April and May update

It has taken a while but I have finally got myself into a practise routine and have made the entry for grade 6 so there's no turning back now. Progress is really steady with just small improvements every week or so. There is a lot to get through so I tend to spend a few days focussing on one piece and one exercise then when I have had enough of that I turn my attention to another piece and exercise. I think ideally I should be working on all three pieces and all three studies, maybe to different extents every time I practise, but it feels like such hard work that I lose enthusiasm if I overdo it. However the sponsors have been great for keeping going and there have been two more since the Reunion concert and I dedicate the whole of April's practise to my partner in various forms of musical crime Caroline. As well as music Caroline and I have an interest in miniatures and we met up to go to the Doll's House exhibition at the V&A Museum of Childhood. An fascinating collection! May's practise goes to Susan, another Palace Band member. A few weeks ago Susan and I went to see the clarinettist Martin Frost. Schubert, Schumann and a modern piece which ended with a bass drum being struck by Frost. Very theatrical!

Miniature Music at the V&A Museum of Childhood

Also on my list of dedicatees is Celia George, the photographer who was at the GOAT Reunion concert. I made a donation to MSF in return for two photos she took of me in rehearsal. She is a photographer working in Essex and other parts of Anglia. More details at www.colourfullifephotography.com/

Clueless in Competition rehearsal

There has been another exam result in from the Grade-One-A-Thon. Saxophonist and Ska specialist Liz passed her grade 1 trombone with flying colours. She even played her trombone on a couple of gigs in the build-up to the exam!

While the grade-one-a-thon is replaced by other happenings and events the MSF are still working across the planet in areas that you or I would probably never dream of going to. I have received the latest copy of their journal Dispatches which contains reports from those right on the front lines of various campaigns. It is a mixture of amazing success and utter despair and tragedy with all the emotions taken to their extremes. As well as ebola diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria along with injuries in conflict zones are the most mentioned. In one part of Papua New Guinea medical staff can't reach some TB patients because the rivers are filled with crocodiles and taking a boat is too dangerous. The solution appears to be a sort of drone which can be sent to a community and returned with samples for testing. They have now sent teams to Nepal to try and help victims of the devastating earthquakes earlier in May. Their work continues and any donations in return for my efforts on the harp are very welcome indeed!