I was able to practise very conscientiously yesterday and, of course, the result was better. I took my time to stop at the difficulties, to think (good to do it every now and then!) about them, try to solve them and so on. A nice feeling I can usually recreate when I'm free from the pressures of work and family (I'm a 52-year-old married man and father of two), but especially work and, being a teacher/translator, I'm usually less hurried off my feet during the summer months.

I've finally finished the Arts Award project that I started last September and never got around to finishing.

GOT FLORENCE & THE MACHINE ALBUM!

The Anna Magdalena Bach book I ordered has arrived... having a quick look through it, it seems there are some really nice pieces in there Can't wait to have a run through tonight!

Electricity

Having just over an hour without power made me a bit The worst thing about it was having a digital piano and also having my lesson cancelled I just ended up going for a drive instead.

I might buy a UPS (although I'll have to do the maths and check whether it'd be able to power the clav for any decent amount of time).

A good day working with Reception!

Playing a belting organ!

Choir rehearsal- we have a wedding tomorrow afternoon, and though the hymns are all unison, we have got two short anthems for the SotR, which gave me so good lines!

Listening to the Ellis on youtube

A little bit of sunshine

A wonderful recital we've just got back from. Alan Hacker (clarinets) & Gavin Roberts (piano), prime front row seats in a packed church.

They are both excellent players and Alan Hacker not only played 4 different instruments - A Bb, A, C and a boxwood clarinet circa 1785 - but he was also very informative between pieces about the instruments and the reason the composers chose them, etc..

They played a Mendelssohn andante using the boxwood, the 5 Finzi bagatelles, 3 jewish american pieces, a japanese solo (no piano), 6 english folksong studies by Vaughan Williams and the 3 Schumann fantasie pieces (soiree stucke Op. 73). My head is still full of the music.

I don't know if anyone has tried the Vaughan Williams folksong studies but they are lovely pieces and look quite playable at my standard (piano accompanyment). I'm sure my regular clarinet partner would have no problem with her parts. Need to seek out the scores DawnF?

Having lunch with my daughter, then browsing round some charity shops with her, and getting home to find my one Grade 5 theory candidate got a merit.

I had a really nice mail sent to my boss (from some colleages in the US) praising me for "going the extra mile" and working beyond my remit to get some issues sorted out late last night

Quite chuffed.

The fact that I'm going on the Just Flutes course tomorrow!

The fact that I'm going to see mwl1 tomorrow *and* be back in Glasgow *and* have 2 whole days off work.

That sounds good, Floss. Hope you have a lovely time.

Wow!! I'm quite jealous!!! Go ahead and seek the scores and we'll have a go.

Making a kilogram of chocolatey cornflake nest things.

Waitrose obviously weren't thinking too carefully when they put the percentages of the only two ingredients on their tubs of them!

That sounds like a lot of nests! Are you giving a party? If they're nice, you could do some for the Handbell Day.

No party, just fancied making lots. I'll definitely make some for the handbell day and, if you're lucky and we have too-ripe bananas at the time, I'll make a banana cake too. I might need reminding nearer the time though.

Sounds delicious! I'll try and remember to remind you!

The internet is making me happy.

I'm away from home this week and my laptop is my link to my normal life - utterly invaluable!

Having a day off from my music course and feeling better after 13 hours of sleep...

A risque cute PM

It's just been a very enjoyable weekend...so....lots of things have made me happy!

We did wave at you emsoboe...you didn't wave back...

The forums.

Indeed it was

A great weekend in Scotland, and welcoming elder son back home safe and sound and happy from Australia.

I should be happy that I finally have a home to go to come September, and no longer have to do prolonged and miserable househunting trips to Bristol.

I'm not though.

Perhaps it hasn't yet sunk in...

Tonight I am extremely happy because the horrendous homesickness of the last 48 hours has lifted due to the week-long course I started today being UTTERLY BRILLIANT!!!!!!!! This is going to be a fantastic week and I can't wait for tomorrow morning!!!

Got my G1 theory result back, 100 Wasn't expecting that!

Well done! So what's next?

Grade 3 Theory and Practical in November I think. Then I'll refuse to do any exams for a term, I want to play more stuff of my own choosing

Today was by far the most difficult lesson I've ever had...

I have just finished my chapter.

It's only a draft, not the final polished version, but I won't need to look at it again for a while. It has taken me so long to write it...

Being awoken by a phonecall from Fiona, who was on her way to work at 0840. It was delightful. I just wished I'd gone to sleep at a time that didn't require me to remain until middayish to get the amount of slumber I required!

Well done Flossie! Have you got much more to go on the whole thing?

Progress. Progress today has made me very happy but I'm exhausted!

Having wonderful classes here in Hungary in solfege, methodology and conducting - an excellent workshop about the development of harmony in relation to the overtone series, and CHOIR with possibly the most wonderful conductor I've ever come across...

a massage and a box of chocolates..

Fruit bread!

I have around half of the thesis left to draft, and then the whole thing will need to be revised.

Resisting a temptation!

My CDs arrived! Martha Argerich playing Chopin piano concerto no.1 and Liszt piano concerto no.1 on the first CD, and Leif Ove Andsnes playing the Grieg piano concerto and the Schumann piano concerto on the other!

I've also ordered the Poulenc concerto for two pianos played by Poulenc himself (And some other pianist whose name I can't remember!), but that wont arrive for a few days yet.

Eventually getting rid of a virus which infected my laptop, and (after hours of work) undoing all the damage it caused - I hope!

Grrrr to the ****** who wrote it....

My flute has a small friend

A naughty text ....and not from my boyfriend either

(Don't worry, I'm keeping my hands to myself )

I finally got my recorder results. I've somehow managed to get a distinction.

Many congratulations Sarah!

Fantastic news! Thought you would - many congrats!