Musical culture in great Britain

The British have not been regarded as a particularly musical people and, from the end of the 17th century until the 20th century, there were relatively few British composers of international renown.

Before the 16th century, musical life was centred on the church, especially the cathedrals and the royal chapels. The choral works of John Taverner, William Byrd and Thomas Tallis are still performed today, most notably by the choirs of King's College, Cambridge and Christ Church in Oxford. Secular music in the 16th century included the instrumental work of William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons and the madrigals of Gibbons and Thomas Morley.

Henry Purcell, famous for his opera Dido and Aeneaf (1689), has been described as the last great English composer before the 20th century. John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728), is still occasionally performed, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan are among the few 19th century British works that are still part of the repertoire.

The 20th century saw a renaissance in British music with the work of composers such as Delius, Hoist, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton, Tippett, Maxwell Davies and Britten. Britten in particular came to be regarded as a specially "English" composer, partly through the English themes of several of his operas but also through the folk songs and church music that provided the inspiration for many of his other works.

There is now a flourishing musical life in Britain with more people going to concerts than ever before. The BBC plays an important part in the development of music both by commissioning new work and by supporting orchestras. The BBC Radio 3 programme, which is broadcast throughout the day and evening, is devoted mainly to music. Many British orchestras and musical groups have an international reputation. They include the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and others. Famous choirs include the Bach Choir and the Royal Choral Society. Music festivals held annually include those at Bath and Aldeburgh, and the Three Choirs Festival, held at Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester in turn. The popular series of Promenade Concerts held every summer in the Royal Albert Hall, London, are broadcast by the BBC.

At a more modest level, almost all schools and colleges have an orchestra, and many towns have a choral society. Music in the home is more likely to be listened to than played, but many homes have a piano.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

The great majority of musical instruments fall readily into one of six major categories: bowed strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard, and the guitar family, the first four of which form the basis of the modern symphony orchestra.

The four principle orchestral string instruments are (in descending order of overall pitch) the violins (usually divided into two sections, playing individual parts), the violas, the cellos and the double basses. Each have four strings arranged in order of pitch, can be played by means of a bow (arco) or plucked (pizzicato), but whereas the violin and viola are played with the instrument resting between the shoulder and the chin, the larger cello (or, to give it its full title, violoncello) is placed facing outwards between and slightly behind the knees, and the bulky double bass is played standing up or seated on a high stool.

Enthusiasts of Medieval, Renaissance and early Baroque music will encounter earlier varieties of bowed instruments known variously as vielle, viol, or in its earliest form, fidel (hence the modern nickname for a violin, 'fiddle'). The most popular member of the viol family is the cello's precursor, the viola da gamba (literally 'viol of the legs').

The four principle woodwind instruments of the orchestra all work by means of a system of keys (usually silver-plated) which when variously depressed and released allow air to pass through differing lengths of the instrument resulting in notes of different pitch. In order of descending overall pitch, these are: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon.

Brass instruments are also activated by blowing into them, although instead of using a form of reed over which the mouth is placed, the lips are placed against or inside the cup of a metal mouthpiece, and made to vibrate against its inner rim. In order of descending pitch, these are: Trumpet, French horn, Trombone, Tuba.

A percussion instrument is probably best defined as one where a resonating surface is struck by the player, either by hand or by some form of stick. These divide roughly into tuned instruments which have a definite pitch or series of pitches, and those of indefinite pitch. Popular examples of both types are: Tuned and Indefinite pitch.

Conveniently collected together as any instrument which is operated by means of a standard keyboard, the differences in operation are wide-ranging and carry obvious associations with certain of the above categories. These break down into four main types: Plucked, Struck,
Aerated, Electronic.

The 'classical' guitar is typically a Spanish-derived, six-stringed instrument played using a plectrum or the finger-nails, with frets set into the fingerboard. Popular music tends to use amplification for both six-stringed instruments and the four-string bass guitar. The guitar family gradually supplanted the lute which had come to prominence during the Renaissance.

MY FUTURE PROFESSION

(1) MUSICIAN

A musician is an instrumentalist, composer or singer who creates and performs music. This can be recorded in a studio or performed live, either as a soloist or in a group of musicians. It may involve working as a salaried member of a group or could be in the form of freelance work for several organisations.

Musicians usually specialise in a particular type of music although there can be the opportunity to move between genres. The job requires high levels of skill, expertise and dedication especially since competition to work in this field is high. Most musicians do their job as they have a passion for music and a strong desire to perform.

Many of a musician's activities will be similar regardless of the specific field or genre they work in. However, there will be variations between someone who is a full-time member of an orchestra and someone who works freelance in another field such as jazz or rock.

General tasks for all musicians can include:

· performing in concerts and participating in recording sessions;

· practising regularly;

· preparing for and attending rehearsals;

· maintaining the instrument;

· setting up/tuning the instrument and other equipment as well as arranging for its transportation, if it is large;

· learning new pieces of music to extend your repertoire;

· handling the administration of business activities, such as organising publicity and negotiating fees;

· seeking out and liaising with new venues in which to perform;

· delivering educational work in schools, businesses and the wider community.

Many musicians also work in a related area such as the arts, or teach in order to support their career as a performer.

(2) Music Teacher

As you might have guessed, music teachers teach music! But that teaching can take on many different forms. Some are vocal coaches, some teach instruments, some teach music theory, and some do a combination of different types of teaching. Some music teachers are tied to a school or a business and some teach music independently.

The career path you take as music teacher can vary greatly. It simply depends on the kind of teaching that interests you most.

Music Teachers in Schools:

Most of us have had experience with these kinds of music teachers. As a school based music teacher, you will rove from classroom to classroom providing music instruction. The exact curriculum you cover will be dictated by the school district and the grade levels with which you are working. Usually there is a heavy emphasis on vocal instruction and music theory.

Some schools have elective music classes that go a little deeper into music - teaching instruments, working more on music theory, and so on. Music teachers may also be responsible for devising school musical productions and/or coaching the school band.

Music Teachers in Businesses:

Some music instrument shops have in-house music teachers. This set-up can work in a few different ways:

• Independent music teachers may "rent" space in the shop, like an independent hair dresser rents salon space, and set their own prices
• Workers in the shop may teach music on the side in the shop and share income with the business
• The business has dedicated music teachers on staff

Again, these music teachers may handle vocal instruction, instrument instruction or all of the above. Lessons may be private or group.

Private Music Teachers/Independent Music Teachers: As mentioned in the section above, sometimes, independent music teachers can work in a specific location, renting out space. Other times, private music teachers travel to the homes their students or teach lessons out of their own home. In terms of the subject matter, working as a private music tutor is the same as working in a school or business - you can teach whatever aspect of music you have the most skill and feel comfortable teaching. The difference is that these music teachers are self employed. Sometimes, private music teachers teach music as a second job, and some do this work full time.

Qualifications Required to Be a Music Teacher: The qualifications you need to be a music teacher depend on the career path you choose. Of course you will need to be proficient at the subject you're teaching, but if you are self employed for instance, there is no outside vetting process that you need to pass before you advertise your services as music instructor (though judgment will be passed soon enough if your students aren't thrilled with your know-how!). On the other end of the spectrum, to work in a school, you'll likely need a degree, preferably music related, and depending on your location, possibly a teaching certificate as well.