For members
Term Dates 24-25
Last rehearsal of the year is on 4 Dec
Christmas concerts
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Saturday 7 December, Egerton Hall 7.30pm
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Tuesday 10 December, Maids Moreton Care Home 2-3pm.
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Wednesday 11 December, Pete's Place, 23 Market Place, Brackley 7.30pm.
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Sunday 15 December, The Mitre Pub, Buckingham, 7pm.
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Wednesday 18 December Willen Hospice 6.30-7.30pm.
CHRISTMAS BREAK 18 DEC - 8 JAN
2025 dates
Jan-Feb rehearsals
15, 22, 29 Jan
5, 12 Feb
HALF TERM 19 & 26 FEB
Mar rehearsals
5, 12, 19, 26 Mar
DC/LN Day 29 Mar
EASTER BREAK 2, 9 & 16 APR
April-May rehearsals
23, 30 Apr
Concert 10 May
7, 14, 21 May
HALF TERM 28 MAY
Jun & Jul rehearsals
4, 11, 18, 25 Jun
Concert Sat 21 Jun in Swalcliffe
SUMMER BREAK 2 JUL - 10 SEP
Sep & Oct rehearsals
17, 24 Sep
1, 8, 15, 22 Oct
HALF TERM 29 OCT
Nov & Dec rehearsals
5 Nov
12, 19, 26 Nov
3 Dec
Christmas 2025 concerts
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Sat 6 Dec Concert (TBC)
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Wed 10 Dec Care home gig (TBC)
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Sun 14 Dec Mitre
Committee
Co-chair: Judi Binns
Co-chair: Natalie Milner
Secretary: Heather Arrowsmith
Treasurer: Lindsey Comben
Tour Director: Helen Henshaw
Social media & website: Emily Buttrum
Music Library: Michaela Watts
Publishing & refreshments: Jackie Edwards
Committee Members: Richard Linden
Rehearsals
In September 2024 we are moving to Westbury Village Hall.
We rehearse Wednesdays from 7:30pm to 9:30pm during term time, with a mid-session tea break lasting around 15 minutes. Don't forget to bring your own cup for the tea break.
Cost
Subs are either:
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£ 120 per year,
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£40 per term, or
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£10 per month.
In addition, we ask for a contribution of 20p a week to cover the cost of refreshments.
Music
Nearly all the music is on our Google Drive. You should have been given the link when you joined or it is on our WhatsApp Business chat but if you would like it again, just ask one of the committee.
Please bring all your music with you every week - even if Brian has asked us to practice specific pieces, we might play extra.
Practice
Here are some top tips for effective practice from Brian:
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Practice is better done regularly and in short bursts; even 10 minutes a day is worth it, and two lots of 15 minutes is better learning time than 30 mins in one go.
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Don't always start from the beginning - play the last 16 bars, then the previous 16 bars.
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Warm up with something familiar, then move on to a challenge, and finish with something fun.
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Pick out a tricky passage and play it very slowly - work out why it is difficult.
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Use a mirror to practice in front of and watch your fingers.
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Sometimes just forget the music. Concentrate on tone and control of your dynamic range whilst still staying in tune.
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Practice without blowing into the instrument to work on your finger technique and music memory.
Most of all, enjoy playing!