The joy of making music in ensemble, Surely there are few things more beautiful! Options

[Tenor Viol]

Hello all
I have been lurking around this forum and Viva Strings for a few months, but have now plucked up the courage to add to this thread. It makes me appreciate how lucky we are here (Orkney) in the opportunities for group playing. I really enjoy my groups, but am very nervous playing alone, even in front of my violin teacher, who usually plays along with me, at my request!.
I am over 60, and decided to return to violin / fiddle last summer, having learned for 18 months in the sixthform, followed by a 23 year break, a couple of years playing Scottish trad pieces, but "straight" and mainly by myself, then another 20 year break.
Now-----really enjoying violin lesson, recently stared Grade 4 pieces, having spent a few months learning the pieces from 3 grade 3 syllabuses; one group violin class at about grade 3; 2 group fiddle/trad group classes, (one easy, one much harder); one Traditional Music Project class with a few other adults and lots of children; and the Strathspey and Reel Society. With these last two, working up towards public concerts, which I am hoping will help with my performance nerves in advance of (possibly) doing grade 4 exam in session C----other commitments preclude sooner, and I would like to be well prepared rather than under---the scales are causing me more problems than the pieces.
Rather to my surprise (and disappointment?) I am finding the intermediate trad group class the hardest---the notes are OK, but the extra techniques and bowings seem counter-intuitive when compared with what I am doing for "violin"-----I also have to remember that although my teacher is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/violin.gif) "young", she has been playing at a high standard for over 20 years !
Although I have ambitions to progress with violin, I may never (given my age etc) reach the standard required to play in the local orchestra, and certainly not in the Camerata, but am so lucky that I am not just standing at home playing to myself and the unappreciative cats all the time!

Sorry for the long post---will try to stick to the point in future
Louise

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif) No need to apologise - great story and an inspiration to any that it's never too late.

[katemorrisviolin]

Hello louloubelle, how I envy you and all your groups you do! Enjoy them all! Your post was lovely to read. I too accept I shall never be in a performing orchestra, but we don't have to be to enjoy music and have a great time with other players. I can't wait for thursday when I shall be scraping and sawing my way through something far too difficult for me and having alot of fun doing it with other players who are too concerned about their own mistakes to worry about mine. But there are frequent moments when it does sound beautiful too.