Well done to all of our students who took their ABRSM exams last term. We had another successful session with a 100% pass rate. The exam entry window for the summer term is between 4th and 16th of May, with exams set to take place at the school between 13th June and 16th July.
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For all of you who have enjoyed these informal drop in piano classes for adults, over a drink and biscuits, we are delighted to confirm not only that the sessions are back, though also that Miss Dawn is making a return to Forte to take the class!
If you have never attended before and would like to kick start your piano playing (whatever your ability) please do give us a call to book your place. I was struck by this comment on social media by Vaughan Fleischfresser, a conductor and teacher at a music academy:
" The Music department (school) is an alternate universe where pupils are often unrecognisable from who they are outside of it. The shy become confident. The agitated become calm. The lonely become included. The quiet become heard. And the lost become found. Music reveals the real child". What a great summary of the benefits of learning music! Jane Coles Our Jungle Music class will be returning to Mondays at 10.00am soon so be sure to call and book a space- please ensure you book your space by emailing fortecardiff@fortemusic.co.uk Jungle Music is a wonderful time to introduce your child to the world of sound and music in a warm, nurturing atmosphere with other parents and their children. Our free taster lesson allows you and your child to meet our teachers, see our school and experience the fun you will have at Forte, with your little one immersed in a music rich environment of interactive musical activities which have been proven to have a positive effect on the intellectual abilities of young children. Best of all it is loads of fun for the both of you! Greater understanding of music theoryMost single-instrument students don’t have too much trouble understanding various musical concepts like bass vs. treble clef, harmony, rhythms etc. Learning a second instrument can help put that theory into practice in a way that playing only one instrument can’t.
Let’s say your primary instrument plays mostly one note at a time. Learning a chording instrument, such as piano or guitar, will open your mind to new worlds of harmony.You will improve your main instrumentLearning a second instrument that requires your fingers to work in a different way than you’re used to will will help when you are trying to master your main instrument.Sharpens your earsEvery musician plays music a little differently. Learning a second instrument will sharpen your ears and allow you to hear things differently. You will hear different chord voicings on piano, or actually appreciate what the brass section of your band is doing. It Might Be Easier Than You Think! Many instruments are very similar. A mandolin is basically a fretted, plucked violin. The piano keyboard is found on organs, accordions, electronic keyboards and many more. Brass instruments all have similar playing principles. As a second instrument, it 's possible to pick up the keys in half the time it takes to learn the guitar. If you’re a guitar player, we would recommend considering learning the keys as a second instrument. A new instrument inspires and creates new ambitions New instruments can bring new interest and motivation. Boredom can over time creep in when sticking to one instrument, especially with the musically gifted, and learning something new can spark their enthusiasm. If you would like to discuss the options for learning a second instrument at Forte please call us today on 029 2063 1340 or email fortecardiff@fortemusic.co.uk NOW AVAILABLE - The Forte Online APP works on iPads, Tablet, computers and phones.
Everything you need to make practice at home fun with Practice Buddy. Just visit our Forte App page and use the code in your practice book to gain access to great music to play along to. Make the most of your music books and enjoy learning from home in between your lessons. There is so much great music to choose from, so you might as well get started now. What you'll get:
TO REGISTER YOUR BOOK TODAY CLICK HERE - CHOOSE YOUR BOOK AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. Musicians as prominent as Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen have spoken publicly about mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and all can attest to the power of music to help with such problems. Numerous scientific and psychological studies have shown that music can lift our moods, combat depression, improve blood flow in ways similar to statins, lower levels of stress-related hormones such as cortisol, and ease pain. Music can improve the outcomes for patients after surgery. A recent study reported in Nature Neuroscience even demonstrated that levels of the feel-good chemical dopamine in the brain rose by up to nine percent when people listened to music they enjoyed. “Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.” The late, great singer Aretha Franklin Learning any musical instrument takes time and commitment and encouraging children to practise can be very difficult, especially with the many different demands on their time. At Forte we try to assist parents by supporting and encouraging regular practice.
The Forte Practice Tree is an excellent motivational tool for getting children to practise each week and to engage parents in their learning and musical development. At the beginning of each term, students are given a 1-50 practice chart to record their weekly practices. For every 25 practices they get to put a leaf, with their name on, on the practice tree in the reception area. When they reach 50 practices, they put a flower on the tree and get to pick a highly prized Lego man to take home! At this point, their teacher also gives them a '50 and beyond' practice chart. For 75 practices, students put something seasonal on the tree, such as a beachball for summer, squirrel for autumn etc. For 100 practices in a term, they get to pick a second Lego man and (for this term leading up to Christmas) a Christmas bauble on the tree. At the end of each term the names are removed from the tree and one is picked at random as part of our prize draw. The winner is rewarded with a voucher - this is usually for a family day activity to reward the whole family for their efforts and support, with a choice of activities from bowling to paintballing. Of course, the more practices achieved in a term, the more leaves are rewarded on the Practice Tree, which gives a better chance of winning the prize! The winner is notified at the end of term and sent their voucher via email. Please do use the Practice Tree as part of your strategy to encourage your child to set aside time to practise throughout the week – you’ll be surprised how motivating colouring a square in on a practice chart can be! We have been working hard on setting up our new YouTube channel which, going forward, will be available with all the video clips from our music festivals.
To date we have added the video clips from 2019 and 2020 music festivals (more will be added over the next few weeks, so please keep checking!) - you can view them at The Forte School of Music Cardiff YouTube site - click here. We are delighted to be finally sharing with you the fantastic videos that our students submitted for the 2020 festival, which we were disappointed to have to cancel, especially when so much work had gone into the preparations for it, though we can now bring you all of these wonderful performances via our new YouTube channel! |