Hello all
As quite a few of you are aware, I went on tour to Germany between 18-23rd July.
I have had an amazing time, and it definitely got better from the first night when we hated it.

We had to leave at 2am on the Sunday morning, which was not pleasant. The journey took us 17 hours to get to the Black Forest, and by that time everyone had had enough of travelling on what was to become our second home. We got to the hotel, trying to anticipate what it was like. As soon as we walked in, stuffed animals greeted us. There were loads including a zebra, boar, wildebeest, bear, duck, lots of antelopes/deer and a moose. Outside our room, we had this black bear and a duck...lovely.

On the way there we had been saying about how disgusting the food might be, and the first night's food was not great. We had soup that looked like water, and was really salty, some meat in mushroom sauce with smash potato (not real mash potato) and then ice cream with tinned fruit cocktail. Our hotel room was alright, apart from the bathroom was tiny, you couldn't stretch your arms out in it!

We visited a number of places including waterfalls, glass museums, main towns/cities, and lakes. By the 3rd day, I was having an amazing time, I had made so many nice friends, of all ages. The person who I sat next to made me feel so welcome, and was lovely, and by then I didn't feel so lonely anymore.

The weather which was supposed to be hot, wasn't! It was overcast and just like British weather really.

We did 4 concerts, the first was outside, and was good apart from we had to keep pegging down music and it was freezing. We didn't have a big audience, and they weren't that interested. Our next one was in this town hall place. When we walked out onto the stage to perform there were only about 5 people, but this filled up. The best concert was next, in Strasbourg. Over 200 people turned out, and they gave us a great reception, clapping at the end in the way that said "play some more" (can't describe it!). We were on such a high after that, as we went home, we nearly got arrested by the police ! There is a law in France which says that you have to wear seatbelts. Anyway, we boarded the bus and the police told us to get out of where we were parked, so we did that and they followed us. A few minutes later they stopped us as apparently people weren't seatbelted in. However, I think they just wanted to arrest someone, as the bus didn't have windows at the back. Urgh that was so scary! They warned us that if it happened again the driver would be arrested. Our final concert was still really good, we had a small audience but they really enjoyed it. It was sad because for some people it was their last concert ever, and so many people were upset, I started crying because other people were crying!

On the last night we had a party, and the hotel said we could have all the drinks for free. It was great to see everyone relaxed and having fun. These 2 girls got cards and birthday cakes as they had celebrated their birthdays during the week. I went back to go to my room early, and went through the dining room, and guess what I found? A group of 3 Germans playing digeridoos!! Haha! They encouraged me to have a go, and I spent the next 30 minutes trying. However, I still sounded like a cow. One man showed us how to do circular breathing, apart from I didn't have a go!

The journey back was long. We all just wanted to get back to England and it feels strange to be back. But I would encourage anyone to go on tour, it really is amazing, you meet so many nice people, and go to places you never would have gone to.

I would like to say thankyou for you guys who encouraged me to go, and told me I was mad if I didn't, and to the people who I texted when I was away when I was down. I have some lovely photos and a mass of email addresses, and although a lot are leaving, it'll be great to see them again next year in the highest band..if I get in!

So pleased it got better Nicki!

The best bit I guess was making friends - that really does make all the difference, doesn't it?

I guessed the long journey might not be too much fun. It's really tiring and there's all the anxiety about what it will be like where you're going. Plus you may not have got to know anyone much at that stage.

Food sounds a bit gross - smash potato - yuk!

Unlike exams though, perhaps what you remember are the really good bits! Great you had at least one really good reception.

Thanks for posting.

Yes, by the end, I was so relaxed with nearly everyone, you could just go in and have a laugh with people.
I sat on my own for the journey there, which I really didn't mind.
The food was horrible, apart from the night we had spaghetti bolognaise and the day we had a BBQ. We used to buy food from the places we visited.
I have never felt so happy in my life!!

I'm really glad you had a nice time and a valuable experience!!!
Not meaning to say so...but I told you it would be great! Don't think about the bad bits now, I always think that you should just remember how it turned out and it was really nice for the rest of the time, I gather, so dwell on that!
The best thing about any kind of trip is making friends and it sounds like you've done plenty of that! And that the performances were good and you got a good reception - it gives you such a confidence-boost, doesn't it?
Sorry to hear the food and weather were bad; I apologise on behalf of the German nation!
Thanks for keeping us updated!
Charlottex

Yes, please do ! We all brought summer clothes and it rained. I don't think German food in general is bad, just this hotel's food. Apparently sometimes they serve crocodile!!!

Nicki, I'm SO glad it worked out well in the end! Well done for being brave, and it's great that you had a good time and made friends!

Lovely and glad you had a good time

But.....

What were they playing?


Nice one! Will you be going on the Australian tour next year?

Nice to hear you had a good time and thatnk god it worked out Ok.

Really pleased for you Nicki.
So happy you enjoyed it and made all those new friends.

Sounds cool! I played a digeridoo, and it was exhausting the emouchure is very...trombone-like, and it really nackered my lip for the rest of the day...

Stuffed animals...how strange...

Really glad you had a great time!!!

Glad I worked so hard to make sure you went then! (along with everyone else) Shame about the food, but I guess it's all part of the experience! Apparently though, my German exchange partner's mother is a very good cook, so perhaps when I come back I'll be able to redeem their reputation.

Fingers crossed now that you get into the next band up then.

Glad you had a good time, Nicki, thanks for telling us about it!

thats great you had a brill time!
don't worry about small audiences though - when we went on choir tour we did one concert where no-one watching actually spoke english, and another at disneyland paris, where one member of the choir counted a grand total of 26 people who had wandered in and out while we were playing
hoxie
x

Thats good. Sounds like you had a great time after the first day. I'm sure you're glad you went - and that we all encuraged you to go!

I am so glad you had a good time Nicki. Great that you decided to go and are looking forward to another trip too

Yes, that was strange, people seemed to not stay for a whole concert but just wander in and out.


All the best for that Tamsin.


It is a traditional hunting/archery area, so that is why there was a lot.


Haha, well when I saw the bear I thought it may be a tuba player, it turned out to be the piccolo player of the Black Forest Symphonic Animal Orchestra!


I wish! (We better be getting the plane there if we went though!)


Thanks, but you were one of the people who said I should go

I am so pleased to see this Nicki - last news I saw was right at the start when you were feeling pretty miserable. Your posts have really brought back some memories for me! Well done for having a great time!

Awww, thanks Zoda!

Sounds like you had a great time!

I just got back from going on tour to Paris with school - it was mad! Everyone else seemed to have been before (we tour every other year) but I was a newbie and it was great!
We did 3 concerts: Jardin de Luxembourg, Chateau Thoiry (it was an animal park so we played music from the Lion King!) and we sang at Notre Dame Cathedral! It was massive!

We did a concert every day we weren't travelling (4), 3 in Germany and one in France. We also played the Lion King

So pleased you are feeling great Nicki! Gave me a real lift too reading your positive posts.

And Kate, glad to know you had a good time too.

Ohh it all sounds so wonderful....

What about an "Adult Learners" tour, I'd love to do it

I didn't see this till zoda quoted it! That's so cool. The Lion King? Fabulous!

We're all so pleased that you had such a great time - everyone was so worried when Nat heard you were hating it at first! So glad you were brave and went for it - though not as glad you you are, I'll be bound!

Glad you had a fab time. I must admit I was worried when you texted and said that it was horrible.

Ditto ditto

*phew*

So glad it was ok in the end

Well, next week I am onna flute course, I'll be in a room alone and I'll know no-one *gulp*

Take heart nicki - you survived your tour after all! be thinking of you - and just think how great your flute playing is going to get with all that input!

I suppose. I am a bit stuck though, I have to take repertoire, but don't have much I am the middle of. Idylle has been perfected, I have hardly looked at the Poulenc Sonata and the Caplet pieces I got today. I think I am on a low now after the rush of the result. It is just like what happened after my Grade 7, and after that I couldn't play for about a month because I just didn't feel like playing.

you have my sympathy!

How about the other pieces from Trois Morceau? And it would be interesting maybe to get feedback on the Idylle. The Reverie and Walse? I have only played the Reverie but that is a nice piece. Do you need to take stuff you know a bit, new stuff, what? How about the Rutter - you have, what, 6 pieces to play with? The Poulenc I shoudl think you would be more than capable of getting the middle movement to a good standard in time and would probably have a good go at the first one and then be able to get some help with it. It can be difficult to get motivated though!

Hey, glad you had a great time on tour!!!

not long till our summer adventure now!! will be fab!!!!!!!! woooooooooooooo!!!!!!

hehe, hope you're good, speak to you soon,

lots of love

chev*
xoxox

Chev!!! How unexpected Welcome. Can't wait until the summer.

Sarah - Me playing the Valse. No way! I can't play it. I suppose I can work on the Reverie and things. I'll take the Poulenc, my study book, Reverie possibly, Idylle, and the Rutter, maybe. Maybe just to get some advice on doing the Waltz.
I can play the Poulenc 2nd movement, but my teacher set me the first movement to do.

lol, helooooo!!! lol, i have like 3 posts...how cool am i....not!!!


cba to pack more boxes, so came on here!!! hehe, hope your well!!

xxxxxx

Well I have to tidy my room, and actually make my flute playing sound good, and find some decent pieces to take on my course.

This is a cool forum, go to the Forum's Cafe and go into the Come In Sit Down thread, it is very cool, and funny And if you have a lot of time search for the Holly Williams thread.

Nicki, I went on a flute course last year - a new experience for me. It was definitely best to play things you know well, rather than things you are still learning. Your course may not be run in exactly the same way that mine was, but it was rare to get beyond half a page of anything in the sessions. The teachers looked at all sorts of technical issues arising from the first few lines. I remember one girl didn't get past tuning up in one session.

Poor Chev!!! He'll be tied up all day now with those threads

Yeah welcome, Chev, good to see a newbie, and well any friend of Nicki must be welcome here

I haven't heard it so I'll take your word for it!


*nods*

I think that if the course is a very high standard you might find it's a bit like andante said - you may find that pieces you think of as "done" can really be looked at more deeply, and come away playing them (and other things) even better.

Well it is the Academy which means people from 6-8 standard, so I am towards the higher end. However on the main course, there are mostly postgraduate students and people hoping to become professionals.

Nice place to be

But I don't think I am that good...we'll see how it goes.

Nicki, this is one of those times when you have to try and make yourself think logically, instead of assuming you're no good!

The standard is grade 6-8, you recently took your grade 7 and passed with a good mark, you've been learning and doing well on grade 7-8 music, and you just got into a good band against lots of other flautists around a similar level. Now, I know you're about to say "but I don't think I'm that good" again, but think logically. You beat a whole bunch of other people and got one of a handful of spots. Your audition report focused on really small issues, not on any major "oh my word her tone was horrible" things (in fact, they commented on how nice your tone is!). Your teacher believes you are good. Your auditoners thought you were good. Your examiner thought you were good. Logic suggests... you're good!

I KNOW that being good and actually realising and hearing for yourself that you are good are two different things... but you're an intelligent girl, so you really have to admit to yourself (if to no one else!) that the evidence suggests you're, well, not bad really, doesn't it? However rubbish you may sometimes feel! *grin* So although that's not going to exactly make you suddenly have bags of self confidence, take comfort in the fact that with all these people thinking you're good (and after all, they are people who know their stuff) you can't possibly be as bad as you sometimes think you are. K? You go girl. You're a talented flautist... live with it

*smiles* I have actually felt I was good, when I recorded myself and I thought I was playing it badly but it actually sounded really good. It is just getting my head to accept that I am not bad!

YAY!


It's a long process.... but start by resisting the temptation to say (to others but most importantly to yourself) "I'm bad..." as a reflex... Cos you ain't! Don't lie to yourself.... that's an order

Also, thinking about it, I was so calm before my audition, there was no negativity: I sounded good, I was confident with my pieces, I had had a great lesson before, I had no reason to be nervous.

Just was reading an article about people who overestimate themselves...

"the least competent performers inflate their abilities the most; ...the reason for the overinflation seems to be ignorance, not arrogance"

If you constantly went on about how good you were.... then we might all have reason to believe you weren't, actually!

Right I am going to create the feel good thread now.