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Dear Parents/Carers and Music Centre members
Firstly, many congratulations to all our young players and singers who took part in the online sessions last term and who submitted clips for the Virtual Christmas Celebration. I realise that for many it was a new experience to make a recording in the kitchen or bedroom and then to send it to us, but the hard work was rewarded as we all saw in the final ‘performance’. We had many emails to say how much the concert had been enjoyed and appreciated!
The Music Team have been busy this week in planning even more exciting activities for this term since we’ll be continuing Tuesday and Friday sessions on line again. For example, there’ll be some sessions where two groups ‘meet’ together occasionally; some instrument-specific sessions for the older players; some sessions where we ‘meet’ with singers or players from other parts of the country (including Cornwall); and a Spring Music Competition which will include opportunities for duets, trios etc. We also want to give some of the older singers and players the chance to stay after their session for 15 minutes or so, if they wish, to chat with their friends in a breakout room (a ‘virtual tuck shop’!). As the term progresses, we’ll give you more information about each of these plans (and more). But for now, please note that we start music centre for the Spring Term next week (Tuesday 12th and Friday 15th) at the same times as before:
Tuesdays:
5.30pm – Junior Voices
6.00pm – FBB
6.05pm – Junior Band
6.10pm – Club Band
6.40pm – Youth Choir
Fridays:
6.30pm – Senior and Intermediate Combined Band
If you joined us last term, you will be automatically sent the Zoom links. If you didn’t join us last term, why not give it a go and email Helen (coordsdmc@hotmail.co.uk) to register for the Zoom link? We hope that you’ll join with us in building on the very good achievements of last term. And in addition, it would be really helpful if SDMC members could encourage others who didn’t take part last term to at least ‘give it a try’!
On behalf of all the SDMC Music Team, we wish you a Safe and Happy New Year!
Philip King Head of Music Centre
Please direct all replies to coordsdmc@hotmail.co.uk.
Thank you to all who have supported our virtual Christmas Raffle
and to those who generously provided the prizes.
TOTAL RAISED: £934
The winners are …
1st Prize | £50 Amazon voucher | (53) India Bowman |
2nd Prize | £30 Masseys DIY Store voucher | (98) Lynda Conlin |
3rd Prize | £20 Masseys DIY Store voucher | (805) Sarah Spencer |
4th Prize | £15 M&S voucher | (679) Brenda Sumner |
5th Prize | £15 M&S voucher | (751) Mr Worth |
6th Prize | 2 tickets for Christmas Cracker 2021 | (442) Tom Mills |
Get your raffle tickets now to support South Derbyshire Music Centre!
Just £1 per number
Email Helen (coordsdmc@hotmail.co.uk) with the name or names of the people you’d like assigned to the numbers and she will let you know how to pay for tickets.
Then sit back and relax until we draw it on 20th December
Prizes:
2nd Prize: £30 Masseys DIY Store voucher
3rd Prize: £20 Masseys DIY Store voucher
4th Prize: £15 M+S voucher
5th Prize: £15 M+S voucher
6th Prize: 2 tickets for Christmas Cracker 2021
We’re all getting more used to joining meetings on line or making short recordings etc. We know it might seem strange at first when you record yourself playing or singing, but once you’ve done it a couple of times, you’ll realise how easy it is.
We’ve prepared a very short video clip to help anyone who hasn’t yet tried to record themselves. Have a listen and try it for yourself:
Remember:
Nobody will be able to hear you as an individual on the video which we produce: you’ll be part of your usual ensemble.
So – let’s have everyone taking part this Christmas, and enjoy being part of it
Subs: The subs for this half-term will be £2 a week which will help towards costs. These are payable half-termly as usual. [A number of members have over-payments from last term, but we would prefer to sort out these when we return to ‘normal’. For the moment, it would be helpful for everyone to pay £12 for this half-term please].
Safeguarding: The SDMC Virtual Meeting Policy is on page 25 in the SDMC Handbook of Policies (on the Information Page)

An Important Message to ALL SDMC Members and Families
It has become increasingly clear that sadly we need to suspend all music centre activities (rehearsals and concerts) for the time-being. We know that making music each week is a key part of all our lives, but we have to ensure the safety and welfare of all SDMC members, parent-helpers or staff. Although we will not be meeting in our various ensembles, this won’t prevent everyone from practising at home!
Simon Thomas (Chair of Trustees)
Matt Pope (Head of Band Development)
Philip King (Head of Centre)
We’ll be in touch again soon, but meanwhile – stay safe!!
Simon Thomas Chair of South Derbyshire Music Trust
Please direct all replies to: coordsdmc@hotmail.co.uk.