Heya, I'm 'Miss Jones'... Yes...

I can't remember exactly when I first started playing music. It's always been around me, what with having musical parents and a very musical older brother.

I began with the Flute, ... when I was roughly 7 - 8 yrs old. It's been my slowest moving instrument, with me having achieved Grade 5 a few years ago and nothing since... it's been a bit hectic.

I began Piano shortly after Flute, and am Grade 6, quite recently reached. However, my teacher has now stopped teaching, and I don't think I'd get on well with another, so it's just a hobby now.

I picked up the Trombone when I was 12, and have gained Grade 6, but I've been working on Grade 8 for two years now. My learning has been set back by having a brace put on. A REAL nuiscance. Starting the Trombone also messed up my Flute playing slightly, but I can now play both equally without struggle.

I sing alto in our school senior choir and generally manage to hit the right notes, but I've had no singing lessons whatsoever and my voice is very untrained. Still, I like to think that perhaps I could have got somewhere okay if I had decided to learn singing... we shall never know.

I took GCSE Music last year. It was complete and utter chaos, really... but I succeeded in getting that A*

Enough about my music. What music do I like? Well, everything, really! I love Baroque much more than Classical, Romantic & Modern. I like Big Band and Swing, I love Reggae. I adore Brass Band music and Military Bands. I love listening to Film Scores such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I am fanatical about World Music, and think Muse is wonderful. Pop is not a big thing with me but I've recently begun getting into it. I listen to a lot of Japanese Pop. Um... I love the Beatles, Gilbert & Sullivan, Gershwin, Irving Berlin... (ok, the list goes on and on)

Have I rambled on too much? I just wanted to say HI! I feel ashamed at having started so many paragraphs with "I". Trust me, I'm not really self-centered.

Hey, welcome to the forums

What are you playing on the flute at the moment?

Hello MissJones. So happy I am to see another trombonist

I'm playing Vivaldi - La Notte... Bach - Sarabande & Corrente (from Partita in A minor, I think!) ummm... and York Bowen's Flute Sonata - Opus 120. I was doing Le Chevre, but it didn't like me... (or rather, I didn't like IT)

And YAY for trombonists, eh? Nice to meet you, Ben

Danse de la Chevre (?) is cool Well, I liked it, but I really hated it by the time I did my 8.

Vivaldi is very lovely , and I only know the Grade 8 movement of the York Bowen.

Hehe, those for a grade 8 exam by any chance? The YB is gorgeous and I ADORE the Bach even though I can't play it

Indeed, you have guessed correctly! Grade 8 exam it is... though goodness knows when I'll do that! I only know the Grade 8 movement of the York Bowen too, although I am supposed to be doing the whole thing now... as a variation in practice.

I love the Bach, especially the Sarabande. Baroque flute is my strong point. Once I get started on that Handel book, or the Bach book... I can't stop.

And yes, Danse de la Chevre... that's what I meant!

And yes, the Vivaldi is lovely... even if it has that annoyingly long trill...

Enough about the flute, there is plenty of that talk around here lol

Tell us more about trombone

If you love Baroque, have you ever played the E major flute sonatas movement 1+2. They're on the grade 8 list, and movement 1 is just amazingly goregous.

Well said!

For Grade 8 I'm doing the Lars Erik Larsson Concerto... and the Mahler. I've tried all number of studies and none of them are great... I'm not sure which one I've decided on. I mean, I don't know what it's called. It's got crazy intervals, that's all I know.

Um.. what else do you want me to say about the trombone?

Um... I'm not sure if I've played the E major - who by? Bach?

Cool

I have never played them, because I am not good enough lol! Maybe one day

What trombone do you own?

Yes, it is Sonata number 6 Very amazing

I have a Yamaha tenor, with a valve.. to make those low notes easier.. yay (Dunno if it has any special serial number or something)

It's ok... seems to have survived pretty well so far... but recently I've been getting really annoyed with the slide. It's not bad, it's just not as good as I want it to be. I was playing it all day today (music course) and had to use the water spray much more often than is usual.

The Lower Brass tutor at the course said that the Yamaha mouthpiece was too small to be ideal, but I'm not sure if I can do anything about that!

Also, sometimes the valve seizes up... which can be annoying! But overall 'tis a nice piece of work. The laquer (I can't spell it) is lasting well.. it even survived having marching music sellotaped to the bell.

The Lars Erik Larsson is great fun - you should try and get hold of it, even if you're not good enough. I bashed through it at Grade 5 standard for fun, playing alongside my brother (he's a trombonist too... has his Diploma now) and it was amusing! Christian Lindberg has a stupidly fast version of it on one of his CDs.

What trombone have you got?

EDIT: I think I have played that one. If it's the one I'm thinking of.. YES! It's amazing! I LOVE IT!

It starts on a B for 2.5 beats I think, and ends on a low E. Adagio movement. Movement 2 is allegro.

After Nicki's correction I've just remembered, or hope I've remembered right, I think "le chevre" means goat's cheese LOL!


Ahhh the Sarabande - I LOVE it! Have you heard Emmanuel Pahud's version of it? it is just so good!

The E Major sonata is major yumminess

Le Chevre is goat's cheese I think *phew*, glad I spelt it correctly

Le Chevre is just "The Goat", isn't it? Heh...

Yeah, E major is cool... but I think I prefer the one which comes after, although I'm kinda teaching that one to myself. I dug out my Bach book... um. I think it's D major? BWV 1030, anyway! (I'm not brilliant at identifying keys)

The Allegro movement?

Well...I only have 4-6, are you sure you're not getting confused with the E minor...I'm pretty sure there isn't a D major one in 4-6

That would make sense, seeing as it sounds minor. I told you I wasn't brilliant at key stuff...

The Andante movt., then goes onto Largo e dolce, then Presto.

I get confused, we need one of our resident francophones. I *think* la chevre means a goat, le chevre means goat's cheese

Nicki - it must be la in this case because otherwise it would be danse du chevre. I think. (Dance of the Goat's Cheese: I think that sounds like something Cheeble would write a composition about )

ARGH! How did this thread turn into a French discussion! I gave it up in Year 9! But yeah, I agree... with the 'du' and 'de la' thing... I can vaguely remember that...

If you go http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Flute-Sonatas-J...n/dp/B000059WLE, the one I am talking about is first on the list
EDIT - no, it isn't, that's the E minor...it's Son in E, BWV 1035: Adagio Ma Non Tanto - Janet Lee/Davitt Moroney/Mary Springfels"

It definitely is LA

Ah, you used your initiative! I like it! The one I'm talking about is Number 12 on the list

But yes, I adore the one you meant, too. It's lovely. I often come back to it as a warm-up piece.

I've only heard this, never played it!

*applause for Nicki for getting it right*

I found the thread where I got it wrong: http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?s=&s...st&p=371082

I like the idea of dance of the goat's cheese though...

Nicki: is that the one that I think you were talking about before, E major that's on G6 and 8 lists??

*totally confused *

I play the Yamaha Xeno with the Bb/F trigger Had it for christmas 2005. Best present ever. Although it took a lot of getting used to as previously I played on a small bore conn with a much shallower mouthpiece lol.

I shall take a look at the Larsson.

I just got the Rimsky Korsakov Concerto and am trying to work my way through the 1st movement. Problem is that the piece is in Bass clef and I play in treble so it's taking me a bit longer to learn and read as I am having to transpose lol

Well, that might be because I played it for the last x amount of months.

Hehehe a goat's cheese dancing

Yes, that's the one Movement 1+2 are together on the 8 list.

*nods* and the 3rd movement (Siciliana) is on the G6 list. The whole thing is one of my "it is my ambition to one day play this piece" pieces

You haven't played it??? You MUST! It's lovely!

Ah-ha... a treble clef player, eh? No wonder you're in so many Brass Bands! I learnt Bass Clef, and picked up Treble from being plunged into the Country Brass Repertoire Days... it was very difficult at first.

But yeah, you really must have a go at the Larsson. I haven't heard of the Korsakov... is it good? Fun?

Oh yeah, the Yamaha was a huge improvement on my old 'bone... a little silver one which came off the back of a lorry if I seem to remember correctly. The case fell apart and my teacher mended it successfully with two paper clips. Genius!

Yes, that's right

Oh, I've just noticed you're studying History Miss Jones, do you enjoy it?

I don't think I know the 1030 sonata at all... will have to check it out

Which one is the 1030 sonata? I have a CD with them all on *lush*

I LOVE HISTORY! I am aiming to go on and study History at Uni, so yeah... I am enjoying it. Although, it is very hard work. All those essays, etc... it's difficult! GCSE was absolutely fantastic, though - I miss it! Do you do History?

And yes, you must check it out... *loves everything Bach*

Had fun over Christmas... I whipped out my Bach sonatas and got my brother to play the piano part, my cousin to play the flute part, while I did the Cello continuo on trombone. It sounded great! (though I say so myself)

1030 seems to be the Sonata in B... (although goodness knows if I'm right or not)

The one MissJones is talking about. I think. *confused*

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(I will be studying History at uni this year!)

Let me know if you need any help with History - which syllabus/exam board are you?

Bach is AMAZING too

Ummmmmmmmm I think I'm doing OCR? Or maybe Edexcel... Edexel. I can't even spell it.

We're doing Henry VIII & Wolsey, and the Origins of the American Civil War, plus the American Civil War itself. 'Tis good fun. I like the Tudors best

Yay! Where will you be going to Uni?

*worships Bach*

Edexcel, cool. I'm doing OCR.

If I get AAA, I'll be going to Durham EEEEEEEEE (sorry in a very hyper university mode)

But I've also had offers from: Warwick, Nottingham, Lancaster, York, and I got rejected from Cambridge.

Woooooooooow! Yay! Durham sounds COOL. I have my sights set on Oxford, failing that, Edinburgh (At the moment) I haven't done enough research yet. Yay! (sorry, I'm excited on your behalf)

Yeah, I'm not sure if it's OCR or Edexcel. I will check.

Good luck with that, though. Hey, imagine if we both end up at Durham.. that'd be cool... we'd have to somehow work out who we were and get in touch

Yeah, anyway. I must sleep now because it's an early start again to go and kill myself playing trombone all day. I made myself feel ill today with playing so hard. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Night, all! *huggles all round* Thanks for such a warm welcome!

'night MissJones, was good chatting with you

For me, Durham is the perfect place. The college I have been accepted to, Trevelyan, has a flute choir, so you have to come

I didn't like the sound of Oxford's course, but each to their own

If you want any uni help regarding to anything, just let me know

Eeek, hope you don't feel ill tomorrow, take care

My first trombone was a tattered old silver thing, with no spit valve, just a piece of blu tack. It was in a horrible brown case with lime green felt. My seconds trombone was quite a nice conn but once again it had no spit valve, just blu tac. The third was another conn this time it had a spit valve and was quite a nice bone. Then i got the yamaha

The Korsakov is quite good fun yeh. I haven't looked at it properly yet as i am unable to read it fluently lol! It has quite a catchy theme

I'll have a look aroung for the Larsson but try and make sure it is in treble clef lol.

I started on treble because I could already read it so learning to read the music wouldn't be such a problem, otherwise my teacher would have started me on bass clef.

Whoooo another Latinist (is that even a word?!)

*ahem*

Yes, welcome to the forums

It is a word now! Latin is great.

Wow, you're on your fourth trombone? Cool!

I really need a new flute. I've had mine ever since I started playing and noone taught me how to clean it... so I didn't. Now, when I try and get the blackness off with my polish cloth I end up taking off the silver plating.

My copy of the Larsson is in Bass clef, but I'm sure there'll be one somewhere in Treble. The Mahler is in both - treble one side of the page, Bass the other! I must remember to look at the right side when I eventually get to the exam!

*sighs* I am so TIRED! I don't feel ill, though! Just exhausted...

What flute do you have?

It's a Trevor James. That's all I know.

ok

Welcome to the forums!

Yeah... I'd love a new one before attempting Grade 8. I've got to some stages where my teacher actually blames the flute instead of me

I must go down to London sometime and try out some flutes. ... I'd better save up, too...

Whaddya think - open key or closed key? Which have you got?

Thanks, lil miz music!

Yep my fourth, hopefully this will be my final one lol It took me a month on this one to get my range over an octave, but now I can get higher than ever

I can't seem to find the Larsson on Musicroom.com

I have a Pearl 765 - silver body and hj, silver plated keys, open hole, offset G, E mech.

There are loads of "flute upgrade advice" threads in viva woodwind - well worth having a look!

I like open hole but that's probably mostly because it's what I am used to - plateau keys feel very odd to me now.

They can help technique as you're forced to place your fingers accurately, but besides weird effects they're neither here nor there - if your hands would be unnaturally stretched playing open hole then it isn't worth it.

Inline/offset G depends on your hands more than anything else - what feels comfortable to you.

E mech - knowing what I do now, I would have not got a flute with E mech but it does help with high E. It is good for future resale value!

I would definitely recommend getting a solid silver headjoint. One of the good and *relatively* bargainous(!) ways of getting a very good flute is to marry a handcut silver headjoint with a basic but sturdy rest-of-flute. Having owned a nickel flute, and two different silver hj flutes, and having played on silverplate/solid silver/handcut solid silver headjoints, I would definitely say that in an ideal world, a handcut headjoint that suits you is really fabulous but having a silver headjoint seems to help.

Anyway, I shouldn't waffle, and I am not an expert, but check out the threads in viva woodwind (or start one explaining what you own, what you'd like, and how much you have to spend) as there are lots of people who will be able to help