I’ve been busy the last few days, mainly with administration things and getting to grips with the new computer and software. The database looks wonderful, Andy has worked on it for hours and it is so very organised.
I couldn’t take a photo of my lovely hire Fiesta with my new camera because I couldn’t work out how to use it! I’ve read the book now, so I should be able to use it this weekend. I’m off to Belfast for Project:Flutewise 3.
I really enjoy going to Belfast. Everyone is so friendly. Kirsten Spratt and Jerry Randalls are going with me and we’ll meet up with Colin Fleming and Richard Douglas. Colin, Richard and Jerry are also going to come and teach at Abbotsholme. It’s all good fun working with such talented people.
Andy has put some Jethro Tull photos on the website – 4 from Cardiff and 4 from Birmingham. Next week I’m hoping to be able to work out how to get photos on my blog, maybe some of the events in Belfast.
Practise your flute hard this weekend, have fun and leave me a message or send me an email for when I get back.
We are just back from Birmingham. Yesterday was a very, very long day, but equally as wonderful as Saturday in Cardiff.
It was lovely to meet up with all the young players and their parents who came to the Alexandra Theatre to meet Ian Anderson. We did have to hang around in the foyer for rather a long time, I think the band were busy setting up their equipment and the theatre staff were much too busy because they were helping an old lady who had lost her diary somewhere outside of the theatre after she had been in to buy tickets!
Similar to Cardiff, we all went on stage, talked with Ian and played Bourree with him and the band. Zoe and Andy both took lots of photos. Andy tells me I can easily get photos up here on my blog – I’ll try soon. Ian talked to us again and posed for photos. We gave him a copy of our last cover, of the cats, as he inspired it.
The show was great – and he told me what had happened to his flute during the show in Cardiff, a pad had fallen out. So he is off to All Flutes Plus this week sometime to have it fixed.
Now I’ve got to take my hire car back. Thank goodness! The only things I liked about it were it took me to see Ian Anderson twice and got me home safely. Cathy sent me an email telling me how environmentally friendly a Fiesta is not compared to Ian’s new Prius. I agree. Another good reason to tell the hire company never, ever give me a Fiesta again especially one with a cassette player.
I’ll try and take a photo of it and post it later using my new toy. I bought myself a tiny digital camera yesterday as a very late birthday present.
I think quite a few Flutewise members are a bit excited at the moment, because we are meeting Ian Anderson in various venues connected with his shows. I’m off to Cardiff on Saturday and then Birmingham on Monday. It should be enormous fun. I’ll let you know what happens – or if you are there, you can share our experiences.
This looks interesting. Let me know if you are thinking of taking part.
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Do you want to be a classical music star?
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If you are aged 19 or under and have reached at least Grade 8 standard, this is your opportunity to launch a glittering career as the next Nigel Kennedy, Nicola Benedetti or Lang Lang.
From May 2007, we will be holding regional auditions around the UK to select talented young musicians who will attend a specialist residential music academy for three weeks during August. Here, they will receive specialist tuition, master-classes, and performance practice from first class music professionals.
The competition will be judged by an elite panel who are not only internationally renowned classical music experts but have a wealth of experience in recognising and nurturing new classical talent.
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If you would like to audition for this once in a lifetime opportunity then please visit our website www.classicalstar.tv where you can either apply online or download an application form. Alternatively you can call 0871 210 8880. To be eligible you must be age 19 or under on 31 December 2007 with Grade 8 or equivalent and a UK resident with the right to work in the UK.
I’ve spent about 10 hours over the last few days processing Flutewise membership, mainly renewals. I prefer renewals to new membership because so many of you I know. This renewal quarter I’ve been giving most people a surprise piece of music. I get sent mountains of stuff for review and once that is done – if it’s done – I need to do something with it. Giving it away seems the best idea otherwise I’d end up with a house full of music. It’s always nice to look at a name, remember a person and choose them what I hope to be an appropriate piece of music.
I often think of our countless members who I have never had the pleasure of meeting. Some people have been members for years and it is fascinating watching how they progress each year, taking grade after grade. It would be great to meet them all.
I’m looking forward to meeting the lucky ones who are coming to see Ian Anderson on Saturday and Monday.