QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“The human mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working before you’re even born and doesn’t stop again until you sit down to write a song.” Roger Miller
It’s a comfort to know that even prolific Novelty songwriters such as Roger Miller (remember “The Day I Jumped from Uncle Harvey’s Plane?” No, neither do we..) find sometimes that creatively, their well’s run dry, and all their buckets are broken. The muse doesn’t always strike when you want it to, though the quest for a Christmas Number One seems to spark the creative bit of the brain, but with bells on. Premises was fortunate enough to host the making of a cracking, upbeat Christmas tune called This Side of Xmas, by Dovile and The Moonbacks, a co-production featuring Dovile Pipiraite on vocals, and produced by Anthony Doll, and a rootin' tootin' bunch of musicians and line dancers, some of whom you will have run into, here. Have a look and a listen, here.
Meanwhile, onwards and upwards into the New Year, where we have a bunch of fun stuff for you, whether you’ve been naughty or nice.
NIKKI YEOH’S PIANO REFRESHER COURSE. 31st JAN-2 FEB 2025
This is a three-day piano refresher course led by Nikki Yeoh with other star tutors Jason Rebello, Dian Gasper and on the third day, trumpeter Byron Wallen. We’ve only got three more places so please roll up and sign up!
Those of you who have been on Nikki’s other courses here - the performance course and the summer recording week - will know how she gets the best out of each player.
So, what are you refreshing? The theory is generally that you might have slacked off over the festive period OR, had more time to play and saw or heard that you needed to brush up. This year we’ve made a few investments so you’ll have your own great Roland FP30X to play. The course runs over three days, 31st Jan-2nd Feb, with Nikki and Jason teaching the first day, Nikki and Dian teaching the second day and Nikki and Byron working together on the third day for a workshop in transcription and also to actually play with him in the afternoon!
Topics to be covered are chord progressions, solos, playing in duos, practice, comping for solos, transcription and several other things to be confirmed.
The total cost is £250 and you can hold your place with a £50 deposit.
We’ll have a schedule closer to the date, but the first day runs from 10-5:30 and 10:30-5:30 on the other days. If you’re keen, if this is of interest to you, I would ask you in the first instance to tell me a bit about your playing experience.
This is about mid-range level.
So not for total beginners.
For more info or to tell me what you can do: michele@premiseseducation.org
FEBRUARY HALF TERM VOICE JAM
Clive Brown returns once more with his popular Voice Jam project, a free, four-day choir primarily for Hackney and Tower Hamlets Secondary school students who love singing, but we DO take students from other boroughs if space allows. It’s a fun, educational choral singing jam, with the young people putting their own spin on modern rock, pop or soul classics, though we took a popular sojourn into gospel in October.
No previous experience required, but a love of singing and a desire to record in our studio and get a taste of a professional recording atmosphere would help. We choose one song and the choir chooses the other.
Clive’s unique approach means that each singer sings all parts, blended together in a mix that sounds big and majestic.
The days start at a teenage friendly 2:30 and run til 6:30, from the 17th-19th of February, and from 11-4:30 on recording day, which includes a party with free food and drink and an opportunity for all singers to freestyle on the mics.
You can email me for more information: michele@premiseseducation.org or scan the QR code (above).
TWO WORKSHOPS WITH YOLANDA CHARLES, 28TH-29TH MARCH
Premises Music Education Programme are delighted to welcome back Yolanda Charles MBE, internationally renowned bassist and songwriter, to run workshops over two days on the 20th and 21st March 2025.
Her insights into all aspects of playing bass, as well as insider industry tips, have been invaluable not only to bass players but drummers as well.
The first day is a session for electric bass players, which will offer a diagnostic approach to posture and finger positioning; exercises to improve fingerboard and plucking technique; riffing and phrasing; harmony basics; harmonic choices; rhythms and timing, and bassline construction via melodic structures. The day runs from 10-4 with an hour’s lunch break, and there will be plenty of opportunity to practice. All this for £95!
Now you can stop there, or join Yolanda again the next day with her Instra-mentals Rhythm Section Clinic. This will be a shorter, intensive afternoon session: 2:30-5:30, and she will be joined by Nick Linnik, guitarist and producer for Project PH plus a guest star percussionist, TBA! This masterclass will offer insight on how to develop ideas for arrangements to form a cohesive rhythm section and to improve musical communication between band members.
Yolanda will offer insights and share her experiences as a session musician, band leader, bassist, record label MD and producer. The trio will perform a series of compositions which will be broken down into the parts played on each instrument. You will also have the opportunity to join the group for some of the exercises. This session is suitable for bass players, drummers, and guitarists who want to learn more about locking in with the rhythm section.
The clinic is £50 but we will have some £40 slots for those who book for both sessions.
For more information: michele@premiseseducation.org
WHO’S BEEN IN? Amongst other luminaries, last month we welcomed, Rachel Francis, Charles Tolliver Orchestra, Celeste, Tom Bentall, London Voice Academy, Cherry, Rizzle Kicks, Wasia Project, Shivaova, Miraculous Mule, Stormzy, Tellison, Robyn Herfellow, Attawalpa, Lewis Hamilton, Bedlam, Maya Spiers, Void, Loren Kramar, Hope of The States,Tendai, Heuristics, The Swingles, Rio Rainz, Arthur Hill, Lava La Rue, Biig Piig, London Voice Academy, Miles Kane, Arthur Hill, Folded Wing, Gia Ford, Trinity Laban, Mudi Sama, Kenyon Dixon, Bleach, Faith & Victory, Blue Lab Beats, Say She She, Pulp, Alison Grant, Sid James Experience, Micro-Corpse, Deaf School, Alternative Conservatoire, Triggerfish, Nubya Garcia, PP Arnold, Chinchilla, The Weil Things, Boy Bleach, Lurine Cato, Fossils, Sienna Spiro, Spearmint, Belle Chen, Daniel Casimir, Spiritualized, Sunrise & Jupiter, Dora Jar, Springfield Quintet, Jason Derulo, Maribou State, Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Soul Motion, Moonshine Heavies, Cam Willis, Passing Ships, Sikelela, Nectar Wood, Berwyn, Huntsmen, Duke Street Big Band, Charlotte Plank, Alex Wilson, Chris The Jungle Drummer, Sundara Karma, Portico Quartet, Britain’s Got Talent, Marti Perramon, Emeli Sande, The Last Dinner Party (see pic below) and many many others.
CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR CLOSING TIMES
Please note, we will be closed for business 5pm 23rd December and re-open as usual at 10am on 2nd January. A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Premises People. Have fun and we’ll see you when we re-open or get our specs fixed, whichever comes first. X
AND FINALLY...
