Fallen in love with a piece of music I'd grown to hate in lessons! Now I don't have the stress, I'm playing it constantly!

So, what is this hateful lovely piece? A piano transcription of the Birdie Song?

Grieg's "Arietta" from Op.12. Lyric Pieces

Ah, yes, I know of it, although I haven't played any of his Lyric Pieces, funnily enough (a serious gap in my sheet music collection, some would say)!

I play his Holberg Suite though and some of his Concerto - Fred' Chopin played a smidgeon of this when we were warming up at Dyrham.

A bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates from my last two students today, as a thank you for getting them through their exams.

Some students are actually nice!

I think you sound pretty good too!

Yesterday, but - being confirmed and having a lovely dinner with friends from church.

yesterday for me too, a great singing lesson, when I was expecting a disaster with no practice and no sleep....I think I was just singing and my technique is coming together with less thinking required. Vocalisas my teacher commented I was through them like a machine (in a good way LOL) up to a top Fsharp for the first time, then flew through my exam pieces with not much other than praise!!

I am still smiling about it!

A day off work. There is a delivery coming this afternoon. I could have taken the afternoon off, or worked from home in the afternoon, or even all day. But instead I decided to take the day off.

I've been out for an hour on my bike, which was lovely.

Now I've got back and I'm going to have a really good bit of recorder practice between now and lunchtime.

And then OU work in the afternoon.

With the windows open because there is a nice cooling breeze out there (has been cloudy and slightly rainy, but the cloud is clearing now)

A lovely piano lesson with my lovely teacher, and a new piece to play..........a romantic waltz by Schubert in the Modern to Classic book 3.

It's more a case of what made me laugh today! The dentist and his assistant!
I decided to go for a check up and as soon as I sat on that chair my hands started shaking! By the time the dentist asked me to open my mouth I was clutching the chair with my hands . The dentist asked me if I was ok to which I replied I couldn't understand why I was so nervous as I knew deep down nothing terrible was going to happen. I must have emphasized the word "terrible" as they both burst out laughing assuring me that nothing TERRIBLE had ever happened in the surgery and kept joking afterwards while checking my teeth! Great surgery! They do put you at ease!

And I always thought that dentists were unhappy at work, because they always look down-in-the-mouth!

Getting my hair done as a practice for the lower graduate ball (prom ) next week

Doing about 4 hours worth of sight-reading practice, picking up everything and anything within reach! Oh, and downloaded some stuff from IMSLP! Sight-reading practice on Schubert D959 Andantino =

Final invigilation duty of the summer term: one candidate sitting the Edexcel Advanced Extension Award in Mathematics (a bit like the old S'level).

Frustrating, as I couldn't write anything down - did as much in my head as possible though. I sympathise with any non-mathematician invigilating this one - 3 hours and a paper full of algebra! However, for me it was a joy, keeping my mind ticking over for pretty much the whole time.

Having to be aware of possible external disruption e.g. noise at change of lessons etc, not to mention anything required by the candidate, I couldn't devote my attention to the algebraic manipulation necessary for some sections - after all it isn't designed to be done in your head!

"The sum of the first p terms of an arithmetic series is q and the sum of the first q terms of the same arithmetic series in p, where p and q are unequal positive integers.

Giving simplified answers in terms of p and q, find

(a) the common difference of the terms in this series,

(b) the first term of the series,

© the sum of the first (p + q) terms of the series."



Had enough yet?

Sounds like everyone had to mind their Ps and Qs

My daughter just sang Con Te Partiro for her headteacher (suprised him as he is retiring) at her school concert, and was awarded the Musician of the Year trophy, first time ever it has not been given to a year 7 leaver. It was very very special and she got a standing ovation - first time all night the audience was quiet!!!

I am one VERY proud mum!!!

I'm taking half a day off

I've organised a singing lesson with Dugazon!!!!! Very excited!!!!! And the first chance to meet a forumite!!

A discussion with my teacher about buying a new clarinet. Off to Howarth's tomorrow to test a few.

Another successful concert at Sewerby Hall. About 60 in the very appreciative audience.

Brilliant, congrats! I've been impressed and inspired by your dedication and wonderful playing at forum events

A lovely compliment in my PM box.

Well, it just made me smile:

I finished off the first section of the last movement of my Schubert Sonata with the E major chord that's written, yet managed to catch the D with my thumb, instantly turning it into a dominant seventh - anticpating the tonic A when really the dominant is the key to which the piece has modulated.

"Get out of that!" I thought to myself! (Good job I was only recording it - no audience).

Ahh just got back from the most amazing evening, a vocal recital by my 11 year old daughter (Vedrai Carino and Think of Me from Phantom), another amazing student, and Nathan our singing tutor. Wow! Everyone was blown away by them all, especially when they did the encores together (which she learned in one week and then rearranged today when the other soprano was ill....)

It was so wonderful, I have no idea how I will get to sleep (it's 1.30 already!!) And she got asked to sing at a wedding....all in the college fund!!

Yesterday I lost my phone Today I got it back thanks to a lovely lady who tracked me down and met up with me to give it back.

Got a distinction (the equivalent of a first) in my French exam... I also managed to coherently explain an essay idea to my tutor, and she didn't condemn it out of hand, so it can't be as muddled and impossible as I might've assumed...

Félicitations!!!

Congratulations!

haha - like the tricolor!
Congratulations Lucky!

Merci beaucoup guys. Barry, I love the flag.

glad you like it!

Music making with Oldnotes

And then a nice after school bike ride with my kids to the local farm shop and pick your own.

Strawberries were picked and lollipops eaten and a game or 2 of hide and seek played in the play area before cycling back for a late (by the kids' standards) Fish and chips tea

Well done! I don't have Barry's way with flags, but am still very pleased for you!

I played in a recital on Thursday and had to take 3 bows

Last pupil of the last day of term!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vive les vacances!!!!

Yesterday, rather than today, I won an iPod Touch at a work "get together while we talk at you for the day" day. I almost didn't go as these aren't usually my favourite way to spend my working time and with a bit of creativity I can often come up with a reason as to why I can't possibly attend. But I did go, and even before the iPod winning it was actually quite interesting, with one talk in particular I enjoyed. They had nice cakes during the breaks too (although not World Cup themed). The iPod winning bit was probably the highlight of the day though.

booze

That is lovely to know that there are still some nice people about.



Congratulations, a very big well done!!



Sounds like a lovely day!

It's the weekend!!
German speaking exam and History homework done; English essay up to date and typed up only physics and biology coursework left...
and lots of music-making (samba ) to look forward to for tomorrow!

Having a day of lovely, very intense dance rehearsals, then going for a wander round town tonight with my lovely boyfriend

Not having to set my alarm clock.

snoozing in the sun all afternoon

Singing in the Kodály Choir with lots of lovely people - and having a great meal out tonight with some more lovely people!

I've booked myself a lesson with a concert pianist as a treat

Quite scared now!!!

Meeting a very good friend for coffee, then my son deciding he's too tired to go swimming this evening, so I can stay at home

My brother being ranked 2nd in the country for running V. proud sister!!

Wow, go bro!!

Brilliant!