds ofdifferent musicalinstruments.

Cathryn Dew, Education Manager at theNCEM, said: “It has been a lot of funcollecting and writing new material.Wethink that groups that are already familiarwith Melody Monkey, together withchildren and adults using the pack for thefirst time, will really enjoy the new songs,rhymes and stories.There are manyopportunities to use the puppets increative ways, as well as lively action songsand one or two for more peacefulmoments.”

Melody Monkey’s Marvellous Music Boxwith Song Books 1 and 2 costs £185 +VAT plus postage and packing.You canbuy the new Song Book separately for£25 + VAT. To place an order emailinfo@ncem.co.uk or ring 01904632220.

CELEBRATE THECHINESENEW YEARThe NCEM will be celebrating theChinese New Year, the Year of the Pig,with a weekend of activities for all agesduring York Residents First weekend (27 & 28 January).

The London Jing Kun Opera Association will puton a Chinese Opera Face Painting workshopallowing participants to have their faces paintedby professional artists and to learn about thecolour symbolism and face patterns used inChinese Opera. Chinese Community ArtistLinda Tomlinson will return to the NCEM to runa workshop teaching participants how to make aselection of traditional Chinese New Year gifts,and will explain the symbolism behind thedecorations, focusing on the themes of springand good luck.

More information about our ChineseNew Year activities will be posted on theNCEM website at www.ncem.co.uk

YORK EARLY MUSIC CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2006The 10th York Early MusicChristmas Festival will run from 7 - 11 December and promises amix of candlelit concerts, lunchtimeentertainments and workshops forchildren presented in some of thefinest historic venues in the City ofYork.Young people will enjoy thefollowing:

2.00pm Saturday 9 December

WELCOMEYULEGet into the Christmas spirit with thismedieval Christmas concert for children(and adults!), which will lead you throughthe old traditions of the Christmas period- from the appointment of the Lords ofMisrule to Twelfth Night.

The show will include all kinds of exoticinstruments including the shawm,recorder, hurdy gurdy and bagpipes! Bringyour singing voices and be ready to danceas you follow the Christmas celebrationswith carols and mummers plays!

2.00pm Sunday 10 December

THETRUMPETSHALLSOUNDDon’t miss this unique opportunity to see and hear trumpets of all shapes,sizes and varieties in this exciting show by two of early music’s renownedperformers.Trumpet player,Crispian Steele-Perkins, andharpsichord player Peter Seymour willpresent this entertainingperformance tracing thehistory of the trumpetthrough the baroque andon to Gilbert and Sullivanproviding the chance to hearexamples of musicfromthroughoutthe ages!

christmas and new year activities

Both of these concerts take place atthe NCEM.To purchase ticketscontact the Box Office on 01904658338 or www.ncem.co.uk

Did you play an instrument in your youth; develop an interest in music whilst encouraging achild to play; or have reached a certain age and decided to start learning yourself?

If so join jazz saxophonist Snake Davis in the second late music learners session run by theNCEM on Saturday 5 May 2007 from 10.00am - 1.00pm.The atmosphere will be relaxed andcreative. No grades required, just bring along your instrument and enthusiasm.The Snake DavisBand will also be appearing at the NCEM on Saturday 5 May at 7.30pm and tickets are nowon sale for this concert.

To book for this workshop or concert, please contact either the NCEM Box Office on 01904 658338 or book on-line at www.ncem.co.uk

Jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins will be working with University of York students Phil Merrimanand Raphael Clarkson on a two-year programme to deliver the ‘Funky Grooves, Jazzy Beats’workshops as part of the Aim Higher programme in North Yorkshire.This programme is aGovernment initiative to encourage young people to go into higher education and it will beco-ordinated by the NCEM.

CALLING ALL LATE LEARNERS!

JOINS AIM HIGHER JAZZ PROJECTDENNIS ROLLINS

DIARY DATES 2.00pm Saturday 9 December Welcome Yule

2.00pm Sunday 10 December The Trumpet Shall Sound

2.00pm - 5.00pm Saturday 27 January Chinese Opera Face Painting Workshop

7.30pm Saturday 27 JanuaryChinese Opera Performance

2.00pm – 4.00pm Sunday 28 JanuaryChinese DecorationsWorkshop

10.00am – 1.00pm Saturday 5 MayJazz Workshop for LateLearners with Snake Davis

For further information about any of the activities, events or resources mentioned in this Newsletter,please contact the NCEM on 01904 632220, email info@ncem.co.uk or visit www.ncem.co.uk

To book tickets, please contact the Box Office on 01904 658338 or book on-line at www.ncem.co.uk

National Centre for Early Music St Margaret’s ChurchWalmgateYork YO1 9TL

The National Centre for Early Music is run by the York Early Music Foundation registered charity No. 1068331.All details are correct at the time of going to press, but we reserve the right to amend the published programme if necessary.

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