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| Choir rehearsal in school chapel |
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| Student concert |
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| Trying out the bass sax |
Tuesday, 9 August 2016
Monday, 8 August 2016
Giggleswick Day 2
An intense couple of days with something happening all the time! Took a bit of time out this evening to go into the village. Went back to a cache site!
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| Bird watching |
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| View from cache site |
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| Can you guess where it might be? |
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| View from footbridge |
Saturday, 6 August 2016
Summer week of music in Yorkshire
Just starting my first ever week-long course tutoring clarinet choir, woodwind ensemble and chamber winds. Not sure how much time I'll have so will start these posts as a photo diary. Up in Giggleswick. Did Route 65 as it ran along the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
July 2015-July 2016
Been a bit busy and haven't upated the blog for a year. Also haven't really played the harp for a few months but will get back into it. Sorry to any readers who are still waiting to hear if Jan got her grade 3 and I'm pleased to report she did pass!
Lots of things have happened since then and I'll update on the various weddings and little performances when I get round to it. In the meantime work and life has centered around the single reed family!
Lots of things have happened since then and I'll update on the various weddings and little performances when I get round to it. In the meantime work and life has centered around the single reed family!
Sunday, 19 July 2015
Grade 3 Flute Preparation - Update
Just a quick update for those following the preparations for Janet's Grade 3 Flute exam (which is tomorrow!).
We had a lovely day at Burwell House today. Janet has been running a weekend residential for her Saturday Workshop String Orchestra. They had been rehearsing Beethoven 7 and Mozart's Overture to The Impresario. For the final rehearsal and run through she invited a few friends and colleagues to read through the wind and brass parts to get the complete sound so as no other clarinettists were available I was eventually invited along to make up the numbers. After a short wind and brass reehasral and an enjoyable Sunday roast myself and Janet set ourselves up. When we announced we were going to play some Mozart everyone assumed it would be the Flute and Harp Concerto. "Oh no, that's for next year. This is the Aria from Don Giovanni."
We got through it really well with a couple of minor slips from each of us and the audience applauded heartily at the end. They were however a tough crowd as they demanded some scales from Janet. She was insistent that wasn't necessary and hastily gathered the Men's Barbershop Chorus that had been rehearsing during the breaks from playing and drinking/eating over the weekend. They were followed by the Women's Barbershop ensemble who sang Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, all really well sung! It was then back into the house to perform the orchestral pieces and the strings also did the Waltz from Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings.
The sun shone and the atmosphere was relaxed and full of music and merriment so if we can get our examiner to engage in a little of that tomorrow afternoon we should do really well. A full report to follow tomorrow!
We had a lovely day at Burwell House today. Janet has been running a weekend residential for her Saturday Workshop String Orchestra. They had been rehearsing Beethoven 7 and Mozart's Overture to The Impresario. For the final rehearsal and run through she invited a few friends and colleagues to read through the wind and brass parts to get the complete sound so as no other clarinettists were available I was eventually invited along to make up the numbers. After a short wind and brass reehasral and an enjoyable Sunday roast myself and Janet set ourselves up. When we announced we were going to play some Mozart everyone assumed it would be the Flute and Harp Concerto. "Oh no, that's for next year. This is the Aria from Don Giovanni."
We got through it really well with a couple of minor slips from each of us and the audience applauded heartily at the end. They were however a tough crowd as they demanded some scales from Janet. She was insistent that wasn't necessary and hastily gathered the Men's Barbershop Chorus that had been rehearsing during the breaks from playing and drinking/eating over the weekend. They were followed by the Women's Barbershop ensemble who sang Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, all really well sung! It was then back into the house to perform the orchestral pieces and the strings also did the Waltz from Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings.
Monday, 13 July 2015
Another GOATee, another exam - Grade 3 Flute
I have written before that whenever I get asked to do something it has to fall into at least one of three catergories. 1. Be really well paid. 2. Provide top nosh or cake. 3. Be irresistably musically satisfying. Being asked to accompany Janet (2011 Top Flautist) for her grade 3 flute definitely falls into one of these catergories but I won't say which one!!
As with most musicians I know it is never enough just to do the bare essentials and in school on Friday Janet suggested we play her two pieces with harp accompaniment. Never one to turn down an opportunity to play my harp I instantly agreed. Did the exam board allow this sort of thing? I tentatively asked. Who cares! was the reply.
Chris and I were in Cambridge on Sunday so popped round to Janet's to pick up the music. I thought we had disturbed Janet's flute practise although seeing what was on the telly I think the Wimbledon final had already disrupted Janet's practise. However she was insistent that with the music perched on the shelf she could practise her Mozart and watch the tennis at the same time. We had a run through with me on the piano and Chris politely listened, awarding Jan 25/30 for La ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni. We then did Neville's Waltz from Harry Potter and the semiquavers were quite evenly spread. The staccatos lost a little sound on the way down but it was accurate and had some character.
Having already got the lowdown from Laura (Janet's daughter) who had heard her play just a few days earlier I was pleasantly surprised by the standard and apart from one or two little hesitations (and expletives!!) for the high notes it was all easily to a passable standard! ("And I've got a week. I've still got a week to go," Janet said.) Janet treated us to a ride in her latest love, her Morris Minor, and we clung on tight as we zoomed around the country lanes of Cambridgeshire!
We arranged a rehearsal for Friday as we will both be in school and Janet repeated her mantra "I've got a week!" but then remembered "ah, but I'm out all next weekend running my Workshop string orchestra course". I remembered I will also be at Janet's course, helping out on the Sunday (satisfies two of my conditions listed above!). I asked if she thought the participants might be interested in a concert? Janet said just before she did her Grade 1 she played her pieces to the participants at her Saturday Workshop and left a bucket out for donations so that raised awareness of the SIA charity and was a big help in performance preparation. Whether the participants are interested or not I think they are going to get a performance next Sunday!
As with most musicians I know it is never enough just to do the bare essentials and in school on Friday Janet suggested we play her two pieces with harp accompaniment. Never one to turn down an opportunity to play my harp I instantly agreed. Did the exam board allow this sort of thing? I tentatively asked. Who cares! was the reply.
Chris and I were in Cambridge on Sunday so popped round to Janet's to pick up the music. I thought we had disturbed Janet's flute practise although seeing what was on the telly I think the Wimbledon final had already disrupted Janet's practise. However she was insistent that with the music perched on the shelf she could practise her Mozart and watch the tennis at the same time. We had a run through with me on the piano and Chris politely listened, awarding Jan 25/30 for La ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni. We then did Neville's Waltz from Harry Potter and the semiquavers were quite evenly spread. The staccatos lost a little sound on the way down but it was accurate and had some character.
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| Combining two great loves...Wolfgang and Roger! |
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| 50mph. In the wet! |
We arranged a rehearsal for Friday as we will both be in school and Janet repeated her mantra "I've got a week!" but then remembered "ah, but I'm out all next weekend running my Workshop string orchestra course". I remembered I will also be at Janet's course, helping out on the Sunday (satisfies two of my conditions listed above!). I asked if she thought the participants might be interested in a concert? Janet said just before she did her Grade 1 she played her pieces to the participants at her Saturday Workshop and left a bucket out for donations so that raised awareness of the SIA charity and was a big help in performance preparation. Whether the participants are interested or not I think they are going to get a performance next Sunday!
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Grade 6 result...
I knew exam mark sheets were being posted out yesterday so I rushed home from school only to find my first private pupil of the day had arrived a couple of minutes early. I saw the envelope on the mat within a large pile of post but had to put it to one side while we did her lesson. An hour of advanced clarinet sight-reading later and I found the envelope and opened it trying not to appear to be too desperate even though no one was actually watching! I unfolded the sheets, turned them the right way, checked the name (my one was on top) and saw the mark... 82... a merit!! Marvellous! I checked Hannah's underneath and she had also got a merit so I am absolutely delighted for her as she has worked very hard while doing her AS level exams. (Of course these marks are provisional until the "results are confirmed by the issue of a certificate (or otherwise)" as stated on the report form. I have not know this happen but it is a procedure in place just in case something has gone wrong somewhere along the way.)
My best piece was Manha de Carnaval, while the Scarlatti was just over the pass mark and all other marks were well within the merit categories. Even the improvisation, which I probably wouldn't have paid good money to listen to, scored 8/10 so he heard some evidence of musical ability there. The phrase 'a little hesitant' cropped up in a few places so that is something to work on in future.
As to the future... I have two weddings to provide music for. The first is in August and is for my cousin Greg and his fiancee Libby. I am playing for the church service, background music as guests arrive and a couple of pieces during the signing of the register. They have given me free reign on music but I've already decided to do Bach C major Prelude. Then in November I will be playing for Alice, the sister of Jess, one of my closest friends and whose wedding I played at last year. (We had practised the Bach Prelude for Jess to walk down the aisle but she got there so quick we played about 8 bars!) Jess will be on flute for at least a couple of pieces. I have a long list to try out and have also been asked if I can do some Bob Marley as Alice's husband-to-be is into Reggae. I always like a challenge so will experiment with arranging Three Little Birds and Is This Love for flute and harp!
To Grade 7 or not to Grade 7...?
The new repertoire lists for Trinity came out a week or so ago. I've already had a look although initially just to try out some new music but one piece caught my eye. She Moved Through the Fair is a folk tune, arranged by Alina Bzhezhinska for lever harp, and as this was one of the songs we sang at the GOAT Reunion concert in February. I guess I'll have to start with that one! Music is on order so as the term winds down I'll have plenty to keep me going.
My best piece was Manha de Carnaval, while the Scarlatti was just over the pass mark and all other marks were well within the merit categories. Even the improvisation, which I probably wouldn't have paid good money to listen to, scored 8/10 so he heard some evidence of musical ability there. The phrase 'a little hesitant' cropped up in a few places so that is something to work on in future.
As to the future... I have two weddings to provide music for. The first is in August and is for my cousin Greg and his fiancee Libby. I am playing for the church service, background music as guests arrive and a couple of pieces during the signing of the register. They have given me free reign on music but I've already decided to do Bach C major Prelude. Then in November I will be playing for Alice, the sister of Jess, one of my closest friends and whose wedding I played at last year. (We had practised the Bach Prelude for Jess to walk down the aisle but she got there so quick we played about 8 bars!) Jess will be on flute for at least a couple of pieces. I have a long list to try out and have also been asked if I can do some Bob Marley as Alice's husband-to-be is into Reggae. I always like a challenge so will experiment with arranging Three Little Birds and Is This Love for flute and harp!
To Grade 7 or not to Grade 7...?
The new repertoire lists for Trinity came out a week or so ago. I've already had a look although initially just to try out some new music but one piece caught my eye. She Moved Through the Fair is a folk tune, arranged by Alina Bzhezhinska for lever harp, and as this was one of the songs we sang at the GOAT Reunion concert in February. I guess I'll have to start with that one! Music is on order so as the term winds down I'll have plenty to keep me going.
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