I had my last oboe lesson yesterday before our 10 week summer break
However things are looking a bit better musically than previous summers.

I still have two wind-band concerts before that stops for the summer and I have arranged to play with a cellist next week.

However, what I'm really looking forward to is a week's residential chamber music course at the end of August. (I just hope my embouchure will stand up to intensive playing for six days).

I had my last oboe lesson yesterday But my teacher said I could have one at her house sometime during the holidays if I want.

I have 2 courses this summer A workshop with the BBC concert orchestra which is mainly for people in the CYO and another workshop with the bournemouth symphony orchestra which is part of a music pragram in the south west. Both of them are a few days - a week long.

I've got a week on a saxophone course and a week on a jazz course to look forward to. I've done both before and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the music, the catching up with old friends and hopefully making some new friends too. They've turned into my favourite way to spend my holiday time.

I think I've got a couple of big band gigs, and a small jazz group one over the summer too, so I don't think I'm going to have too much time to miss my regular sessions, early September could be a bit empty though.

I've been asked, by my wife, to leave my fiddle at home during our holidays (I can't think why).

As soon as we are back I'll need to work on my Grade 1 stuff (perhaps I might upset the locals with my playing?).

Maybe she wants to go out with you, lie on the beach , have afternoon tea, go to the pub, visit historical castles/houses and so on...............all with you

Theory, theory and more theory! I've just bought 4 books relating to equal temperament and tuning, so that I will finally get to the bottom of that particualr mystery. As I am taking grade 5 theory in the November and aiming to progress to 6, 7 and 8 in due course, I am devouring text books on the subject.

Apart from that, I am standing in for the church choir director as he takes off all of August!

Off to Durham university for a week for summer school for my OU A214. 9.00 - 9.00pm all music! Shall take my piano music with me too, so that I can practise when I get a minute .

Can't wait!

ET

If that particular summer school is anything like I remember it, you won't get a minute!

Wall to wall music for a week...great stuff! Have a wonderful time...and try to get into the Cathedral while you're there.

*Wishes I was going too...*

Hmnm I had a feeling it might be like that! lol!



I wish you were too! then I could meet you!

ET

Aww..that's nice of you to say so! Thanks!

*I had one tutor on my course that had the worst halitosis in the history of halitosis! Not good when he's leaning over you going through figured bass exercises. Be warned! *

Oh thanks, thats something to look forward to then! lol Actually I am hoping that I get my tutor Richard Lyne as I am sure he said he is doing the figured bass session and he is going the same week as me. He is lovely.

ET

I'm going to two Irish music festivals and then I shall be working horribly hard - I have almost thirty concerts planned between now and September so I shall spend my time either doing sound checks, singing or sitting in our stuffy coach listening to dancers whine about how much they weigh (when I have shoes that are heavier than they are).

Summer fun. Pass the cake.

I had Richard Lyne too! he's a very nice person! I live in Kent but had to go to the "armpit of the Universe" (Cyrilla's words to describe Croydon! ) for my tutorials.

Thats were I go for mine too. Actually one of our ladies comes from Kent and she is doing the summer school the same week as me. I am trying to change my train times so that we can meet at London Bridge and do the underground to Kings Cross together.

Mind you I am very pleased to say that my exam will be held in Crawley.

ET

NOTHING!!! Thank goodness. Well apart from the normal weddings, functions etc. All concerts will be finished by this Friday and the following week will see the end of teaching for the summer so the cello is going into it's case and the cellist is having a well earned rest!

I think it is more to do with not inflicting my playing on the French population!

Are you going to Benslow, Kerioboe? If so, we shall meet as I will be there! (Sunday 23rd August to Saturday 29th)

I have no more piano lessons
But that is also a plus, because it means that I can learn whatever I want, without deducting from what my teacher has given me to practice (well. she's told me to learn the rest of the grade 2 pieces, but like I'm gonna go and do that properly... grade 2 has been and is gone) as long as I'm actually playing some new things, should be ok.

And they are classical. Ish.

Flute lessons carry on throughout summer holidays though, once a fortnight
So I'll have hours and hours to practice.

I'm going to see how many scales I can learn in six weeks. Cos I'm cool like that
Plus it'll help in the future.

And my teacher says she has many many plans for this summer. Including her folk band and folk music, piccolos, poulenc and a summer concert, plus more....

I'll be seeing various forumites for musical adventures, and visiting three Proms concerts

No I'm not. The one I'm going to is run by English people for English people but it's in France.

My children did a music course last week (first week of their holidays) which they really enjoyed. Luckily, our singing teacher is keeping going all over the summer so that's great. I am going on a harp course in August and I am looking for a new harp too! Plus I asked my piano teacher to do me out a practice schedule for scales - each week I have a new piece of paper to open which tells me what to practice for that week - the surprise element! I am on diminished 7ths this week! (I really am a big kid at heart). Plus my harp teacher gave me a couple of grade 3 pieces in June which I hope to have cracked hands together for Sept.

Plus my children have loads of sporting activities on as well - bodyboarding etc!

So, summer is going to be busy as well as fun I think!!

Elizabeth

I'll be able to do so much more playing over the summer
No teaching for 8 weeks, no uni, one medical student residential orchestra week in Cardiff and lots of playing with my old clarinet teacher (plus Stalybridge, Proms concerts and playing with Barryclari and other musical friends!)
I can't wait - just the slight matter of a flute exam on Friday and 4 pupils exams first

My lessons continue throughout the summer and I have some weeks away from work which will allow me the luxury of practising and playing in the day time and not when I am shattered after a full clinical day.