Hi everyone. I just thought I would post a wee blog while Liz is off sunning herself. I hope you’re all enjoying the summer? In Scotland, our summer only lasts about 3 days and we are definately in the middle of it because both today and yesterday have been sunny!!! (I guess that means tommorrow is probably our last day of sunshine for another 50 or so weeks).
I hope you have all been keeping busy. On Monday, I made a fun little trip down to Birmingham and I stayed with Sandy Hay (of Flutewise fame). We had a very pleasant evening cooking on his new barbeque in his garden. His chicken kebabs where very tasty indeed – although his mind was somewhere else because about two minutes before I arrived at his doorstep he had just seen a mouse running across his kitchen floor!!!!!
Aside from my little jaunts around the country, my flute has been keeping me active as ever. At the moment I am preparing for the onslought of performances coming up. I have a recital up in the north of Scotland in a few weeks followed by 7 days of 7 concerts throughout Italy and Croatia (not the same part as Liz though – she is near Split and I am going to Dubrovnik and somewhere else in Croatia which I have already forgotten the name of. In Italy, I am going to Venice and Rome and a few other places). The programme includes a Sonata by Telemann, a Sonata by Gaubert, Sonata by Mouquet, Suite by Mcilwham, Orange Dawn by Ian Clarke and some other stuff. (Possibly a Zoom Tube here or there too!!!). Following that, I am coming back to the UK to move into a new flat! Then, I am off to the British Flute Society’s convention in Manchester for three days. Any of you lot coming? Then its four days at Abbotsholme with Flutewise (and maybe even a trip to Alton Towers – Whooooo!) Who is coming to that? Then I am off to Rutland to give a masterclass and recital in Oakham School – this should be a good day and as far as I am aware it is already booked out! I love doing these kind of days so looking forward to that one. And as normal I am sure I will see a few Flutewise members there too!
Anyway, this blog seems to be getting awfull long so I will leave it there. Please please please post your comments because I love to hear what you have all been up to (flutey news or non-flutey news) and you guys are really what Flutewise is all about so keep them coming!
Love,
Stephen.
P.S. The photo above is of me with some of my very good friends after a concert I gave in Manchester. They are all flute players. They are me, Jen Brimson (from Canada), Peter Lloyd, Adam Chidley and Katy Welch.
9 Comments
Hi Stephen!
It’s nice and sunny where I am too, at the moment, but unfortunately I have lots of coursework to be getting on with. I suppose it isn’t too bad because I’m doing art which I quite enjoy.
You’ll be pleased to hear that I am doing more flute practise, now that summer is here and it appears to be paying off – particularly my tone and hopefully I will feel more confident about doing my grade 8 in October, which I haven’t really found time to work on before, due to other peformances etc.
As well as that, I’ve been playing in lots of fetes with band which have been pretty enjoyable too.
Next week, I’m teaching at a dance summer school for the younger children, which I always enjoy…
Also, I’m coming to Abbotsholme…which should be great!!!! It will be nice to go there when its not freezing cold for a change!
Have a great summer everyone!
Love Lucy
x x x
Hey! You sound like you’re going to be busy this summer!
I am too! I’ve already had about 2 weeks worth of orchestra courses, and on Monday I’m off on the National Youth Orchestra of Wales course and concert tour, I’m reeeallly excited!!
Today I got the results of my Grade 8… I got 139 so I was really chuffed! Has anyone else taken an exam recently?
Cathy x
Hiya
yep I’m enjoying summer and I’m glad that our summer lasts longer.
I’m not going to abbotsholme this year though =[
never mind…
anyway I have got to go
Bibi xx
Hi Lucy. Glad to hear 6your doing so much practice. im sure it will stand you in good sead for gtaee 8 in october and speaking of grade 8………CONGRATULATIONS Cathy!!!!!! thats brilliant news!!!!!
Hi everyone, I heard from Liz last night that she is enjoying her course in Croatia (as are Abbie and Gareth) and that she will tell you all about it when she gets back.
I’ve been trying to hold down the fort whilst she is away – much harder than you would think! – and something very strange has come through the post. Can you guess what it is and where/who it came from?
Anyone who actually gets it right, before Liz returns at the end of the week will get a prize. It’ll be a really good prize.
Andy
PS. You won’t guess it. So I’ll leave a few clues over the week: It was too large to fit through the letterbox
May I just appologise for my horrendous spelling and typing in that earlier post!!!
Andy we need another clue!
Wow Cathy!!!!!!!!! That’s really good!
Sorry, I’m having a few problems with the blog at the moment. Normal service will be resumed shortly (possibly after a move from Google).
Hi Stephen,
I’ve had a busy few weeks recently which has prevented me from doing loads of practice – but as i’m not going on holiday i’ll be getting down to it all.
I had a dance show on the weekend of 26th/27th July and during the week leading up to it i was dancing everyday most of the day so it was very tiring! However it all paid off in the end as the show was fantastic!
This week i’ve been doing a course for the Herts Wind Sinfonia which was great and even met some other people who belong to Flutewise!! We did lots of challenging repertoire including a lot of stuff by Adam Gorb (who even spent most of the course with us). I think i’ve definitely learnt rhythm as we had a lot of chaging time signatures.
I’ve also seen (finally) Mamma Mia and Wall-E!! They were great! By the end of Mamma Mia i was singing along! The film is definitely worth the money!
Hope everyone else is keeping busy!
Ellie xex