Music Makers and mis-matched term dates

Last week, people were asking about our half term arrangements, so I thought I’d post to explain how things work and why they get complicated.
First things first, there are two weeks of Music Makers Sessions left before half term. We’ll be taking a week off from Monday 19th February to Friday 23rd.
If you live in a Manchester Council borough, you’re perhaps wondering what I’m blithering on about! If you live in a Trafford Council borough, you’ll probably be aware that there’s a perennial clash of term dates between the two councils. This means that we’re running through Trafford spring half term, which is 12th – 16th Feb.
To be clear, we always run to the Manchester timetable, so if you ever want to see when we might be on, google the term dates for somewhere like Oswald Rd or St Clement’s C of E schools. That’s how I figure out what dates we’re going to be doing.
For me personally, and impacting on the rest of you, it means that we’ll probably have my delightful nine year old running the money side of things for our last week. (She insists she’s not coming unless I pay her to be there – the youth of today – so she might as well make herself useful!).
The Music Makers sessions for next week will be as follows:

  • Monday 5th February 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Wednesday 7th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Wednesday 7th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge

Hope that all sheds some light on how we organise our timetable. I look forward to seeing you all next week.
Cheers
Owen

A new week and fresh shakers

As promised – if you were around last week – our egg shakers will all be re-wrapped and good as new for next week’s sessions. The reason our shakers have a taped seam is because they’re manufactured with one central join. Experience taught us very quickly that if we didn’t protect that seam, the first time a two year old threw a shaker on the floor we’d promptly have about a hundred small metallic pellets scattered all over the place! So every now and then – when the shakers start looking a bit “chewed” – I have the sticky job of re-taping them. (A bad movie, followed by Match of the Day, and a suitable supply of red wine should see the job done tonight!)
The Music Makers sessions for next week will be as follows:

  • Monday 29th January 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Monday 29th January 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Thursday 1st February 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

Hope to see you all next week.
Cheers
Owen

Last orders for 2017, or just the warm up for the main event?

Dear all,
We’re finally here. We’ve made it through another complete year of Music Makers Sessions. The final chance to join in with this year’s festive offering is next week – after that we’re breaking for the Christmas hols – so come along and see out 2017 in fine singing style!
Music Makers is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of people, with new arrivals settling in alongside old hands. I’m always surprised by the apparent speed with which people grow up. This week’s stand out change prize goes to Tabitha, who all of a sudden is well and truly out of her mother’s arms and on the scene.
The final Music Makers sessions for 2017 will be as follows:

  • Monday 11th December 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Wednesday 13th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Thursday 14th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

I hope to see you all at some point this week. If you can’t make it along, have a great Christmas break.
Cheers
Owen

Music Makers – in a rush

Dear all,
Very briefly this week. I’ve run into a “perfect storm” of family life and work this Saturday. Already been out teaching this morning, got home with not enough time to write this to you, before dropping daughter and wife off at a trampoline party, dashing back here to pick up a second violinist, and then getting over to Cheshire in time to play someone down the aisle for her wedding. Definitely “beer o’clock” when I get back later!
The Music Makers sessions for this week are as follows:

  1. Monday 25th September 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  2. Wednesday 27th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  3. Thursday 28th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

Lost and found

One “The Superdry Premium Knitwear co.” blue/white stripey top left at Thursday early session. If you thinks it’s yours please let me know – thanks.
I hope to see you all along at some point next week.
Cheers
Owen

Last Orders before the Summer Mash Up …

Next week is the last of our normal timetable before we switch over to Summer Mondays. It’s always interesting to see who makes it along at this time of the year. So if you’re around, come and join us.
The Music Makers sessions for next week will be as follows:

  • Monday 17th July 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Wednesday 19th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Thursday 20th 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

After this week we head into our series of Summer Monday Sessions. The dates and times for this year are as follows:

  • Monday 24th July, Monday 31st July, Monday 7th August and Monday 14th August.
  • Two sessions per day – 9.30 to 10.30 and 10.45 to 11.45

All sessions to take place in The Main Theatre at The Edge. (Buggy park downstairs – probably Studio 2).
These sessions have a different vibe to our term time offering, with the welcome return of some old hands alongside their younger siblings.

Other matters:

Deep controversy and discord on Thursday Morning!! (Not really – but it sounds good!)
I Can Sing a Rainbow – order of colours??? Different polarised opinions – (a bit like marmite or Brexit).
First part easy – not a problem – “red and yellow and pink and green” – the next part is the one causing problems – “Orange and Purple and Blue” or “Purple and Orange and Blue”???
I applied to the European Court of Music Rights for a ruling in this matter – (a legal process involving listening to as many versions as I could find on Youtube) – and the results are in:
It’s a landslide decision – by 83% – including CBBC – in favour of – Purple and Orange and Blue!
Now we’re not into “the people have spoken” and all that guff – if anyone wants to rebel that’s absolutely fine – we’ll just have a brief “Charles Ives” moment whenever we sing this song. (I’ll explain that reference to anyone who’s interested when I see you).
So, I hope to see you along next week or at some point over the summer.
Cheers
Owen

Senior Moments and Young Guns

Senior Moment:
So I almost metaphorically dropped the baby last Wednesday.

I turn up to set up – loads of time – feeling un-stressed – until one of my worst possible nightmare scenarios starts to manifest itself. I don’t have the tablet computer that plays the music with me! Massive adrenalin dump, full-on panic. I dive into the car and return to Stretford to get the device, it’s not to be found. On my way back to Chorlton I frantically try to download relevant music playing app onto my phone. (No, I had never properly “disaster planned” for this scenario – doh!!). The app on phone works – thank goodness – session starts a couple of minutes late, with me a frazzled wreck, trying to look calm. Then of course, half way through the session – after having played the dance music via my phone – the *!^*$%^”** tablet device miraculously “re-materialises” under the big carrying bag next to the bluetooth player.

I felt like retiring to a darkened room and ignoring the world for the rest of the day. C’est la vie!
Young Gun:
At the other end of the human life cycle, it’s fantastic to see so many people growing up so fast! This was epitomised at last Thursday’s late session by a certain young chap – who last time I looked was hardly mobile – strolling over to the three year old female youth club, (held behind the back row of chairs), to try and hang out with them. (They ignored him – he came back – probably good practice for later life!).


Enough of my failings and other general musings, the Music Makers sessions for next week will be as follows:

  • Monday 19th June 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge 
  • Wednesday 21st 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in Studio 2 at The Edge 
  • Thursday 22nd 9.30 to 10.30, and 10.45 to 11.45, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

I hope to see you all along at some point.
Cheers
Owen

Big Changes to Music Makers Timetable

Dear all,

The Grand Sign-Up Session Experiment is over!

Basically this seemed like an excellent idea on paper but not enough people transferred interest into attendance. (A really big thank you to everyone who did join the Sign-Up sessions. I know we all really enjoyed them. Thanks for being part of them). So starting on Monday 24th April, we’re going to run with six open sessions per week. Come to whatever you want, when you want. We’re going to go strongly with our USP – as stated repeatedly by you lot – namely, we’re one of the few baby/toddler groups, where no pre-booking or subscription is required.

I’ll be in touch again before we start back, with details for next term.
I hope everyone has a good Easter break, see you all at the end of the month.
Yours
Owen

Last week before Easter hols!

Dear all,
Next week’s sessions are the final ones before the Easter holidays. We finish at St Clement’s on the 30th, and will re-convene at The Edge on Monday 24th April. Our household will be welcoming a new member during the break – a Manchester Terrier puppy called Tierney will be joining us – so I might be a bit chewed around the corners by the end of April! All dog/puppy related wisdom will be gratefully received.

The Music Makers sessions for next week will be as follows:

  • Monday 27th March 9.30 to 10.30 Sign-Up Session, and 10.45 to 11.45 Open Session, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Wednesday 29th 9.30 to 10.30 Open Session, and 10.45 to 11.45 Sign-Up Session, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Thursday 30th 9.30 to 10.30 Open Session, and 10.45 to 11.45 Sign-Up Session, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

I hope to see you all along at some point this week.
Cheers
Owen

Music Makers get off to a flyer

Dear all,
Thanks to everyone for a great first week. Monday Open Session people: if that was all a bit much, bear in mind that Sign-Up sessions have a limited number of places so they’re never too busy – get in touch if you’d like more info.
If you haven’t checked it out yet there’s some really good pictures up on the Sign-Up page  – well worth a look.
The Music Makers sessions for next week will be as follows:

  • Monday 16th January 9.30 to 10.30 Sign-Up Session, and 10.45 to 11.45 Open Session, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Wednesday 18th 9.30 to 10.30 Open Session, and 10.45 to 11.45 Sign-Up Session, both in Studio 2 at The Edge
  • Thursday 19th 9.30 to 10.30 Open Session, and 10.45 to 11.45 Sign-Up Session, both in the Youth Centre at St Clement’s

By the way – they say that the third Monday of January is the most depressing Monday of the year. I say think again – get down to Music Makers and we’ll blow all the winter blues away!
I hope you can make it along at some point this week.
Cheers
Owen