wellingborough

WELLINGBOROUGH
MUSIC & ARTS CENTRE
A parents guide to NMPAT Wellingborough
Meet The Staff:
Centre Head: Joanne Green, Woodwind
NMPAT Wellingborough Staff:
Karen Bell, Strings
Elaine Brown, Woodwind
Delwyn Calcraft-Jones, Percussion
Gill DHooghe, Early Years
Lily D’Hooghe, Early Years & Art
Michael Hickman, Guitar
Andy Johnson, Brass
Christine Jones, Lower Strings
Louise Jones, Drama
Katharine Parsons, Strings
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Martin Reeves, Ukulele
Phil Searing, Rock Academy
Danny Smith, Brass
Adrian Taylor, Voice
Helen Taylor, Early Years, Woodwind
Kevin Taylor, Brass
Sarah Wise, Woodwind
Admin Assistant:
Ewa Welters
Student Helpers:
Rob Atkinson
Mark Crooks
Child Safety
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Children 8 and under should be supervised by a nominated adult – who is responsible for taking
them between lessons , to the toilet, and supervising them at break time.
Parents must ensure children move between lessons promptly crossing between the music block and
the main building.
Please be aware that the site is used by other groups.
All adults must sign in at the Main Desk and wear a dated sticker and must challenge those not
doing so.
Staff and checked volunteer helpers will be wearing a NMPAT badge
All children are expected to spend the midmorning break in the hall.
Concerns relating to child safety and protection must be raised with the Centre Head who will treat
every concern seriously and always respect confidentiality.
Filming – all photos and videos must be kept private and not shared on open social media.
All registered members (including adults) must complete an Essential Details Form before attending
any lessons.
Commitment
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In order for our staff to deliver high quality teaching and performances we really need your full
commitment in attending sessions, arriving promptly to enable lessons to begin on time and supporting
our end of term performances. Please see ‘’The Info’’ newsletter at:
www.NMPAT.co.uk/wellingborough to view the Centre Calendar.
Our Awards Success
In March 2015 WM&AC Junior Wind and Junior Strings came First Place in the in the annual
Wellingborough Rotary Music Festival.
At National level we have a proud record of achievement in the National Festival of Music for Youth with
groups from the Centre qualifying for the final, obtaining many awards and three appearances at the
School Proms.
Concerts and Performances
There are a multitude of performance opportunities throughout the year, and our members play an
active part in local events, concerts and festivals.
For all notices and up to date information about the Centre, please follow our facebook page:
www.facebook.com/wellycentre
www.NMPAT.co.uk/wellingborough
www.twitter.com/wellycentre
Early Years Pre-School – Year 3
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Taught by Kodaly trained teachers our early years programme is designed to help children of all abilities
acquire musical knowledge, concepts and skills through singing and movement games.
Pre-School, From 3 months—4 Years
Session 1 (9.15am) Bouncing Beans - First steps dance & movement.
Session 2 (10am) Beat Bugs - First music fun for parents & tots
Session 3 (10.55am) Art Beat - Arts & Crafts for parents & tots
Reception, Age 4-5
Session 1 (10am) Cheeky Chimps - First drama Fun!
Session 2 (10.55am) Chirpy Cellos/Fiddling Frogs - An introduction to learning the mini Cello/violin Stage 1
(FREE Instrument loan to members)
Session 3 (11.35am) Rhythm Rats - Music fun Kodaly/Dalcroze based
Years 1-3, Age 5-8
Session 1 (9.15am) Glock Around The Clock—Songs & activities with tuned percussion
Session 2 (10am) String Beans—Mini violins & cellos. Stage 2
Session 3 (10.55am) Pitch Parrots— More music from Kodaly/Dalcroze based. Rhythm reading, developing
skills such as reading ahead, memory and canon singing.
Session 4 (11.35am) - Mini Crescendos—Junior Choir
Main Centre—Year 3+
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Students with a general interest in the arts can choose from music sessions such as Afro Drumming,
Beginner Guitars, Ukuleles, Recorder, Rock & Pop Academy, Choir, Musical Theatre, Drama, Art classes and
Keyboards, which need no previous experience and for which instruments can be provided.
For those already learning an instrument groups include orchestras, jazz bands, wind bands, brass band,
folk band, ukulele groups, guitar groups, a variety of string groups and choral groups.
We cater for all abilities – from the absolute beginner to the more advanced – and we cover an extensive
range of genres from classical to rock, jazz and folk together with musicianship, exam support and theory
training.
Adult Classes
Adults are welcome in many of our groups and we have two stress-busting classes for adults only. ‘Welly
Warblers’’, our very own Adult Choir and ‘’Generation Gap’’ is a chance to dust off your musical
instrument and play all sorts of music – whatever works!
Drama, Acting Skills and Musical Theatre
The drama and musical theatre groups are a great place to build confidence, and give our pupils an
insight in to technical elements of drama through activities, games and performance opportunities.
Musical Theatre includes specialist training from our vocal coach.
A parent’s guide to ‘G.M’
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The G.M. or General Musicianship classes happen at 10.55 to 11.35am and every centre member
from Key stage 2 and above is encouraged to take part.
The classes aim to reinforce, consolidate and widen your child’s knowledge, understanding and
enjoyment of music, often running in parallel with their school instrumental lessons.
All aspects of music theory will be covered from rhythm, reading the notes and the different
families of instruments, through to composition, improvising and listening to music.
The classes are split according to abilities and age so each session is appropriate to its
participants. In addition, there are two classes specifically focusing on the ABRSM theory syllabus
for which the pupils can opt if they need to get their Grade five theory qualifications. The Grade
5 theory qualification is essential if your child would like to go on to study Grade 6 ABRSM on their
instrument. The class teachers will be able to enter students opting for a theory exam and letters
will be issued when the student is ready.
G.M Groups
SOLFA STARS
Room 21
Ms Parsons
Year 3-5
PRE-GRADE 1 THEORY CLASS
Room 24
Mrs Green
Year 6+
GRADE 1-2 THEORY CLASS
M2
Mr Smith
Grade 1-2 Theory Exam Class
GRADES 3+ THEORY CLASS
Room 22
Mr Johnson
Grade 3-5+ Theory Exam Class
Useful Facts: UCAS points
Students with ABRSM and Trinity College London qualifications at Grade 6 to 8 benefit from UCAS
points which can be used as part of a university or college application in the UK.
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Pass
Merit
Dist.
Pass
Merit
Dist.
Pass
Merit
Dist.
Practical
25
40
45
40
55
60
55
70
75
Theory
5
10
15
10
15
20
20
25
30
Exam Support
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This class runs in session 2, 10.00 to 10.40 with Ms Parsons in Room 24.
This class is a bespoke extra support lesson for those preparing for instrumental exams Grade 1+.
Assistance in both Trinity College London and ABRSM aural training are available.
Please attend for a minimum of 1 term before your exam date and know which exam board you are
using.
Listening lies at the heart of all good music-making. Developing aural awareness is fundamental to
musical training because having a ‘musical ear’ impacts on all aspects of musicianship.
Singing, both silently in the head and out loud, is one of the best ways to develop the ‘musical ear’. It
connects the internal imagining of sound, the ‘inner ear’, with the external creation of it, without the
necessity of mechanically having to ‘find the note’ on an instrument. By integrating aural activities in
imaginative ways in the lesson, preparation for the aural tests within an exam will be a natural extension
of what is already an essential part of the learning experience.
In the exam
Aural tests are an integral part of all Practical graded exams. The tests are administered by the
examiner from the piano. For any test that requires a sung response, pitch rather than vocal quality is the
object. The examiner will be happy to adapt to the vocal range of the candidate, whose responses may
be sung to any vowel (or consonant followed by a vowel), hummed or whistled (and at a different
octave, if appropriate).
Groups & Classes
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NMPAT Wellingborough has a wide range of group activities for all standards and ages led by a team of
enthusiastic and experienced teachers.
Over 40 different Music, Drama and Art sessions run throughout the morning for children aged 3-Adult!
Every term-time Saturday from 9.15am-12.15pm.
Children will be placed in to groups according to interest and ability, this is at the teacher’s discretion.
Every visitor is entitled to one free trial morning, after that subscriptions are paid termly.
Please always make us aware that you are visiting by signing in at the front desk and we will be able to
show you around the Centre.
How much?
2 or more sessions: £80 per 10 week term
1 session only: £55 per 10 week term
How to pay?
On-line, through Parent-Pay
Please follow these simple steps to pay online for NMPAT Wellingborough Fees:
1. www.NMPAT/Wellingborough.co.uk
2. Click on ‘’Contact details and price’’
3. Click on ‘’How to pay—Parent Pay Shop’’
4. Go to either the Saturday Centre – two or more sessions or Saturday Centre – One Session option
5. Enter student details
6. Select the Centre – Choose Wellingborough Centre
7. Select payment type
8. Scroll down and complete all other mandatory fields.
Please note that we do not issue routine invoices, subscriptions are due at the first lesson at the beginning
of each payment period. Late payment of subscriptions will carry a £10.00 administration charge. Any
subsequent follow up reminders sent to you will be treated as an invoice and incur an additional
administration charge of £10.00.
BE PREPARED
Please remember to bring a sharp pencil and rubber to GM and aural lessons.
A notebook/manuscript paper would be useful too.
WM&AC pencils with erasers for sale at the Main
Desk!
NMPAT Wellingborough
Based at Wrenn School
London Road
Wellingborough
NN8 2DQ
Phone: 01604 637117
Mobile:: 07582665071
E-mail: wellingborough@NMPAT.co.uk
Website: www.NMPAT.co.uk/wellingborough
Facebook:/Twitter: Welly Centre