 Ronald McDonald House - Donations Box
Thank you to those who have kindly donated food to pass on to our chosen charity Ronald McDonald House, Cardiff. We will be keeping this going through 2022 so please bring what you can and do not hesitate to ask for further information about this amazing charity. and The Ice Walk Challenge 2022 Why not support the charity by signing up for the above daredevil challenge. Take on the ultimate challenge by walking over broken glass to keep families close when their child is in hospital. The event is being held in Cardiff on Thursday 10 February 2022.
0 Comments
 Christmas Holidays:
Tuesday 21st December - Sunday 2nd January Please note that we are open on Monday 20th December, making up lessons from Monday, 30th September, when we were closed. Please remember that we reopen for lessons in the new year on Monday 3rd January. Lessons for this date will not be owed or rescheduled if you are unable to attend.  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! Meet the Team - Finn
Hello! My name is Finn and I am the part time school administrator here at Forte. I am originally from Ireland but moved to Cardiff in 2016 to pursue my bachelor's degree in music composition at the Royal Welsh College. Lockdowns have hit the music industry hard when it was already a tricky profession to pursue, I consider myself incredibly lucky to have remained a practicing music score editor, arranger and classical composer when others have been completely forced out of the industry. I have worked part time for Forte since March 2021. It has been great meeting all of the excellent teachers, parents and eager students just starting their musical journey whether it be passion or a hobby. I am hopeful that classical music will flourish post-pandemic and that young people especially will be able to find fulfilling careers and opportunities in music. Who’s your favourite composer?: The first composer I vividly remember being a huge influence on me was Franz Liszt, an incredible pianist (arguably the greatest of all time), showman and composer from Hungary. If I could recommend a work, it would be Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.04. I am also a big fan of composers such as Mahler, Schoenberg, Berg and Rachmaninov. Who’s been the biggest musical influence in your life so far?: This is a very difficult question as I try my best to keep an open mind to a wide range of music. I began my career with blues (artists such as B.B King, little Richard and Fats Dominoe) and Irish music (Traditional music, the Dubliners, Pogues and Sinead O'Connor) and it was not until I was about 16 when I discovered a passion for classical music. I would say my biggest influence in music was my uncle, a Irish folk singer songwriter who taught me my first guitar chords and encouraged me to pursue composition. The only genre of music I can definitively say I dislike (and believe me I have tried) is Reggae... (sorry!) What’s your favourite piece of music?: In my opinion, Mahler's Symphony No.02 is one of the greatest works ever written and I would encourage anyone who has not seen it to go if they can (particularly the Bernstein . The choral finale is some of the most beautiful music ever penned). This piece along with works such as Rachmaninov's piano concerto No.02, Janacek's Cunning Little Vixen, Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No.01 and Berg's Songs for Soprano and Orchestra are some of my favourite works. What style of music do you relax to?: As I spend most of my life either editing, arranging or composing music so the absolute last thing I want to do is relax to it! And if I am honest, I am not great at relaxing. It often makes me feel a bit guilty! So, I try to occupy my off-time with things like hiking, visiting new places and getting out of the house in general. Who’s your favourite performer?: The best live gig I have been to was Noel Gallagher and I am fan of his music, as well as bands like biffy Clyro (Great live show!). But my favourite performer of all time had to be John Mayer. I was a big fan of his growing up and he has a fantastic blues trio. He is in my opinion one of the best electric guitarists alive today.  Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? What about the gift of music? We offer gift vouchers for private and class lessons so get in touch to buy yours now and make someone's 2022 a musical year!
 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 Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful students and customers. We look forward to seeing you all in 2022 for more music making!  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! |
|
