| Symphony Orchestra |  |
| Symphony Orchestra | We are a small symphony orchestra which performs in the end of term Symphony Concerts. Our repertoire is varied, with music spanning from the last 300 years, including current music from films and shows. Music is generally of grade 5+ standard. The Symphony Orchestra meets from 10:00 - 11:15 under the leadership of Jacqui Wright. |
| Chamber Ensemble |  |
| Chamber Ensemble | We are a small ensemble of more experienced players, playing traditional chamber repertoire. Chamber ensemble meets from 11:30 – 12:15 under the leadership of Jacqui Wright. |
| Big Band |  |
| Big Band | We are a large brass/woodwind ensemble with rhythm section (guitar/piano/bass/drums) catering for players of all ages. We play Big Band music from traditional swing/jazz arrangements through to Latin and popular music. We regularly perform in the Lancaster area and occasionally beyond! Generally, players need to be at grade 4 or equivalent standard to come and play. The Big Band meets in the reception room from 10:00 – 11:30, under the leadership of their Musical Director, Phil Allcock. |
| Choirs |  |
| Junior Choir | Aimed at older primary school-aged children (age 7 to 11 years), this choir learns songs by ear and also uses sheet music to sing in up to three parts. The choir performs in the Family Concerts and occasionally outside the Music Centre. The Junior Choir meets from 10:00am until 10:30am. |
| Flexitime Choir | 'Flexitime' is the chosen name of the LCMC Choir. The repertoire of the choir is wide and varied, from Montiverdi to Gershwin; Mozart, Elgar, Henry VIII, Paul Simon, we're not fussy - as long as the music is good! So, feel free to come and join us - whether you're a talented songster or just like belting out a good song in the bath! The Choir meets from 11:30 – 12:30 |
| String Groups |  |
| Beginner Strings | We welcome all beginners on violin, cello and double bass to learn how to play together with other musicians. We play short, fun pieces in a variety of styles and enjoy performing these at the end of the term in Family Concerts. Our music is generally of approximately grade 1 standard. We meet from 10:45 - 11:15 and we play under the leadership of Olivia Salerno. |
| Junior Strings | We enjoy developing our sight-reading skills and ensemble awareness whilst learning pieces which we play in the Family Concerts at the end of term. Our music is of Grade 2 to Grade 4 standard and varies depending on the makeup of the group. Our repertoire is very broad - from Harry Potter themes to Joplin, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky! We meet from 9:00 - 9:45. Our Group Leader is Julie Forsdick. |
| String Orchestra | The music for this group is generally of Grade 5 plus standard. All members really enjoy the mixture of ability in this ensemble as it helps us all to develop as musicians. This ensemble introduces us to accessible string orchestra repertoire from the last 400 years by well-known composers such as Holst, Mendelssohn, Greig and Nielsen as well as other less well-known composers such as Percy Eastman Fletcher and Christopher Wilson. We perform in the Symphony Concerts at the end of term. We meet from 12:15 – 13:00 under the leadership of Peter Blackburn |
| Cello Group | We play arrangements of classical music for cellos and enjoy learning from each other. Our players can play in the symphony orchestra or are of a grade 4 standard and above. Cello Group meets from 9:15am - 10:00am. We are led by Esther Harriott. |
| Recorder Groups |  |
| Beginner Recorders | This group welcomes absolute beginners who are experiencing ensemble playing for the first time. Everyone in the group plays the descant (soprano) recorder. We learn how to hold the recorder properly, how to make a nice sound, how to play the first notes, and how to read the rhythms and notes in musical notation. We perform in the end of term Family Concerts. Parents or whoever accompanies you must stay (quietly) around the edge of the room during the session. We meet from 9:00 - 9:20. Our group leaders are Karen Jones & Heather Richardson. |
| Improver Recorders | This group welcomes players who have experienced ensemble playing in Beginners Recorders or is not a pure beginner. Everyone in the group plays the descant (soprano) recorder. We perform in the end of term Family Concerts. Parents or whoever accompanies you must stay (quietly) around the edge of the room during the session. We meet from 9:25 - 9:45. Our group leaders are Karen Jones & Heather Richardson. |
| Intermediate Recorders | We are an ever growing group of enthusiastic players of varying abilities, who gain enjoyment from playing in an ensemble. Between us, we play a range of recorders from sopranino to great bass. Some of us play only one size of recorder and need some support and encouragement but others are happy to hold their own part. Our repertoire covers the centuries. Typically equivalent Grades 2-4 We meet from 10:00 - 10:30 under the leadership of Sarah O'Toole |
| Recorder Consort | Our recorder consort is aimed at musicians who are competent and confident sight readers, who are comfortable playing one to a part music, who play more than one size of instrument ( preferably F and C instruments ) and can interchange readily between the two. An ability to play the less common time signatures and syncopated and unusual rhythms or is rhythmically complex across the parts is desirable. Garklein to Contra bass welcome. We play duets, trios , quartets , quintets and more ,depending on the number of players Our music crosses centuries , styles and countries. Typically equivalent Grade 4 plus We meet from 10:45 - 11:15 under the current leadership of Charlotte Baker |
| Wind Groups |  |
| Improvers Wind | We are a group of woodwind and brass players of all ages. We play many different styles of music, pop, film music, and classical. The standard of the music generally grades 1 to 3, depending on the members. We perform in the end of term Family Concerts. The Improvers Wind group meets from 10:45 – 11:15 under the leadership of Gail Merrilees. |
| Wind Band | All Wind and Brass players of grade 3 standard and above are encouraged to join us to play popular classical and pop music. We play in the end of term Symphony Concerts. Wind Band meets from 09:00 – 09:45 under the leadership of Gail Merrilees. |
| Saxophone Choir | A group for saxophonists playing roughly from grades 2 to 4 to try out a variety of music. Saxophone Choir meets from 11.45am - 12.45 in the reception room. |
| Clarinet Choir | A group for clarinettists playing roughly from grades 2 to 4 to try out a wide variety of music from Folk Songs to Movie Music to Classical. We meet from 10.00am - 10.30am |
| Music Theory |  |
| Music Theory | Music Theory is taught in a mixed class under the leadership of Heather Richardson and Julie Forsdick. Grades 1 to 8 can be catered for. |
| Early Music |  |
| Early Music | We are an enthusiastic group of players of recorders and other early instruments who play as an ensemble, experiencing iconic composers and pieces of music from both the Renaissance and Baroque periods. We vary widely in ability, but are always willing to ‘have a go' An ability to be a competent sight reader and be able to face a challenge is desirable. We meet at 0900-0945 in room 3F. |
| Folk Group |  |
| Folk Group | This group offers the chance to learn the traditions and skills to play folk tunes and participate in a session. Learning by ear is encouraged and to this end recorded music as well as notation may be provided. In the remaining time, the aim, without leadership, is to learn, arrange and play traditional and contemporary folk music from around the world, playing by ear or with notation. This group regularly performs in the Music Centre's Family Concert, and occasionally at other local venues. Instruments in the group commonly include violin, viola, cello, guitar, flute, whistle, and accordions of all types. The aim is for instrumentalists to be independent, but assistance is provided to beginners. Folk group meets from 10:15 – 11:15 The group operates without a leader. |
| Mini Music Makers |  |
| Mini Music Makers | This group is not running for now. This group is aimed at 4 - 7 year olds with parents to sing Nursery Rhymes and make music with Boomwhackers. Mini music makers meet from 09:30 to 10:00 under the leadership of Colette Webb. |
