4/2/09

Pretty busy day today actually. Charlotte is doing really well. Got to the end of the Elephant so hopefully the notes will be fully under her fingers soon so we can start working on other stuff. I found out she's done her Grade 6 Piano so is really quite an advanced musician. She's got a very musical ear which is good. After I did a bit of duet playing with Phillip the violinist. He definately needs to work on his sight reading lots. He hasnt seemed to have grasped the concept of keeping the pulse and subdividing it within his head constantly which seems a bit worrying as he's planning on taking his Grade 6 Violin this Summer. Hopefully our playing will help this, and his tuning too.
Next was another lesson with Beata. We were carrying on with where we left last time - and she was trying to teach me spiccato which I've realised I'm really not very good at! Definately something to work at lots. We had an influx of cellos today, ones that had been out on loan to people that have finally been returned. This means there are now 5 working full size cellos and a baby cello, plus Beata's leaving the cello she brought to practise on while she's here too! So many cellos! And there are 2 broken full size ones which will hopefully by Mr Repair Man who's coming from England later this month. As there are so many cellos I may ask if i can keep one at home to practise instead of carting it back and forth for the weekends. Sam has one at home so it seems only fair! And there will be plenty to go around, so fingers crossed! Would be so useful to have one at home!
It was Beata's cello sectional after lunch. We had a record turn out - think thats nearly all the people that will be in the concert (there were 6 of us) Even my non existant post grade 8 cello pupil Duncan turned up (who I'm yet to give a lesson, he is apparently a very busy man!). There wernt enough cello's to go round! (this was before the influx of cellos..) So Sam was on the baby cello while I ran around writing in stuff on all the parts. Was a really good rehearsal and they have all now mastered that light Baroque/Mozartian bow stroke which is necessary for this kind of music which is great. Didnt reach the end of the piece so hopefully we can squeeze in another rehearsal before Beata leaves, if not it'll be down to me and Sam. Which should be fine as they've all seen how she does it now so that makes it easier. Very good rehearsal.
Was quite a scary boda ride home. Had just been raining (lots) plus it was rush hour which made the traffic doubly worse! Had a couple of moments when I was sure my knees were going to be scraped off when squeezing through the tiniest gap between cars. Luckily not though. And we did cruise past lots of traffic by driving along the pavement which was fun though I'm sure illegal. No takes any notice of the rules of the road here though, it's just, get there quickly! But I'm fine and in one piece!
Went to the other Choir tonight. Got a lift with Carys' host (Carys went too) and her host has been going for ages. It is a really small little choir with just a couple of people per part which surprised me but they're singing some nice unaccomapanied stuff which I think is going in the anniversary concert. I'm going to carry on going I think - was fun plus it's nice to be doing a bit of singing again. AND when I got home there was banana cake! I'm sooo lucky to be staying with this family! :)
That's all for now I think! Hope you have all been enjoying the snow!
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