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To compose is the highest level of music

One Song Universus Simon Cole's Expanded- version(55 min)ofListen One Song Universus Read the Full Story

Composer Simon Cole Orchestral music of Simon Cole. Hear Simon Cole's Killiniskey Duff as recorded by the late great conductor Georg Tintner listen Read the Full Story

New Music by Simon Cole A theme moves through the places and events of a day. Music and video first intended for extended care homes as a way of reconnecting to basic human emotions and experiences but also as a concert piece. It can also be played by a small group of 3 or 4 with a backing track.
Read the Full Story

Clarinet Saxophone Flute lessons in Prince George

Simon Cole is the Principal clarinet with the Prince George Symphony. He is also a performed and recorded composer and a performer on saxophone/flute .

Have realistic expectations.

Generally this is how it works. This is really rough.

If you never practice.
You can have fun playing the instrument (though not as much fun as you would have if you practiced)and learn a bit about music, Play in a low level group. Go to lessons (which then become guided practice) using you instrument to learn about music including its theory, history, how muscles work etc. You will improve (slowly) just playing in a group but lessons are all the more crucial since it’s easy to get off track.

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Festivals and Exams

Music Festivals and Exams

One should be somewhat clear about their goals when starting music lessons themselves or enrolling their children in them.

Music not just another skill or qualification, a line item on a resume, it is an art. If it is approached properly it will add a lot to the participants’ life. Not only is it a beautiful and complex art but the study of music, playing an instrument, playing with others or composing involves many aspects of life that might not at first seem obvious.

My goal is to have the student have a pleasant and rewarding experience as free of stress as possible so music remains an escape, a solace, a source of companionship and camaraderie and fun for the rest of their lives. If it just becomes another course the chances of them quitting never to return, are very high.

The dropout rate in music lessons is very high. Most of my students however continue for years and still play.

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Playing Flute Clarinet and Saxophone

Over the past 2 weeks I have played separate professional engagements on flute (classical), sax ( jazz) and clarinet (classical). Though each instrument has its own special techniques they are more similar than they are different. I say this because overwhelmingly the things that make the instrument(s) work well are basic musical skills as they pertain to woodwinds in particular: sensitive formation of the embouchure, air/breath control, shaping of the resonant chamber of the mouth appropriate to the pitch, dynamics register and desired tone color and good musicianship including having a well developed tone concept.

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Grade 2 RCM Flute exam tech

Tech for the Grade2 RCM flute exam.

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How much mouthpiece to put in

clip-big The amount of mouthpiece( mp) you take in has a big effect on a number of things.

Your tone, response, comfort, articulation, endurance, basically everything.