The Viola Thread

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The Viola Thread, Everybody welcome :-D

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willobie	Nov 29 2011, 11:43 PM Post #226
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2571 Joined: 9-July 05 From: Nottinghamshire Member No.: 4110	QUOTE(onion @ Nov 29 2011, 11:15 PM) QUOTE(lottie @ Nov 29 2011, 06:50 PM) I've just noticed on her website that there's a VIOLA DAY in February!!!! There's no more details though... anybody know anything more about it.. and want to come????? I'm willing to look into flying down... Has anybody met this lady? Yes, I'm really please with the date (it doesn't clash with Egham!) I'm definately planning to attend. Helen, who will be leading the day, is the assistant conductor at the Learning Orchestra in Euston, which I attend. She is really adult learner friendly, and an excellent viola player. She is a principal viola player with the Orchestra of St Paul's. She's lots of fun and can be strict with a smile! The venue is a small community centre in Primrose Hill. We use the upstairs hall, so it is up two lots of stairs. Normally for a play day, there are between 10-20 players and the day runs from 12noon -6pm. With usually a break for lunch and two smaller breaks, and finishes with a play through at 5.30pm. I don't have any information about how the day will run for the Viola Day yet, but I imagine it wouldn't be too dissimilar. We often finish by going out for a meal afterwards. There is a Russian restaurant (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) close by that we have been to a couple of times. QUOTE(willobie @ Nov 29 2011, 06:59 PM) Aaaaaargh! I won't be able to go - even though I will be in London all day! W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Not fair! (Are those pesky recorders to blame?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) Afraid so - I'm conducting London Recorder Orchestra in the morning and South London SRP in the afternoon... W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

onion	Nov 30 2011, 08:39 AM Post #227
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 367 Joined: 8-February 05 From: London Member No.: 3103	QUOTE(willobie @ Nov 29 2011, 11:43 PM) Afraid so - I'm conducting London Recorder Orchestra in the morning and South London SRP in the afternoon... W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Reminder to self Never pick up a recorder, never be seduced by recorders, never contemplate how fab it must be to play a drainpipe, they take over your life, they take over the world!

lottie	Nov 30 2011, 08:52 AM Post #228
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3892 Joined: 15-January 07 From: In among the purple heather of Scotland Member No.: 9057	QUOTE(onion @ Nov 29 2011, 11:15 PM) Yes, I'm really please with the date (it doesn't clash with Egham!) I'm definately planning to attend. Helen, who will be leading the day, is the assistant conductor at the Learning Orchestra in Euston, which I attend. She is really adult learner friendly, and an excellent viola player. She is a principal viola player with the Orchestra of St Paul's. She's lots of fun and can be strict with a smile! The venue is a small community centre in Primrose Hill. We use the upstairs hall, so it is up two lots of stairs. Normally for a play day, there are between 10-20 players and the day runs from 12noon -6pm. With usually a break for lunch and two smaller breaks, and finishes with a play through at 5.30pm. I don't have any information about how the day will run for the Viola Day yet, but I imagine it wouldn't be too dissimilar. We often finish by going out for a meal afterwards. There is a Russian restaurant (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) close by that we have been to a couple of times. Are there any hotels in that area - like Holiday Inn or Travel Lodge? A flight down in the morning would get me there on time but I'd have to leave in the afternoon which kind of defeats the purpose. Flight is pricey too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Think I might have to see how the bank account copes with Christmas!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

willobie	Nov 30 2011, 10:30 AM Post #229
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2571 Joined: 9-July 05 From: Nottinghamshire Member No.: 4110	QUOTE(onion @ Nov 30 2011, 08:39 AM) QUOTE(willobie @ Nov 29 2011, 11:43 PM) Afraid so - I'm conducting London Recorder Orchestra in the morning and South London SRP in the afternoon... W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Reminder to self Never pick up a recorder, never be seduced by recorders, never contemplate how fab it must be to play a drainpipe, they take over your life, they take over the world! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Guitar_tempo	Nov 30 2011, 01:57 PM Post #230
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 205 Joined: 12-January 10 From: Brighton (Hove actually :P) but Southampton for the next three years! Member No.: 87084	QUOTE(lottie @ Nov 29 2011, 06:50 PM) QUOTE(onion @ Nov 9 2011, 11:45 PM) I do know that there is likely to be a viola playday in Primrose Hill in London in 2012, organised by one of my friends and led by Helen Sanders-Hewett. I'll let folk know more when I get the information. I've just noticed on her website that there's a VIOLA DAY in February!!!! There's no more details though... anybody know anything more about it.. and want to come????? I'm willing to look into flying down... Viola day mentioned at the bottom of this page Has anybody met this lady? YAY! I'm definitely going to try be there, Primrose Hill is round the corner from my dad's place so I can stay there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) and I'll actually get to play my viola, which I haven't in a while coz of halls an all...

2childmum	Nov 30 2011, 09:22 PM Post #231
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 392 Joined: 6-July 07 From: London Member No.: 12833	I had a lesson today. Please tell me I'm not the only person who stands and listens to what their teacher is saying, thinking 'I know you said this last week. And the week before. And the week before that. I thought I was doing it. Or I can't do it. At least not at the same time as doing all the other things you are telling me to do' I think she must have the patience of a saint!

echelon	Dec 1 2011, 06:01 PM Post #232
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 201 Joined: 23-April 08 From: United Kingdom Member No.: 29586	I did my Grade 2 this morning and completely messed up my sight reading (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) The notes ranged from D on the A string to bottom C and I just couldn't cope. It was just too random and my brain couldn't take it all in due to the note range. I totally fluffed it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) How many points will I lose? I think the rest of the exam went okay, but I still can't tell the difference between staccato and legato in the aurals (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

lottie	Dec 1 2011, 08:08 PM Post #233
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3892 Joined: 15-January 07 From: In among the purple heather of Scotland Member No.: 9057	Sight reading is only one little bit! I'm sure you've done really well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) And the staccato/legato thing would only be one or two points too? How did your pieces go?

echelon	Dec 1 2011, 10:46 PM Post #234
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 201 Joined: 23-April 08 From: United Kingdom Member No.: 29586	I think the pieces were good. She was tapping her foot in time to one of them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Either that or she was impatient for me to finish! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Why do we put ourselves through exams at our age? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

lottie	Dec 2 2011, 07:46 AM Post #235
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3892 Joined: 15-January 07 From: In among the purple heather of Scotland Member No.: 9057	QUOTE(echelon @ Dec 1 2011, 10:46 PM) Why do we put ourselves through exams at our age? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) I have no idea! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Mind you, I ducked out of my November exam because of a family crisis but I have to admit a bit of me was relieved (especially about the aural). However I'm now signed up with my teacher to do Grade 5 in the Spring... yes.. WHY do we do it????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) If your examiner was tapping her foot that's an EXCELLENT sign!!! You'll be just fine I'm sure!! You might be surprised how few sight-reading marks you do lose. I had one examiner comment on the lovely tone of my viola and it was actually a really cheap, tinny-sounding chinese thing (that I loved at the time) - I wish that guy could hear Hannah to see what a real viola sounds like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Examiners are a strange species!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

viola-mad	Dec 2 2011, 11:22 AM Post #236
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 859 Joined: 29-June 08 Member No.: 33908	Hi echelon, and well done for getting through your exam! Don't get too hung up on the actual notes - there is so much more to sight-reading. For example, playing the sight-reading test at an appropriate pace, having a good sense of pulse, getting the rhythms right, carrying on if you stumbled, and (my favourite for a few easy marks) paying attention to the dynamics and articulation written. According to the These Music Exams document, the lowest score you can get for sight-reading is 7 out of 21, unless you don't even have a go. You may be pleasantly surprised at your result, but even if you do get a low mark for sight-reading, it's still perfectly possible to pass the exam comfortably. Sounds like your pieces went great, and of course they carry the majority of your marks. I think it sounds promising, and you should be really proud of yourself.

lottie	Dec 13 2011, 08:26 AM Post #237
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3892 Joined: 15-January 07 From: In among the purple heather of Scotland Member No.: 9057	Viola Viola Viola Viola Viola Viola Viola...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Sorry, just needed a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/violin.gif) moment (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

lottie	Jan 9 2012, 07:42 AM Post #238
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3892 Joined: 15-January 07 From: In among the purple heather of Scotland Member No.: 9057	I have been practising fairly regularly recently and I think my playing is getting worse (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Is this a recognisable feature of becoming more focussed and critical? Normally it's just one hour that includes some scales, studies and my Grade 5 pieces so it's not a heavy workload because it's only five days a week on average. I was quite tired the other day and seemed to have forgotten how to ready ANY of the notes... I was completely flummoxed for a while and then gave up because I just couldn't work out positions AT ALL!!!! The session after that was better though but I feel like I'm putting my brain through a mincer!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Tonight's session is on arpeggios and vibrato exercises! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

lottie	Jan 10 2012, 08:34 AM Post #239
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3892 Joined: 15-January 07 From: In among the purple heather of Scotland Member No.: 9057	HELLO O O..... * echo echo echo echo ..... * Bit empty in here!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Where have all the violists gone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Is there anybody out there.... * there there there ...... *

willobie	Jan 10 2012, 09:21 AM Post #240
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2571 Joined: 9-July 05 From: Nottinghamshire Member No.: 4110	QUOTE(lottie @ Jan 10 2012, 08:34 AM) HELLO O O..... * echo echo echo echo ..... * Bit empty in here!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Where have all the violists gone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Is there anybody out there.... * there there there ...... * I'm here - but I haven't done any playing for a few weeks... W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

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