You're all saved from ropey piano-playing as I won't be able to make it Hope it goes well - will be thinking of you all as I grin and bear a day out with the in-laws, and wishing I was in Teddington.

Sorry to hear that, Deborah. And I'm sure your piano-playing wouldn't be ropey.

Aw

ditto what The Management says

That's a pity - I can't recall ever having heard you play the piano Deborah. I'd be very surprised if someone who just got a good merit pass at grade 8 would be ropey...

Hope the applications are still flooding in katyjay

My form should be arriving soon!

Sorry you won't be there Deborah.

Your form has arrived in today's post, DaisyChain. And I seriously like your choice of composer

Really? Thanks.

Very intrigued now...

Something beginning with.....'S'!!!

Hello everyone

Just a quick point about repertoire choices for those of you who've sent in a "TBC" form.

This year we don't have the services of either of the professional accompanists who have been kind enough to help us in previous years - for a variety of reasons they aren't available on the date.

However, we have some lovely people who have volunteered to do accompaniments, and it would be good if the accompaniments they were asked to do were not too demanding to prepare at short notice.

So please think carefully before you choose your pieces. It would be a shame if the accompanists who are playing for us have to veto a piece, so let's not get into a position where we risk that happening.

The accompanists are always great heroes of these events - so thank you very very much for volunteering, those of you that have done so

Hello Katyjay and all

I am also tempted to participate - but I have nobody to accompany my clarinet or oboe..
I am happy to to do duet as clarinets or oboes, or even with string....
Would it be possible to come alone?

Or if anyone would not mind to play together, I am very happy to be group/partner.
Currently am woking on Grade 5 oboe and Grade 7/8 standard at clarinet.

Have a nice weekend to all.

Do come! If you don't fancy playing solo, I see a few pianist names in the thread so I'm sure Katyjay will be happy to find you an accompanist assuming you act fast and are not considering a piece with fiendish piano part (as I think December/January can be very busy for many people which means not much time to prepare).

Yes, there are some volunteer accompanists who are able to cope with moderate demands and who do enjoy the opportunity to gain more accompanying experience through these events.

I'm quite happy to act as an 'accompanist' (on clarinet) if you want to do the top part of a duet oboe d'amore, if you'd like to do that. I don't qualify as an adult learner clarinettist, but I think that's get-away-with-able...

Hi oboe d'amore

You don't need to bring your own accompanist, it's fine to come alone. I'm sure we can find someone to accompany you, as long as the accompaniment isn't too tricky.

I'm sure we can also find you duet partners, whether for clarinet or oboe.


Cheers

Katyjay

Hello Barry-clari and katyjay

hope you had a nice weekend.
OK, I will think about it which instrument i should bring it and music.
Do you think i just bring some sheetmusic? Mine is not too difficult as everybody is challenging...!
will post application form tomorrow. thank you

It's been a nice weekend, thanks! Now I'm looking forward to my birthday tomorrow

But I digress.

If you haven't decided what piece you're going to play, let katyjay know in good time, especially if you need an accompaniment of some kind. Have a think about the standard of the accompaniment too - I'd try to avoid accompaniments that are too difficult.

See you on the 7th February!

A reminder to students and teachers in the South East that it's time to fill in those application forms before all spaces are gone.

No minimum level required just come and play something you enjoy and meet with other Adult Learners in your area and beyond.

And don't forget that as this is the 5th concert in this area there will be cake.

Cake???

W

They might put candles on said cake...

this solo katyjay's given me looks a smidge tricky...

I bet she'd prefer the word 'challenging'.

You know me too well


Hmmm....don't think we've had candles since Egham....

Please don't put candles on the cake - Bushy House is a listed building with an over sensitive fire detectors!

In that case, we won't have candles.

But we will have cake.

And chat.

And music.



Brilliant

We could have candles but just not light them.......

I think we should have four candles

There's a sketch about that....

I have a large yellow plastic candle.

But it'd look rubbish on the cake

I am looking forward to seeing the venue - it does look very posh

Just out of interest, seeing as I've never visited before, what sort of piano is it at Teddington?

It's a Steinway grand. Not in the first flush of youth, but well maintained, regularly played, regularly tuned (AmandaL and I bumped into the tuner as he arrived to see it a couple of weeks ago.....) Pretty decent instrument.

Sounds good kj

Train services to Teddington look like they will be running OK on 7/2, if you're travelling across London to get to Waterloo, be aware though that there's no Jubilee Line that day from Green Park to Stratford, so no Jubilee to Waterloo.

Well, I now have a copy of my solo song from katyjay : it has accidentals, loads of words and plenty of awkward intervals...

She likes to keep you on your toes Barry

I think she does!

It's a chunk of Handel's Messiah

Cheer up Barry, what goes around comes around. Andante gave me my music for Teddington yesterday too.

It would appear to involve a flute.....

- I'm sure (no, I know) you'll be great!

Ooh, this is shaping up to be a really nice concert

Our duet is eight pages long!

Don't worry - there's a lot of repetition in it!

I haven't clue what I'm doing at Teddington as a solo item. Suggestions on a postcard, please.

Have you thought any more about the duet I suggested?
(not as a solo item, tho it's a good trick if you can do it!)



Ambs x

Yes, thought I'd replied to you! Oops! It's on order, will get it after Christmas.

Hello everyone

Just a very quick reminder - the closing date for entries for this concert is Monday 5th January

If you haven't got your entry into the post to me, but you do want to come, please e-mail or PM me.

I may be able to squash in a late entry or two, BUT any entry after the closing date will not be accompanied.

If you know you still have to let me know what you're playing, please e-mail or PM me that too. If I haven't been told you need an accompanist by the end of January 5th, you will not be accompanied.

I shall be matching up accompanists to soloists that evening, and will let everyone know where to send their music. Please do that as soon as you know who to send it to - again, if the accompanists don't have time to learn your music, you'll be playing unaccompanied.

If you want audience tickets, I need to know about those before the end of January. This is because the NPL is a secure site and we have to notify all attendances in advance. Sadly, I can't take tickets on the door for this event.

Any other queries, just give me a shout.


Cheers

Katyjay

Sorry, forgot to mention.....


The concert draw will go up on the website as soon as I have the details of what everyone's playing.

Well, it arrived this week, just in time for my lesson with katyjay (our next-door neighbour handed it to me as I was defrosting the car), which meant a lot of scary sight reading. But it's fine, Amber, and I look forward to singing it with you.

Just a final reminder, folks. Closing day for performers is today. Anyone whose form isn't yet in the post, please PM or e-mail me.

I shall sort out accompanists this evening.

Thanks

Yay, great!

My version is in g minor, is yours?!?!? (It's so much better if we both sing it in the same key!)



Ambs x

Well, the score I've got is in G minor. Not sure whether that helps me to sing it in that key.

I assume you would like me to sing the lower part?

[squeaks] Yes please!

OK folks. The accompanist allocations have been done and you should have a PM telling you whom to contact to send your music.


If you don't, please contact me immediately to sort it out.

Please send your music as soon as possible. Accompanists, if you don't receive what you're expecting by Saturday, please let me know.


Thanks everyone


Katyjay

Three and a bit weeks to go, and Handel might just recognise what I'm doing...

How are other people's preparations going?

Never mind that... you'd better hope he'd recognise what I'M doing.