Hi everyone,

What sort of things do you all play as a short, show-off your intrument type piece?

I am increasingly finding that, for instance, one of my friends will say that her child is thinking of learning the flute, could I play them something so they can hear how it sounds and help them decide if it's for them. Or my Mum will come to stay for the weekend and say "let's hear you play your flute then, now that you've spent all this money on a new one" (I infer she means "wasted all your money"). Or Granny says "next time you come and visit, bring your flute and play us all a tune" (she's in a nursing home).

I find myself playing the first part of Gossec's Tambourin, since it's one of the few pieces I can play without the music - it seems pretentious to get out a music stand and sheet music to play as if I'm giving a recital! But stood in my lounge, with the listener right at my elbow, the Gossec seems quite high and loud!!

I've tried Annie's song, thinking that at least everyone knows that, but that sounds so much better with an accompaniment.

Any suggestions??

Hazel

Do you have any playalong music with a CD? My mum likes to hear tunes she knows played along to a CD.

Folk music always goes down well. I have a couple of barn dance tunes I can play in these cirmustances to get the feet tapping! (And it's easy to memorise as well)

I just bought Bizet's Entr'acte from Carmen with a CD piano accompaniment - need to sort my tuning out now!

Can't work out how to also quote Alison's idea in the same reply, but ..... I shall have a look through some of my old music for some folk tunes / less classical pieces and have a go at learning a couple of those off by heart.

Thanks, great ideas!

Hazel