Well we finally have a date for the Scottish Forum event!!! It's going to be Sunday the 10th of April 2011!!!
It will be held in the centre of Glasgow, and I for one am very Very VERY excited about it!! So I thought I would create a little thread on it, for anyone's ideas and thoughts, and to see who else is as excited as me!!!!!
Hope you can all make it!!!! EVERYONE is welcome!!

Ok everyone, here goes!!! The website is now LIVE!!!!! You should be able to find everything you need on it, if you have any questions please pm me!

To make it very clear this event needs to be OVER 18's ONLY due to the venue. This is stated several times throughout the website, and cannot be changed.

The closing date for entries is the 12th of March, so plenty of time to get those forms posted in!

So here is the link!

Scottish Forum Event

I'll just put on record my congratulations to you, muzikalbadger. It's been a long time waiting for the first event north of the border, and you've already pulled a load of stops out, and found a lovely venue. Well done

Particularly if you live in Central/Southern Scotland, time to stick this date in the diary, and to give muzikalbadger your support : she's worked very hard.

Awwww thanks Barry couldn't have done it without all your help and support either though!! Cant wait - its going to be AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Let me be the first to say I'm looking forward to it. Quite nervous as I'm very shy and I've never been to an event like this before although it could be interesting to meet fellow forumites and see what they actually look like!

Yay!!!!!! Can't wait to meet you tetrachord!!! I'm sure lots of people will be nervous, but don't worry about it!! It's my first event too, and i'm helping organise it!! Looking forward to it though!! It will be much fun!!!!

You will be fine, muzikalbadger. I'll help you all the way.

I'm afraid it clashes with the Scottish Recorder Orchestra rehearsal in Stilrling, so I for one won't be able to come...

Great news I have no idea what goes on at these events but will def be going! Is it just a chance to have a chat with other players or does everyone bring their instrument too? You asked for ideas Muzikalbadger- how about choosing a couple of pieces that people can pre-prepare for a play-along

Follow the links in the first post on this thread for background on various types of event.

Thanks for the link Sbhoa!!!! I'm using your events and the players for pleasure, and any similar events as a guideline as i've never done this before!! They look fab!! Loubrad, we will hopefully have a couple of ensemble pieces, and hopefully a big finale piece everyone can get involved with! Also thinking about possibly a couple of choir numbers, although not too sure yet! Obviously there will be the opportunity for solos/duets too, and accompaniments can be provided! What instrument do you play? Will be great to meet you on the day!!!!!! (and from what i've seen about other forum events there will also be plenty of chatting too!! )

Hi everyone, there is now a facebook event page for this event at
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/ev...2044&ref=ts

This at the moment is invite only by myself or barry-clari... Please PM us if you would like to join the page!! There will be information posted both on the forums, and on the facebook page in the run up to the event.

Very very excited!!! (about to do a barry-clari....)

Well done, muzikalbadger Am about to fire off a load of invites

I have never yet attended a forum event, but am very tempted by this one. It's still a heck of a long way to go, but I would really like to meet some forumites in person and make music. I can't commit to it yet, but would like to get involved in an ensemble if possible, or maybe play a flute solo if someone can accompany and if it's okay to only be Grade 5-ish.

It's even ok to be grade 0ish.
No minimum level for solo playing at forum events.

We can cater for all that

Yeah definitely Misterioso!!! Would be good to have you come!!! Hope you can make it!

Yeah, thanks for pointing me towards the definition of a Forum Event, Sbhoa. MuzikalBadger, I play piano Grade 8 and beginner violin since August (I am playing at my violin teacher's orchestra Christmas concert,very quietly so audience can't hear my tuneless playing). I never played piano in public or in a band/orchestra, I'm learning violin to give me more opportunities to play with others, and because it's very portable!

Any news on what kind of event it is going to be yet?

There'll be opportunities to play solos, in small ensembles and in larger ensembles, the latter of which muzikalbadger will decide on in due course. Morning will be rehearsing and informal jamming, afternoon will be the gig, evening will be the meal/drinks/socialising

That sounds good. Will make a note of the date.

Thanks, Barry.

No problem : would be great to see you there

Oh you've set a date!!!!! Fantastic!!

I am planning to come down from Aberdeenshire and will book a hotel. Do you have a venue yet?

I am only about grade 3 on my viola but would love to play a duet with someone and 'in my dreams' would love to play a little 'Courante' by Bach that I'm trying to learn just now.

Are there any more details anywhere?



(should I bring my clarinet?)

Date is now in the diary!

(Lottie - we should SOOO stay in the same hotel )

The venue is the Tron Theatre in Glasgow... Just off Argyle Street. No official details of what's happening yet, should have more info early next year... Very excited though!!! Any suggestions or ideas just let me know! (and Lottie, Barry is coming so i'm sure clarinets will be very welcome!!) I play violin and am teaching myself viola so would be well up for some duet/string ensemble things!!! Glad you are both looking forward to coming!!!

String ensemble... hmm. Am organising the string ensemble at Leeds so if you need a volunteer to sort that out...

You can definitely help sort it out!!! pm me with ideas!!!

I have put this date in my calender, and will hopefully attend even if it is to show support i would love to play a piece but feel i'm not good enough as yet but april is a long way off and time for plenty of practice

Plus i have never stayed in Scotland, so two good reasons to attend

Celeste would do a good job - her directing at Harrogate was immaculate.



Would love to meet you, trimmy : and you're good enough to play - if it's a flashy post grade 8 solo or a pre-grade 1 solo, or anything in between, we'd all love to hear it.

HAAAAA that would be AMAZING fun... we could keep eveyone awake with our musiking




I'm a really rubbish player. Does that matter? I'd so love to play my viola but sometimes my playing sounds like I have a vuvuzela under my chin and not a stringed instrument.

And my clarinet hasn't been touched seriously for 20 years so I doubt I'd be able to play for more than 10mins without my face collapsing like a jelly

You can play what you like, whatever standard you are (and I'm willing to guess you're better than you think you are... )

I'm really really looking forward to this now

Has anyone started thinking about what they are going to play yet? I have a few ideas for my clari solo *gulps* and will run these past my teacher at Friday's lesson. Also very excited about playing flute in public for the first time

Okay, I think I can provisionally say yes to this event now (gulp) but could someone please let me know:-

1 Is it okay to bring a friend (well, son actually), although he can't commit to it yet, and isn't a forumite, but would be keen to play for experience in playing in front of other people and to meet other musicians?

2 What is the cost for the day, and is it a one-off "fee" for the whole day, or could it not include the evening socialising? Actually, I'm not very good at socialising and also it's said son's birthday and we might look into doing something else with hubby who is going to Glasgow with me as luggage-carrier and global sat nav (because I seriously can't find my way to anywhere from anywhere else even with a map )

I would need to look into flights and B&Bs as soon as possible to get reasonably-priced seats, and would also need to negotiate a Sunday off Church - so any info would be really appreciated.

Hi Misterioso

Glad you're provisionally saying yes to this, will be nice to meet some more forum members


I'm not organising this so can't answer some of your questions but your son would be most welcome at the event, players don't have to be forum members. The cost will be minimal, usually set to cover costs of hiring venue etc. and if there is anything left over it is donated to charity (at least that is my understanding, if I'm wrong then I'm sure someone else will put me straight )

Hopefully muzikalbadger will be able to answer your other questions soon

Hi Misterioso!!! so glad you're hopefully going to be able to come, your son would be most welcome if he decides he would like to! (although there is an age limit, supposedly over 18s only but a couple of 16/17 yr olds may be allowed to sneak in, to the event as it is held in a Victorian bar within the Tron theatre)

We haven't as yet set a cost, although this will be decided very shortly, and it will be a set fee to cover the hire of the venue for the day, i cant see this being any more than ?15 max per person, hopefully less. Evening socialising will be costed separately depending on what ends up happening! You would be most welcome to join (as again would son and hubby!) however obviously as it is your sons birthday you may prefer some family time!

Really really hope you can make it, feel free to pm me or Barry if there is anything else you need to ask!



Looking forward to hearing you play Louise!!! Im excited about it too, been thinking lots about it over the hols, really need to get everything tied up to start getting numbers in soonish!!! Have NO idea what I might play though, need to get this teaching diploma over with first!

I'll definitely do some of my clari diploma stuff, not sure what else, and I'll have a chat to you about big groups and suchlike muzikalbadger, once you've done your diploma. If we're looking at a closing date in mid-March, we ought to think about getting a webpage done sooner rather than later...

Yup was thinking that too Barry!!! Will let you know what's happening with my diploma as soon as I do, and then make a start on getting stuff organised! Can't believe how close it's getting!!! EXCITING!!

Excellent : let me know when you can if you want me to do a webpage, or if you want to do it.

Thanks muzikalbadger




*gently prods Barry with flute to remind him of duet *




Good Luck with your diploma

Yep, we'll do a flute duet I'll dig something out from my collection!

Thank You

I'm planning to travel down to Glasgow on the Saturday. Would anyone like to meet up with me, perhaps for dinner? I'll be staying in a hotel Saturday night and Sunday night. (with my viola)

I'm sure Louise and I can work something out for that

Was going to suggest exactly the same thing Barry

We'll have to put our heads together then

Okay okay.. more questions....

What are we going to play? I need heaps of time to learn new things. Do we each get a 'slot'??? or how does it work? I'm sorry I don't know how the events work because I've not been before

I'm probably jumping the gun !

Hey! Everyone will get a chance to play a solo "slot" of your own choosing, either accompanied or unaccompanied, and im hoping there will be a string ensemble of sorts, which will consist of different ability parts so everyone can hopefully join in! (well string players anyway!! ) In the process of trying to work out exactly what is going to be part of the event, and need to email Barry and Katyjay too!!!! Will be more info as soon as possible I promise!!

I'm sorry - I'm being very demanding I'm just SOOO excited

I think I've found a nice hotel and I've ordered a new viola case which should arrive this week (I needed it anyway). In fact, I'm going to a violin shop next month so there's a possibility I may even have a new viola!

And do I bring my clarinet? No I can't... unless.... maybe.... hmmmmm

Yeah, you do Even if we don't do anything in the 'formal' concert, I'd like to duet with you

Would it be all right just to come along in the afternoon and listen? I'd probably be a bit late, depending on when you start, as I am not finished with church until about 12.30.