BSO members

FW: iNotes May 2012

2012-05-16T18:12:02Z

Please click here to view the online version

Making Music iNotes May 2012, Issue No. 27

Contents

Welcome

News for all
Adopt a Composer
Legal update
Music hubs
Conference 2012
Torch Relay
Funding
Voluntary Arts Week
Member services

Group news
Performing
Promoting

Highnotes

Welcome

Dear Phil

Welcome to the May edition of iNotes, though as I write it feels more like November with the rain attempts to wipe out two years' worth of drought in the shortest possible time.

There's a fantastic range of information in this ebulletin, to help you flourish and develop.

I have written not just one, but three legal updates on our membership advice blog.

Barbara Eifler
Head of Membership

There is an easy overview of all the services we provide and which we encourage you to take up – after all, this is what your subscription entitles you to. And there are details of the funding available via the BBC Performing Arts Fund which could make a big difference to your group. We also begin to tell you about the new music education hubs, and how you could get involved with the conference or the re-design of our magazine Highnotes.

And what about stretching your artistic wings? You could apply to our Adopt a Composer scheme, attend our Young Artists' Presentation Concert, or become an Event Programmer on the last day of the biggest closing event of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on 9 September: Bandstand Marathon, which is run by Making Music and Superact, will take place on 500 bandstands, with up to 2000 music groups playing all over the UK. Could one of them be you?

Barbara
Barbara Eifler
Making Music Head of Membership

News and events for all

Adopt a Composer
We are now inviting applications from members and composers wishing to take part in the 2012/13 scheme. This is a wonderful annual opportunity for groups to ‘adopt’ an up-and-coming composer to produce a new work to be premiered on BBC Radio 3. Application deadline 13 June 2012. Find out more about the scheme.

Membership advice blog
Launching today – the membership advice blog penned by Head of Membership Barbara Eifler, updated monthly to coincide with iNotes and available only to members. It will feature legal updates, services news, and other useful information we root out for members. Read our latest legal updates.

Music education hubs
Arts Council England has announced the names of the 122 organisations selected to become music education hubs across England and to lead local partnerships from September 2012. Making Music will be offering advice to members on building relationships with the hubs. Read more about the music education hubs.

Conference 2012: marketing opportunities
Our annual conference brings together voluntary music groups from all over the UK and is the perfect means for your company or organisation to reach hundreds of amateur, community and youth music makers of all kinds and musical genres. Find out more about marketing and sponsorship opportunities.

Olympic Torch Relay
The Truro School of Samba, a Making Music South West member group, kick starts the Olympic Flame's 70-day journey across the UK on Saturday 19 May leading in a sports parade on the first day of the Olympic Torch Relay. We would love to hear from other voluntary arts groups involved in the Olympic Torch Relay or in any other London 2012 activities around the UK. Read more about the Olympic Torch Relay parade.

BBC Performing Arts Fund
We are thrilled to announce that we’ve helped to develop a new fund with the BBC Performing Arts Fund to support music groups again this year. £450,000 will be available across two schemes, one of which is specifically set up to support community music of any genre. Find out more about the Community Music scheme.

Voluntary Arts Week 2012
Voluntary music groups across the UK and Republic of Ireland get to showcase their musical activities from 12-24 May in their local community. We have members hosting a number of ‘come and sing’ and similar performance workshops opened to the public across the UK. Search our events calendar for musical events near you.

Membership services guide
Did you know we do that? To check all the services your membership of Making Music entitles you to use – or indeed to see what you're missing if you haven't joined us yet! – check out this easy to read summary. See what membership services we offer.

^ Top

Group news

Bandstand Marathon 2012
Groups have two weeks left to register and run a bandstand in the biggest closing event of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on 9 September. All members are encouraged to consider leading their local bandstand event; groups can but don't need to perform, and we’ve done all the hard work of getting the bandstands available. Expenses of up to £350 will be available at most bandstands, and training/induction will be provided. Find out how you can apply.

Young Artists Presentation Concert
Our 2012 Philip & Dorothy Green Young Concert Artist Award winners are performing in an exclusive presentation concert in London on 20 June. Making Music members can apply for complimentary tickets and book the winning artists at subsidised rates. Make your booking now.

^ Top

Consultation redesign for Hignnotes

Highnotes, our flagship magazine, published three times a year for members, is currently having a makeover. If you would like to comment on the draft design via email, please get in touch by 11 June.

Packed with news and information relevant to amateur and voluntary music groups, Highnotes is available online for you to read. Did you know that up to three members of Making Music groups are eligible to subscribe to receive a printed edition by post?

^ Top

Correction: We'd like to apologise for a typographical error in the March 2012 edition of iNotes, which resulted in our misspelling the word Renfrewshire. We're very sorry for any offence caused.

Contact Details
Making Music, 2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NW. Tel: 020 7422 8280

Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales no. 308632. Registered Charity in England and Wales no. 249219 and in Scotland no. SC038849.

rehearsals for next season.

2012-05-15T11:37:01Z

Sorry I have not sent this info. sooner. As follows, those with a ? are to confirm with Adrian, but for now assume that they are going to take place.

2012 Sept. 17th, 24th. Oct.. 1st. 8th. 15th. 22nd. Nov 5th. 12th. 19th. 26th. Dec. 3rd. 10th 17th?

2013 Jan. 7th? 14th. 21st. 28th. Feb. 4th 11th. 25th. March 4th. 11th 18th. 25th. April 15th. 22nd. 29th.

May 7th (tues.) 13th.

There will presumably then be the AGM on the 20th May.

Regards to everyone. See you tonight. Ruth.

Tomorrow's rehearsal - refreshments

2012-05-14T12:17:03Z

Sorry everyone, forgot to mention earlier, we will not have the facilities to produce interval refreshments at our rehearsal tomorrow at Langley Park, if you need any, please bring something yourselves.

Thanks

Roy

Reminders

2012-05-12T19:52:03Z

Maps for the next rehearsal and concert at Langley Park are on the website. There’s also an application form there for non-members wanting to play in the workshop that we would like returned by 21^st May and another for the summer barbecue that should be returned by 10^th June. Remember to invite people to the workshop, including the rehearsal – many respondents to the last survey said they didn’t know about workshops but would have liked to come.

We still urgently need more volunteers to help with ticket sales when Riet retires in September (particularly phone sales) and with car marshalling and general stewarding at concerts. Please tell a committee member if you know anyone who might be able to help in any way. Volunteers get complimentary tickets. There’s a new ticketing phone number (020) 3627 2974 that can be diverted anywhere, but without a new volunteer it will just go to voicemail, which will hurt sales.

Since the AGM is coming up I thought I’d remind people about all the new web site features. If you haven’t visited it for a while you might not realise it has changed quite a bit this year.

· The members page www.bromleysymphony.org/members now shows all future rehearsals, concerts and events in an “iCal” format that can be imported into Outlook or a smartphone. (The similar calendar on the front page just has concerts, for the audience.) Rehearsal and concert changes are automatically notified by RSS (“really simple syndication”, those symbols at the bottom) and can be viewed using a reader such as www.google.com/reader. (Again, the ones on the front page just notify about concert changes or “blog” messages for the audience.)

· The members’ mailing list you’re reading now is also a good way to be notified about changes and has an archive that can be used to check for messages you’ve missed and a form to subscribe or unsubscribe yourself. (Again, there’s another mailing list just for the audience called “news” on the front page.)

· There are social media buttons on each page to make it easier to “like” our concerts on facebook, tweet them and email them to friends. These are a very good way to publicise our concerts – please use them! Our last survey showed that only 24% of our audience are related to members, the rest typically heard about us by word of mouth. There’s a facebook group BSO.Tutti and twitter feed BromleySymphony for members.

· A new media gallery has been added to the site. Any photos, recordings or videos you have (particularly historic ones) would be most welcome. There’s also a sortable repertoire list of everything we’ve performed since 1960.

· If you register yourself at www.bromleysymphony.org/user/register you can participate in votes for programmes for future seasons.

· The web site can now be viewed on most mobile phones and is easier to print and search. It’s more accessible for disabled people (works with screen readers or without a mouse, text size can be increased, standards compliant). It’s on a more reliable private server powered by renewable energy and there’s a “disaster recovery” backup site. It can be edited by anyone on the committee. It’s automatically checked for broken hyperlinks and security problems including blacklisting and is optimised for search engines.

· I’m working on more enhancements, including an online booking system which is being tested at www.bromleysymphony.org/private/tickets if you’re interested (you can play with it, purchases aren’t real), but it’s still under construction and won’t go “live” until the end of the year. There are already buttons on the main site that allow credit card payment for tickets (and members’ subscriptions and patrons’ donations). I’m also working on a short video of the orchestra in action.

Note that the postcode for Langley Park was wrong earlier (thanks for noticing Judith!) and has been corrected to BR3 3BP.

Phil McKerracher
...@bromlesymphony.org">webm...@bromlesymphony.org

Langley parking

2012-05-11T15:47:03Z

Dear Member

At our last rehearsal I only had a limited number of maps for the new Hall at Langley Park where we rehearse for the first time on Tuesday showing the parking areas. Several people were still asking me for these after they’d run out so for those people – please see the attached two maps.

On Tuesday park in the area marked ‘audience parking’ on the second map.

Please bring your completed forms for the Workshop on 10^th June and for the BBQ on 1^st July with you on Tuesday. Workshop forms to Ruth and BBQ forms to me.

Thanks, looking forward to seeing you all in the new Hall on Tuesday and remember, no stands required.

Roy

From: Roy Banks [mailto:roy....@btconnect.com]
Sent: 08 May 2012 15:45
To: H Richard Watkins (rich...@gmail.com)
Subject: Langley parking

Hi Richard

Next week’s Tuesday rehearsal is, as you know, at the concert venue: Langley Park School for Boys. I have attached a couple of sheets to help you find it. The first is a general map of the area with the school ringed in red and the second shows where to park. For next Tuesday and for the afternoon rehearsal on the 19^th you can park where it says ‘Audience Parking’ but on the evening of the concert the Orchestra will be parking in the Girls School right next door.

Best wishes

Roy

Fw: From Adrian

2012-05-04T13:37:02Z

Thought you might like to go on this link!!!

Adrian

Forthcoming Cadogan Hall concert in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK

2012-05-04T06:47:03Z

Dear all

I have been forwarded details of a forthcoming concert at Cadogan Hall on 24th May in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK. If anyone was able to get to this you would be supporting a most worthwhile cause.

Thanks and regards

Andrew

AGM Agenda

2012-05-03T14:02:02Z

Dear Member

Please see the attached agenda for the AGM on Monday 21^st May at Bickley Primary School at 20:00.

For this AGM we have decided to invite Adrian to attend and he will be invited to present a ‘Conductor’s Report’.

Item 6 on the agenda is for the election of Officers and re-election of other Officers and Committee Members. The offices of Chairman and Librarian are being vacated at the end of the AGM by myself and Clare Wibberley respectively. Nominations for the offices of Chairman and Librarian should be sent to me or Ruth Brook no later than Friday 18^th May 2012. Members may nominate themselves (with the support of another Member), or they may nominate another Member (with that person's consent).

At the end of the evening we will adjourn to the Members’ usual rehearsal night watering-hole for a ‘debrief’.

If for some reason you cannot attend, do please email me and ask me to add your name to ‘Apologies’.

Roy Banks

Chairman

Bromley Symphony Orchestra

AGM/ Concert-day helpers/BBQ/ Workshop

2012-04-30T11:37:01Z

Dear Member

AGM

Just another reminder that on Monday 21^st May the BSO will be holding its Annual General Meeting at our usual rehearsal venue at 20:00. All paid-up Members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Car Parking Attendants

I shall be asking tonight if any of you have family or friends attending our first concert at the new hall at Langley Park School for Boys on the 19^th May who would be willing to help us out before the concert with directing our audience where to park - walkie-talkie radios and high-visibility vests will be provided. As pretty much the whole orchestra is involved in the opening piece (William Tell) it could be really tight for players fulfilling the role of parking attendants to be directing late comers to suitable parking bays then get themselves into the hall, get to their instruments and get on the stand in good time – especially cellos in this instance!! When we get into the hall for the first time to rehearse on Tuesday 15^th May, we hope to have a better idea exactly what the logistics of all this will be but we will nevertheless almost certainly require extra help.

BBQ/Workshop

Don’t forget to bring with you tonight your returns and cheques for the BSO BBQ on the 1^st July and don’t forget to let your section leader know your availabilities for the workshop on 10^th June.

Many thanks

Roy

Rehearsal interval refreshments

2012-04-26T14:12:02Z

Dear Member

At the final Bickley Primary School rehearsal at the end of this season on TUESDAY 8th^th May, Mary is looking to make this her final rehearsal as organiser of interval refreshments so I am asking for a volunteer to take this over next season (don’t forget, the very final rehearsal this season is on TUESDAY 15^th May in our new concert venue at Langley Park).

The job is not a particularly difficult or onerous one at all, simply a case of maintaining/replenishing supplies of tea bags, coffee, sugar, cups etc. (all to be claimed back from Orchestra funds), setting out the table, filling and switching on the urn before start of the rehearsal and organising helpers to serve in the intervals – adopting whatever method you see fit.

Please reply to this email or speak to Mary or me at the next rehearsal if you would like to take this on.

Thanks

Roy

Fw: Open Reh?

2012-04-25T14:07:02Z

2012 BSO Workshop

2012-04-24T13:02:03Z

Dear Member

Please see the attached flyer for our planned workshop on the wonderful ‘Symphony in E Major’ by Hans Rott on 10^th June at the Legacy Hall, Langley Park School for Boys. Do please support this, we are hoping that Paul Banks (no relation); who discovered Rott’s few un-performed and unknown manuscripts and introduced them to the musical world, will attend and hopefully be persuaded to talk on the subject prior to our performance.

Roy

BSO Barbecue

2012-04-23T11:07:05Z

Dear Member

Please find attached the invitation to the BSO Summer Garden Party (BBQ) on 1^st July 2012.

Mary and I have hosted this event on three occasions in the recent past – the last in 2006. However, I have not hosted a BSO BBQ whilst Chairman so I thought I would like to do so just once before I retire this year. It will be my last act as Chairman before handing over to Helen Griffiths. Do please make every effort to attend, we’ve plenty of room. Hoping to get quite a few ex-Members, regular dep’s/extras and friends of the Orchestra involved too.

I’ll print out the attached and bring some copies with me tonight.

Roy

BBQ date

2012-04-17T10:47:02Z

Dear Member

Following last night’s quick count-up of hands for available BSO BBQ dates, it looks like the most popular will be Sunday 1^st July. Do please get this date into your diaries now, I will issue a flyer with all details in due course.

Thanks

Roy

FW: BSO Summer BBQ

2012-04-13T09:07:06Z

Dear Member

I sent the below email about this summer’s BSO BBQ out to you all on 9^th March but unfortunately got myself distracted the next Monday 12^th March which is when I said I’d canvass for available dates from you all. I shall try my hardest to not get distracted this Monday 16^th April and will ask for a show of hands for your availabilities on the suggested dates again. I would love to get as many of the Members and your families to this BBQ as we can so it’s important we get the date nailed down as soon as possible. If you know you are not going to be able to attend this Monday, do please email me with your availabilities.

Thanks, see you on Monday

Roy

From: Roy Banks [mailto:roy....@btconnect.com]
Sent: 09 March 2012 16:11
To: BSO members
Subject: BSO Summer BBQ

Dear All

I know it is ridiculously early to be thinking about barbecues, however, Mary and I will be hosting the BSO summer barbecue this year (I just thought I’d like to host at least one barbecue before I retire as Chairman later this year) and I would like to choose a date that would enable as many Members to attend as possible. I know it is virtually impossible to choose a date that is good for everyone so I thought I’d get a few dates (all Sundays) out there early to help choose the best for the majority. It would also be good to get the BBQ in everyone’s diaries nice and early (so when Auntie asks you to come to her cat’s christening you can say “Sorry, we’ve got the BSO Summer BBQ to attend that day”) and it will allow Mary and I plenty of time to plan our summer too. The suggested dates are as follows:

24^th June

1^st July

8^th July (Men’s singles final at Wimbledon – large flat-screen available inside for those who couldn’t get Wimbledon tickets)

15^th July

22^nd July

Any Sundays later than those above and we’re into serious holiday dates. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, I will ask for a show of hands for each of the dates at Monday’s rehearsal so please check your diaries before then. Don’t worry, I shall not be making a note of names and holding you to it – it’s just to get an idea and get it booked in early.

Thanks

Roy

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South Bank Concert

2012-04-02T16:27:02Z

I attach a flyer for a forthcoming concert. If you would like tickets please contact me. Adrian Brown

FW: SC-T Open Reh.

2012-03-27T20:12:01Z

Dear Members

Janet Davies has asked me to pass this on in case anyone is interested in taking part – it sounds quite interesting if you are free and want a good play. Details and contacts below. Flyer attached.

Helen

Good players are needed for this exciting project: performances in the centenary year of his death of the works of the Croydon composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Would you like to take part in the following event? There will be a nominal charge of £8 per player to help cover costs. You are welcome to ring 020 8656 1732, text 07745 860519 or email me ...@hotmail.com">jda...@hotmail.com if you want to talk about it.

Janet Davies

Saturday 28 April, 3-6pm – Open rehearsal working on SC-T’s Symphony in A minor, op. 8 and ‘Zara’s Ear-rings,’ op. 7 - Rhapsody for voice and orchestra. The rehearsal will be followed by tea and an informal performance of the two works at approximately 7.30pm. Please contact Jonathan Butcher – ...@blueyonder.co.uk">jona...@blueyonder.co.uk if you would like to take part etc. Venue – Clyde Hall, Clyde Rd. Croydon, CR0 6SZ.

Full Festival Programme can be seen on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Network website: https://sites.google.com/site/samuelcoleridgetaylornetwork

Rehearsal etiquette request

2012-03-22T11:17:02Z

Dear Member

I have to admit to having allowed our rehearsal etiquette to deteriorate of late, something I should really be keeping on top of, forgive me.

I appreciate we are a non-professional Orchestra and that we actually pay for the privilege of rehearsing and performing. However, there is a certain basic rehearsal etiquette we really should attempt to adhere to, particularly when you consider the professionalism Adrian puts into rehearsing us. We really should appreciate how extraordinarily lucky we are in that respect!

Time-keeping

It is three or four years since I last wrote to the Members about timekeeping but I’m sorry to say it has lapsed with too many Members again aiming to arrive as close to 19:30 as they can. I appreciate there are some that have commitments and difficulties – family, work, great distance, delayed trains, bad traffic etc. – that prevent them from arriving ‘in good time’ to prepare to rehearse, however, it cannot be coincidence that so many arrive virtually dead-on 19:30 and then take time getting ready. It’s worth bearing in mind here that Adrian leaves his home in North London at around 16:00 - 16:30 every Monday to make sure he gets here at least an hour early in case he experiences unexpected travel difficulties – when have we ever seen him walk in at 19:30 or later?

For Adrian to start his downbeat at 19:30 as he is contracted to do, those of us who can should all endeavour to try to arrive ‘in good time’ to set up our seating, our stands, our music and our instruments then warm up, tune up and be ready for that downbeat. For most of us that would entail aiming to arrive at about 19:20 latest I would suggest. I shall go back to asking Bernard to request an ‘A’ a few minutes before half-past and Adrian to start conducting on the stroke of 19:30 regardless of those still milling around at the last minute. If you are a Member who quite simply cannot get there before 19:30, do please let me know so that I can make Adrian aware of your difficulties, he does respect the fact some have real problems – if he is made aware of them. I can be texted on 07801 901340.

Sorry to go on like this but we are regularly starting at around 19:40 again which means over the course of seven rehearsals for any given programme we are losing about 70 minutes rehearsal time – one whole Bruckner Symphony! The same can of course apply to the end of our refreshment breaks, however, I am aware it can take time for those at the back of the refreshments queue to get served and drink down a hot cup of coffee – but can we at least make an effort to return to our seats when we’re asked to, even if it means taking your cup with you.

Talking

Adrian has made it clear on countless occasions how much it annoys him to hear pairs or groups mumbling while he is talking to the orchestra. Many of you - like me - who have played professionally know that you wouldn’t get away with it with a professional conductor – well let’s not forget – Adrian is a professional conductor – this is how he makes his living. He really shouldn’t have to keep getting upset over it, he’s asked us all so many times! I know there are some of you reading this with your fingers hovering over the ‘reply’ on your PC’s waiting to point out ‘people in glass houses…’ etc. etc. – I am perfectly aware the horn section – myself included – can be as guilty as any other section, I will make a concerted personal effort and encourage my section to respect this too (section leaders, do please help out here).

Marking parts

Long before we start to rehearse any programme, Adrian will have spent hours preparing our parts - dynamics, corrections, rehearsal numbers/letters, bowing etc. When he asks that these markings can be distributed to all the other parts in any given section, can we please endeavour to get this done as soon as possible so that the very next rehearsal is not held up unnecessarily or worse still, causing exasperation for Adrian at the rehearsal on the day of a concert when rehearsal time really is tight!

The above is not aimed at everyone, I appreciate there are many who are reading this who already adhere to these points – I thank those people but please don’t write back to me telling me how good you are, this is aimed at those who are naughty!! (sorry, couldn’t resist it).

I get no pleasure from writing such emails , it makes me feel most uncomfortable doing so. When I read it back to myself it looks so stern and Headmasterly – it is not meant to. Adrian has taken me to task over these issues that upset him and he is right to do so. I promised Adrian I would write to you all in an effort to address them. Adrian makes every effort; and succeeds as far as I am concerned, in making every rehearsal constructive, informative and entertaining – I really don’t need to tell you how much effort and passion he puts into our concert performances - if we can together address these easily addressable points I’m sure he would appreciate this enormously. After all, we all want to encourage Adrian to move with us into Legacy Hall and to conduct us there for many years to come.

Thank you

Roy

Missing parts

2012-03-19T16:47:02Z

Dear all,

Managed to sort through music yesterday with the help of my hubby.

The following parts were missing-please can you return them ASAP.

Piano conc violin 1, desk 7
                  Violin 2, desk 5

Polovetsian dances violin 1, desk 7
                             Violin 2, desk 5
                          Percussion part

If you know where these may be then please let me know.
Thanks,
Clare

Langley Park School for Boys Concert Hall

2012-03-14T21:02:02Z

Hi all

As you know for our May concert and for next season we move to the new concert hall at Langley Park School for Boys and we have to persuade our audience to come with us. Some of you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. On Saturday I shall have a couple of very large prints on display to show the audience what it looks like in order to help them realize that it is a significant upgrade. Attached are the two images so that you can see for yourselves.

We were told rather late in the day, and not until after we had produced our new revised brochure and sent it out to our mailing list, that we are allowed to call it Legacy Hall only after it has been officially opened, which I guess will occur some time in the Autumn Term.

John

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John Carmichael Photography

2 Scotts Avenue, Bromley, Kent BR2 0LQ

Tel: 020 8464 5869

Website:

www.jc-photo.co.uk

RE: Rehearsal schedule 19th May 2012

2012-03-14T12:22:02Z

Yes – select the BSO calendar, then view the rehearsals as a list using View/Change View/List. Select them all using CTRL+A, copy them using CTRL+C, go to your usual calendar and past them using CTRL+V.

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/197038 for a more complicated but comprehensive explanation if this doesn’t work.

Phil McKerracher

www.mckerracher.net

From: Mike Ibbott [mailto:Mike...@tpbennett.com]
Sent: 14 March 2012 11:10
To: 'Phil McKerracher'
Subject: RE: Rehearsal schedule 19th May 2012

Wow that’s v useful! Can you copy all the individual items into your own outlook as opposed to having a separate BSO calendar?

Mike

Mike Ibbott Director t +44 (0)20 7208 2029 m +44 (0) 7803 513 759