Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra member Information 2024-2025

Rehearsal Dates

Autumn Term 24

25 September
2, 9, 16 October
6, 13, 20, 27 November
4 December

Spring Term 25

8, 15, 22, 29 January
5, 26 February
5, 12, 19, 26 March

Summer Term 25

23, 30 April
7, 14, 21 May
4, 11, 18, 25 June
2 July

Unless otherwise specified all rehearsals take place in the ensemble room at Burntwood School. Rehearsals start promptly at 7.15pm, so please ensure that you arrive by 7pm and are in your seat, warmed up and ready to start playing at that time (unless you have another WMA lesson beforehand).

At the end of rehearsals please help to tidy away chairs, stands and music. Our percussionists will always appreciate anyone willing to lend a hand in moving the instruments back into the store cupboard!

It is extremely important that members are able to attend all rehearsals (including the half term course) and are downloading their music, looking at difficult passages with their teachers and practising before rehearsals. As always, practise parts can be found online here: www.tinyurl.com/wandsworthmusic

Concert Dates

Sunday 17 November 2024: London Jazz Festival, Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall. Performance time 14:30, Arrival time c.13:00

Wednesday 4 December 2024: Burntwood School TBC

Wednesday 26 March 2025: Burntwood School TBC

Monday 30 June 2025: Tooting Tram and Social TBC

Concert Dress

Concert dress for all performances is Smart black trousers or knee length skirt or dress/ coloured shirt/ black socks or tights/ polished black shoes (no trainers).

Jazz orchestra letters

Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra – September 2024 letter

EXpectations

All members are expected to:

  • Give their full commitment and have regular and punctual attendance at all regular rehearsals, courses, workshops and performance.
  • Arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time (unless coming from another WMA lesson)
  • Be prepared for rehearsals by:
    • Downloading the relevant music for their instrument(s).
    • Learning parts thoroughly before the rehearsals.
    • Taking music to their lessons to go through with their teacher.
  • Bring a pencil and rubber to rehearsals
  • Follow rehearsal etiquette by turning off mobile phones and paying full attention to the conductor
  • Assist in the setup and pack down of rehearsals (including stacking own chair and stand, cleaning any rubbish away and ensuring all instruments are returned to storage as appropriate)

Absence or illness

If an absence is unavoidable, notification should be given by email to the Ensembles & Events Administrator by emailing info@wandsworthmusic.co.uk at the earliest opportunity. If you are running late or unwell on the day of a rehearsal or performance, please inform John (07966 426345) as soon as possible.

Attendance at rehearsals and concerts is carefully monitored. Poor attendance or failure to attend rehearsals without permission may necessitate musicians not being able to perform at concerts and result in your place in the ensemble being withdrawn or offered to another musician.

the academy code

Quite simply, we aim to inspire our children with a lifelong love and enjoyment of music. We would like all our musicians to support this goal and contribute to a safe and caring learning environment by committing to a few simple principles:

  • Enjoy your music making!
    • Playing a musical instrument and singing are tremendously rewarding experiences and can lead to many wonderful opportunities, memories and friendships.
  • Prepare for your lessons and rehearsals.
    • The very best musicians make performing sound easy- we can all emulate them by being prepared and practising the music! Family support plays a huge part in musical progress and the great thing is you don’t have to be musical to help! Encouragement, little reminders to practice and supporting at concerts make a huge difference!
  • Perform and participate in concerts and events.
    • There are regular opportunities to perform at the Academy and the more advanced ensembles also get to play at events outside of the Academy. In recent years these have included prestigious venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Finals and concert tours to Italy, Germany, Austria and Spain.
  • Persevere and learn the art of patient practice!
    • Remember, mistakes are part of learning. The learning curve for any skill is rarely straight and we all find challenges along the way. When it gets tough persevere, keep a positive focus and move on to the next challenge!
  • Respect
    • Respect your fellow musicians and support each other in your musical journeys.
    • Please take good care of our wonderful home and resources by keeping it clean and tidy, putting litter in bins and helping take care of instruments, music stands and other equipment. Take care of music by making markings only in pencil (good musicians are never without a pencil so they can mark changes in their music!).
    • Please keep phones away when in rehearsals and lessons.

Wandsworth Music aims to be an inclusive and safe environment for everyone. The following will not be tolerated: Bullying, discrimination or harassment; Offensive, illegal items or substances; Accessing and/ or sharing inappropriate content.