WYMU Club 28 January 2012

Hi Folks

As the ukulele numbers have grown significantly over the past few months it has created higher sound levels within the club premises. This has proved to be a major problem for the Mandolin Players and as a result there has been a dramatic fall in numbers attending. There were only 4 mandolin players this week – one joined in with the ukulele group and, unfortunately, two went home feeling very disgruntled with the situation, leaving one lone Mandolin Player!

Sadly, without supporting mandolin players – to manage the club premises successfully, it seems sensible to discontinue the Thursday evening Mandolin Group meetings as from next week.

As an alternative you might like to visit the Irish Club in Bradford on Monday evenings where Michael Murphy is running a Mandolin tutorial group. Several of our members and myself are already attending this New Group, to which others are very welcome to join.

The more advanced players might prefer to join the ‘all instruments’ sessions, held weekly at the Irish Club on Wednesday evenings.

It would be great to see you there.

Thank You All for your support over the past months since the Club first began; it has been a pleasure meeting you.

I’m sure that most people have made progress on their chosen musical path with the help and inspiration found within the club, but like most things in life, nothing stays the same and people move on.

That’s how I originally came to start the Club!

Very best wishes for the future

Ron Mollett

Contact Michael for details:     Mobile  07771203562        Email:  michael.murphy1949@ntlworld.com

                                                    The address of the  Bradford Irish Club is:

                                            Bradford Irish Club, Rebecca Street , Bradford BD1 2RX

Hi Folks,

A big thank you to to everyone came and helped make our Christmas Party such a great night.

Apologies for the quality of the photos, the lighting wasn't very good so they are not sharp but at least they will remind you of the evening.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Baildon at Christmas event

On Sunday 11th December several members from the 3 ukulele groups played Christmas Songs on the stage of the Ian Clough Hall to a very appreciative audience! 

Well done everyone, it was great fun.

Hi Folks               WOW ! -  LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN BAILDON!

Hope you all enjoyed our ‘Night of Ukuleles’   

I thought the Concert went Extremely Well.

Thanks to everyone who contributed and gave some of their time to ensure we had a successful show.

Thanks also for setting the sound system up, moving stools to the stage and chairs from the committee room into the main area, (and most importantly, for not forgetting to return them from whence they came)

It is because of those that wish to share their ideas, skills and expertise with others that we are continuing to move forward as a strong, supportive Music Club.

It has been a long road but I’m truly amazed at how you all have made it so successful. Thank You All again.

The group’s performance schedule worked very well and finished spot on time at 9’oclock!  -  well done!

Thanks also to the Baildon Club members who gave their support and helped with the raffle. (I don’t expect we will see Walter for another week till he’s finished off the whisky!)

Alan 'UKE' Harris  and his Hot Rhythm & Dynamite Band gave a great performance and it proved very well received by everyone.

Thanks to Colin for bringing his collection of mics and music stands..

The portable amp proved very successful, I think the Band was very impressed with it, (especially as they didn’t have to drag in their own equipment!)

Apologies that the decision to bring food was made so late in the day but I only had 3 replies to my email about it. Fortunately the ‘bring nibbles’ response was very positive and there was very little food left, the remains of which I gave to the bar staff!

I am hoping to set up and organise a Forum on our website, for discussion and exchange of ideas and proposals, which will enable everyone to have the opportunity to express their own views

For example –  

Do you think we should we repeat this type of concert?  

Do you think it was a good mix of amateur and professional playing/entertainment?

Organise a Help schedule timetable.

Are there are going be more events like this and the Bandstand in the park?

Could we get a pair of speaker stands (and where can they be kept?)

Can we get a mixer so that more mics can be connected to the amplifier?

This feedback will give members much more club involvement and make my co-ordinating much easier.

Perhaps even form a working committee on-line?

Jean took several short movie clips of the concert and if you want to bring in a memory stick next week she will copy them for you.

The pictures below are stills taken from the movie clips.

Best Wishes 

Ron Mollett     

Sunday 11th September 2011 

Congratulations everyone!

Well! That was a great performance, especially with the very blustery, windy conditions.

Just to let you all know – it was our very first paid performance!

Eddie Lawler the organiser presented me with a cheque for £25.

This was a great gesture and remembering his appeal for support, I took the initiative on your behalf, to donate the £25 to the bandstand funds. I also saw it as a way to express our thanks for the opportunity to play live at the start of the Saltaire Festival.

It also provided our club with great advertising and has generated interest in potential new members.

Our thanks must also go to Colin for his support with the loan of equipment and also for his enthusiastic, energetic Ukulele leadership.    

Thanks once again to everyone – hope you enjoyed yourselves – what a great experience!

Ron Mollett

Hi Folks  

·         Returning to the problem of the level of noise which is making it difficult for adjacent groups to concentrate on their playing -

Thank You for your comments about my proposal for the Mandolin group to move to Wednesday evening.

I have had mixed comments but it is clear that it would not be in the clubs interests to implement the move, so all groups will continue to meet on Thursdays as usual.

·         However, some time ago I mentioned to the Baildon Club the possibility of installing some sort of sound absorbing screens/curtains that we could use.

With this in mind my next move is continue to look at this possibility, meanwhile, could I request that groups monitor their own ‘noise’ level to a reasonable level.

·         I am still interested in starting a banjo group on a Wednesday evening in the committee room.

If anyone is interested please let me know (whether you have a 5 string Banjo/Tenor Banjo or none) In addition, there is also the possibility of forming a Banjolele group.

The provisional meeting date I have in mind is Wednesday 21 September

• Bandstand in the Park – 11September   -  Roberts Park – Saltaire

From eddie@eddie-lawler.co.uk [eddielawler1@gmail.com]

Folks, See programme details below.  We will endeavour to stick to these times, but please be prepared for a little flexibility.
Our set-up is a PA with two microphones (and additional channels for input).  If you need more please bring it with you, and tell me what you are bringing. 

Please let me know if applicable, how many chairs you need on stage.  Also let me know if you need vehicular access to the park.  If at all possible please use the ample parking by the Salt school, and stroll across to the Bandstand.
We will do our best to get smooth change-overs, and this will mean us sometimes doing some stage-set-up work behind actual performers, we'll do our best not to disturb you.
There are cheques awaiting you, and there will be a share-out from collections which will follow after the event.- (I didn’t know about this!)
Looking forward to a day full of good music!     -     Best to all from Eddie
“Bandstand Goes To The Festival” from 12.30 till early evening Sunday Sept 11 2011

12.30 to 1.10 Mandolin and Ukulele Club

1.10 pm Fairburn Singers

2pm That Horn Swings

3pm VoiceMale

3.30pm The New Community Arts Academy Choirs

4.30 pm Bella Gaffney

5 pm Alan Eaton

5.30 pm Beckfoot School Music

6.30 to 7.30 GMC Jazz 

I need to make our commitment to Eddie and the number of chairs we require.

Will you please confirm to me by return email if you will be attending and or playing at this event. Also the proposed program and order of play.

·         The Ukulele groups are planning an evenings Program for Thursday evening 6^th October

‘A Night of Ukuleles’    Featuring   -  Alan 'UKE' Harris  and his Hot Rhythm & Dynamite Band

-        Supported by the  Clubs Ukulele groups.

I am designing a poster for the event to advertise the program so will you please give me any information you want to include in it. Also a proposed program of tunes and order of play for the groups.

Doors open 6.30 for start at 7.00pm – Tickets £4.00 – Members £1 – Kids Free

Your views are important please add yours - Please email me if you have any alternative ideas or suggestions or write them on a comments slip on the desk and give them to me or Jean in the club.

Thank You      Ron Mollett      WYMU Club Coordinator  

Hi Folks,

Thanks to everyone for making the Easter Concert such a great success.

It was a really enjoyable evening and it was brilliant to see everyone up on the stage for the finale !!

WYMU Club Newsletter29th Mar11 2011                  www.westyorkshire-mandolinandukulele-club.com

Hi Folks              

Just a quick news update:

1.     The most popular date for the next Concert/Social is Thursday 21^st April which is just before the Easter weekend.  So that we can organize it, please can each group fill in the program of events list.

2.     Last week we tried out the idea of having a short drinks/chat break.  Most people enjoyed the social side of it but the general consensus was that it made it quite difficult to get back into the music afterwards. Perhaps we should just do this on rehearsal nights in future.? (Next one 14^th April)

3.     There are some photos of 3 of our Club members performing at the Bradford Music Club last Sunday on the Blog page of our Website

4. Thanks to all those who are supporting  £Money-Box£ – the Opportunity to Win a weekly £10 cash prize – it is gaining support and helping to raise extra funds for the club– as well as giving someone  *A FREE NIGHT OUT*

Your comments would be most welcome please………………………………………………………………………………………….?

Last week 40 members visited the club.

Happy  Playing!

Best Wishes 

Ron Mollett                   WYMU Club Coordinator            01274 584937  e-mail : mandouke@gmail.com

Three members of our club performed at the Bradford Music Club in Rawden last Sunday night.

Ann Perry sang 'Water parted from the Sea' accompanied by Jane Sanderson on the harp.  She then sang 'Passing By' and 'I remember it well' with Nora Boswell.

Richard Babington played a selection of Traditional Irish tunes on the mandolin with  Scott Clifford on the flute.

Bob Goddard played two Scottish airs, a Northumbrian hornpipe and a Scots measure on the violin.

All three performances were very enjoyable and greatly appreciated by the audience.

If anyone from our club would like to perform at the Bradford Music Club on Sunday April 17th please contact Ann Perry at annperry@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 01274 630162.

Four members of the mandolin group performed at the Bradford Music Club last month.  Mick, Eric, Tony and Steve played several tunes which were very well received.  Unfortunately I was not able to attend so apologies for the lack of photos of this event.

 Hi Folks               

Re – Thursday 17^th February 2011 – WYMU Club 1st Birthday.

 Sorry we missed out on the Party.

 Thanks to all those who sent messages for our speedy recovery – we are back on feet again at last!

 My thanks to everyone involved in the successful running of the evening and to Mervyn Flecknoe for his brilliant photos and videos – they made us feel we hadn’t missed the evening’s events!

 Jean has put the photos and videos on our website and David Barwick has also posted 3 more  -  just click on BLOG to view them. If anyone has any photos of the club that they would like to see on the Website please email them to me.

 Hope you all enjoyed our Birthday Celebrations.

 Last week (24^th) was also a very successful evening with 51 attending!

 And with Sue providing a spread for Ann’s Birthday celebration it seemed to give people the opportunity to meet other members – Perhaps we should have a chat break at 8.30pm every week?    (Let me know what you think?)

 Perhaps it also provided the opportunity for everyone to reflect on the ambience of the evening and to give some thought to the quality of the Club we have developed together.

 Once again, thanks to everyone who has contributed and given some of their time to ensure we will continue moving forward as a strong, supportive Music Club and for those that wish to share their ideas skills and expertise with others.

 I must repeat my last newsletter message - 

 It has been a long road but I’m truly amazed at how you all have made it so successful  –

 Without you the club wouldn’t Exist!

 Happy  Playing!

  Best Wishes 

  Ron Mollett     

WYMU Club Coordinator                       01274 584937  e-mail : mandouke@gmail.com

 P.S

 I have completed the annual accounts for the year and will have copies available for you at the table with Jean when you arrive on Thursday.

 PPS

 Just a Reminder….Name Badges :

 Please be aware that to make people feel welcome, they need to feel at ease and know who they are talking to. – Wearing your Name Badge says HELLO to everyone

 I know you probably know many of your group’s names but someone coming in for the first time doesn’t know anyone!      It’s only with your help that we can create a friendly club environment.

 SOME NEW YEAR PROPOSALS

 I have been considering some ideas to improve our present evenings program of events and have arrived at these conclusions –

·         My first idea is to give everyone the opportunity to go home richer than they came!

 In order to raise Club funds I am going to present you with the Opportunity to Win a weekly £10 cash prize.

 - in effect a – A FREE NIGHT OUT

·         My 2nd  idea is – work on more focussed music programmes  –

 Some suggestions for members to work on:

 Mick and Richard are working on the Mandolin group program to provide a great variety of tunes in various styles with integration between the two separate groups – Advanced and Improvers

 Advanced

·          Select Tunes to play for the evening.

·         Select New Tunes to practice over the Next Two weeks.

·         1^st part of evening – practice new tune together

·         Session time?

 Improvers

·         Select Tune of the Month to Study in depth.

·         Select a style and hear examples of reels/jigs/polkas etc)

·         Select techniques to practice each week (chords/slide/hammer on etc)

 Mandolin New Beginners        –           (I will start them off )

·         I am putting together a Basic Beginners Workbook (Similar to the Ukulele one)

o   Covering the History

o   Construction and Parts

o   Tuning and Scales

o   Basic Chords

o   2 Basic Tunes to Learn fully

 This will give them a Target Goal to join the Improvers

 Beginners Ukulele Group to be renamed – at Colins request – The BUGS !

·         Colin is busy developing the program and Jim  is providing lots of backup.

·         Maggie and David are developing the advanced Ukulele program with the group.

·         Ukulele New Beginners          -           (I will start them off)

o   I have put together a Basic Beginners Ukulele Workbook

o   Covering the History  -  Construction and Parts

o   Tuning and 2 & 3 Chords  Basic Tunes to Learn fully

o   This will give them a Target Goal to join the The BUGS !