 Serving music in Methodism
MCMS e-news -
August 2008
In this issue:
Methodist Arts Ltd
Work to set up the new organisation continues apace. This is the body which will effectively by MCMS's successor, and whose objectives will be to serve all the creative arts within the Methodist Church. MCMS members have approved a change to our constitution which permits us to use our funds to create the new charity, and they have also approved the objects of the new organisation. Further work has been done on the draft Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the initial directors have been nominated so that registration of the new company can proceed. It is hoped to formally launch the new organisation at the MCMS conference in October. As yet the name by which it will be know has still to be finalised.
There's still time to book for our 2008 annual conference. Full details are on our website ( click here ).
Our leaders for the weekend include:
Alison Adam of the Iona Community
The Revd Mark Wakelin the new secretary for internal relationships on the Connexional Team
The Christian Drama Resource Centre,
an ecumenical group working to promote the dramatic arts;
Members of the Music Resource Group
developing the proposed new hymn book and associated resources;
Barry Rose, former cathedral organist, who will run workshops on organ playing, and contribute to the concert on the Saturday evening. There will also be opportunities for four-part choral singing or to play in the band for Sunday worship (All instruments welcome).
To find out more about what our conferences are like, don't hesitate to contact Graham Tidmarsh (01793) 782584.
Details of speakers and prices
Download a booking form (PDF format)
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BMYC taster weekend
The British Methodist Youth Choir
is running a taster weekend for anyone aged 14-27 who is interested in joining the choir. The weekend will be the 30th - 31st August in York.
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All expenses will be covered by the choir. There will be an opportunity to meet and socialise with the choir, and to learn some of its repertoire. Anyone interested should send an email to membership@bmyc.info Please pass this information on to any young people you know who could be interested.
BMYC administrator Kevin Soulsby writes:
BMYC has been running for over 25 years and is made up of 16 to 27 year-old Christians from across the UK. The choir travels around Methodist Churches performing concerts, contributing to services and sharing in fellowship. We sing a wide variety of music from madrigals to musicals, and we are lucky to have new arrangements of hymns written specially for the choir. There is a relaxed atmosphere and we enjoy eating copious amounts of cake!
For more information about the choir, visit www.bmyc.info .
An Organ for a Methodist Church
A reminder that MCMS's Organ Advisory Service,
has updated its booklet
An organ for a Methodist Church
to give an all-round introduction to the whole subject of church organs, including all current technologies. It surveys the differing types of pipe organ and the technologies employed by electronic organs, addresses issues of siting and acoustics, and touches on alternative technologies such as "self playing" organs, electronic keyboards, and even pianos.
This is the perfect introduction for non-musicians needing to address the question of procuring or replacing an instrument for worship. It is also an excellent overview for organists who want to be better informed about alternatives to pipe organs. Copies are available from the Organ Advisory Service, 50 Bayham Road, Bristol, BS4 2DR, price £2.95, or via bookshops (ISBN 978-1901084-65-8).
Please help us to make the Organ Advisory Service better known within our church by forwarding this to anyone you know who is having to address issues relating to an organ, whether acquisition, repair, or disposal of a redundant instrument.
Click here to download an explanatory leaflet about the Organ Advisory Service (PDF format).
Large print music
for people with sight problems
MCMS member Richard Lucas writes:
It is a fact of life that many people who sing in our church choirs or who play music for our services are older people. And many older people have a sight problem. It would be a shame for people to feel they have to give up music making because they are not able to see the music copy. You may have tried enlarging the copy and ended up with pages to big to handle and with enormous spaces you can get lost in. Help is available from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the form of Modified Stave Notation.
Modified Stave Notation enlarges the music generally and makes a score more consistent, but it also alters the proportions involved. For example, the gaps between notes from left to right are not enlarged as much as the vertical gaps between the stave lines. There are many other ways that it can also be adjusted to meet individual needs.
RNIB can send you a sample booklet of different layouts, formats and sizes. You can then discuss your particular requirements with the people who make the adaptation. Many choral pieces have already been adapted but RNIB can also take individual requests subject to demand. For most people with a sight problem this service is absolutely free.
Full details, including contacts for further information,
are on the RNIB website .
Telephone: 01752 690092
Email: ivytcsw@rnib.org.uk
Richard Lucas is a local preacher in the Bristol Kingswood Circuit; and Health, Care and Social Inclusion Manager for RNIB South West
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July issue of Notes
If you are an MCMS member you should have received the July 2008 issue of Notes last month. If you did not receive your copy, or there was any problem with the mailing,
please let the membership officer know. |
If you are not a member, but would like a complimentary copy of Notes , let me know, I have a number of spare copies. This issue includes Connexional Music Advisor Michael Davies on "When things go wrong"; Spencer Freeman's reviews of new Christmas music; and the final part of Geoff Batty's "Reluctant Organist" series. The issue also includes two articles on non-musical arts.
Links and contacts
MCMS website
Join MCMS download an application form (PDF format)
Organ advisory service
Worship bands
Creative Arts (Methodist Church website)
Connexional music advisors (Methodist Church website)
Training events: Christine Lawley (01403) 257406
Annual conference: Graham Tidmarsh (01793) 782584
Organ advice & instruments in worship: Philip Carter (0117) 977 9152
Worship bands: Rob Newton (01509) 233396
Long service certificates:< Margaret Higson (01204) 852538
Membership: Michael Boxall (020) 8669 9744
"Notes" and all other enquiries: John Bailey (0114) 236 7196
Help our mailing list to grow
Please encourage church music colleagues to register for MCMS e-news by sending an email to e-news@methodistmusic.org. They will then be kept in touch with significant events and developments in the world of church music and other creative arts. Email addresses are not revealed to anyone else. Those involved in other worship arts are encouraged to register their interest via our online questionnaire.
About MCMS e-news
MCMS e-news goes to MCMS members and others who have supplied us with an email address, including people who have responded to the creative arts questionnaire. Send items for inclusion to the membership officer. If possible, please include a link to a relevant website and/or an email contact. Contributions should have some relevance to church music or other worship arts. MCMS does not guarantee publication and reserves the right to edit any copy received.
Not on the mailing list? If this was forwarded to you and you would like to receive these bulletins regularly, click here to register your email address. By registering, you agree to receive email communications from MCMS. Addresses will not be passed on, and will not be visible to recipients of MCMS e-news. Any MCMS member who prefers use of their email address to be restricted to membership matters should notify the membership officer. If you would rather not receive further communications from MCMS, please click here.
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