I had loads of lovely letters about Abbotsholme. I thought you might like to read some of them. Some will be in the next magazine.

Abbotsholme
Abbotsholme was even better this year and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment! I was really scared about taking part in my first master class, but once I got started I was fine. I learnt some really useful things about my playing and from other peoples’ too. Stephen’s idea of ‘Scottish’ rounders was rather interesting and ‘Welsh’ rounders with skipping was hilarious!

When we did the karaoke night I couldn’t stop laughing because of the so-called ‘great’ singing and dancing. It was certainly a night to remember. I really enjoyed this course and I really hope we can do it again next year (maybe for an extra day?) It was so much fun and I would love to do it again.

I must thank Stephen, Colin, Richard and Jerry for all their hard work in teaching us. Also, Lauren, Alex, Dave and Mike for helping us and setting up all the activities. Of course, none of this would happen without you Liz, so thank you ever so much for organising it because I feel that my flute playing has improved immensely.
Love from Lucy Smith, 14, Hatton, Derbyshire

I had a dead good time and the karaoke was hilarious thank everyone for everything and thank you, obviously!

All the holes are out of my flute, but I sometimes can’t get D/D sharp. I’ve left my piano music for Mozart Number 2 in D and Andante in C though. I always leave my piano music, sorry

Anyways, I had a very good time. I’m really gutted I’m home, I hate the last day and having to say bye to everyone, you should make the courses longer. I really enjoyed the jazz bit with Jerry, and I really like the Gipsy Airs piece

My master class with Colin was kinda scary, but it was my first master class I’ve had, so I suppose it was bound to be. The whole course was just really really good as always!!

See you sooooooooooon
Ellie

Wow what an amazing course at Abbotsholme. I’m finding it hard to think of a single bad point. I loved all of it, not a single bad point at all! I learnt so much, I especially liked Jazz with Jerry and learning to sing and play at the same time with Stephen. Please could you send me the title and composer of the piece Stephen played, as I would love to have a go at it myself. Thanks again for an amazing course.
Georgina

As this was my first course, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was aware that I was to attend a masterclass and that there was to be a flute choir, although I was unaware of how I was to fit in with everyone. Now, looking back at the course, I had an awesome time. The masterclass had given me helpful criticism to go away to think about. I found it daunting, but now I have found useful ways of improving my flute playing. I met some amazing people, and the staff was really helpful and fun to be around. I learned lots of things as well as having a great time.

I wish to thank Liz, all the staff, and the helpers for such an amazing time, and I can’t wait to do another course soon!
Sam Tooze

How are you? I hope you have recovered from the course at abbosttholme. Thank you so so much for organising the whole thing.

I really enjoyed coming on the course and I learned so much from Colin in the masterclass. The food was fab and so was the accommodation. The variety of things we did was really good and I especially liked playing rounders. The flute workshops were good and I love going to flute shops so going to top wind was really good. Also we had lots of time for socializing and I got to share a room with Georgina H who I have been texting since the last course @ Taunton. The concert from the staff was great but where were you? I would love to here you play…

However if I had to say 1 bad thing it would be the loos. The showers were good but their wasn’t much space in the loos and no bins! However that’s all I can complain about.

Thanks again for organising it!

Finally, my parents have said I can have a new flute but I don’t really know where a good place to go would be. I am about grade 7 and live in cirencester in Gloucestershire. Also if you can recommend a particular brand and a suitable price that I should be thinking of that would be fantastic.

Thanks again
Love jo

My Dad reckons my tone is much richer now and all Colin’s ideas are definitely working for me.
 Thanks again, Lucy Smith

Abbotsholme was fantastic! Thank you so much for arranging it all once again. It was lovely to see “the team” again and meet up with all my friends!

 The masterclass with Colin was extremely useful and he gave me some great tips on how to improve my tone and to project, so thanks go to him as well!

 Thank you for the penny whistle, I have been driving my parents – and my cat – mad by playing it non stop!! And also thank Top Wind for the silver polishing cloth and pencil – the cloth came at a very handy time because I lost mine on the NCO course!!

 Everything you arranged was amazing as usual and I can’t wait until the next course!
 Love Cathy x x x

It’s Harriet Brown. I am just e-mailing you to tell you that I have read your blog page! I thought it was very interesting reading about Abbotshome especially. I don’t actually think there is a photo of me anywhere on the internet, but I am actually on the karaoke photo!!! Thank you very much for organising the course at Abbotsholme. I enjoyed it very much, I think this has been the best one so far and I hope to go again next year. My favourite part of the course was the karaoke, but I did enjoy the flute playing too!
Love from Harriet xxx

I thought the course was great and some new faces there to which makes it different. I thought that the activities we did were great especially the jazz improvising, flute choir and the informal masterclasses with Richard. My parents love (cough cough!) the penny whistle and I am having a lot of fun with it!!!!

I hope to see you soon at the next flute choir rehearsal. Thanks for making playing the flute worth it.
From Alice Williamson, Croydon.

Just thought I’d let you know in writing what an amazing time I had at Abbotsholme this year. Not only were all the staff lovely, but we played great music (thanks for letting us do ‘our quartet’ for the millioneth time). PLUS, I had a brilliant day on my birthday. Karaoke was so much fun and that birthday cake tasted so good!!

Thank you also for involving me in Colin Fleming’s masterclass (a very scary experience but well worth it). The last day at Alton Towers was so brilliant and I wish more people had wanted to go after the concert. Thanks to Andy for the lovely owl and thanks to you for both of you for an amazing time.
Vicki Hodges