Norfolk String Day 14th - February 2007.

Forty-two young string-players from the Norfolk County Music Service attended the NYSA String Day held at Norwich Professional Development Centre, on Wednesday 14th February 2007.

The day started at 10 am and finished at 4 pm. The schedule included Kodaly and Dalcroze sessions, sectional rehearsals with members of the NYSA coaching team and full rehearsals.

Despite some concerns before the event, there were plenty of rooms and the venue proved successful. The Kodaly and Dalcroze sessions were very well received.

The players worked well together although there were some players outside the agreed range of Grades 3-6.

There were positive comments about progress with intonation and playing together from Norfolk staff present through the day. Parents were most enthusiastic at the final play-through.

Student comments on the Evaluation Forms (see below) suggested that a lot was gained from the chance to play together in a large string group; that sectional work had been most helpful and that the Dalcroze/Kodaly sessions had been much enjoyed.

Student Evaluations of NYSA String Day - 14th February 2007

1. What have you enjoyed most about playing today
   
   Many comments about playing together, learning new music /improving technique. Some preferred Dalcroze /Kodaly; others felt not playing all day was a bonus.
   
   
2. Has working with the NYSA tutors helped you understand some new things about playing a stringed instrument?
   
   Responses included different bow strokes, improved dynamic range and some felt the Dalcroze sessions helped also. Others felt they were playing dotted rhythms better and one noted “using the middle of the finger when bowing creates feeling”
   
   
3. What special things have you learnt today?
   
   This brought a range of responses such as reading tenor clef; improving string crossing; how to tune without a keyboard/tuner; different names for rhythms; more controlled staccato.
   One thought working the brain helps better playing. There were comments on musical and physical being incorporated together and that being rhythmical in the body also helped you to play rhythmically. One noted that it was better to be at the front than stuck at the back!
   
   
4. Do you think what you have learned today will help you play better in future?
   
   Mostly positive response (some unsure)
   Some felt learning how to hold the bow while plucking was useful as was playing dotted rhythms in hooked bowing.
   Some felt they had a better understanding of playing in a group.
   Some felt that playing and practising can be fun if the activities are varied.
   
   
5. Would you like anything to be different?
   
   Some comments noted a need for longer breaks and/or a shorter day.
   A few would have liked to play more pieces and done less Dalcroze.
   Some felt the Day was aimed at 8-12 year-olds.
   A few wanted more sectionals and less tutti with more time to improve individually.
   Two felt the cello/bass parts were a bit dull.
   A few wanted the music in advance and to spend more time on dotted rhythms.
   Two felt there was too much D major!
   

NYSA Staff Comments

The day had been useful; good progress had been made and many students had seemed enthused by the day. There was some discussion as to whether the first movement of Rawsthorne ‘Light Music for Strings’ was the best choice of music on this occasion. This piece was chosen because it offered something interesting for each section to work on as well as highlighting the difficulties of playing dotted rhythms successfully as a group. Staff felt that the style of the music had not appealed readily to these young players on this day. There should perhaps have been an easier and more musically accessible piece instead of the Albinoni ‘Adagio’ which had not proved a successful choice for this group.

Thanks must go to Rob Ferris and Julia Goehr ( Norfolk Music Service) for their huge contribution to the success of this day.