Students prepare for Performance Exams with Second Life Concert. SUN JAN 17 @ 12 pm SLT

Thom Coard of the Fribourg Conservatory in Switzerland manages to show off the skills of his recorder students to an international audience on a regular basis and all for the price of a good web cam and some broadcasting software.

I know that the students and student families appreciate the extraordinary opportunity he is providing. It is also a heartwarming experience for those of us in the Second Life community who love music. The pure sound of the recorder ensembles is a joy on a bright sea side day in virtual reality. The excitement and joy of the students is infectious and uplifting.

If you are interested in providing this kind of activity for your students or amateur ensemble, the great people at tech soup have provided a simple to follow set of instructions for using the Quicktime broadcaster into Second Life. You'll also need a scripted SL screen. (many free copies available) and the land permissions to put a media stream into your land. The texture used on your screen must be copied into the media settings on the land as that texture will be replaced by the contents of the video URL.

Students of Thom Dowd to play, 8 a.m. pst Sunday 13 December 2009

(reposted with permission from Thom Dowd's Renaissance and Baroque Recorders)
MUSIC OR DIE
RECORDER QUARTET
MUSIC ISLAND SL

All of our favorite Christmas songs played by a group of young musicians. Please come and share this special moment with us at Music Island in Secondlife. Concert begins 8 a.m. pst, 11 a.m. est.

AUDIO STREAM to put in Quicktime or Itunes is http://38.96.148.45:8888/

Amelie Wantz, Olivia Tettü, Fabienne Baumann and Jonas Fragniere

• Es flog ein Täublein weisse Geistliches Volkslied um 1602


• Es ist ein Ros entsprungen Köln 1599


• In dulci jubilo Wittenberg 1529


• Lieb Nachtigall, wach aus Bamberger Gesangbuch um 1670


• Lobe den Herrn Joachim Neander; Stralsund 1665


• The Holly and the Ivy England


• Campana sobre Campana Spanien


• We wish you a Merry Christmas USA


• Whence, o Shepherd Maiden Kanada


• Il est né le devin enfant Frankreich


• Ein Kindelein so löblich Finnland


• Noël chantons ici Frankreich, 15. Jh.


• Fum, Fum, Fum, Spanien, Katalonien)


• Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord Jester Hairstone / Frank Farian / Fred Jay


• Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree John Marks


• Mistletoe And Wine Leslie Stewart / Jeremy Paul, Keith Strachan


• Winter Wonderland Dick Smith / Felix Bernard)


• Stille Nacht Joseph Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber

Spring Recital in Virtual Reality

Calling themselves the "Music or Die" Flute Ensemble, a group of young students from the Fribourg conservatory gave their spring year end recital in an unusual venue... the virtual world of Second Life on Music Island.

A supportive and appreciative audience of avatars whooped, applauded and even waved virtual lighters in encouragement of the young performers. Arranged by their teacher Thomas Coard, the audience got occaional auditory glimpses of the chaos that was behind the scenes in Thom's home studio as the occasional microphone thump or misplaced music caused suppressed giggles from the kids. They worked very hard to bring an hour of great music to life. The music and the enthusiasm of these youngsters... and the dedication and warmth of their teacher lifted spirits and hearts from around the world. We were so privileged to have them amongst us virtually for the afternoon on Music Island. It is great to share the photo of the faces behind the music.

Alessandro Marangoni visits Fribourg Conservatory

Italian pianist Alessandro Marangoni first met flute teacher Thomas Coard from Switzerland in Second Life where they both perform as (respectively) Benito Flores and Thom Dowd. Naturally when Alessandro's blossoming musical career took him to Switzerland, he paid Thom a visit. Lucky students at the conservatory had the chance to hear Alessandro perform and also to participate in some classes. Pictured here he performs with Thom and some students at the school.