So long as the date remains OK, I'll arrange another jazz ensemble for Woodford, which VN and others are welcome to join in with, if you would like me to Jo.

Thanks for the offer, Barry . It would be good to have a jazz session if possible, but I'm just thinking about the trouble we had last time managing to get everyone's rehearsals with the accompanist sorted out when we had four ensemble-type rehearsals to accommodate too...

I know you're busy sorting pieces/arrangements out for at least two prior events at the moment, so you wouldn't be thinking of doing anything yet for Woodford anyway. I know that people really enjoy the jazz sessions, though, so I'll see what I can do.

I have to say that although I have enjoyed all the Forums concerts so far, they are a lot of hard work to organise and quite nerve-wracking (for the organiser) due to the squeezing-everything-in-on-time factor. For the amount of playing one actually gets during the day, the playing afternoons (such as meerkat's) are actually better value!

I do know what you mean about playing time, Jo. I think the reason why I am looking forward to going to a concert (albeit with some trepidation - first one, Chester!), is that even a small amount of time on a stage "performing" is a totally different experience to that of playing in a group, and not one which I would otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy. And the value of that, as an adult learner, offsets the small amount of "playing time" that a concert allows. But I very much value both types of event, just for different reasons

I'm sure you'll enjoy the preparation for the Leeds concert - I can say I'm thoroughly enjoying sorting out various activities for the concert.



Many thanks Jo - and you're quite right, I'm not really thinking about Woodford just yet. I've got a lot of enjoyment from the various forum events over the past year, and I'm really looking forward to getting involved with the Leeds and Leicester concerts, and meerkat's playdays next year *gets excited*



All the forum activities I've participated in have been memorable events. Next year's events will be as memorable, I'm absolutely certain of that. It's nice to have different sorts of events, some where I do lots of playing and some where I get more involved in organising activities. All, without exception, really enjoyable events to get involved with.

Of course, but sorry doesn't seem quite enough!

Skylark, I too envisage having great fun organising the Cambridge Concert. Daunting as it seems, its the type of thing I enjoy.

As it is clear that I have offended people (in particular those North of the Border) you have my full, sincere, and humble apology.

I got the wrong end of the stick and have made a fool of myelf

ouch, 's OK jod, at least we now both understand where the other is coming from .

Apology accepted Thank you.

Calendar at top of thread updated to add the Surrey Adult Learner's concert, and to remove the '?' from the date of the Leicester concert.

Barri et al is everyone happy with July 14th for Cambridge. If so I'll try to do something to get that confirmed?

Has Gastro-enteritis over the week end (everyone thought it was a hangover due to me going down with it immediately after hubbys work do which was not exactly a sober affair) Now firing on most cylinders, but have to take care as I've tipped moderately depressed so am rather tearful at present.

Those of you who have kindly offered to help, thank you in advance, please bear with me if I'm having a sticky patch we will come through in the end.

Should be fine jod - do let me know how things progress.

Hope you're feeling better soon - enjoy your Christmas and new year.

edit : I've changed the calendar to reflect 14/7 as being a possible date for Cambridge.

I've just spoken to their secretary and pencilled in the day.

They will email me a booking form and I'll send them the deposit after Christmas. This is now an event that can take place.

Cambridge Forums Concert July 14th 2007 at Emmanuel URC, Trumpington Street. As the church has a lovely organ, Organists please take note because a solo performance would be very much appreciated, and if you're prepared to accompany the choir I can do some stunning anthem with them! (My choral conducting is up to that)

The usual other ensembles will be great, directors for them are welcome. (I want to play).


All those who have volunteered to help, please keep in contact and we can allocate tasks so that no one person is over loaded.

Jo

I'll change the calendar now, after I've done that, I'll send you a PM. It may be a fairly long PM.......

Hi, jod!
I've just come into this thread (I did find some of it rather puzzling ) but at this distance July 14th looks a good time for a 'local' concert.
Not only is Cambridge a super place, but it's not too far (for me).

I will keep this in mind and when I know definitely I will be in touch.
Thanks for 'launching' this.

Given my parents-in-law hail from Norwich, I am very aware that East Anglia is on a bit of a Limb. Cambridge is where I was brought up (though I live about 10 miles away), it is easy to reach from London, and there are reasonable links to the midlands.

I felt that there was a need for a concert in the area, and am prepared to do the bulk of the organisation. Those North of the Border are a long way from where concerts have taken place too, and I'm sure that the Scottish Concert will be a success.


Barri has already offered to sort out the finale for me.

Wanted: recorder player to sort out recorder consort
Wanted: Organist to accompany choir

Other help has been offered. People here don't seem slow in coming forward to help to which I'm very grateful.

Lets hope for another success.

Jo

PS as a teacher of adult learners I know how important it is for all adult learners to have an opportunity to perform, so lets hear it for the adult learners concerts too!

Would be happy to do the recorders!

W

Right that's another box ticked off, thanks willobie!

Jo

I am with you all the way!!
It's a shame how many people, when you mention Norwich, say "goodness! it's so difficult to get to!" But it's lovely out here It will be great to have a concert in East Anglia.

I guess you can't be far away from Burwell House... I know some youngsters who were there in October for the "Blow". And Cambridge itself is lovely.

Performing is a 'pet' of mine, as it's not the same as playing, is it?
And the least I can do is some sausage rolls and cakes for the day

My mother lives in Burwell and I grew up in Newmarket...
Saxfan - I remember your sausage rolls from Market Harborough...

W

I hope you remember them agreeably

Oh yes

Yes, he has.

It'll almost certainly be a flexi-work (a la Leicester) again - but I won't really be thinking about this until the Leicester and Leeds committments are more or less complete.

Once we get to around mid-April (after Easter), I shall give what is rapidly becoming my usual plea for what instruments people are bringing on the day. Watch this space (or, perhaps more accurately the space jod will create on a separate thread no doubt!)

Hi Jo

It's been nice to talk to you off-forum

July 14th is the weekend of my jazz festival at Whitley Bay so I won't be able to come to Cambridge, I'm afraid. Hopefully we'll get the opportunity to meet up either at one of the East Midlands playdays maybe, or if you get the chance to come to Leeds, you'll be very welcome.

Hope your Cambridge concert goes well.

Skylark

Driving to Market Harborough is not the problem. That I can do easily. Unfortunately I'm busy on Sundays (hubby being a CofE priest) and being given time off my duties as a mum is hard to come by. I do intend to get to someone elses event. Oh the perils of motherhood in the 21st Century! I hope that when I'm on retreat my hubby finds he really appreciates time with the children without me about. I know I need more time away (trouble is does he?) Oh and I'd love to come to Leeds... without the family in tow.

I don't know if it makes it any easier jod, but the next MH playday is a Saturday.

Only if I put my foot down and tell the family this is my time and I need to do something for me. (But they're very bad at taking me seriously)

I don't think I'll be able to go to Cambridge on the 14th as I'll be in Scotland.

Car Expert

Oh good.

I might be able to do Cambridge...at the moment I think that date is free, and I know there is a train from Leicester to there.

You'll be clear of all your A2s by then too Nicki. Hope to see you there.

I think it might be the day after I finish school...forever!!

A reminder that we're 5 days from fluteteacher and livmaestro's Huddersfield band concert, and 12 days from petrat's Chester forum concert. Apologies that I can't be at either event, but I hope both events are really successful.

Very small change to the calendar to confirm the date/venue of the CD recording.

Two days 'til the Huddersfield band concert, nine 'til Chester.

On my searches through the forum tonight, I noticed fluteteacher and livmaestro are possibly planning another band gig in April - I've added it to the calendar.

Shouldn't this thread be pinned up?

Car Expert

I'll ask again CE - not sure where the last PM went.

Thank you for pinning the thread moderators - it's much appreciated.

One extra addition, I've tacked the Singapore possibility to the bottom of the calendar.

You may have noticed lines being struck through some events : all this means is that the event has passed.

Having played at my first concert at Chester yesterday, both in ensembles and solo, this is just a message of encouragement for any member who is interested in coming to a forum concert but hasn't yet taken the plunge. As has been said many times, they really are a very supportive environment in which to play in front of other people for the first time. Yesterday we had rehearsals in the morning which were fun and informal, and performing in the concert itself wasn't half as scary as thinking about it beforehand! Once you see everybody else performing, it just seems natural to go and do it yourself when it's your turn. This doesn't mean to say that I'm not going to be scared all over again before the next concert, but I'm working on the basis that the more I do it, the less scary it will become thinking about it! And it is really is nice to meet up properly with people that you've only ever met in cyberspace before.

The play-days are even more informal than the concerts - just a group of members getting together to all make music together. Sure it's all sightreading - which is really good practice! - but nobody minds if you can't keep up, you just join in where you can. At the play-day I went to, even I as a G2 found that I could play more than I expected to on the second or third play-through. And again it's lovely to keep meeting up with everybody.

So if anyone's reading this and would like to come to an event, have a look at this link to the first post in this thread which tells you everything that's planned, and do give it a go!


Edit: I played in another concert yesterday, at the music college I go to. OK it was an ensemble, not a solo, but all the same I would have normally expected to feel nervous but in fact I didn't really feel nervous at all. I even did an introduction about our ensemble. So playing at Chester has obviously done me good - so thanks again to Petrat for organising it and to Katyjay for instituting these concerts in the first place And it must prove that the more you do it, the less scary it becomes!

I'm thinking about organising a forum diploma and teachers holiday to La Alpujarra, Spain. It would be in september or October. See Diploma section for further details

I'll put it on the calendar for you, and I'll go and leave a reply in your thread now.

Barry, Stalybridge Adult Learners is now confirmed for 28th July.

Thank you sbhoa.

Applications will open after the Leicester concert.

I hope I can make it. The date is earmarked for a potential concert, but it'll be either Saturday OR Sunday. If it's the latter, I'll come to at least give support.

Have now refined your entry on the calendar to reflect the proposed dates.

Would it be possible to put links in the calendar to the threads for each event?

I can't find Saturday's... is it pinned somewhere?

Future East Midlands Dates

A good idea, I will get round to it.

Remember the mods can only edit the calendar

Car Expert

I'm going to turn various calendar entries on this thread into links CE.

Oops... I thought sneekymum meant the forum calendar ... I'm definitely getting old...

Suppose that's a possible idea as well, though...

Car Expert