Just thought I'd post here cos I'm a bit isolated musically and it's nice to chat to you all!

I've been messing about on the violin for years, since having a few months of lessons in the 6th form at school, but have always felt that I had developed too many "bad habits" to be bothered to study it seriously, and anyway it kills my back if I play for any length of time (I've had all my vertebrae fused together and my ribcage chopped up and reshaped so there's no flexibility in my back at all). Because I have been playing to myself for years I have developed a nice-ish vibrato, which makes me sound better than I technically am....I still am very much a newbie musician though, who has never formerly learned even the basics of theory etc.

I started having oboe lessons in April this year, as I'd wanted to learn it for years but could never afford it before. I did Grade 2 in June, and did well, but my nerves really messed my playing up so I asked my teacher if she would put me in for Grade 2 violin as it would give me some more experience in an exam situation and I didn't really care if I messed it up. My teacher also teaches violin up to grade 7 so she gave me a couple of lessons beforehand to go through the pieces, and I got a really quite nice mark which made me think I might like to continue working for grades on the violin.

Well, my teacher rang me this morning and asked if I would consider seriously studying violin with her as well as the oboe! She offered me hour long lessons, in which I can take violin, oboe, or theory as and when I see fit. Sometimes it is hard for me to play the oboe because my lung problems play up, so this is very cool. She had wanted to put me in for Grade 5 oboe this term but I have felt unhappy about this for a while - I feel a bit rushed, and would rather have extra time to gain confidence and develop my tone as I feel Grade 5 is an important exam and I don't want to just pass, I want to feel I have a chance of getting a distinction! So now we have agreed that I will do Grade 5 Oboe in the summer term instead - and take Grade 4 violin this term. The idea is that I will get both instruments to a similar standard, and then work towards taking the higher grade exams for each at the same time, to support each other.

I'm very excited about this! I had felt that my violin playing was so "bad habitty" that it was never going to be worth bothering with taking seriously, but now I feel that I could still take it somewhere, and use it to support my oboe playing and help me develop as a musician. I could end up with Grade 8 in both instruments if I work hard! If the violin hurts my back then I can play my oboe; if I am having trouble breathing enough for the oboe then I can play the violin. I really, really love being able to swap between the two - they are such expressive instruments yet they are so different - it's difficult to explain. It's like having two completely different ways with which to express yourself. I think I'm always going to see the oboe as my "serious" instrument though, as I've had proper lessons from the start on that.

Right, I'll shut up now I ought to change my name really; "Oboebunny" is a bit of a daft name for a 30 year old woman isn't it!! Ah well, I think it's stuck now.

Thanks for reading!!

Toni xx

Sounds fun! Good luck with it all.

That's great! Good luck!

Sounds good - hope it goes well.

Sounds good, oboebunny!

If you still want to take your oboe exam at my Special Visit in the summer, the date is likely to be 8th or 9th June, by the way. Did you send me the accompaniments? - because if so, I haven't received them!

This sounds exciting, oboebunny! I did wonder when I read your violin exam results whether you would push ahead 'more seriously' with it . I hope it all goes well.

Oh gosh, sorry Jo - I have been all over the place because I am being transferred from one hospital to another, and Christmas didn't help I'll PM you.....

Sounds a great opportunity Toni and good luck with all you're doing.

Why change the name? I've always liked it (for what it's worth) - doesn't matter if you're 30 or 90 !

Yes, I like the name too!!!

Good luck with everything

Best of luck with all you plan - may it all make 2006 a good year for you.

Any name with "oboe" in it's a great name - keep it!!!

Take care
Oboist

I think any name with bunny in it is cute! I had a nickname of 'bunny' from a lovely elderly couple who I knew in my early 20's and I still sign myself 'Bunny' when I write!
Oh by the way, do you still need my services for recording those accompaniments or are you OK now?

I've a friend who's son is named Warren, he's just moved up to secondary school and recently acquired the nickname, Bunny.

Good luck oboebunny! As a multi-instrumental person myself I think it's great when people play more than one instrument. It really helps you understand an even wider range of music and gives you a real appreciation of all the technical problems associated with playing a different instrument.

It's great to hear that you are progressing so well with both instruments, oboebunny. I know what you mean when you say that both instruments are so expressive, but different - it's the bonus of playing more than one instrument that you can have the very different appreciation of the qualities of each one, which broadens your general musical understanding. Don't change your name - it's fine as it is. All the best musically and medically for 2006.

Sounds fun! Good luck!

Car Expert

Good for you - I'm sure there is a synergistic effect in playing two instruments from different families. Provided, of course, you have enough time to practice.

P.S. Thanks for your comments on the Christmas Concert web site.

Fantastic, I really hope you get on well with this. Boo