For members

 

Term Dates 24-25

 

​​​​​Last rehearsal of the year is on 4 Dec​

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Christmas concerts

• Saturday 7 December, Egerton Hall 7.30pm 

• Tuesday 10 December, Maids Moreton Care Home 2-3pm.

• Wednesday 11 December, Pete's Place, 23 Market Place, Brackley 7.30pm. 

• Sunday 15 December, The Mitre Pub, Buckingham, 7pm.

• Wednesday 18 December Willen Hospice 6.30-7.30pm.

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CHRISTMAS BREAK  18 DEC - 8 JAN

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​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

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SUMMER BREAK 2 JUL - 10 SEP

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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

• Sat 6 Dec Concert (TBC)

• Wed 10 Dec Care home gig (TBC)

• Sun 14 Dec Mitre​

 

 

Committee

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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

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Rehearsals

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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. 

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Cost

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Subs are either:

• £ 120 per year,

• £40 per term, or

• £10 per month.

In addition, we ask for a contribution of 20p a week to cover the cost of refreshments.

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Music

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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.

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Please bring all your music with you every week - even if Brian has asked us to practice specific pieces, we might play extra.

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Practice

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Here are some top tips for effective practice from Brian:

• 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.

 

• Warm up with something familiar, then move on to a challenge, and finish with something fun.

 

• 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.

 

• Practice without blowing into the instrument to work on your finger technique and music memory.

 

Most of all, enjoy playing!

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