EDITED 3/4/08 -


PLEASE NOW IGNORE THIS THEAD AND GO INSTEAD TO THE NEW THREAD AT THIS LINK

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The 2008 Leeds concert has been mentioned on threads a few times recently, and I've had several messages from new members asking me for information. So any excuse to start the new thread about it And in fact although it might seem like a long way away, once Christmas has been and gone, the time passes VERY fast, particularly for people who have ensemble music to learn as well as solo music.

So here's as much information as is available at the moment...


♫ DATE AND VENUE

Saturday 31 May 2008

The Yorkshire College of Music and Drama, Headingley, Leeds. This is a great venue for a concert - there are loads of individual practice/rehearsal rooms, and plenty of pianos either for solo practice or for ensembles with piano accompaniment. A drum kit will also be available for use.


♫ PARTICIPATION

The concert is being organised with a view to enabling adults to gain experience playing in public. New performers and nervous performers are especially welcome!

Participants under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Although the concert is primarily for adults, younger forum members or children of forum members will also be accommodated if possible.

The fee to perform will be the same as last year, £14, with a £5 visitor's fee.


♫ PERFORMING

For a general overview of what happens at forum events, have a look at the "Forum concerts and other events" thread.

If you haven't peformed in public before, this post gives some tips on making is easier for yourself!

At the last concert, I tried to make sure that all new or nervous performers had the opportunity to play in at least one ensemble before playing a solo so that it "broke the ice" about being on stage, and I will try and do the same next time.


♫ ENSEMBLES

If you would like to play in an ensemble and you don't know anyone to play with, drop me a PM letting me know your instrument and level. Last time I tried to partner up new performers with an experienced member, and I would try to do the same again next time.

With regard to the music, if you have a piece you would particularly like to play, you would normally ask your partner(s) if they would be happy to play it; or alternatively another member of the ensemble might suggest a piece to play.

In order to enable as many members as possible to play in more than one ensemble, it would be helpful if members could, where possible, arrange trios or quartets rather than duos. (Depending on the number of people applying, I might give preference to small groups of 3 or more over duets).

The large ensembles this year will be Recorder, Community Choir, Swing (Clarinet/Sax) and Grand Finale. Everyone will have the opportunity to play in these ensembles, subject to parts being available for particular instruments. A drum kit will be available for the Grand Finale, and also a piano. In the event of more than one pianist applying for the piano part in the Grand Finale, the part will be offered to the pianist who has the fewest other playing opportunities at the concert, and within that, on a first-come, first-served basis. You do not need to be a "singer" to take part in the choir - everyone is welcome to join in! And if you have a recorder which you haven't played for years, now is the time to root it out and brush up your skills on it - there will be easy-to-play parts for members who are not recorder students but want to join in

Oh and there'll be a kazoo orchestra as well - kazoos, duck-callers, frogs and other assorted noisy animals and percussion all welcome


♫ FAMILIES/VISITORS

Friends and families of performers are very welcome to come to the concert as well - performers need an audience, particularly a friendly and supportive one! Last time we started rehearsals at around 10am and the concert started at 2.15pm. Visitors are welcome to remain at the college during the morning, or spend the morning doing something else and come back for the concert in the afternoon.

Because the attendees at the concert are usually inexperienced at performing to others, every effort is made to ensure that they are not distracted, in order to give them every chance to perform successfully. Many will have practised for weeks, sometimes months, and it would not be fair to jeopardise their performance by a crying baby or a restless child. For this reason, I'm afraid that young children cannot be admitted to the concert. If anyone has any queries on this aspect, please feel free to contact me.

If anyone wants to make a short break of their visit, the 2007 concert web site (see link below) lists some activities in the locality for adults and children.


♫ PRIVACY

As you've probably seen from other threads, many people enjoy seeing pictures of the concerts on the forum, but if you would prefer not to have your picture on the internet, just let me know. Or if you don't mind having your picture posted but don't want to be identified, again just let me know.

Although many people usually wear name badges at the concert giving both their forum name and their real first name, it is fine if you would prefer to be known by either one of your names without giving your other name.

If you have a query about any other aspect concerning privacy, please feel free to email/PM me.


♫ "TRIPS"

As many members will know, the Early Music Store has relocated to Saltaire, which is a few miles outside Bradford. Also in Saltaire is the Reed Organ and Harmonium Museum, which is a private museum and I gather extremely interesting. At the present time, both the EMS and the ROHM are open on Sunday, and if people want, we could possibly have a trip out there on the Sunday morning after the concert, subject to numbers. Any members coming to Leeds by public transport would hopefully be able to hitch a lift with a member-driver (I'll be able to take 3 or 4 people in my car).

There is also the possibility, subject to confirmation, that I might be able to offer a trip either to Hanson (clarinets, saxes, etc) on the Friday (30th), or to a fantastic place for secondhand sheet music - both places are a bit of a drive away (an hour/ an hour and a half) but if you are interested, please email/PM me.


♫ 2007 CONCERT

If anyone wants to look at the concert web site for 2007 to get a flavour for it, click here.

If you want to see the programme for the previous concert, click here

And if there are any new members who are a bit unsure about meeting up with "strange people off the internet", have a look at these photographs from last June's concert - we look quite normal don't we (well apart from Liddy, Addy and Great Aunt May )


I think that's all for the time being

And if you can't wait till 31st May for your first forum event, have a look at this thread for the Teddington Adult Learners concert - taking place on 2nd February or this thread for the Forum Event Calendar to see what else is coming up.




PS. Unless the mods particularly want to move this thread, I'd rather it remain in the body of the General Music forum, for the same reasons that I didn't ask for this year's thread to be pinned until much later.

Thanks - in the diary. Hopefully will be able to make this one.

Looking forward to it already!

Two more two add to the list. Can't wait to see everyone again!!

See you there, then!

If not before!!

Oh cool, I'll try to come this time. Thanks for putting it up already, skylark!

Lots of good things came out of the last Leeds concert, skylark. It has a high priority in my diary for next year, not least because I would like to visit the Early Music Shop in its new home.

It'll creep round again before we know it...

I'm intending to make a little bit of a short break of Leeds again. Would like to see the Early Music Centre and Hansons this time round. Thur-Sun sounds like a decent break.

I'll post my intentions for the finale/jazz band after the closing date for Anglesey (which I'm guessing will be about the 8th February), though I'll be 'chatting' to you about it skylark a little before that.

I am making preparations to be allowed to come

Yep, I'll see if I can get there!

I'm already working on a possible solo piece, how sad am I?!

Some of us are already making plans for the NI concert in August......

Hey lots of new faces by the look of it, as well as the (better not say old ones ) familiar ones


Look forward to meeting everyone

I'm working on the solo I should have played this year! Better late than never!

I shall be there.

In fact I'm currently busy working on what I'm going to play at next years events! I've certainly never played so many different pieces in front of people so many times as I did last year - it was a struggle to keep up at times but i recon it did pay benefits so I can fully recommend it to anyone!

These concerts sound like they're really good fun.

But....... despite 5 years of lessons, and preparing for grade 5 piano next year, I still struggle to play much right through without error or pausing.

Looking at all the wonderful musicians that attended previous concerts, surely this isn't something that I would fit into...... Is it? Playing solo in front of everybody else?



A

Hey..don't be worrying about your musicianship, Arthur! We are all out to support anybody, whatever their level of playing. Come along and have fun. (Even the most experienced of performers have made mistakes or paused in the events that I've been to).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Absolutely.

Both Adult Learner and Forum user concerts are about taking part, enjoying your music and meeting people.
There really is no minimum playing level and everybody is supported and encouraged.
If you aren't sure then why not attend an event as an audience member first. That way you get to meet some people and to hear for yourself that there is a good range of abilities taking part and everyone mixes and plays together in a very friendly way.

I'm only G4 and played a solo at my first forum concert when I was only G2 - I certainly didn't sound very wonderful, and still don't!

But seriously, what sbhoa and DaisyChain have said is true - we do our best but we're there to enjoy ourselves, support each other and have fun



But when you see everyone else playing, bet you'll wish you were up there too!

OK OK, I've put the date in my diary!

You make a convincing case for joining in, and if I did do a solo,
I'd probably not muck it up too much - I hope!

95% of my playing is either with headphones on, or with my teacher.
I do occasionally play for others to hear, but it's a huge step up to a concert before thousands

Who I'd really like to hear from, is those who attended their first concert recently, and how it went for them.
How did your bit go?


A

There were about 40 at the last Leeds concert (40 people that is, not 40,000 )




I'll PM you shortly

I've put the date down in the diary - end of half-term week but hope to make it.

I'm counting on you to show me how to get the higher notes on the clarinet - there's only so much you can play by ear with 10 notes!

You might do better asking somebody who doesn't make the higher notes sound like the forum parrot squawking



It'll be great to meet you at Leeds if I don't meet you elsewhere in the meantime

I'd be more than happy to help you if no more experienced clarrinetists come to help And if Dad says yes....

Anglesey's in the diary as well.....

It'll be great to meet you too, Rosemary! Maybe you could teach me to squawk in unison with skylark! (although I'm sure you'll be well past that stage by next year skyers)

I'm getting really excited about next year's events!

Don't worry, we don't have an audience of thousands.
Just your fellow performers and a few friends and family.

Here is some feedback from one of the concerts:



For some ideas on how to choose a piece you might like to take a look at the FAQ page on the Stalybridge concert site here.

...You'll never squawk alone.....

Hi Arthur, I played in last year's Leeds concert and to be honest beforehand I felt as if I was anticipating the dentist, but during and after I realised that really, it doesn't matter at all!
It was a very liberating experience on the whole (even though my playing sounded pretty awful) and it was definitely something to get over.
The thing is, the worst that can happen is messing up your piece in public, and if that is actually survivable, you're ok. And you might not mess it up of course...and whatever happens you will have learned something valuable about being a musician. Hope that helps!
N

[/quote]

Hi Arthur, I played in last year's Leeds concert and to be honest beforehand I felt as if I was anticipating the dentist, but during and after I realised that really, it doesn't matter at all!
It was a very liberating experience on the whole (even though my playing sounded pretty awful) and it was definitely something to get over.
The thing is, the worst that can happen is messing up your piece in public, and if that is actually survivable, you're ok. And you might not mess it up of course...and whatever happens you will have learned something valuable about being a musician. Hope that helps!
N
[/quote]

It does help Nova - thank you.
One thing about getting older is that you stop worrying about what other people think of you (and that's a good place to get to!), but I suppose I tend to be my own worst critic. I know that I can perform music up to a standard to pass exams, so selecting some of my favourite pieces, easier ones too, to play to a small group should be a doddle.

Positive thinking!

See you all there (maybe)


A

I played in a concert on Saturday. From my point of view, it was a disaster - I'd left my music at my accompanist's a few days before, I was too late to a rehearsal on the morning to make it particularly worthwhile, I messed up one entry, I just managed to rescue another entry by realising in time I was playing some wrong notes, the large audience included at least one professional soloist whom I've paid to hear sing in the past* - yet still I survived! I noticed these things, and if the audience did too, they were too polite to mention. We really are our own worst critics.

skylark, thanks for the date. I'm not sure whether I'll be coming (Leeds and back in a day makes for a very long day!), but I've pencilled it into my diary.

*professional soloist's daughter was playing in the first half, so professional soloist helped out with interval refreshments. I couldn't help thinking that I should have been serving drinks at one of her concerts rather than the other way round

The main thing about getting older is the reduced number of years left to waste worrying about anything which gets in the way! People who start playing at 7 or 8 and stick at it might be pretty competant by the time they are adult; put that in the perspective of someone starting in their forties and the pressure of time seems like the biggest worry.

I think playing in public, especially to a supportive audience who are experiencing similar feelings, is a good way to push one's playing on a bit, and it is a way of validating the efforts you are making as well. Opportunities like this are for us to use for our benefit, not as a kind of scary trial by audience!
N

I would love to have a go myself and my teacher (sbpiano) has said on several occasions to try one
of the forum concerts.
Are there any constraints on what type of music to play or is there any preference?

You can play anything you like.
Something that threw me on the day of the Leeds concert, was that you have to introduce your piece. I thought the compere would do that. I am not good at talking in front of a crowd unless I am reading from the Bible Make sure you know what you want to say before the concert. YOu only have to introduce it though, but it threw me. Then I played it OK ish. So it wasn't too bad really.
Bev.

If you have a look at the bottom section of my first post - "2007 concert" - there's a link to the programme and you'll see that there's a wide variety of music. Play whatever you'd like to play, and hope you'll be able to come



What??!! I thought I'd asked everybody if they wanted to introduce their own piece or not! Some people like to introduce their own pieces because it gives them a chance to settle down before launching into playing, and some people want to say something special about their piece. I definitely introduced everybody to the audience, and then those who wanted to, announced their own pieces separately. Are you sure you're not having a Great Aunt May moment?? Or am I having a Lavvy moment

But for the record, nobody has to announce their piece if they don't want to - I'll be introducing the performer so I'm quite happy to announce the piece as well!

Right... I am going to ask my Dad if I'm allowed to come over dinner tonight.... Wish me luck!

Good luck.

He didn't like the idea... But he hasn't ruled it out completely! He'd rather I went to one that was a bit closer though.

At least it's not an outright 'no'...you've still got time to persuade him!

Which is the nearest forum event to you?

Probably Woodford... I'm near Oxford. I don't think they like the fact that it is almost right in the middle of my exams, even though its tagged onto my Easter Holiday, and I'd have plenty of time to study (If I was so inclined!)

1 day won't upset the balance - in fact, it'll probably do you good.

My Parents are of the opinion that I should study almost constantly.... If they knew how much time I spent on here I suspect I'd be hanged, drawn, quarted and denied internet access! We'd have to stay overnight though...

The clarinet/sax day will be in the London area Rosemary.

I'm afraid there won't be any more Forums concerts at Woodford - the hire of the premises was becoming prohibitive....

That's a pity - it was such a nice venue too!

Thanks Barry

It would be great if you could come, but I understand your parents' concern. Bear in mind that it's not just the day/weekend that you're away, it's the time spent practising your piece as well. I don't want to put you off, but in the scale of things, your exams are more important and I wouldn't like to think of you jeopardising them just to come to a forum concert! There'll be other years

But if you - and your parents - are sure you wouldn't be jeopardising your exams by practising and performing your piece (and possibly ensemble pieces as well), you'll all be very welcome

I'd be practising my clarinet anyway And I would have all week to study! I'll have exams in 2009 as well