Welcome To the Swinging Strings Blog

The Swinging Strings Project would like to welcome pupils, parents and all interested parties to our website. This blog tracks the progress of 80+ children (and their teachers!) as they learn the violin. It is intended to act as a resource for the pupils as they progress and act as an information point for parents, teachers etc.

The project is delivered on an inclusive basis and links to the Irish Primary Music Curriculum. This means that ALL students particpate irrespective of musical backgrounds. It is believed that it is the one of biggest inclusive projects of its kind in the country. Have a look around and learn all about our violin project. Our cover photo was taken by award winning press photographer, John Kelly.
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Thank you

Cathy Desmond

Wednesday, November 28, 2012


Invitation     
                           
  Ennis National School  and Stringschool          invite you to the
Christmas  Ensemble Concert
Wednesday 5th  December  2012  11.45am
    In the  ENS School Hal
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Participants  

 Swinging Strings 4th class groups
& Stringschool  Orchestra Class .
Ennis National School Band
Second Chance Class 

Dress Rehearsal /Carols




Mary Had a Baby   Click on this link for BBC School's version  of Mary Had a Baby. They do it slightly differently to our version.


Some carols for you to listen you. See you all for your top and tail rehearsal in the Halla on Wednesday morning . Can't wait!

Perfromance notes in previous post

Leaders Nathan, Emmanuel, Sean

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Lend Me a Tenor and Draft Programme


Mr Walsh's  class had a special treat when operatic tenor Tony Murray called to the class and sang a selection of numbers.  We heard a Neapolitan song (from Naples in Italy)  Funniculi Funnicula . 

Mr Murray played the role of Mr Bumble in the Ennis Musical Society production in 2010 and we enjoyed a selection of numbers from Oliver. We even  had a dance from some of the girls. Bravo Mr Murray! Everyone enjoyed the performance .

We learned that opera singers don't use microphones  but 'project' their voices so that amazingly even in large opera houses , they can be heard even in the gods . The highest female voice is the Soprano  We learned that the lowest male voice is the Bass . Here are the human voice types in order of pitch .
Soprano 
Contralto 
Tenor 
Bass 
Count John McCormack
Well known tenors include Luciano Pavarotti , Andrea Bocelli (Ms de Buitléir is a fan) . Dean Power from Clarecastle is a tenor who  sings  in Munich Opera House  in Germany.  The most famous Irish tenor was John McCormack who was one of the biggest musical celebrities of the 20th century and sold millions of records.

            Quiz : What string instrument corresponds to the tenor voice ?
                      What is the highest male voice ?

Draft programme   Concert in two weeks

Mix of pizz arco open strings and first finger  and three fingers down.

Mr Walsh
 1 O Come All You Faithful  pizz open string G   same as Vivaldi G

     l G  G z  z G  G  G zG  G  G  G  G  G  z  z  l    
O    Come       Faith          Joy               umph

2 Toreador's March             pizz Open D and A

    D D D_ D D A _ x3  lA A A A l A A A D l     Repeat 

4 Joy to the World               Arco   Down Bow Retakes on D Balloon Bows   Watch for end
                                         one verse

                                          Two verses
3Good King Wenceslas       Arco all fingers 1         2 ^3  down on tapes    Quavers  on G'  Tiny bows                                verses  1 High G'  (1  2^3 )
                                        verse  2  Low  G    open string

         
           Leader today Nathan , Cello Annie, Bass Liam      

            **********************************************

Ms McMahon 
Mary Had a Baby        same rhythm as Win ter time in Rus-sia   arco
Basic   open D    )  0   0   0   0     0  0    x3     0       0      0
                              Mar- y     had    a      Bab-y                     Train  Don't Come
Advanced             0 0   0 0   1 2          2    1     0 

               
Walking in the Air
  Ostinato pizz      
Walk          Air        ***Sky                 People     Below  Sleeping    Fly   ____________
 E         E    x3      E        E      E          E     E       E    E     E 
                       f               p                      f            p           f               p         f         p
    
                      Middle section Finger LH drumming on wood
               
                      4321  4321  4321   4321  
Silent Night    
                     Silent     Night     Holy   Night    All    Calm      All          Bright 
                       D   D    D   D    A   A    D    D
               
                      G   G   D   D     G    G   D    D 
                     Round    Vir    Mother  Child     Holy    Infant   Tender  Mild 
          
                     A    A    D    D   D  A    D     D
                    Sleep   Heav         Peace   __          Sleep  Heav   Peace       _

Foxtrot     Arco 

  D D D_  A A A_      D D D_  A A A_
D D D_ D D D_        A A A_  A A  D z
 Cello    Bass Joyce

      *******************************************************   

            After school Group   Twinkle Twinkle and French Folk Song  solo 

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Mr Corry
Away in a Manger   pizz 
GD    GD   GD    D A
D    G    G     G         same 

Ireland's Call  Balloon Bows  Tremelo Arco  

Ode to Joy  Arco 

    D D  z z  AA  zz   Long D to finish   Bow in air
Jingle Bells  
      1    2^3   on D string    Down Up Bells  Ostinato

Dashing through the snow           Stomp
One horse open sleigh                    "
Oer the fields we go                       "
Laughing all the way                      "
Bells on ..ring                                "
Spirits bright                                  "

Get ready bow on string for more  jin -gles


Leader Sean /Maggie  Cello Ailbhe  Bass  Brian

Thanks to Ms de Buitleir and her band trio, Donnacha, Nedin, and Katie on whistle.   Super support today Bravo !






Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Fiddle High Fives and Changing Chords


Accompanist and Leader Mr Corry's class


Today we began our rehearsals for our forthcoming debut concert .

NEW ***  3 fingers down on D string to make G'
      ^
1     23   (second and third finger close together)



Entrance Music    

<

Not much time today to dwell on our entrance music. Have a look at the video . 

The Blue Danube  is named after a European river and is a waltz by which composer ? . 
Clap along . How many beats in each bar or group?



Three fingers down on D string

Vivaldi in G   
Old Mc Donald   Quaver  G'G'  new note G   1  23   down 
Away in a Manger  Chord Changes G and D    G  G   G   D   D  G   G   
Rock You   Open string A   and low A  First finger on G string 
Cross Lake Blues   String Crossing 
Leader


Leaders David, Zeba,  Norah 
Double bass Players today  included Maggie, Sean, Conor and Liam 

Ailbhe acted as piano accompanist.   We had two people who demonstrated guitar chords (Joyce and Farah- Lisa ) 

Thanks to Mr Enda O Connor for assisting today 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Vivaldi in G and Jigs

Lesson 8
Musical Tasks    Today



Entrance Music Traditional fiddle   JIG   123  456   Which one of the above fits a jig best 



1  Vivaldi in G

Vivaldi in G

   lG G z z l  G G G z I  G G G G I  G G z zI


2 Rock You    Arco    First finger down on G to make low A

3 Cross Lake Blues     D D z z A A zz

4 Rocket Bows   Knuckles pointing skyward

5  Mary Had a baby  0000 0 0    Did you recognize the rhythm   Train done come

6 First finger down on D to make E
    First finger riff
  E E E E D D D D E E E E D D E E




Mr Walsh's class had lot of fun playing along with the dramatic first movement of Winter. I agree with Mr Walsh . Winter is the most dramatic of the four concertos known as the Four Seasons . It is my favourite too.

Can you recognise the rhythm





Leaders  Holly W,  Liam,  Amy   Emmanel,  Hugh
Bass and Cello Arian, Sean, Ruth,   Dana,

Adults Class  Focus on Scales






Orchestra Class  Scales G D A

Tuning Using your adjusters

Beginners Rolling Along, Twinkle, Lightly Row , Jingle Bells

Advanced Silent Night, Jingle Bells
New Mary Had a Baby