Bought myself some presents

CDs:
Schubert Complete Impromptus played by Alfred Brendel
Schubert Lieder (Elizabeth Watts, Roger Vignoles)

Books:
The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
Franz Schubert: A Biography by Elizabeth Norman McKay

and some Blu-Rays

Off to order some Champers now.

Sounds good Sol. You should yourself be able to have a good go at the A flat Impromptu now.

Thanks, fsm! I'm trying the D946 "impromptu" no.2 in Eb Major at the moment as it seems quite accessible. I'll pick another Chopin Nocturne as well as I'm about to finish studying one of them.

I'm still struggling musically with the Pg3 of the D959 ii - I see exactly what you were on about now, I think it's just something I'm going to have to pick away at until my technique catches up and I can figure out how to make it sound better.

Are you sure you don't mean the D. 899 impromptu?

My happy experience today was quantum mechanics lecture It's my first quantum mechanics class, so everything is new and exciting (and, er, hard... but in a good way!). And it doesn't hurt that my professor periodically comes out with gems like this:

"The relationship between math and physics is rather like that between England and the United States. They are linked by common history and strategic benefit. They don't quite share a common language and have some contentions, but when push comes to shove they can count on each other."

Definitely D946 ("Three piano pieces" which are labelled as impromptus).

And are you going to accept it? Tell us more!

Is it a job you want?

Is it the one with the pretty paints?

Oh, I see. I was just confused because I had never heard them referred to as impromptus, just "klavierstucke"

Fabulous!! In Chemical Engineering???

In my rehearsal tonight I sang the Vilja lied the best I ever had, coach had nothing to comment on, and even better, got it recorded!!


Now what's the betting it's not like that on the big night???

I've just realised it's been 12 months and 4 days since I had my first violin lesson, and also my violin turns 3 on the 26th Feb.

Loz xx

All my pupils worked hard and practised

Thornton's chocolate pudding made me happy this evening.

I managed to play my Egham piece once through at crotchet=105 (it's supposed to be 120 or higher or something insane like that). I will consider surviving to be a good outcome.

obviously their teacher inspires them to

Mine is a huge compliment by a colleague I have never met in person. I'll bet he's forgotten it already but I won't in a hurry

It's Friday

Page 1 of my new study piece is coming together... It's so gorgeous!

the week is over.

Getting into a pair of trousers that have been too small for a very long time!

and the gorgeous sun has come out....

Tea, cake and catch up with a good friend I'd not seen for a while.

Oh and sunshine, crocuses (croci?) and even a daffodil spotted when walking down to the shops!

EDIT:also finding out that the new Hawaii 5-0 is finally being shown on Sky
And seeing the new Yell.com advert which is a reworking of the J R Hartley Fly fishing one....pure genius.

No daffs over here but...

...Finally at home and first Sunday in aaaaaages that I don't have to do any work.

Oboe beckoning on it's stand, music on the player, time to meander round the Fourm, tie on some reeds...

Life is good!

Being back on the forums after what feels like a veryyyy long time...

Had a really nice compliment from one of my friends. He said my playing had improved massively in the past few months... He did criticise me for cr@p "bumpy" pedalling though, but that's good - I'd forgotten how much of a beating I got from my teacher about that previously so I'm much more conscious of it now!

Son finally got part of the treat promised to him if he could get rid of nappies at night (he's 6) after he managed 2 weeks with no accidents! It's been a long road, but he's so happy today

Yesterday I went to an amazing hairdresser
I have trouble with my hair - it's very very straight and very heavy and often hairdressers have difficulty getting it to hang right...but this lady was Japanese and understood exactly what to do with my hair to make it look like a style and not like I'm an advert for hairgrips
YAY!

Brassboy through to finals of junior section of Rotary Young Musician comp. Played his little socks off. Very proud Mum

My, that brings back memories! My daughter had trouble getting dry at night and we had a star chart up. Thankfully, it's all a long time ago, but I do remember the joy and relief when the problem went away. Congratulations to your son, Dawn.


Lovely news, SueHM! Celebrate!

Thanks He is too shy to take his certificate and medal in to school tomorrow, but he has been wearing it proudly all day and I've made a big fuss of him. Happy days.

Louise said crocuses. And she's a gardens expert

Oh I wish I could ask who your new hairdresser is! I'm probably at the wrong end of the country though

My hair is very heavy and very straight too. At the moment it's really short (how hubby likes it) but I love it long even though I can't do a thing with it It needs trimmed (out of my eyes at least) but every single hairdresser in a 30mile radius can't get it right and I'm stuck trying to decide which of them to use anyway before I start to look like a shaggy thing

My 'happy' is that my cold seems to be improving and I'm having a 'viola' day

It is a beautiful day

and I've already done 1 hour's piano practice!

I can't let this thread drop off the board The weather today is just incredible, 12 degrees (!), blue skies, and brilliant sunshine... Couldn't have asked for a better Valentine's day gift! (except perhaps one involving an unexpected postponement of my math and physics problem sets due tomorrow... )

thank you.
For some reason it didn't look right written down.

I got 60/100 for my composition at uni!!


The task was to compose a piece of music ... without music and only sounds!


Feel free to take a listen: http://soundcloud.com/manhattanfromthesky/...position-nature

What a fun assignment! It sounds like something out of the Predator/s movies. I like it

Got tickets offered for a concert with Mischa Maisky on the 25th.

That is good. The thunder effect is quite realistic.

Were most of the sounds created electronically with actual sound recordings added in?

SB

Listening to the interplay of violin and cello in the slow movement of Beethoven's Triple Concerto.

It is absolutely perfect.

One of the first pieces of music I ever heard.

a good music session with Oldnotes this morning and a relaxed afternoon.

[/quote]



One of the first pieces of music I ever heard.
[/quote]

We played it in orchestra last term (with the fabulous Trio Eluard). Can't believe I've reached my fifties without ever hearing this glorious piece before......

When my dad bought a new-fangled electric record player to replace my mum's wind-up (which I believe had been to India and back with her many years before, outwitting subs on the outward journey and attracting my dad's attention on the return one, but I digress), he started a collection of 33 rpm's from a stall in the town's covered market. This and Tchaik 5 were his first purchases. I cannot hear either without being transported back in time, and seeing the spring sun shining through lime leaves and smelling floor polish and old books.

Getting my first choice rotations and hospital for my F1 post starting in August

One primrose.

how exciting!! What post is it, Appassionata?

Very nice! I particularly like the birds at around 3 mins 50 and the running water at the end. The thunder is good too. I thought the middle needed gingering up a bit - maybe that's why you didn't get an even higher mark. 60% is pretty good though.


Well done! Hope it's good when you get there.

On Saturday I bought three bits of music in a shop, and got home to discover two in my bag I got in touch with the shop and they said that they did indeed still have it sat under the counter waiting for me as the lady noticed she hadn't put it in the bag for me after I'd gone. So they posted it to me and it arrived today Looks fun, even if it is...modern music

Also, lots of new books that arrived yesterday for my birthday. And something very yummy appearing to be being lined up for dinner.

Two of my best friends (a couple...) had their first baby on Friday, and we met him last night. He's sooo lovely!

Awh, how cute!!

Brought home my oboe with a repaired pad and a freshly re-corked headjoint.