JAZZMAN COMES TP GLENBERVIE
IT was jazz hands at the ready for Glenbervie Primary pupils last week, as they enjoyed a masterclass in music improvisation.
Former Stonehaven man Richard Michael returned to his Mearns roots to share the wealth of his jazz experience with pupils at the school, alongside saxophonist Richard Ingham.
And there were dance moves aplenty from the children who couldn't resist the jazz rhythms that the pair produced.
Mr Michael is one of Scotland's most versatile musicians and has spent 30 years working with Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra (FYJO) during his career as composer, performer and workshop leader.
He is Radio Scotland's Jazz Jargonbuster and has demonstrated many styles of jazz in The Jazz House, as well as opening up classical music to a new audience in Classics Uncovered.
Mr Michael, who lectures at St Andrews University, has been bringing jazz to the North-east of Scotland as part of Youth Music Initiative and has just released a solo piano album, The Deil's Away Wi the Jazzman.
He said: "This is seriously one of the best schools we've been to, the pupils have been outstanding. They've got rhythm, lots of energy and they really got into it today, which was brilliant.
"The last time I was in Glenbervie was 45 years ago with my dad, the late John Michael of Christie Crescent in Stonehaven and to come back and do this is just great. I was born and bred in Stonehaven, my mother still stays in the town. I went to Mackie Academy and I was the first boy to go on and have a career in music from the school, so it is very special to be back in the area."
Richard Ingham is a Fellow in New Music and Composer in Residence at St Andrews University, and holds saxophone consultancy posts throughout Britain. He has recently completed lecture tours of South-East Asia and India and toured China and Japan lecturing, teaching, and conducting.
He added: "We love doing these workshops, it's really good and the pupils today have just been terrific."
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Weather for Stonehaven
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
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