The detailed info and application form will be ready shortly but this is just to give a little bit of advance notice so that anyone who might like to come and hasn't been before has a bit more time to think about it.

Briefly it's a concert at which adult learners (mainly but not exclusively) are able to come and get performance experience. We're all levels from beginners to post Grade 8. Teachers are also welcome, and there is the opportunity to accompany, and/or lead an ensemble, if you would like to.

Many people will play a solo but if you'd rather just play in a duet, small ensemble or large ensemble, that's fine. If you would like to come and play in a duet/trio/small ensemble but haven't been before and/or don't know who to play with, just let me know (email/PM) and I'll try and partner you with somebody.

Some of the ensembles are likely to be (subject to numbers):

Clarinet ensemble
Flute ensemble
Choir
Strings ensemble

I'll give a link to the web site and application form soon. In the meantime, to give me an idea of what small ensembles we might be able to put together, please feel free to email/PM me with your instrument(s) and level if you'd like to take part in (or lead) a small ensemble.

If you haven't been before, you might like to know that this is a very relaxed and informal day - we spend the morning rehearsing and socialising, then have the concert in the afternoon. Those of us who are local or staying overnight usually go for a meal afterwards to round off the day Edit: If anybody wants to see photos taken at the last Leeds concert in January, click this link

Look forward to meeting old friends and new... Yorkshire College of Music & Drama, Headingley, Leeds - 30 May 2009

If I was a musician I'd definately take part, I'll be along to offer support anyway.

If anyone would like to do a duet with Emsoboe, she'll be more than happy to, whatever the standard. She just hates sitting around

I'm always happy to duet with Emsoboe, as you know. I also have a number of good trios for oboe, recorder and piano.

Where is the college in relation to the station?

Its in Headingley, about 3 miles outside Leeds, so a long way from the Leeds City station. Headingley also has a station (on the Harrogate line out of Leeds). Its about a mile from there

So it's basically not accessible unless people drive?

It's perfectly accessible from Leeds station by bus

Hi Flossie (and anyone else thinking of coming by train!)

Quite a number of people come by train - they come into Leeds City Station and then get a connection out to Headingley Station (it's on the Harrogate line and just a few minutes by train). The connecting trains run frequently and I normally arrange for people coming by train to be picked up from Headingley Station.

After the concert, someone normally gives people a lift back to either Headingley Station or Leeds City Station in time for their train. People usually get a train back after the concert at around 6.15-6.30pm, or later if they come for a meal.

I'd love to meet you, hope you'll be able to come


It's very accessible if you're coming to a Players for Pleasure concert and ask the organiser if she can arrange a lift from the station

It's very accessible, we've done it by train twice It's easy getting out of Leeds on the train to Headingly and they are frequent.




Thank you!! Emsoboe always enjoys duets with you so she'll be pleased about that. She can do either Oboe or Recorder but hasn't managed to play them both at the same time yet If there was anyway I'm sure she would try.

I think she may be bringing her friend who is a Bassoonist. I do know an Oboist who I can try and persude

Maybe she could fit a garklein inside her oboe



That would be Leeds's first bassoon

I would love to come but unfortunately I a am already double booked for this weekend. I have a tutorial for my OU course which I don't think I can afford to miss, but the downside is that I have to miss the piano workshop that I so wanted to go to. It would be the one on performance and nerves!!

Hope you all have a great time, and really hope that sometime in the not too distant future I will be able to make one of these events.

ET

Thanks ET - and I hope to meet you one day!

That's a shame, Eldatom. I'd been thinking about a duet with your new piano-flute music.

Skylark - if I come, is there likely to been a grade 7-8ish+ pianist who could accompany me for a piece? As there isn't really that much time to prepare, I was thinking of doing something I already know well (rather than trying to learn a new piece in time for the event) but a lot of things in the flute repertoire have grade 6+ standard accompaniments (or so I've been told... don't play piano myself!).

This sounds great! I'm booked up with orchestra rehearsals on the Sunday, but this sounds like it'll work fine as a day trip.

What time does it usually start? Having looked at trains, I can get in to Leeds City station for a few minutes after nine. Although this would involve getting a 6 o'clock train, and would probably result in me being exceptionally grumpy, it's do-able!

Though perhaps me coming and people discovering just how rubbish a violinist I am would not be such a great idea...Anyone fancy a duet of hot cross buns?!

Hopefully going to come to this one!.....I'll PM you with details Skylark

There are normally several pianists who are willing to accompany and could possibly play at that level subject to sight of the piece. Can I suggest that if any pianist is interested, you PM Flossie and ask for sight of the music. I usually try to spread the accompanying out, but at this early stage, it would be quicker for interested parties to contact you direct, Flossie, as I don't yet know who all the accompanists will be.



The doors usually open around 9.15-9.30. We'll have a cup of coffee ready for you

Although it's not absolutely necessary to get there right at the start, it is advisable to get there as soon as possible. It all depends what ensembles you're playing in and how many rehearsals you need to do. If you're in a large ensemble, a small ensemble or two and you need to rehearse with your accompanist as well, then the morning soon goes


I'd find it very hard to believe that you're a rubbish violinist! I know a viola player (or two?) is thinking of coming, and at least two or three other violinists. Can I suggest to other strings players that you get in touch with false_harmonic to see about putting a duet, trio, ensemble together


I've PM'd you back!

Yes please!

W

I think I'll come I mentioned it to my teacher yesterday and she got really excited when I said that I didn't yet know what to play. She then started telling me about this piece and then told me it was grade 6

I'm happy to participate in a flute ensemble and I might do some string ensemple playing, but it would have to be very easy viola parts....

Look forward to seeing you again (with or without home-made biscuits )



Would anybody like to put a flute ensemble together

We need Barry or somebody. I don't have any music (well, I do - but it's all for flute and piano or solo flute and that's useless for ensemble playing).

A friend of mine does a lot of flute music arranging. She runs a flute quartet and flute choir. If you like I could ask her if she could furnish me with some music. I know she's done a Carmen arrangement, and Golliwog's Cakewalk, and I've been nagging her to do an arrangement of Saint-Saens' "Aquarium", which she said she would probably try. I think it's fairly advanced, because she's really good, but not being a flautist I can't tell the level of the music just from listening!

At the Leeds concert in January, Gedall40 did a great job of directing the flute ensemble but I'm not sure he can come to the May one due to another commitment. He's going to let me know - I hope he'll be able to come and show off his prowess again , but if not, hopefully somebody else will take up the opportunity


edit: Thanks false_harmonic, I might take you up on that offer





PS. If anybody wants to see photos taken at the last Leeds concert in January, click this link

I have a couple of nice violin duets if anyone would like to have a go - and I would be happy to play clarinet or flute in an ensemble. Also I could accompany (as long it is reasonably straightforward and I get to see it well in advance!)
N

If anyone thinks they'll be getting into Leeds around nine and wants to get the train to Headingley together (for purely selfish reasons of course: I've never been to Leeds before, far less Headingley, and am not convinced I won't get on the wrong train or something!) please PM me and we can arrange something. I don't know how big Leeds station is (I imagine fairly large!) but I should be fairly easy to spot - I'll be the one carrying a grey-blue violin case!

Thanks to those who have offered to accompany already

To be going on with as far as ensemble instruments are concerned, the people who have posted have between them...

Strings:
Viola - babybird2 (easy viola), willobie
Violin - false_harmonic, nova


Woodwind:
Bassoon - emsoboe's friend?
Clarinet - emsoboe, nova, skylark
Flute - babybird2, emsoboe, flossie, nova
Oboe - emsoboe (+ friend?)
Sax - emsoboe


I have some clarinet ensemble music if there are any other clarinet players thinking of coming. Some of the pieces have a part for a bass clarinet - does anyone know if a bassoon could take that part

Perfectly accessible - public transport!

Count me in! I've been planning on coming to Leeds since I went to the one in January and I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm also definitely up for playing in an ensemble/duet, if anyone's looking for another oboe!

And there's a well-oiled machine now for lifts from/to the nearby station





'twill be nice to see you again amber_piano


Update then...

Strings:
Viola - babybird2 (easy viola), willobie
Violin - false_harmonic, nova

Woodwind:
Bassoon - emsoboe's friend?
Clarinet - emsoboe, nova, skylark
Flute - babybird2, emsoboe, flossie, nova
Oboe - amber_piano, emsoboe (+ friend?)
Sax - emsoboe

I'll leave it to everybody to contact each other at this stage re duets/trios/ensembles

I have some clarinet ensemble music if there are any other clarinet players thinking of coming. Some of the pieces have a part for a bass clarinet - does anyone know if a bassoon could take that part

I would like to come too, please.

Ambs x

If we are coming by car (hopefully we will be) emsoboe could also do strings, give her the encouragement to practice Violin




There is another Oboe.




Will be nice to see you again.

Pretty please, please may I come, Skyers? *angelic smile*

On the offchance that you say yes!... I'm quite willing to offer my services as a "violinist" and person who has recently begun to pretend to be learning to play the flute. I suspect my partner in crime and I have a vocal duet up our sleeves already.

Oldnotes has been sending me a gentle reminder... so I better pop in to say I'm coming!

Happy to accompany as usual (plus any pianoing needs you have for ensembles)

I would absolutely love to come to this

May I join the Clarinet group? Also may I play a solo piece (Clarinet)?

Anyone up for pre-grade 1 strings group?

Hi Nicia-Clarinet-Flute, it'll be great to meet you, and yes, definitely play a clarinet solo! I know you've mentioned clarinet and strings (?violin) but can I hazard a guess that you play flute as well? I'll put you down for the flute ensemble as well as the clarinet ensemble, unless you tell me otherwise

Really glad you're all coming again, Amber, Flossy, Mwl1 (presumably Flossy's partner in crime ) and Panthera (and thanks for the offer to accompany).

I think I'd better get on with getting the web site and form sorted




New update (edited) (Ill put "known suspects" in the choir as well if that's OK (let me know if not) and if any else wants to sing, just let me know)

Strings:
Viola - willobie; Easy Viola - babybird2, Nicia-Clarinet-Flute
Violin - emsoboe, false_harmonic, Miss Ross, mwl1, nova

Woodwind:
Bassoon - emsoboe's friend?
Clarinet - emsoboe, Nicia-Clarinet-Flute, nova, skylark
Flute - babybird2, emsoboe, Flossie, Miss Ross, nova
Oboe - amber_piano, emsoboe (+ friend?)
Sax - emsoboe

Vocal:
Amber, DaisyChain, Miss Ross, mwl1

Accompanists:
DaisyChain, nova, oldnotes, Panthera, pianomonkey
(Other accompanists to be confirmed)


I'll leave it to everybody to contact each other at this stage re duets/trios/ensembles (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll start having a look through my clarinet ensemble music - we can double up parts if there are any other clarinet players thinking of coming. Some of the pieces have a part for a bass clarinet - does anyone know if a bassoon could take that part (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Thanks

I'm a new Viola player, not Violin though knowing me I'll have one of them too by the time the forums concert comes around

Better not put me down for flute I've had a lot of trouble with it (physically) and all but given up playing Up for all Clarinetting though

Aw, what a shame about your flute

I'll edit the list then re flute and strings

Since no one seems to be answering your question...

The bassoon can't play the bass clarinet part unless you transpose it first. The bassoon plays in C (like the flute or the oboe) and the bass clarinet in Bb (like the clarinet).

Pity I can't come this time

Thanks

I think the whole posture was taught wrong to me in the first place, to be honest, now it's a bad habit.

Thanks kerioboe - I don't think transposition would be a problem as long as it would sound OK. The part isn't essential to the ensemble, but I thought if emsoboe's bassoonist friend comes, it would be nice if he could join in the ensemble if it would sound alright



Perhaps it was meant to be... the clarinet's a [cough] nicer instrument anyway



(only joking, and no flutes were hurt in the making of that post )

At the moment, the answer is, " I don't yet know". But I'll try my best.

Will keep my fingers crossed, you know you'll be welcome








Willobie, have you seen the PM I sent you - my Messge Tracker says you haven't seen it

That's great, I'll pm you with the details and you can see if you'd like to do one. Would your partner in crime consent to accompany me do you think for a violin solo??
N

I'll ask him nicely for you!

As far as I know the range is similar on both instruments and I think it would probably sound all right. I am basing this on the fact that the County Wind band in belong to has a bass clarinetist who plays the bassoon parts (duly transposed) on his bass clarinet. So if it works one way, it ought to work the other.

Aw, yes




Yes that sounds as if it would be OK, thanks

skylark, re our PMing... I'll send you the duet music soon!

Looking forward to it

Skylark, do you like the tune to "A Groovy Kind Of Love"??

... call me suspicious but I have a feeling that that's a leading question

The words "duet" and "piano" cross my mind

If it's at the speed which Phil Collins is playing on this youtube video, I could probably manage it!


But I could be completely wrong

Forget piano and think clarinet????????
I think I should try arranging something, in my attempts to learn about harmony.
So naturally like a horse and carriage, flutes and clarinets go together
I love the melody, it's so romantic, and we could make everyone cry.......could be with emotion, or joy because we've finished
What do you say boss??