Overall a good day I think. Really nice to meet up with Barry, sbhoa, clarimoo, hillyb and a couple of other people who's forum identities I didn't quite work out.

The oboist I was sat with is taught by the same person as me - so was good to get to meet her and a couple of other people she'd come across the penines with. Our teacher has been saying for a few weeks that she is going to get us together to play some trios so was really good to finally meet her!!

I really, really enjoyed the morning - excellent music, loved the Paul Harris piece, the final morning piece was fast and quite difficult (grade 7/8 but went up to top G , even for grade 8 you only go up to F#!). But by the end of of that my lip was beginning to go. We then started the afternoon with 2 very fast pieces, the first had lots of fast staccato semi quavers, which at that point of the proceedings was too much for my embouchure to manage even though the notes themselves were ok. As a result of that the lady next to me chose to sit out the next piece, as she was just blowing raspberries down her reed. Rather than balancing with something a bit slower we then had a piece which was just as fast and had an excessively difficult post grade 8 standard oboe part. At this point it began to feel more like an endurance trial than fun...and I really didn't enjoy that session at all, I think I would have been better sitting it out.

Was a definite relief to get to the final piece which was much easier and gentler.

Was good fun overall though, really glad I went and would recommend it to people...though with a caveat for oboists regarding difficulty and stamina. It is adverstised for grade 5 and above....but the oboe parts were generally much too difficult for a grade 5 player to sight read , and for most pieces there was only 1 oboe part so no opportunity to swap. Maybe would have been better to advertise as 2 half days - with easier pieces in the morning, and the afternoon for more advanced.

I didn't go for the meal, so can't comment. I'm sure they will have had a good time though.

I think the music at this years London event were a bit easier than those at last years. It's possible I've just got better during the last year, but I was 3rd last year and 2nd this year so overall I think it was easier. I think quite a few feed back forms last year said it was too difficult - so I think they take it into account.

For me the best change would be to get the music in advance even if it was only a few days so it wasn't all sight reading.

I think it was easier too - no less fun, but easier.



I think that's a nice idea

Maybe just having an alternative easier oboe part for the harder ones would have helped.