Stringbabies®[cellobabies®, violababies® & violinbabies®] Kay's Blog

Dec 01, 2011 National Plan for Music Education

[author: kay tucker - categories: Strings]

The long awaited National Plan for Music Education (NPME)was released on last Friday.

In it, the government re-affirm their commitment to music education and this is good news indeed.

Like many of my colleagues in the music education business, I am sifting through the fine detail but what is very apparent is the strong emphasis on early years music and opportunities for instrumental tuition from the age of 5 years.

Oct 27, 2011 Stringbabies in Surrey Arts

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

A year on from becoming partners, Stringbabies in Surrey Arts is going very well.  A very interesting article on the project is on the Incorporated Society of Musicians website.

Sep 21, 2011 Stringbabies goes South West

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

The Stringbabies family is spreading. At the beginning of this term Music Cornwall (formerly Cornwall Music service) became Partners.

Sep 19, 2011 Bassbabies on the way

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

I had a lovely 2 weeks in France during August. No internet or TV….just sunshine, a swimming pool, a piano and lots of books to read.
The emails hit me as soon as we landed on the British coast…nearly 200 of them.

Jul 21, 2011 A partner School in West Sussex

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

At the end of another academic year I am pleased to announce our first West Sussex partner in Amberley Church of England First School.

Jun 30, 2011 A new Partner

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

At the start of a new month, I am pleased to announce that Stringbabies also has a new partner. Stringbabies will be appearing in Scotland in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama’s Musicworks centre in North Ayrshire.

Jun 13, 2011 Stringbabies Fundraising appeal 2011

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

For the very first time, I decided to dedicate a few weeks to encouraging Stringbabies pupils & teachers to raise money for a worthy cause.

Mar 15, 2011 Tales from recent travels

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

I am being kept out of mischief with plenty of festivals to adjudicate at as well as mentoring at regional festivals for the National Festival of Music for Youth.

Dec 09, 2010 Just before Christmas hits us

[author: KayTheEd - categories: ]

I intend this to be the last in my flurry of blogs for 2010. Christmas is nearly upon us….
I am very pleased to welcome a new partner - Thornbury Music studios near Guildford in Surrey. [follow this link for information about Stringbabies partnerships]

We have gained quite a few teacher members too - nicely spread throughout the UK. I have been receiving some wonderful feedback from teachers and hope to include a few anecdotes over coming months.

Dec 06, 2010 Following on…..

[author: KayTheEd - categories: ]

Short blog this time..
Laura Griffin, Manager of Teaching & Learning at Surrey Arts said I should put the office phone number on the website, as they are very happy to talk to others about the Stringbabies project.

Dec 03, 2010 It’s snowing! Time to write a blog!

[author: KayTheEd - categories: ]

This is the second winter in a row like this. I have lived down here for nearly 21 years and can recall only 1 or 2 cold snaps in all that time. The scene outside reminds me of my my childhood in Yorkshire, where such weather was common in winter.

That’s beside the point - I have no pupils to teach so I can catch up with a little news.

About 3 weeks ago I went to visit the Stringbabies project in Surrey along with the Manager for Teaching & Learning at Surrey Arts, Laura Griffin…

Oct 01, 2010 A rather nice surprise

[author: KayTheEd - categories: ]

The new academic year got off to a rather interesting start this year, as I received an email from Rhinegold publishing to inform me that a ‘glowing’ review of the cello books would be appearing in the October issue of ‘Music Teacher’ magazine. You can imagine my surprise has I had not even submitted the books for review!

Jul 20, 2010 A new chapter

[author: KayTheEd - categories: ]

I’m really pleased to announce that Surrey Arts are set to become the first music service in the UK to take Stringbabies into their provision of instrumental lessons.

There seems to be a trend developing for beginning to start string players at an earlier stage than has been the case for years and of course it makes perfect sense to do so! Surrey will be using Stringbabies with children from Reception up to year 2 (age 4 to 6) and they have been very busy recruiting budding young cellists & violinists!

I have Yvette Madden, a good friend and Surrey Arts teacher to thank largely for this exciting development as she has worked enthusiastically with Cellobabies, from the very first and has reaped the same encouraging results as myself and other colleagues.  The staff involved at Surrey are incredibly enthusiastic & motivated so this promises to be good! At the time of writing there has been significant interest from four other services - more news to follow as and when!

What is particularly nice is that I started my career with Surrey Music Service, as Surrey Arts were then known.

Finally, Edition 3 of the Cello & Violin books are now with the publishers, Verite Press. I finished the books nearly 2 weeks ahead of schedule and was so relieved once we had the proofs signed off!

Feb 25, 2010 Books update

[author: kay tucker - categories: ]

It has been a really hectic start to 2010. Having given presentations for Surrey Arts, Exeter Young Strings and most recently at an inter-authority day in Kilmarnock, Scotland, I have had plenty to keep me going!

Before I take to the road for a string of festivals, I thought now would be a good a time as any to post an update on books. The Cellobabies & Violinbabies books are being revised, in line with the new Violababies book and I hope to have these ready to go out by September. I have already started an older student’s version of the Cello book (for starters) as I have been asked several times and it seems that teachers are using the ‘Babies’ books with ages 3 to adult!!

The first few pages of ‘Pianobabies’ are coming off the computer now and going to 2 lovely teachers who want to try them out. So all in all - a busy time!

Nov 17, 2009 Time to draw breath….

[author: KayTheEd - categories: Violinbabies Cellobabies Violababies]

It has been a really busy time since the last post. Workshops in Cumbria & Scotland – festivals – concerts & the teaching (most important!) Not to forget, the completion of ‘Violababies’, which was released last month.