clarijo and I were talking on Saturday about having a very informal playing session at the Yorkshire College of Music - no running order or programme, just get up and play when you feel ready. The idea is to get used to playing in front of other people, but in as a relaxed and informal way as possible.

Any level and any instrument would be welcome - people can be just as nervous about performing at Grade 8 as at Grade 1!

Who would find it useful?...
- anyone who hasn't yet performed in public and would like to do so
- anyone who gets nervous performing in public
- anyone who has an exam on the horizon and wants to try out their piece or get performance experience
- anyone who would like accompanying experience (subject to which singers or orchestral players come)
- anyone coming to the Leeds concert in January (or playing at a teacher's concert) who wants to break the ice first
- and anyone else who just wants to come for a fun time playing with friends without the pressure of playing in a concert.


Would Saturday 5th December suit? The college normally closes at 1pm, so what about starting at, say, 10am for two or three hours depending on how many come, and that would leave the afternoon free for Christmas shopping in Leeds if anyone wanted to. It gives a good two or three weeks to practise our pieces. The 12th of December is also available at the college, but possibly a little too close to Christmas?

The cost would be, say, £5 head for the session assuming we stay for 3 hours.

Is anyone interested in this?

Good idea Skylark, you could have saved a lot of typing in your middle paragraph - who would find it useful. The answer is everyone!

The 5th is no good as both DawnF and self are playing in the Scarborough Library annual concert (and I have my grade 8 exam the day after). I would certainly come over on the 12th, and could pick up in the York area en-route.

Actually, November 28th would be the perfect day for me as the college piano is much closer to my exam piano than any other instrument I have access to. Would that be possible?

To be fair, I've pinched it off Solari



I asked about the 28th but unfortunately they've got the drama exams in the concert room on that day.



That would be very kind of you. The 12th is fine with me if it's OK with others

What a good idea - sadly I can't do the 12th, although the 5th would have been just right as I have my exam a few days after and am feeling rather underprepared.
N

Not entirely sure I can do either Sorry - Christmas concert season with band and seeing family to play Santa

To be honest I think I'll be happier waiting til January anyway to be better prepared. I'm fine with my clari pieces but I'd prefer longer in private to practise the piano one before an airing - so long as I get to try out the piano on the day - before the actual performance.

yes I would be interested, especially as I can't do the January event. But things are still up in the air so not sure will be able to make those dates yet.

Skylark I've sent you a PM!

Hi Skylark!

Sorry I haven't posted earlier but I'd been looking out for this in Viva Piano and have only discovered it here this evening! I am very interested but definitely can't do the 5th and may not be able to do the 12th either.

If this doesn't go ahead before the concert (which I'm afraid I can't make - at least not without seriously upsetting our New Year plans!), then I would still be very interested in taking part in some sort of Solari style get together after Christmas. I see this as a very positive first step to conquering my performance nerves on piano and think it's a brilliant idea!

Hi Skylark,

I'd like to try and make it to this one if I can. Especially as I've put myself down for a piano solo at Leeds and am slightly worried about my nerves messing it up. It would be nice to have an informal place to perform first. I can't do the 5th, but could probably make the 12th.

Date permitting, some solari-style piano playday would definitely interest me but in the new year.

I am afraid I have a number of other things to catch up on during December, so I won't be able to make any more musical events.

The 5th and the 12th are fine with me - as long as I can get me 'ands on a piano!


PS Could we have a cake?

If it's on the 5th I will make a cake for it with pleasure! What kind did you have in mind?
N

Any sort of cake is fine by me Thank you!


I'd be happy to go on both dates, but whichever date we go for, there is likely to be only around 3-4 people there. One or two people off-forum, including another student of my teacher's, might be able to come but can't confirm yet.

5th - nova, Celeste and myself.
12th - amber-piano, oldnotes and myself (and Celeste if you want to come twice )

Three of us would probably only take up an hour, so the cost would be minimal. Is it worth coming for that length of time? Obviously we can stay longer, but would we run out of things to play?

We can have another one in Feb/March when we can plan further in advance and there isn't Christmas to worry about, but if people want to go ahead with one (or two) in December, then I'll fall in with what everybody wants to do

I'll come twice!


All cakes are good, tbh...

You'll get two lots of cake then

I'll come to just the one, if it's on. It may be a chocolate almond cake.
N

Hi,

I hate to do this, but I may not e able to make it on the 12th. Work is chaos right now and I may have to work. I really hope I can make it, but it only was only fair that I let you know before a decision on dates was made on the assumption that I'd be there on the 12th.

My son doesn't have Music Centre on the 12th, so I would like to come, but only if we are able to have a couple of hours practice time, otherwise I'm not sure it would be worth the travelling. I do find it useful playing on a proper piano. I could possibly take the boys Christmas shopping in Leeds afterwards if you don't mind the youngest sitting in on the practice, but it's quite likely that neither of them will want to come! (I haven't asked them yet...)

I've had another rethink, and would come if it were only an hour, as boys seem keen on the shopping in Leeds idea - would make it worthwhile to travel...

This is how it stands then...

5th: Celeste, nova, skylark

12th: amber-piano, ChrisH, oldnotes, skylark


Because it's very informal, if clarijo or flobiano or anyone else thinks nearer the time that they'll be able to come, just let me know

Would everybody be able to arrive by, say 10am, and then we can have a good couple of hours if we want, although 10.30 would also be fine. Does anyone need a lift from the station?

I could be at the station at a quarter to ten, and would love a lift if not too much trouble.
N

No problem - is that Leeds? (ie not Headingley?)

Headingley - thanks!
N

See you then

I can get to Headingley for 10 - I'll be driving. I may have Music stand and the other one in tow...

No prob - is Music Stand bringing an instrument?

Does anybody want to do any accompanying? I can only play a Bb instrument but there is a keyboard there as well as a grand, so the keyboard could transpose. Or nova might bring a C instrument...

I could do a bit of accompanying but I'm not that quick at piano sight reading. I could bring a flute or recorders? And I just wanted to clarify that this is the 5th and the 12th...
What would you like us to contribute in the way of costs?
N

Yes, both dates, and I've got you down for the 5th

The cost is likely to be between ?3-7 depending on how long we stay (and how many come in the end - my teacher has another student who might want to come). We can sort it out on the day

Hi Skylark,

We definitely can't make the 5th and it's unlikely that we could do the 12th either However, if that should change, I will let you know! Hope we can do something similar after Christmas!

They've started the Saturday Park & Ride again in Leeds, which they do in the run-up to Christmas. Free parking and either free or nominal bus fare. The buses run on a continuous basis so you never have to wait very long. It's good I think one of the locations is on the road into town from the college but I'll check.


Yes if people want to

I'll probably have my concert piece ready by February

Sadly I won't be able to make this. Will be at the other end of the country on the 5th and 12th is my only free Saturday before Christmas so will be too stressed if I have to fit something else in on that day I think.



Sure you'll have a lovely time.

Hi everyone,

Looks like I'll be able to come on the 12th!

Really looking forward to it.

What we need to bring? Other than the obvious (instruments, stands, some music...)

Sorry you can't come, but I'll organise another one in the new year sometime




Whoo-hoo!!

Don't worry about bringing a stand - the college will have plenty and I can't think of anything else. Look forward to seeing you again!

Sorry Skylark, et al, but I shall not be able to make either December date after all. Too much on and Mrs O has now got her 2nd cataract operation date in mid December. See you all on 2nd January, both of us I hope.

Aw what at shame I hope Mrs O's operation goes well - give her my best wishes and I'll look forward to seeing you both again after Christmas

Hey guys - brilliant news!

We've been offered the opportunity to play at St Gemma's Hospice in Leeds on the weekend of 12th-13th December when they're having a Vintage Fair. I'll be going there once our get-together at the college on the 12th is finished, and if anyone else would like to join me on either the Saturday afternoon or the Sunday, you're most welcome! I'm going to start a new thread about it and I'll put more details on there

Sorry you can't go to the practice - see you in January. Give Mrs O my best wishes as well, please. Hope she makes a quick recovery from the op.

Hi everyone,

I'm really sorry to let people down, but it looks like I won't be able to make it after all. It's such a shame, but with things still so busy at work and getting ready for christmas, I just can't make it.

Hope to see you all in January.

Don't worry about it - I understand!!

See you tomorrow at 10, Skylark. Do I need to bring any biscuits or anything?

Yes, see you then - I'm just on my way out now but I'll email you when I get back

Just a line to say have fun tomorrow all! I've lost track of who was attending which day, I'm afraid! Sorry I can't make it this time but please do count me in for the next one, whenever it may be!

Will do! Not sure when it will be but I'll look at it in the new year once the January concert is over

We had a good time this morning and went on to play at St Gemma's Vintage Fair in the afternoon - will probably post in the other thread about that, with pictures!

Make sure you pick good ones!