WANTED

PROMISING YOUNG STRING PLAYERS

MAGDALEN FARM STRINGS
6th - 12th April 2008


An exciting and innovative course, exploring the rich traditions of English music to be held at The Magdalen Project during the Easter school holiday 2008

The many aspects of the week have been designed to bring together promising and enthusiastic young players aged 9-14 (Grade 3-8 approx) for music making and fun:

• ensemble playing
• ‘getting to know your instrument’
• composition inspired by the English landscape
• improvisation
• exploration of folk, jazz, baroque and the Kodaly approach

Each day there will be three music sessions run by specialist tutors and afternoon games and activities run by Magdalen’s own experienced teaching staff.

Visiting musicians will include the internationally-renowned cellist, Adrian Brendel and our Patron, Colin Matthews.

The week will culminate with an informal concert for friends and family on Saturday morning.

Who will be running the course?

Brigid Kirkland-Wilson, BEd, MMus ARCM, Course Leader,/b>
Brigid performs regularly on both standard and baroque violin and plays with Bristol Camerata and Devon Baroque. She teaches violin, an exploratory violin group and chamber music at RCM Junior department, and violin and viola at Wells Cathedral School. An examiner for the Associated Board, she is also on the mentor panel for their CTABRSM course. She has coached on several Pro Corda courses.

Miranda Rutter was a member of Pro Corda throughout her teens and, having developed a love of traditional music, became a member of Jabadaw and Fika. She founded Methera Quartet – a string quartet which arranges and performs traditional music spontaneously and by ear. Miranda gigs extensively with Methera and other ensembles, playing both violin and viola. She teaches at traditional music courses all over the country including the Sage Gateshead and English Acoustic Collective summer school and has led workshops at the Sidmouth International Festival of Folk Arts and the Fiddles on Fire festival.

Martin Lijinsky is a dedicated practitioner of the Kodaly philosophy and approach to music teaching. He has lived and studied at the Kodaly Institute in Hungary for a year. He is Head of Music at Cheam Pre-Prep as well as teaching piano at Cheam Prep School and has recently acquired a new role with the Berkshire County Music Service teaching Kodaly technique. He is a trained Counsellor and, in this capacity too, has wide of experience working with children and young people.

General Arrangements
Players will arrive on Sunday afternoon between 4.00 and 6.00pm and leave after the final concert on Saturday morning. Our resident ‘house-mother’ and assistant will be in attendance throughout the week. A buffet lunch for players, family and friends will be available after the concert. Please see our website for further details.

The cost of the course is £375 for residential participants, £255 for day students, to include all meals and tuition. Magdalen Farm Strings players will be encouraged to raise some of their costs through sponsorship, though this will not be obligatory. There is a possibility of part or full bursaries for talented players.

Patron: Colin Matthews
All enquiries to: Sarah Gleadell, Administrator, Magdalen Farm Strings
The Magdalen Project, Magdalen Farm, Winsham, Somerset, TA20 4PA
www.magdalenfarmstrings.org
Email: info@magdalenfarmstrings.org or
Sarah
sarahg@themagdalenproject.org.uk

AS FEATURED IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - 2 July 2005

A unique family holiday where children camp in our eco-campsite with our staff and parents stay close by in our beautifully converted centre. A holiday for the whole family.

THE FAMILY HOLIDAY IN 2005
The weather was wonderful, the children had adventures and played as though they had known each other for years and the parents, well just relaxed!
By the end of the week the address had been exchanged and rumours of a reunion next year were already being sketched. Packing cars for holiday has always been an art, but with bird boxes, solar ovens, willow sculptures and veggie boxes to add to the personal belongings on the return journey home, depart time was somewhat delayed.
If you're thinking of next year here are some of the comments from this years nine families who spent a week enjoying the freedom and adventure here at Magdalen:

...'exceeded expectations, a wonderful balance of organised adventure and free time for the children meant the adults could relax.'

'Thank you very much for a wonderful experience for all the family. This is a wonderful place.'

'Wonderful atmosphere, great food and company, fantastic activities.'

‘The Magdalen team are absolutely great and I especially appreciate that they went out of their way to be kind and helpful making our holiday very special'

" This really is a lovely place which the children really enjoyed. Erin said that the campfire night was the best night of her life and Jen gained so much confidence as the week went on. I'm so glad we came."
Tim, Erin and Jen - family holiday week 2004...
it was so good they came back in 2005

If you think this sort of inspiring holiday for all the family, with both adventure and relaxation in a beautiful setting and only 20 minutes from the Jurassic coastline is for you then do not hesitate to contact us.

Monday 18th ~ Friday 22nd August 2008

A week of discovery, mud and friendship for Kids aged 8 to 12.

Learn how to survive in the wild wood, building shelters and cooking on fires, digging your own clay and firing a pot, helping on and around the farm, group challenges, sculpture, and an opportunity to cook on an open fire.

Each day will be fun packed from 9:30am - 4pm.
Bring a packed lunch and wellies

Charges are £25 per child per day with discounts for 3 or more sessions.

For more information please call Lisa on 01460 30144 or e-mail lisah