A date for the diaries - in the latest CASS magazine, the date for the next Colchester Single Reed day has been set : it'll be all day on Sunday 17th May.

Carl, clarinet_michelle, Morgan's Munchkin and I had a great time last year, this is an event well worth putting in your diaries.

I might do a solo masterclass this year (Carl and I did a duet last year...)

Hi Barry,

Does a person who wants to go to this event have to join CASS to go?

I may concider joining anyway and the date is in my diary so hope to see you then.

Regards, Peter.

It's open to any clarinet or saxophone player, CASS member or not.

Hope to see you there!

Join anyway Peter, you'll get a magazine with lots of Clarinetty things to read and details of lots of concerts and events you can attend. plus adverts for music reeds etc. How can you resist?

I hope to go on the 17th May.

Sue

I'll definately be going!!

Then again....Charles Hine teaches me for Clarinet so I doubt I'll have much choice

Hi Sue, and all,

I've joined!

Hope to see you all there.

Regards, Peter.

I've just received a form for this event

I'm going to fill it out tomorrow (along with an application to have a slot in the clari masterclass), but before I do, I'll scan the blank form into my computer, and if anyone wants one, drop me a PM with an email address, and I'll send you one.

The clari masterclasses are being directed by Tim Lines, and the sax masterclasses by Gerard McChrystal. There's plenty of opportunities to play in groups, and buy stuff, as well as clari/sax clinics and suchlike.

See you there!

Looks great Barry - I'll be there!! ... in the ensembles, not sure I'm quite up to a materclass, certainly not after my exam fiasco this week.

I'm sure you'd do fine in a masterclass taxidriver.

See you there!

Well, I've sent my form off...and asked to be in the masterclass...

If I get into the masterclass, I'll be playing the Scherzo from 'Suite for Emma' by John Dankworth.

You will be at liberty to chuck rotten tomatoes in my direction!

I have sent off my form too Barry - and after your encouragement have also asked to be in the Masterclass. I reckon the only way to conquer my nerves is to find as many opportunities to perform. If chosen, I will play the Andante by Baermann.

Have also opted for the Jazz workshop which should be fun - have never really done any jazz before

I really look forward to hearing you play Barry

I'm sure you'll do well



So have I



Aww thanks!

Oh bother, I'd said I'd work on the 17th May

that's a pity.

I'll get a list of single reed events sent to you Appassionata, you can then book yourself on something

Jazz workshop is fun!! I think Chris Burn is running it again this year - he teaches me for improvisation and is a very good tutor

He was very good last year - and you did a very good job in the jazz sessions last year too MM!

Thanks for the application form Barry

It asks me on the form what grade I am, starting at grade 2-4. As am not even grade one yet, will that bar me from coming just just to soak up the atmosphere ? not sure who to contact.

The telephone number is just for the ticket sales.

The flyer for the event does say minimum standard grade 2.

But I'm sure if you want to go and soak up the atmosphere it would be OK. Would you feel confident to play in the choirs? or would you just want to listen?

Probably just listen and mingle. I would however take it along..just in case

I'm not sure how you'd get on with coming for the atmosphere - presumably you'd still have to pay, in which case you might as well attempt some of the ensembles. You could perhaps put down to do the novice group and the single reed choir. In single reed choir there's so many that noone would notice if you missed the odd note out.

The person you'd need to speak to would be Charles Hine - prehaps phone the number on the form (if it's the one I think it is, it'll go through to an office in the music block) and ask them to pass on the query?

Just noticed theres an email address on the leaflet - cmpaevents@colchester.ac.uk

I've sent in my form so will be going.

As for David123 joining in - I agree you're going to have to pay, so you might as well have a go - listening from the back of the 4th Clarinets with some music in front of you will be better than listening from the back of the room with no music.
I'm not sure how they arrange 'positions' in the choir - it might be allocated or it might be free. But I have experience in playng below the standard of the music in an assemble - and my advice is this:
If at all possible sit next to someone who plays well enough to play confidently (for the 4th Clarinet position that might be a G3 person) Explain to them that you've only just started learning and that the music looks hard to you, and if there are long rests i.e. a couple of bars ask them in advance if they could check with you at thoses points so you know where you are.
Look for marks in the music where you will be able to get back in time if you have got lost - i.e. A set of quavers in an otherwise slow piece - of a high or low note. Then play what you can - it may be only one or 2 notes per bar - listen to your neighbour and if you can play quietly it will help you feel less embarressed if you go wrong.

Again I don't know the itenary for the day - but I suggest trying the 1st choir and seeing how you get on, I guess there are trade stands etc to look around and masterclasses to listen to plus there is the concert at lunchtime - So I think you'd enjoy it, as long as you have enough confidence to give it a go.

If you have any opportunity to play with others before hand give it a go - even playing a simple duet with your teacher will give you the opportunity to start listening to others whilst you play.

Thanks for that
I did try again but they ask me to leave a message, and as I am in and out all day I will probably miss their call.
I think I will just apply and put novice on the form and see what happens. If they won't let me in, I will busk so appallingly outside the window that they will deem it better for me to be inside



Hi Smd

You must have been typing at the same time as me. I will send them an email and if it is OK to go will do as you suggest. I am looking forward to it.
There is still a while to get plenty of practise in, so it will give me inspiration to work hard.

Good news
Sent the email and just got this reply.

Hi David,

Thanks for the enquiry.

That's absolutely fine - if you just note on the form that you are a novice then that will be fine - the festival is very informal and there is no obligation to participate beyond the level you feel comfortable at - in the large ensembles novices are usually paired up on parts with more experienced players. There will be plenty of novices there and, as you may have seen on the leaflet, a class aimed at novices, in which you're welcome to play and/or observe.

Kind regards,

Brilliant, see you there.

see you on May 17th!

Look forward to that.....I had better keep while I still have time

Oh you poor person - you'll probably end up paired with me on the clarinet 6 part

Methinks it may be the other way round . The poor thing that is.

You clearly haven't met me yet - I'll be the hyper one bouncing off all the walls!!

But you never know - I might get promoted to 5th clarinet this year!! Or I might ask to play the contra

Looks like there'll be a number of us forumites there! We'll have to work out a mass forum gathering at some time during the day...

Yes we must arrange a meeting point - there will be several forumites there I won't recognise.

[quote][quote]Looks like there'll be a number of us forumites there! We'll have to work out a mass forum gathering at some time during the day...
[/quote]
Yes we must arrange a meeting point - there will be several forumites there I won't recognise.
[/quote][/quote][/quote]

Oh yes please it will be fantastic to say hello properly face to face

I think I've got a good many contact details for most forumites coming along : I'll have a think about a meeting point.

The masterclasses are at 3:30pm though, and of course you are most welcome to come and have a listen to me if I get in, and I'm sure taxidriver would say the same if she gets in too.

Great, looking forward to the day.

Absolutely - all support appreciated!

Forum meeting sounds good - although I may not have time as a lot of my friends are coming.

Perhaps you can bring your friends to all the masterclasses!

Closing date for this is the 27th April : if you want an application form, drop me a PM with an email address on it, and I'll send you a form

I received a letter from the Colchester Institute on Saturday, confirming my place at the event. Looks like they're also going to try to fit most/all of the people who want to do masterclasses into the masterclass sessions.

Barry, do you have an idea from previous experience how the timetable will work with regard to the masterclasses? Will I know when you are 'on'? and will other choirs etc be running at the same time as the masterclasses?

Got my letter to, I assume that the letter is also our entry ticket. Anybody got any ideas on where we could meet up?

Previous years have seen the masterclasses happen in one block in the early-mid afternoon, with the clari and sax ones happening at the same time. There may be other small group things on then, but none of the major single reed groups are likely to clash.



Your name will be down on the entry list David. I'll PM/email/text people just before the day : I think I've met all the forum people going at least once before, with the exception of you, so it shouldn't be too hard to meet up at some stage.

Thanks Barry
Looking forward to the day.

Thanks Barry.

Hope you don't mind taking on the responsibilty of getting us all to meet up!

I don't mind at all - it'll be good to all meet up!

Have just read : there are engineering works on 17th May, and Colchester station will be closed. Buses will replace trains between Marks Tey and Colchester. Check the National Express East Anglia website for further details...

I'll be messaging all the forum people going before Saturday morning (have decided on an overnight stay, due to the train works) : working out a meeting-up strategy.

I think I've contacted most/all of you : drop me a line tonight/tomorrow morning if I've left you out.

My solo is very vaguely slightly OK-ish...see you all there on Sunday!

Look forward to that.
If you see somebody in a two tone grey dennis the menace sweat shirt, and a red and blue back pack wandering around looking lost it will be me.

See you in the morning

*makes note*

See you, and everyone else going, tomorrow!