String/Ceilidh Band Rehearsals

Lunchtime Recital 27 November 2012

Christmas Concert

We have a later date for the Christmas Concert this year-18 December 2012.

Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust

Information and application forms have come into school regarding this week long course. Fleur took part in the summer and had a great week at Dunblane. Information can be found on the staffroom noticeboard.

Lunchtime Concert

Ramsey is organising another lunchtime concert tomorrow in the auditorium.

Prince Charles

Yesterday, we had a great afternoon performing to Prince Charles and a group of invited guests in the church. Everyone sang and played beautifully and there were many nice comments from the audience.

Sponsored Walk Concert

Many or our musicians performed at out talent contest after the sponsored walk. Lauren MacDonald was the winner. Well done to all who took part.

Aberlour Bi-Centenary Celebrations

We have been very busy indeed preparing for performances which are part of the celebrations. Young people performed at the concert on Thursday evening along with all the pupils from Aberlour Primary School, the Church Choir, Reelers and Junior Reelers, and Ritimo percussion group and Aberlour District Pipe Band. Here are some pictures of our rehearsals.

Chliona, Jade, Lauren, Molly, Zoey and Ebba were busking in the village on Friday and Saturday.

Wall of Rock

Young people from Speyside performed at this festival in Lossiemouth in September for the first time. They were fantastic and well received. Davey Blackie, Community Development Worker, helped the bands and Isla prepare and introduced them to The Wall of Rock. Congratulations to Eddie Brennan-Smith, Dominic Calzetti, George Millet, Ramsey El Naggar, Isla van der Heiden, Lauren Thomson and Cliohna Thomson.

Busy Summer

Many of our young people had a busy summer. Graham toured with the Cairngorm Feis Ceilidh Band and worked for the Aberdeen Youth Festival. Fleur spent a week in Dunblane with the Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust. Isla performed with the National Youth Choir of Scotland and Ebba enjoyed a week with the Scottish Youth Theatre. The Moray Schools Orchestra filled the first week of the holidays and Matthew and Aileen took part. And Moray Concert Brass toured Germany.

New S1

We welcome our S1 pupils who have settled well and have been choosing instruments and learning how to play Super Trouper in a group.

S6 Leavers

We say goodbye to Katrina Adams, Graham Campbell, Yasmin Erginsoy, Stuart Marr and Andrew Reid who are leaving us at the end of S6. You have been a pleasure to work with and we feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with you all. You have made such a positive contribution to music in the school and we send our best wishes to you for the future. Thank you to you all. (Jazz Funk)

Music at Prizegiving

Congratulations to Lesley Nicol, Aileen Erginsoy and Graham Campbell for their high quality performances at Prizegiving. Also to our pipers: Graham Lorimer, Stuart Marr, Kayleigh Thain and Bruce Craig. Thank you all.

Mr Fryer retiring

Mr Fryer spent his last day with us before he retires. Mr Fryer has contributed so much to the musical life of the school and has been an asset to the music department. We will miss Mr Fryer very much but send our best wishes for a happy retirement. We will be keeping in touch!

Music Nights at Glenlivet Hall

Congratulations to Aileen Erginsoy, Julia Kenneth, Ebba Kingham and Tayler Dear for their performances at Glenlivet on Friday Night.

Advanced Higher Music

Exams will be held on Wednesday, 16 May, in the morning. Check the noticeboard for times. Good luck to you all.

Summer Courses

Congratulations to Ebba Kingham who has secured a place on the Scottish Youth Theatre course and to Fluer Jackson who has secured a place on the Scottish Schools Orchestra course.

Lunchtime Ceilidh on Thursday 29 March 2012

Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music-Exam Successes

Congratulations to Aileen Erginsoy, S3, and Fleur Jackson, S2, who passed their grade 5 piano exam. Fleur (distinction).

Percussion lessons

We have a few slots available for percussion lessons in schools. If you are interested, please speak to Mrs Main or Mr Mckay and let us know.

Easter Service 2012

Our fantastic musicians today.

Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust

We have just received leaflets for the Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust www.sscot.org.uk. This is a residential activity holiday for 9-15 year olds from grade 2 to grade 8 level. It will be held in Queen Victoria School, Dunblane on 9-15 July, 2012. If you are interested in this, pick up a leaflet from the practice rooms.

Aberdeen Academy of Performing Arts

S4-6: If you are interested in full or part time courses on Musical Theatre or Dance I have posted information on the Music notice board about an open day at the Aberdeen Academy of Performing Arts on Sunday 25 March. You are invited to see their studios, meet their staff and take part in workshops. More details can be found on their website: www.academyperformingarts.co.uk or their facebook page.

Cairngorm Ceilidh Trail

Look at the Music notice board for information about this exciting summer opportunity. Graham was part of this last year and he is happy to give you more information.

SQA PERFORMING DATES

Our performing exams will be held on Monday 5 March and Tuesday 6 March.

Burns Day at Speyside Nursery

UK Drummer of the Year

Best wishes go to Dominic Calzetti who is one of the last 10 finalists for UK Young Drummer of the Year. He takes part in the final stage of the competition on Sunday.

National Youth Choir of Scotland

Congratulations to Lauren Thomson and Isla van der Heiden who will be joining the National Youth Choir of Scotland this year. We are delighted for them both!

Youth Music Theatre

Posters and information about audition dates for YMT are now in school. Inverness auditions will be held on 13 February and Aberdeen on 12 February. Auditions may be booked online at www.youthmusictheatreuk.org. For more information, check the music department noticeboard.

Chicago

We have two buses running to see this show in Aberdeen. There is a limited amount of spaces left. Collect a letter from Mr Mckay from the music department. Deposits, please, by the end of the week.

Burns Supper

Wear something tartan. Please meet at 6pm if you are a piper to tune up. Everyone else is meeting at 6 30pm for the meal but if you aren't eating with us we will see you at 8pm ready to perform. The evening finishes at 10pm.

Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music

The following pupils have been successful in the winter diet of ABRSM exams:

Ramsey El Naggar: Grade 5 Piano (Merit)
Ebba Kingham: Grade 5 Jazz Saxophone
Faye Morrison: Grade 5 Theory
Lesley Nicol: Grade 5 Piano (Distinction)
Lesley Nicol: Grade 5 Euphonium (Distinction)

Congratulations to you all.

Trip to see Chicago

Mr Mckay is organising a trip to see the musical Chicago in Aberdeen in September. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is a list in R17 for pupils to add their name if they wish to book a place.

Burns day at Aberlour Nursery

On 25 January, a group of our pupils will perform to the children at Aberlour Nursery.

Music and Community Development

The Community Development team have met with a group of our young people. The first session is tonight in R17. The team will work to develop music for our young people and give them the experience they have asked for.

Dominic Calzetti-Top Ten Young Drummer of the Year

Congratulations to Dominic Calzetti who is one of the top ten young drummers of the year in the UK. Dominic travels to Leamington Spa on 5 February to participate in the next part of the competition. We are delighted for Dominic and best wishes to him for the next stage.

Performing exams

This is reminder that the visiting exam period for performing at Standard Grade and Higher levels is 14 February- 23 March 2012.

Dance Mix

S1 and S2 have been busy creating their own dance mixes. We have been thinking about how to structure our pieces and there has been some fantastic music created! Our starter activities for lessons have focused on music from around the world. We have watched videos of a samba band from Brazil, sitar and tabla playing from India and today we saw gamelan playing from Indonesia.

Burns Supper

Our first Burns Supper will be held next week on Thursday, 26th January. We have some musical items which include solo singing from Isla, Katrina and Lauren, guitars from Graham and Andrew and, excitingly, the reformation of The Speyside Fiddlers! Fiddlers has grown to include guitars, accordions, ukuleles and drums! Mr Mckay has been working hard with a team of staff to make the Burns Supper happen. Looking forward to it!

Graham at Celtic Connections

Graham Campbell is off to Glasgow at the end of the month to perform with the Cairngorm Ceilidh Trail at the Celtic Connections festival. This is a great experience for Graham.