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Music Blog Posts - Page 5 of 52 - The Open College of the Arts

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A musical collaboration for World Oceans Day thumb

A musical collaboration for World Oceans Day

I’ve just completed a short collaborative piece with Music Programme Leader Carla Rees in celebration of World Oceans Day, which occurs every year on June 8. Across the world there are close to 3000 events in 150 countries designed to celebrate and focus our attention onto the value of the world’s oceans and what we can do to conserve and protect them and allow them to flourish.

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OCA wellbeing: Gardening for mental health thumb

OCA wellbeing: Gardening for mental health

Lockdown in mid-March prompted two responses. First was a recognition that getting outside for parts of the day without bumping into other humans would become a very valuable thing. Second, I had some new time, that used to be spent travelling and trolling the train companies about their poor service, and I could put this to good use by sorting out my embarrassing back garden.

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Spellspheres: Part 2 thumb

Spellspheres: Part 2

Due to COVID-19, and the necessary lockdown, I have had a large number of concerts postponed or cancelled. I decided it was important (for my career and my sanity!) to stay as creative as possible, and so I begun looking for opportunities to have my music played by others.

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Victory in Europe Day – 8 May 1945 – 75th Anniversary 2020 thumb

Victory in Europe Day – 8 May 1945 – 75th Anniversary 2020

This Friday Bank Holiday, 8 May 2020, marks the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), the end of fighting in Europe in 1945. Fighting in the Far East against Japan would continue for a further three months, costing the lives of many more servicemen and women, and civilian deaths in the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before the final surrender on August 15 1945.

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Unmasking the everyday: part one thumb

Unmasking the everyday: part one

Queues outside supermarkets have become strange symbols of this, epitomising how one of life’s most everyday activities has come to feel risky and dangerous. The usually unnoticed has become unsettlingly conspicuous. 

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Edge-zine issue 9: Inside thumb

Edge-zine issue 9: Inside

From Vicky Mackenzie’s ‘Tutors thoughts’ through Steve Cusson’s work ‘Prison Cinema’ and onto Therese Livonne and her self portrait the 9th edition of Edge-zine is packed with thought provoking work and articles from across the Open College of the Arts range of disciplines.

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Stay creative thumb

Stay creative

Choosing and continuing to be creative is a really important act of self-care.  Whether you write, draw, sew, sculpt, paint, photograph or play an instrument, you can improve your mental wellbeing.  Over the coming weeks OCA will post open, creative content that everyone can get involved in.

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Student stories: Martin Richardson, Music thumb

Student stories: Martin Richardson, Music

In order to complete the project successfully, it proved necessary to learn a lot of new skills. The OCA courses provided me with an excellent foundation, not only in terms of learning about the fundamentals of composition, but also how to undertake research and to work in a structured way.

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Group work: Writing for oboe – Introductory workshop thumb

Group work: Writing for oboe – Introductory workshop

The session will have a practical focus and is primarily aimed at helping students develop their ability to work with the instrument in a composition or orchestration context, however, anyone who wants to learn more about woodwind instruments in any capacity is very welcome to join us.

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