GENERAL LINKS

UK Youth Orchestras on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/ukyo
This site is to encourage young musicians to share their interest in music, as well as to advertise concerts using the calender facilities available on the site.

National Association of Youth Orchestras
http://www.nayo.org.uk/

The National Orchestra of Great Britain
http://www.nyo.org.uk/

Midland Youth Orchestra
http://www.btinternet.com/~musicsoc/myo.htm

Birmingham Council Assist
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk

The Performing Arts Institute, US
www.wyomingseminary.org/pai

West Mids Musicians Web
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/walk/yls17/wm/

Banners Gate Community Website
http://www.gatepost.bannersgate.co.uk/

One2Swim
Swim school based in Streetly.

THE STRAD MAGAZINE ONLINE
www.thestrad.com
Visit the wesite of The Strad, a classical music magazine for all strings enthusiasts including violinists, violists and cellists. Offering practical advice on technique, profiles of leading performers, master classes by the great teachers and exploring the craft of the luthier - The Strad is for those who appreciate stringed instruments. Also including in-depth articles on violins, violas, cellos, viols, double basses, bows, orchestras and music schools, The Strad is the voice of strings.

STRINGS MAGAZINE ONLINE
www.stringsmagazine.com/
The online version of the informative Strings Magazine, containing a comprehensive directory of sites and articles on string playing. Find out about the latest summer schools for strings, the newest and best CDs and books, and chat online with other string players.

GENERAL ARTICLES ABOUT STRING-PLAYING
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~leonid/general.htm
Part of the Westbury Park Strings website, this page lists a number of useful articles about string playing. These articles include;

-Buying an Instrument : things to look out for
-Talking about bridges and curvature
-Books on string pedagogy
-General advice for beginners
-Bowing/rhythm patterns for young string players
-Leopold Auer talks about open strings: why study them?
-Something about "tonus" ; the quest for a healthy tone
-A rough start on a Violinists / Composers biography
-Tuning-Up discussions on the newsgroup
-Some ideas about practicing.
-Leopold Auer on style
-All about bows and bow makers
-Playing at the heel and other issues

THE "VIOLIN AND VIOLA" WEBSITE
www.violinandviola.co.uk
String resources for the UK...includes a section for free sheet-music downloads!

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
www.alexandercenter.com/pa/strings.html
An awareness of the Alexander Technique gradually seeps into the consciousness of performing artists of all kinds; schools for the performing arts, teachers and students are beginning to avail themselves of its benefits.

The purpose of this study will be to explore the implications of the Alexander Technique for string players and string teachers. One of the main issues of the Alexander Technique, the head/neck relationship, is also a profound concern of string players. The violin and viola are the only Western instruments to be tucked under the chin. The potential for upsetting the delicate balance of the head and neck is great. On the other hand, there is an equal potential for using this relationship in a dynamic way. This study will explore how the principles of the Alexander Technique can be incorporated into string playing and teaching, examining the pedagogy of Paul Rolland as a vehicle for this process.

UNCLE BENS BANJO HOMEPAGE
http://www.unclebens.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/frames.htm
All you could ever want to know about playing the banjo, from beginner level to advanced. Easy to understand and excellently presented, this website offers information about tunings, tabs, frailing, chords, transposing, a section for beginners and a number of great banjo links. Richard Commander, this one's for you! (no unicycling techniques, though!)

THE MUSICROOM.COM
www.musicroom.com
All the latest music for strings, ready to purchase online! Complete with free delivery in the UK.

VIOLIN MAKING BY HANS JOHANNSSON
www.centrum.is/hansi/
A great website about violin-making, complete with pictures, drawings and photos! Amongst the things you will find here are: The works of Hans Johannsson, violin maker, including samples of sound and pictures of his instruments, a sequential description of the construction of a violin from A-Z. Also you will find entries on wood, varnish, glue, tools, design/proportion and instrument care. A valuable resource connected to violin related information, useful for teachers, musicians and those interested in the general aspects of stringed instrument developement and current trends.

THE STENTOR MUSIC WEBSITE
www.stentor-music.com
The name of Stentor has been known to orchestral atringed instrument players and teachers for more than 100 years. Since the 1960's, more than 350,000 young musicians have begun their musical careers with a Stentor Student instrument and many of these same violinists and cellists are now to be found in major orchestras and the teaching profession throughout the world. Visit their website today!

THE VIOLA WEBSITE
www.viola.com
This site is a valuable, pragmatic and musicological tool for all violists - professionals, students, teachers and non-professionals - in their quest for knowledge and practical ideas of how to improve their playing and an overview of all aspects of viola life. There is nothing quite like it for any other musical instrument and violists can take pride in the enthusiasm, commitment of its members and the abundance and variety of topics that fill the mailing list from day to day.

THE VIOLINK WEBSITE
www.violink.com
Violink intends to represent a landmark for all the people on the internet who love violins. To this purpose, the editorial team has indexed thousands of resources (still growing daily) related to stringed instruments all over the world and made them freely searchable by you. By using the enhanced search engine you can find a resource by specifying many criteria as you wish, such as instrument type or geographic location.

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR INSTRUMENT
www.strings.co.uk/instcare.asp
This is a set of guidelines for looking after your instrument and bowing in such a way as to get the best from them while avoiding the expense of unnecessary deterioration and damage. It is likely that the experienced player will already know much of what is offered here but for those to whom any of this is news, we hope that it will prove to be of real value to you.
More links to follow...

THE GRIMETHORPE COLLIERY BAND WEBSITE
www.grimethorpeband.com
Visit the website of the world-famous brass band who starred in the film "Brassed Off". See the bandroom, meet the players, discover the wonderful heritage that lies behind this wonderful band.

MUSIC EDUCATION ONLINE: THE BRASS LINKS PAGE
http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/brass.html
A directory of American brass websites.

THE 4-BARS-REST WEBSITE
www.4barsrest.com
The Online Website for Brass Bands, containing lots of information about brass playing and the big names of the brass world.

THE CANADIAN BRASS WEBSITE
www.canbrass.com
These are the men who put brass music on the map: With their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor, they brighten the rosters of concert halls, international festivals and orchestra series throughout the world. Their numerous recordings, frequent television appearances and tireless efforts in the realm of music education have resulted in vast new audiences for the Art of the Canadian Brass.(Washington Post)

BRETT BAKER'S HOMEPAGE
www.brettbaker.co.uk
Visit the homepage of one of the UK'S leading trombonists. On the site, Brett offers his expert advice on a number of brass-playing issues, from basic and advanced playing techniques to how to cope with nerves on-stage. Brett recently did a workshop at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where brass players from our orchestra attended.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH BRASS BAND OF GREAT BRITAIN
www.bandstand.demon.co.uk/nybb.htm
The NYBB was founded in 1952 by Dr Denis Wright, OBE. The band exists to provide opportunities for young people to play brass band music to the highest standards, and is aimed not only at helping their playing, but also improving their musicianship and widening their musical horizons. Residential courses, lasting for one week, are held twice a year. These take place at Easter and in August at various centres throughout the country. Under the direction of a team of instrumental tutors and the Music Director or Guest Conductor, the players have intensive sectional and full band rehearsals daily. The band regularly records for BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3 and each course ends with a number of prestigious concerts.

THE KEN DAVIES' BRASS LINKS SITE
www.kendavies.net/resources/instrumentlinks/brasslinks.html
A comprehensive directory of brass-related sites containing all the information about brass instruments and brass equipment you could possibly need.

BOOSEY AND HAWKES ONLINE
www.boosey.com
One of the top instrument manufactures and music publishers in the world, visit this website if you are interesting in buying your own brass instrument or some new brass music.

BBC RADIO 2: LISTEN TO THE BAND
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/listen_band_show/
Frank Renton presents a bright and breezy look at 'banding' in the 21st century. With live performances from brass and military bands and featuring the latest CD releases and favourite old recordings, the show gives a classy update to the old 'cloth cap' image of banding. There are bands from all over the British Isles as well as occasional glimpses of worldwide talent. In 1997, Iain played with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland on the programme during the band's 40th anniversary year, recorded live in concert. "Listen to the Band" can be heard every Friday from 9.30-10pm.

General Links | String Links | Brass Links

The orchestra is keen to provide links to sites which could be of interest to our members and guests.

If you feel that you have a site which could be an appropriate link please send the URL to the following email address: links@nsyo.org.uk