Swindon Youth Piano Festival- February 6th 2017
Over forty lucky young pianist from across, the Borough of Swindon had the opportunity to perform on Jamie Cullum’s beloved Yamaha grand piano at this year’s Swindon Youth Piano Festival. This was staged at the Commonweal C6 auditorium on the evening of Monday 6th February.
“It wasn’t a competition, but a sharing event to help boost the confidence of young players irrespective of grades achieved. It was a great evening and the piano sounded beautiful,” said organiser Josie Williams from Commonweal School.
“John Cullum, Jamie Cullum’s dad came along and was really impressed by how Jamie’s piano was being used in the community and he stood up and said words of encouragement. He also said that Jamie said to give the piano a kick for him! The school were very fortunate to win Jamie’s beloved Yamaha Grand Piano, by popular vote following a national competition, two years ago. The piano is used on a regular basis for piano lessons and concerts. It is fantastic that we are able to have this wonderful piano for all young people in Swindon to play on and it really does make a difference to inspire the next generation,” Josie added who organised the festival alongside Commonweal’s music teacher Leader Andrea Grearson.
Prior to the evening concert students had the opportunity to take part in a masterclass with music teacher Jon Driver. “The master class focused on bits they wanted help on in their piece that they performed. Bits they were worried about and tips to improve their performance,” said Jon.
Jon ended the evening and played Beethoven Pathetique Sonata 1st Movement a set piece for the GCSE music Year 10’s) and also All of Me by John Schmidt.
“I enjoyed the piano festival a lot as it was nice to see so much talent and meet new people. I was a bit nervous at the start, but enjoyed it thoroughly after I performed. I would definitely do it again. I performed Bach’s Minuet,” said Jaipreet Manik, age 13.
“I really enjoyed taking part because it was a great experience. I was nervous at first, but Jamie’s piano is lovely to play, really special! It was inspiring to watch everyone else perform and overall I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I would love to do it again next year,” said Jasmine Sheppard, age 13.
“Let’s take a moment to comprehend the musician. They are given the opportunity to try their hand at an instrument or their own voice; they take to it; form a bond with it; they practice and practice and practice; and on that journey they must overcome setbacks, deal with the thousands of wrong notes, challenging phrasing, rhythm, and technique as they hone those skills and begin to control their art. All the time they must be self-critical yet never faltering in their dedication towards some never-reachable notion of perfection. And then an opportunity arises for the results of that work to be presented / exposed in front of an audience, to play on Jamie Cullum’s old Yamaha grand—and with minimal time to adjust to it. The deadline is looming, and the nerves are rising, are they ready? Then the night is happening, and the hands are shaking, the music’s higher up and further away on this piano, the stool is different, the lighting is intimidating, where’s middle C?, people are looking, judging?, supporting—yes supporting, waiting; and it’s all on them for that 2-minute-moment: fight or flight! Yet from the audience’s comprehension, we simply enjoyed an evening of wonderful music; wonderful variety in personalities, ages, and musical tastes—and were in awe at how many and how good they all are. Any hint of adrenaline was superbly managed and utilised by every one of these fine young musicians and everything that surfaced was pure musical energy, communication, and aesthetics. All that hard work rewarded the audience and—importantly—that hard work rewarded the players themselves. Swindon is blessed to have an institution such as Commonweal School that offers these important opportunities for musicians to bravely have a go, to be offered guidance and inspiration by the superb John Driver in the form of his masterclass and concluding performance, and for them to achieve something that is theirs for ever. Everything that it is to be a performing musician builds personal strength, independence, confidence, and character—and this of course supports everything that the future will throw at them whether academic, professional, or life in general.”—Julian Pinn (Commonweal Parent Governor)
“Really lovely evening - inspiring, uplifting and fab. I'd be terrified, so I admire the bravery of all the students - and their hard work and commitment!” Kath Brown parent
“It wasn’t a competition, but a sharing event to help boost the confidence of young players irrespective of grades achieved. It was a great evening and the piano sounded beautiful,” said organiser Josie Williams from Commonweal School.
“John Cullum, Jamie Cullum’s dad came along and was really impressed by how Jamie’s piano was being used in the community and he stood up and said words of encouragement. He also said that Jamie said to give the piano a kick for him! The school were very fortunate to win Jamie’s beloved Yamaha Grand Piano, by popular vote following a national competition, two years ago. The piano is used on a regular basis for piano lessons and concerts. It is fantastic that we are able to have this wonderful piano for all young people in Swindon to play on and it really does make a difference to inspire the next generation,” Josie added who organised the festival alongside Commonweal’s music teacher Leader Andrea Grearson.
Prior to the evening concert students had the opportunity to take part in a masterclass with music teacher Jon Driver. “The master class focused on bits they wanted help on in their piece that they performed. Bits they were worried about and tips to improve their performance,” said Jon.
Jon ended the evening and played Beethoven Pathetique Sonata 1st Movement a set piece for the GCSE music Year 10’s) and also All of Me by John Schmidt.
“I enjoyed the piano festival a lot as it was nice to see so much talent and meet new people. I was a bit nervous at the start, but enjoyed it thoroughly after I performed. I would definitely do it again. I performed Bach’s Minuet,” said Jaipreet Manik, age 13.
“I really enjoyed taking part because it was a great experience. I was nervous at first, but Jamie’s piano is lovely to play, really special! It was inspiring to watch everyone else perform and overall I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I would love to do it again next year,” said Jasmine Sheppard, age 13.
“Let’s take a moment to comprehend the musician. They are given the opportunity to try their hand at an instrument or their own voice; they take to it; form a bond with it; they practice and practice and practice; and on that journey they must overcome setbacks, deal with the thousands of wrong notes, challenging phrasing, rhythm, and technique as they hone those skills and begin to control their art. All the time they must be self-critical yet never faltering in their dedication towards some never-reachable notion of perfection. And then an opportunity arises for the results of that work to be presented / exposed in front of an audience, to play on Jamie Cullum’s old Yamaha grand—and with minimal time to adjust to it. The deadline is looming, and the nerves are rising, are they ready? Then the night is happening, and the hands are shaking, the music’s higher up and further away on this piano, the stool is different, the lighting is intimidating, where’s middle C?, people are looking, judging?, supporting—yes supporting, waiting; and it’s all on them for that 2-minute-moment: fight or flight! Yet from the audience’s comprehension, we simply enjoyed an evening of wonderful music; wonderful variety in personalities, ages, and musical tastes—and were in awe at how many and how good they all are. Any hint of adrenaline was superbly managed and utilised by every one of these fine young musicians and everything that surfaced was pure musical energy, communication, and aesthetics. All that hard work rewarded the audience and—importantly—that hard work rewarded the players themselves. Swindon is blessed to have an institution such as Commonweal School that offers these important opportunities for musicians to bravely have a go, to be offered guidance and inspiration by the superb John Driver in the form of his masterclass and concluding performance, and for them to achieve something that is theirs for ever. Everything that it is to be a performing musician builds personal strength, independence, confidence, and character—and this of course supports everything that the future will throw at them whether academic, professional, or life in general.”—Julian Pinn (Commonweal Parent Governor)
“Really lovely evening - inspiring, uplifting and fab. I'd be terrified, so I admire the bravery of all the students - and their hard work and commitment!” Kath Brown parent