Hello,

I have just signed up for Janet Myatt's Introduction to Wind Chamber Music at Benslow Music Trust (20-22 Apr 2012).

Has anyone else signed up for this course?

Regards,
Balu

I am

See you there!

Bassoonista is signed up too Really looking forward to it, I like sight-reading will no doubt feel a bit as well though once I get there!

I am a nervous sight reader. Especially bad with company....

I wrote to Mrs. Myatt asking if I could have a list of music that will be used so that I could familiarize myself with it. She replied she doesn't decide that before knowing the complete list of the participants.

Nothing wrong in trying

Don't worry, it's totally user-friendly!
I'm going to Zoe's flute course in February - anyone else?

That's good to know, although Bassoonista did the same course last year and is going back......


Hope you enjoy the flute course

Neither Louise nor bassoonista bite, balu114!

Can't speak for bassoonista but I certainly don't bite

Balu = Bear

So I guess I can handle them!!

We'll see


Got my confirmation letter this morning Very excited

No, I never bite, and I also hate sight reading...either I can do it, or I may as well be looking at heiroglyphs!!
Last year, on the first night, we played as a group. Janet handed out parts for each instrument ranging from !!!! through to and you picked the one you wanted. The next days we were placed in small groups, all around the same standard, changing groups once or twice during the day. Each group went into a rehearsal room, with a selection of music, and together, chose one to work on. So balu114, don't worry about seeing the music in advance, and Louise and I will see you there

That's comforting!!

I guess you must have really enjoyed the course....otherwise you won't be going back!

Looking forward to meeting you all in April.

Very excited now

It's good fun, but exhausting. Over the weekend, you play for 8 hours, and you are concentrating the whole time. The first time I went, I did the course aimed at total beginners, and lost the embouchure completely on the last afternoon! However, last year, that didn't happen, and I was able to play the whole way through.
Each time I went, my teacher has commented on the improvement he sees on my first lesson after the weekend, so it must be doing some good!
One of the best things, is to meet other like minded adults, and for me last year was very special, as I never get to meet other bassoon players, and there were five of us!!

I want to do soooooo many of the courses particularly the Chopin one and the composition for string quartet!

I'm going to Andrew Knight's oboe course in May. It will be my 5th yr running. Always really helpful & fun

I've only once made it over to the UK in May-June, which is a shame as I love the spring...

I'd like to do the wind chamber music course that Andrew Knights teaches on in the south of France but this year it clashes with the 5th week at Dartington (Nicholas Daniels!) and I can't afford the time and cash to do both. I probably need a couple of years more to be able to make the most of it anyway...

Hope to see you there one year Katica.

Made a mistake in my typing - it will be my 4th yr running. I wasn't playing the oboe 5 yrs ago!

I've just got the July-December brochure and am considering Janet Myatts Summer Winds or Janet Myatts Introduction to Chamber Music. The first is grade 6 plus and the 2nd is grade 3 plus, so it depends on how brave I feel when I come to book!
I did G7 last summer, but don't want to feel too out of my depth. (Any feed back from others on the level of the Summer Winds course would be appreciated.)
My other alternative is the Hindhead Clarinet and Saxophone course which I did last year and thouroughly enjoyed. - decisionbs decisions....

I went on Janet Myatts Intro to Chamber music last year, and am repeating this year. You'll be placed in a small group with others your standard, so no matter if you are Grade 4 or diploma, the playing will be at your level. If you read through this thread, you'll see three of us are going to be on the April weekend. See you there?

Thanks Bassoonista,
I can't do April so will be going later in the year.
Have fun!

Shame you can't do the April course smd, always like meeting new forum people

So you didn't say hello to smd at my London recital then, Louise

Does everyone on these courses choose the residential option or are there some people (not necessarily forumites) who go home every evening?

I can't remember all the different names and putting faces to names...... So sorry smd if I did meet you there and have forgotten, please accept my apologies.




There is the option for non-residential yes

I saw the option but wondered if anyone ever used it. On the other courses I have been on rather a lot seemed to happen after the evening meal (despite it not always being officially on the programme) plus that seemed to be when people got to know each other so I wondered if those who are non-residential miss out on a lot.

I don't know, this will be the first course I've been on.... I suspect there will be things going on and I'm not sure what time the final playing session is so maybe they wouldn't miss out on much.

OK, thanks. Perhaps someone who has been on one might come along later and tell me a bit more.

I am dithering between a Benslow course and another one. I actually like them being residential as it means I can have a complete break from the rest of the family and just concentrate on music but Benslow is close enough for it not to have to be residential so I suppose I'm really looking for an excuse to convince the family of why it should be residential (Or I could just choose the other course and not tell them that Benslow exists ).

bassoonista has been before, I'll give her a nudge at band tonight if she hasn't replied Must admit, I'm looking forward to concentrating on music for a few days

Most of the courses I've been on have had things timetabled in for after the evening meal (which is included even if you are non-residential)

I did the Hindhead Clarinet course last year and was non-residential.
Basically I didn't leave until around 10 - 10:30pm so don't think I really missed anything.

there was 1 non residential person the last time I went to Benslow, again from what I remember they left quite late.

It does make for a long day but it saves packing! (and give you a chance to bring anything you forget on subsequent days)

On both Janet Myatt and Zoe's courses that I've been on they had after dinner sessions.
(Learnt to go easy at the bar for co-ordination sake!!)

sounds like very long days but lots of fun I can't wait now

Although that sounds like fun, I am worried about my embouchure and right hand.

I don't think my embouchure would hold for that many sessions! And my right hand is even worse.

I guess I have to pack my wrist bands, power ball and pain killers!!

I don't think you'll be the only one

Has your teacher checked how you are holding the clarinet?
I always ask if I think that something I'm doing is causing a problem.
I sometimes get problems with my right hand but I know it's when I'm doing something wrong.
Gripping when stressed and not getting the posture quite right when sharing a stand at orchestra tend to be the main culprits.

He has! I have asked many times and he always said that I am holding it fine.... He says it's takes time to build muscles. Using mouse all day doesn't help.

And my physiotherapist agrees. As adults it is difficult to adapt to new functions. He said children suffer microdamages too but as they are still growing their bodies quickly recover.

I have now been playing for 18 months and I have slowly improved my right arm resistance to an hour non-stop.

With a regime of exercises, support and rest, I am keeping it at a manageable level.

Out of curiosity, do you have a plastic or wooden clari? It's taken me a while to get used to the heavier wooden one and still occasionally get a pain in my right wrist, though it is usually, as sbhoa has already said, after sharing a stand or gripping too hard.

I have a plastic Jupiter clarinet.

Weighs about 900 or 950g.

But thinking about it, I guess, I do grasp harder. Must work on it.

barry-clari would tell you it's not a tube of toothpaste.

Yeah, he would

Have a look at your fingers after playing. If you can see significant ring shaped indentations on the pads of them, you're squeezing, and it won't be doing you any good.

I don't get that particularly when I'm gripping. My hand seizes up.

Which is equally bad : and can still be spotted by other means. Significant patches of your skin on your fingers going yellow when pressing keys down is a good way of spotting that...

Oh well, if I do it in a lesson I'm sure it will be spotted.

My problem has always been right thumb tendon. Now I've had some Alexander sessions I might be able to sort it myself - my teacher said it doesn't take your whole arm from neck to fingertips to hold a telephone, and I suppose the same applies to a clarinet!

nudged bassoonista last night think she said she would post a reply.....

and talking of post, must remember to post a cheque to Benslow....

Consider myself nudged !!! You can arrive at Benslow any time after around 4pm, and from then until the evening meal, there is a coffee and cake get to know you session. Each night, there is a playing session after dinner followed by the bar opening, and each morning between sessions, there is a morning coffee hour, so you would have plenty of time to get to know people. However, I would still be inclined to go residential rather than going home each day, unless home was very close, or I was needed at home. This is because I find the constant level of concentration to be high, and I would find it too tiring to drive to and fro on top of the playing. Also, you have to take into account the cost of petrol..is the price difference between residential and non residential enough to justify not staying over?
As to stamina, the course does wonders for both that and technique. The first time I attended, the last day from around 11am onwards was shot, as my embouchure had gone, and I could only produce weird and wonderful gastric sound effects! However, last year, I was able to play for the full course. On both occasions, during my first lesson after the course, my teacher remarked on the improvement in all areas of my playing and reading.
Hope this is of some help with your decision

Oh yes

Thanks. You have given me plenty of arguments to use with the family as to why I would have to be residential (I was planning to use public transport as it is one train stop and so I can conveniently tell them that I wouldn't want to be walking back to the station late at night and (truthfully) that there would be no bus home at the other end).

Now all I need to do is decide which course I want to do - I could happily spend all summer doing courses but I don't think my children would approve