Christmas StaxofSax Workshop

L

littleplum

Member
440
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
Hi Folks

Well here are the details for our next ensemble day workshop. It will be a chance to blow out those Christmas cobwebs, leave the turkey burgers to someone else for the day, or maybe show off your new Christmas pressie (if Santa has been kind to you)

The day is designed to get people playing in larger groups with specially arranged pieces to produce a full quality sound.

It is open to anyone with more than 12 months playing experience and as the parts are arranged for us specifically then we can cater for the more experience player too.

The venue this time will be slightly different, its at the Trinity Methodist Church hall in Oadby, Leicester. This is on the main A6 and is very easy to find. There is a huge public car park at the side of the Church and the town is about 200yards away.

We have registration starting at 9.30am and we kick off at 10.00am. Lunch will be at 12.00 noon approx for 30 minutes and then we will be playing again until 3pm

The cost of the day is £30.00 of which we will make a donation of £3.00 per Cafe member to Petes Charity fund.

This time we are planning on sending out parts in advance for people to have a practice before they arrive.

The day as usual will be challenging and fun, feel free to wear Santa hats etc, but no Brussel sprout sandwiches will be allowed at the lunch break.

We hope that some of you will join us, I know there were a few members unable to attend last time, so hopefully they will be able to make it this time.

Keep watching for updates

best wishes

Dave🙂
 
I feel a crystal ball moment coming on....

... depending on the date, I would like to come along - a long drive, but hopefully will be a good day.
 
Whoops I did it again!!!!!!!!

So, obviously not many psychics play sax then???

Sorry folks, the date is Wednesday the 29th of December, so you shouldn't miss the sound of music or the great escape as they are normally boxing day.

3 places gone already hopefully we will see some of you there as well.

Don't forget we will donate 10% of your ticket fee to Petes charity fund.

Best wishes

Dave
 
Ok sounds good, where do I register? I'll have been playing just over 12 months by that date, but if the playing is going over my head is it going to be alright to drop out and just watch? I wouldn't want to ruin it for others 🙁 I have done one of these days before with someone else and I found it fairly easy but obviously it depends what level your catering for.
 
Hi Jason

Glad you can make it. Dont worry about the standard of the music, as long as we know what standard you are we can cater for you. Also we will get the parts out to you in advance, so you can have a look. Most people share a stand so you will have help there and we also move around the group helping where we can. I will pm you what to do next.

Welcome aboard and look forward to meeting with you soon.

Dave
 
Dave, I'm going to have to miss it unfortunately, Those days between the holidays are fully booked at work so I cant get the holiday... :verysad I will keep nagging my manager but I'm not very hopeful..... Sorry, I really wanted to come too. keep me in the loop for the next one.
 
littleplum said:
Hi Jason

Glad you can make it. Dont worry about the standard of the music, as long as we know what standard you are we can cater for you. Also we will get the parts out to you in advance, so you can have a look. Most people share a stand so you will have help there and we also move around the group helping where we can. I will pm you what to do next.

Welcome aboard and look forward to meeting with you soon.

Dave
Click to expand...

Email sent Dave. No problem with the music stand, I've got one to bring along.
 
MartinL said:
Dave, I'm going to have to miss it unfortunately, Those days between the holidays are fully booked at work so I cant get the holiday... :verysad I will keep nagging my manager but I'm not very hopeful..... Sorry, I really wanted to come too. keep me in the loop for the next one.
Click to expand...

Ha Ha.. Got it... Hope you still have a place 🙂)
 
Well places are going quickly, we have 10 players booked in already and some more that are checking their diaries. So if anybody is thinking about it , it would be worth booking your place now to avoid disappointment.

Chris is busy sweating over a hot sibelius to get the arrangements ready, so instead of visiting Aunty Mabel for the 16th year in a row why not get your sax out and have a good session with your sax and make some new friends into the bargain.


Hope to see you there

best wishes

Dave
 
Hi Folks

just to keep you up to date with the workshops. We have not got 15 confirmed attendees, but still with space for 5 more. What is good is that word is spreading so we have a real mixture on new players and returning players too.

We have got people from Lincolnshire and Essex making the trip.

If you fancy joining us for a post Christmas blow then please contact me and I will reserve a place for you.

This could be the start of your new years resolution to play more, so why not do it in a fun atmosphere with some great tunes that are being arranged for us as I type.

Looking forward to meeting the CS members that have already booked on the 29th December, and dont forget that 10%of your ticket money goes to Petes Charity

best wishes

Dave
 
Well the ears are still ringing a bit after today. We had 16 saxes and 1 trumpet player today. Check out the StaxofSax facebook page for pictures.

We had a warm up with O Fortuna (Old Spice and X Factor) Followed by Carol of the Bells, Dance of the Hours (Hello mother, hello father) Tequila, and a Glam rock Christmas Medley (Slade and Wizzard).

It was good to see some more of the Cafe Members there (5 of them) which means a donation to Petes Charity, so not only a good days blowing but we managed to raise funds to help others too.

We are looking at the diary now for the next date and we will keep you all informed. If you fancy joining us on one of our workshops then please let me know, or if you know someone who may wish to take part then we would appreciate it if you would please pass on the details.

regards

Dave
 
Dont suppose you have a recording of what and how you played at the workshop, (or even the a score) so as to give me an idea of the level. I think it may be above me. But I am interested in any future workshops.
 
StaxofSax workshops

Hi Saxyman

I have a couple of midi files of some of the tunes we have done, but they can sound a bit daunting. Its not until you see the parts really. I can email you a couple of the parts and you can see how they look to you.

How long have you been playing? I notice you play both tenor and alto so which would you prefer?

We send the parts out in advance so you can have a look and we are going to pair people up on the next one so that you have a partner in crime, we find that between them they can get more out of the day with a bit of mutual support.

Don't forget, if we know your ability we can cater for you with a extra part at your level.
The day is a challenge but also a good social occasion with everyone having something in common.

Send me your email via a personal message and I will gets some parts to you.

Hope to see you at one of the workshops

regards

Dave
 
Thoroughly enjoyed the day again Dave, well done, I know that you put a huge effort into these workshops. Thank You, it's appreciated.

In your last post here you almost said what I was thinking, you asked for feedback and my input would be, " I think it would be a good idea to half the number of 'parts' and pair up on the remaining parts". As you said, we can feed of each other and benefit from it, also with fewer parts the long rest in some parts would be reduced.

Great day Dave and I will be doing my best to attend the next one.

Thanks again
 
Workshops

Hi Martin

Thanks for the feedback. We have had a chat today and have decided to try a slightly different approach on the next one. We are thinking of starting off with a full group piece to get everyone warmed up and then splitting into quartets to allow people to hear what they are playing better. Chris and I will move around the groups to help with any problems and offer advice. This would then be followed by each group performing their piece to the rest of the group, then maybe moving to different groups for another session and then a group piece to finish.

The large group pieces will have multiple players on each part for support.

I think this will challenge people in a different way and give the regular attendees something different to get their teeth into

what do you think?

Dave
 
That sounds like a good idea, you'll need to be strict on the timetable though as these small groups will make the day fly by. Be good to get the first group completed including performance by lunch and then moving into the next group for the pm.

I'm looking forward to the result.

Happy New Year Dave
 
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