International Day 2011

Mahfouz in his fabulous costume

 The Blazing Bows Ensemble  had a wonderful perfomance in the hall  with Ms Vaughan ands her Grupa Ceoil on Friday 27th May as part of the school Intercultural Day.  It was a bit of a squeeze getting so many musicians in  but what a great sound. The concert started with solos from Ms Vaughan's after school students  on tin whistle , fiddle and piano.   Here was the joint programme.

French Folk Song    pizz on D
Foxtrot 
Blues  
D Monkey 
Echo Twinkle
Cill FCais  Pizz on G
Mo Gile Mear   Double stopping on G and D
Titanic       tremelo on G     Bows side to side
Halleluia   GG  zz D D zz
Oh When the Saints Go Marching In Down Bow Retakes 

Everyone joined in the last number and everyone sang along .

Everyone in the class received a certificate to say they have completed Level 1 of the Stringschool Programme . Congratulations to all of you.

Ms Power presents my bouquet

International Day

Karen Vaughan talks about her approach to teaching music in Chríost Rí, National School in Ennis, Co Clare

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Term Time resumes

Here is what we did this week.  We are looking ahead to our final performance of this year , the school Intercultural Day on 27th  of May. 

1 We worked on Twinkle as an echo to Ms Vaughan on piano . Ms Vaughan's part is shaded in red and our bit is in plain black ink

D D D D       A  A   A A      B B   B B    A  A 
         0 0                 0  0                 1 1          0
    Dip to show all fingers going down on D  string.

G G G G      F#F#  F#F#     E  E   E E   D     D 
         3  3                 2   2               1 1            0

We also worked on our scale  Darling river monkey     to our cappucino coffee rhythm

To finish we worked on Blues and  Foxtrot

Press piece from Clare Champion 14th April 2011

Scoli Chriost Ri Live at The Plaza for Love Live Music Day

 Bearing fiddles, whistles and accordions and with a willingness to entertain , a  group of 50 musicians set off on foot from Scoil Chriost Ri  Cloughleigh  to play at the outdoor auditorium  of the Temple Gate Plaza   on Friday .   The group included  David McMahon’s  4^th class pupils , the Blazing Bows Ensemble  who were very excited as it was their first time to perform in public and also  their first joint venture with the Scoil Chriost Ri Band. The group have been learning violin as part of their school curriculum since September  as part of a new initiative at the school .

The event was one of several in County Clare marking Love Live Music Day, an initiative by National Music Network, a  celebration of all forms of music in Ireland through free nationwide music events which aims to promote access to live music for all regardless of location or circumstance and to encourage active participation in music events.

 The combined group  played a variety of  repertoire  including traditional Irish tunes, film themes and blues numbers. Mary Fagin  visiting from Co Meath was one of many onlookers who enjoyed the impromptu performance . 'Today was a great day to be in Ennis' she said.  As I stepped out of the Temple Gate  I was serenaded by this wonderful music. I particularly enjoyed the double bass’ she said .    

Ned  a regular busker here said ' They were great' I had serious competition today .  I think it is good that  they get a chance to  learn to play music at school.  Karen Vaughan director of the school band said she was delighted with the performance of her young musicians . ‘They are a very dedicated  and enthusiastic bunch to work with’ and it is encouraging  to see them engaging  with  their local community. 

Fionna Power, principal said she was very proud of her students and the musicians would soon be busy preparing for their next event , the Scoil Chriost Ri Intercultural day at the end of May.  Further information on the Blazing Bows music programme at the school can be found on www.blazingbows.blogspot.com

Return visit of National Concert hall outreach teacher

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Jesse, Dorothy Cathy and Karen



On Tuesday we welcomed Dorothy Conaghan from the National Concert Hall to work with our fourth class ensemble and in the afternoon the group was joined by all the musicians of the school band .

In the morning we worked on 'I like to tango (or amhran is damhsa)   We played a duet  Hoedown  and Pineapple Rag by Scott Joplin  .

After lunch we worked on a French Folk Song . First starting with the tune , then adding bass , then Ms Vaughan on piano . Altogether it sounded great . 

This one

Live at the Plaza Great Gig for Love Live Music Day

Accordions

Banner Bearers with Ms Vaughan

Bandanorama

Busker Ned

'I think it is that way'

Bearing fiddles whistles and accordions , the group set off on foot from Cloughleigh  for the natural arena of the Temple Gate Plaza . The day although a little overcast was warm and dry.   there was a good crowd.  Mary Fagin , visiting from Co Meath and a guest at the hotel complimented the group  . 'Today was a great day to be in Ennis' she said .  Ned  a regular busker here said ' They were great' I had serious competition today. Thanks to our guest Fiona Walsh of Ennis Gospel Choir who joined our fiddle section for the day.

Blazing Bows meets the Band

The SCR Band

Today was a very important day because it was the day Blazing Bows joined forces with Scoil Chríost Rí Band   with their director Karen Vaughan to make a super big band !  We reheased very hard to be ready for our outing to play outdoors at the Temple Gate Plaza  at 11 am as part of  the nationwide Love Live Music Day . Mafouz did a great job on double bass .

see our event posted and check out the other events happening around the country on http://www.lovelivemusic.ie/
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Draft  Busking Programme


1. Oh When the Saints  D D D G   D D D D   ALL DOWN BOWS   all on D except one G  Band +BB
2  Foxtrot     x 3   Don't forget sidestep (2nd time  and  3rd time dip ) you all know this one  BB
3  Blues x4      BB
4 Darling River Monkey  starting on D x 2  Band +BB
5 Twinkle  Echo  Playing in an echo to the band  DD
6 Titanic      D (3) Tremelo   on third finger G  watch me  not all the way through last chorus
7 Cill Cais    pizz on G  open string
8. Mo Gile Mear  Double Stopping on G and D
9 Alleleuiah          G G change D D repeat  GG zzDDzz


Well done everyone today . Remember watch and listen