Kit Marsden // Musician

Tag: norfolk keyboard orchestra

  • Keyboard Camp 2017 A Huge Success

    Keyboard Camp 2017 A Huge Success

    Kit Marsden

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    10 Years Of Keyboard Camp! (Photo: Will Jones)
    10 Years Of Keyboard Camp! · Will Jones

    The first time I’ve got ’round to sitting down to write about it, even though it was now three weeks ago… (After Keyboard Camp finished, it was straight into four gigs over three days that weekend; an exhausting four-day studio refit; another weekend of gigs right down in the toes of Cornwall; and a day of PA system setup in readiness for new ventures this summer… More on all of that soon enough!) But I am delighted that the tenth anniversary of the (by now) famous NKO Keyboard Camp was such a success!

    With music drawn from the material we have learnt as an orchestra over the previous nine residentials (plus some new music thrown in especially for this year) – as well as party games, birthday cake, a nostalgic photo slideshows from Keyboard Camps gone by – and culminating in an evening performance showcasing all the hard work and preparation over the past four days, the tenth Keyboard Camp was a true celebration of what makes it special, and exciting.

    Sectional rehearsals in The Big Room at How Hill
    Sectional Rehearsals In The Big Room At How Hill

    I have always been proud to be associated with a residential music course which is always evolving and improving, and where the students keep coming back year after year (for nine years in a row, in some cases!),

  • Ten Years Of Keyboard Camp

    Kit Marsden

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    Keyboard Camp – the exciting four-day residential course for keyboard and piano players, held every Easter in the heart of rural Norfolk (first at Wymondham College, and subsequently at Whitwell Hall and now the How Hill Trust) – is turning ten years old this year! First held in 2008, this year’s Camp marks the ten-year anniversary of what has become the highlight of the musical year for many young keyboard players and pianists in the area.

    Sectional rehearsals in The Big Room at How Hill
    Sectional Rehearsals In The Big Room At How Hill · Kerry Marsden

    Organised and run by the team from the Norfolk Keyboard Orchestra, Keyboard Camp is a great opportunity for students of piano and keyboard of all ages and stages to come together and enjoy making music in a fun and social environment. As well as sectional rehearsals (with parts tailored to suit different playing abilities), and full orchestral playing, there are a variety of other workshops (on topics ranging from different styles of keyboard playing, to using technology in music and writing your own compositions), and opportunities to have fun learning and making music together – plus games, quizzes, ‘tuck shop’, and the inevitable talent show.

    Synthesis and technology workshop
    Synthesis And Technology Workshop · Kerry Marsden

    This year, we return to the How Hill Trust in Ludham, to enjoy a selection of brand new repertoire and old favourites (all especially arranged for keyboard ensemble) in this beautiful country setting.

  • Bring On 2013!

    Bring On 2013!

    Kit Marsden

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    It is, sadly, too late to post this with the title “Happy New Year” – but here goes…

    I’ve seen plenty of people asking how 2013 can possibly live up to the wonders that 2012 had to offer.  On a National scale, that may well be the case; 2012 was a Jubilee year, and was the year of a triumphant London Olympics – not to mention the fact that Norwich City Football Club survived to stay up in the Premier League.

    On a personal level, however, my first gig of 2013 last weekend, with Crystal Bats, was a belter, while tomorrow sees a return to teaching at Sistema In Norwich, to which I’m very much looking forward.

    There are plenty of exciting things planned for 2013 – including more shows with Crystal Bats, a debut album with Witchers (our first studio release since the Throw Your Books Into The Fire EP in July 2010), potentially the biggest ever Keyboard Camp Residential Course, and even a film appearance!  So yes, 2013 is shaping up to be pretty good!

    As always, you can keep up-to-date with everything that’s happening here on the site, and by following me on Twitter.

Kit Marsden // Musician