11 am and 3pm nine lessons and carols.
6pm Youth carol service.
When I was in the choir I also had to get to the town hall for 7.45pm for the Festival of Christmas music..... that DID used to make a busy day!

So pleased it's only the 3 now.

Did they go well?

Practising the piano.

They went ok.
I just didn't feel as though I was playing so well this morning.... like everything was not quite all there if you know what I mean.

Just as long as no-one noticed

I don't think they did... It's not as though I dropped any major clangers.
How's the cold?

Still there. I haven't sung since Friday

Hope it's soon gone.

I'm off now.
Bye

Thanks.

Cheerio.

Poor Katyjay. Hope you'll be well soon! Re. musical activity, we were singing lots of carols today in two church services.

Good luck! I'm happy to say that my musical activities are well and truly over for the festive season - though I can't quite resist dabbling at the last movemant of Haydn's sonata in Eb, no 52 - thanks to fsharpminor, who was talking about it the other day!

And the run of carol services continues.
Why does Christmas Day have to be on a Monday (the day after Sunday)?
Must go and practise...

quite a long-standing system -- to have Monday right after Sunday!
I think you should just try to get used to it!

Today's activity - going out to check a venue for a Sax Workshop early-ish next year. And meeting the saxophonist who is going to be in charge - she is just so good
But now it is scales!

I have a practice for a performance tomorrow at 7.30pm!

Also, flute playing

None for me today All my concerts/carol services finished last nigh

Now it is time to relax.....and work on scales

Busking with about twenty players from the adult learners' orchestra that I organise and conduct. We shall be playing "seasonal music" in the foyer of a big local supermarket from 7.00-9.00 this evening supporting a collection in aid of Cancer Research UK. I think we shall have to play between the two outside doors and the weather forecast is that it's going to be COLD. If we're lucky it won't be too windy! Dress code is any combination of black, white and pillar box red plus seasonal trimmings of choice, but wrapping up warmly enough to be able to play has top priority.

Piano Practice.

Have to go to reserve 7 tickets for the Christmas Eve concert :
Faure: Requiem
Haydn: Missa in Angustiis

Playing in church in 1/2 an hour

have fun ! hope they've got the heating on ...

Finished the choir medley arrangement this morning! Hooray!

Have to practise for my piano lesson tomorrow afternoon though!

Well done!
Get off the forums then and get practising!

same here ! unless you count the one lesson - the last of the term.

I can't get off the Forums cos you're here!

Excuses, excuses...

It was actually in a church hall, so not too bad.

Was there from 10.30-1.30 though - my mum was worrying, I was only going there to play 5 minutes of music!

Just got back from my composition lesson - I've been given some more homework

- to compose some 16 bar piano duets (for two pianos) for tution purposes at pre grade one with hands starting on Cs, and another with hands starting on Gs and to include Bb, & with a rather more complex teacher part to go with each.

Not sure how many "some" is... so I'll do two of each... I'll see if I can rattle them out before tea time.

But it's true!

so far today has been totally inactive - musically !!
made some mince pies though

no, just thought - I did make a start on a 'flyer' for a sax workshop day then found I needed a bit more information..

Today I restrung my violin, tried to play it, realised that four months of no practice has taken its toll, stopped.

Nice to be back, by the way...

Good to see you back

Welcome back, benjaminja! You taking your violin with you next term then?

Welcome back Ben, it's good to see you again

Not done anything like enough musical activity today.
Must do some decent practice tomorrow to make up for it.

That makes me feel quite virtuous, I spent about half an hour running through some carol arrangements for Christmas voluntaries and a few minutes on my piano piece for Chester.

I decided to make an easy piano version of "We wish you a merry Christmas" to put on a Christmas card for my 8-year-old grand-daughter who started lessons earlier this year. I'm not sure it will be quite easy enough but I hope she will like it anyway!

I have my flute and some music with me in Devon, but don't feel like playing it at the moment

Been out busking today with flute group to raise money for Age Concern. Had a good time but it was freezing!!

hillyb

Sit in front of the fire with a nice hot drink.

I'm doing that at the moment!! Not 'hot' from the kettle, though!!

hillyb

This afternoon I spent two hours accompanying a professional soprano that I work with regularly in rehearsal only. We were working on some oratorio arias and groups of songs by Fauré, Mozart, Schubert, Guridi and Ravel.

This evening I've been out playing for about half an hour of carol singing at a private party in a big house about a mile away, a regular "gig" for about the last 15 years I think, always on the 23rd (already booked for next year). I made an interesting scientific observation. Natural fibres (e.g. cotton and my hair) pick up the smell of cigar smoke and the open fire much more strongly than synthetic ones...

Generally it was fun. I guess there were probably about 60-80 people there, all ages from babes in arms to grandparents. It always finishes with a riotous performance of 12 days of Christmas, with different groups doing each number, e.g. under-30s, ladies, smokers (this year coupled with grandparents because there are relatively rather few smokers these days). The elderly upright piano is at least a semitone flat, but in tune with itself.

I just read "The Elderly Upright" as a group of people... (sorry)

That made me laugh!

Just come back from Morning Service.

Sang the solo to the minister, the assistant, two ushers and the organist.

I WAS the entire congregation.....

I'm delighted to have 0930 (Eucharist) 1600 (Christingle) and 2330 (Midnight Mass) today, followed by 0930 Christmas Morning.

The 1600 is always the best one from the point of view of waiting for the church to be set alight by 500 kids and their parents waving candles around indiscriminantly....

Wot- no Elf and Safety Police?

I'm assembling my new music stand and going to have a go on my new recorder.

Having been at a service (not over Christmas) where a lighted candle toppled off a windowsill into a dried flower arrangement in the middle of Mass, and having had earache afterwards for running across the church with a fire extinguisher rather than respecting the Elevation of the Host, I try to avoid all pyromanic services if I can.

I've got a crib service at 1600, having already done 1100 mass. The crib service promises to be a lively affair and no doubt the crib will be lying in a heap on the floor by the end of the service. Best to think of it as an excercise in crowd control and fire prevention.

Well I am having a lazyish day! I have the finale for Chester to finish and that is it as far as music is concerned today. This afternoon I am going to watch Artsworld.

Good for you lovey. You rest those old pins of yours. I'll drink a toast to you and Chester! Cheers!

Have got through: 1) Morning service 2) practice of my ad hoc choir for the Midnight service (for those who remember last year, no opera singers this year, alas!). Still to come: Crib service at 4.00, playing from 3.45 - the vicar has decided that the Christingle is just too dangerous with the church and the hall filled to overflowing, and midnight service with another rehearsal from 11pm. Just cooking the turkey and making lunch for nine to look forward to tomorrow - a nice rest from all the musical activities.