Autumn term 2020
We plan to return to in-person provision at our Music Centre (based in Harris Academy Morden) as soon as this can be done safely. We are pleased to confirm that instrumental lessons at our Crown Lane Studio Percussion School will resume in-person from September.
In the meantime, following a successful summer term of online tuition and Music Centre activities, our Autumn Term groups/ensembles will remain online to ensure that Merton’s young musicians can keep making music.
Autumn Timetable
All sessions are 50 minutes, unless stated otherwise.
Zoom links will be posted for each group before the beginning of term and you will be emailed the password(s) for your session(s).
MONDAYS
In order to progress beyond ABRSM Grade 5 on your instrument you will need to pass Grade 5 Theory. This is an ideal time to match your performance skills by engaging in one of our online theory classes
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Zoom ID:
816 3383 2690
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81633832690
In order to progress beyond ABRSM Grade 5 on your instrument you will need to pass Grade 5 Theory. This is an ideal time to match your performance skills by engaging in one of our online theory classes online theory classes.
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Zoom ID:
850 3646 6993
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85036466993
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Zoom ID:
825 5411 3578
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82554113578
In order to progress beyond ABRSM Grade 5 on your instrument you will need to pass Grade 5 Theory. This is an ideal time to match your performance skills by engaging in one of our online theory classes online theory classes.
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Meeting ID:
820 7548 1952
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82075481952
Senior Guitar Ensemble is for students Grade 3 standard and above. The repertoire is varied and children are encouraged to challenge themselves.
All guitar groups are invited to play at the Royal Albert Hall in a massed guitar ensemble, last year they performed Pirates of the Caribbean. Members of this group also have the opportunity to go on tour.
Meeting ID:
864 6508 0402
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86465080402
Have you ever tried to improvise a solo on a jazz tune but haven’t known which notes or scales to choose, or what all those strange symbols all over the music mean? This group is for players who would like to develop their understanding of how jazz music works, of the chord sequences that jazz musicians like to improvise on, the scales that they use and how to create some of the interesting sounds that give jazz its identity. We’ll learn about these ingredients by learning lots of great tunes, and we’ll try improvising with these materials on our instruments, helping us to develop in to much more confident and fluent improvisers.
Zoom ID:
899 6315 3463
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89963153463
This is a group for players who have already had some experience playing in jazz groups such as Jazz Works, MYJO or Messengers and want to practice their jazz and improvisation skills. We’ll develop our playing by learning lots of new tunes, we’ll try playing in a variety of jazz styles and listen to some great music together.
Zoom ID:
836 0345 4120
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83603454120
WEDNESDAYS
For complete beginners. Learn a new skill in lockdown! Dig out your old descant recorder or you can purchase one for less than £10 on Amazon. Learn how to read musical notation and understand basic theory as well as play some tunes to entertain your family. No previous musical experience needed.
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Meeting ID:
829 5701 9942
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82957019942
For drummers and percussionists, join our ON-line DRUM-line for a fun mix of technical workouts and rudimental study, alongside the development of a piece to be pre-recorded for video to be presented by MMF at the end of term. All abilities from Grade 1 and up are welcome as all the playing is adaptable to meet everyone’s skill level. Apart from technical work, we will work on some basic improvisation techniques for drummers.
All you need is:
- A pair of drum sticks and a drum or practice pad
- Ideally have a way to record yourself along with a click track. This requires having access to two devices - one to listen to the click track and one to do the filming. (**this process will be developed as we go and alternatives will be devised where needed)
Meeting ID:
827 3012 4641
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82730124641
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Meeting ID:
869 6728 0649
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86967280649
We hope you are keeping up with your practice and remembering to do your basic warm- up exercises every day. It's been a good few months since our last concert at New Wimbledon Theatre for our Big Night Out which was a great success. It might be a while before we can perform together again but everyone needs to be match fit, which means regular playing. Watch this space for some interesting Music Centre activities and catch up with Stevie who is missing you all!! NB This is a
weekly rehearsal.
Meeting ID:
823 5882 7891
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82358827891
Composition Lab is a collaborative learning project, for an invited group of more advanced students (Grade 6+). We will map out the individual skill sets of the group and then devise a plan to create a piece of audio visual performance by the end of the Autumn Term.
There will be opportunities to experiment, skillshare, learn collaboratively and explore what it means to be a performer, improviser and composer in 2020.
Zoom ID:
812 6556 3347
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81265563347
THURSDAYS
In order to progress beyond ABRSM Grade 5 on your instrument you will need to pass Grade 5 Theory. This is an ideal time to match your performance skills by engaging in one of our online theory classes online theory classes.
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Meeting ID:
824 3538 6050
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82435386050
We are pleased to offer a brand new conducting course led by our tutor Billy Fisher. This course is ideal for anyone with an interest in conducting an ensemble, learning how to read and mark up a score and how to rehearse a band. We will cover the basic conducting technique across various genres and time signatures as well as approaching performance directions and how to lead an ensemble from the front.
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
SATURDAYS
The KS2 junior choir sessions will offer members the chance to keep their voices in tip-top shape, learn some new songs, brush up on their general musicianship and improve their aural skills.
Zoom ID:
858 1484 4137
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85814844137
This is for children starting on their musical journey. As soon as the child can play five notes on a classical guitar they are able to join. The emphasis is on playing together, improving sight reading and fluency of playing different genres of music. All guitar groups are invited to play at the Royal Albert Hall in a massed guitar ensemble, last year they performed Pirates of the Caribbean.
Zoom ID:
890 5421 4250
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89054214250
String Busters introduces young string players to the joy of playing as part of an ensemble. Children who have mostly had only individual lessons, now get to experience a different dimension of playing, where different groups of players combine their music parts to produce a multi-layered piece! In this group, young musicians learn the basic skills of ensemble playing, through games, exercises and repertoire, which give the essential foundation for later joining their first orchestra!
Zoom ID:
813 7350 8446
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81373508446
This e-rehearsal will give all members of the Training and Intermediate bands a chance to connect up each week and continue to improve their ensemble skills.
Zoom ID:
879 5823 7990
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87958237990
These sessions for Violins, Violas and Cellos will focus on sectional work and tips for improving all aspects of your string-playing ensemble skills.
Zoom ID:
896 5608 1436
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89656081436
This is for students who are Grade 1 standard and above. Students are introduced to more complex part-playing. Varied styles of music are introduced including blues, jazz, classical music. Emphasis is on improving ensemble skills whilst having fun playing. All guitar groups are invited to play at the Royal Albert Hall in a massed guitar ensemble, last year they performed Pirates of the Caribbean.
Zoom ID:
873 0250 4012
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87302504012
This weekly session is ideal for junior level players and singers, including those who haven’t tried playing jazz before. We will listen to some great jazz together and learn about some of the most important and influential jazz musicians. You’ll discover how jazz improvisation works and explore common types of song that jazz musicians love to play and improvise around. By the end of term we will all have had a go at improvising using some simple ingredients on our instruments at home.
Zoom ID:
869 3162 3652
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86931623652
This class is available on its own as one of MMF Shorts for just £40 per term.
Zoom ID:
812 0518 5490
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81205185490
We are delighted to offer a brand new ukulele course led by our tutor Billy Fisher. The course is ideal for beginners as well as those with some knowledge of the instrument and those who wish to brush up on their skills. We will cover basic chord progressions that will enable you to play many songs plus some more advance chords and techniques for those more complex pieces. Access to your own ukulele is essential for this course.
Zoom ID:
851 5925 7109
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85159257109
SIGN-UP FOR MUSIC CENTRE
E-Music Centre projects & resources
Click below to find and download the sheet music for your child’s ensemble(s).Sheet music downloads
E-Music Centre fees:
Music Centre is membership-based and charged by the academic term. Membership costs £99 per term (of 10 weeks) with a discount of £19 offered for each additional sibling. Music Centre members have access to all of our classes and groups (subject to instrument, ability and availability). For more information contact us.
If your child doesn’t already learn an instrument (or doesn’t have access to an instrument at home) we would suggest:
Merton Young Voices choir / Sat 9am
Beginner Recorder / Wed 4.30pm (recorder required but they’re easily available online for under £10)
Groups marked with * (recorders, conducting, ukulele and music theory) are part of MMF Shorts which are 30-minute sessions and are available on their own for just £40 per term.
Technical Support
If you are struggling to join a Zoom rehearsal, please try the following:
Double check you are using the correct password, including any capital letters and numbers
Ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of Zoom (this is important). Click on your initials in the top right corner of the Zoom window and select ‘Check for Updates‘
If you are still having trouble after completing these steps, please ring for help:
Mondays: 07966 001387
Wednesdays: 07966 001059
Thursdays: 07966 001059
Saturdays: 07958 117232
Download Zoom
Sessions take place online via the video conferencing platform, Zoom. This video will help you to get set up and has the relevant links.
Please read our new ONLINE LEARNING CODE OF CONDUCT before signing up. All MMF tutors, pupils and members of their respective households will be expected to adhere to this in order to ensure the safety, privacy and wellbeing of all parties. SIGN-UP
