I've had my friend visiting from the old country, and we all know how embarrassing it is to whip out the Sevcik studies with house guests. Especially in a small one bedroom flat where your guest is sleeping on the couch. 'Here, listen to me scratch away at these technical exercises for an hour. No, you can't watch TV.'
Anyway, thankfully she's very patient and reached Grade VIII+ in piano so she knows the drill. Oyster shell recycling photo is from our trip to Whitstable - no cellos, just yummy oysters.
So - tonight our orchestra performs the Corelli and the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. I have to admit I am so glad to see the back of that Mozart, it's tedious for the flute section. I used to read my book or play entire games of solitaire on my phone in my rests. I suppose the percussionists and harp players of the world scoff at my low tolerance for 50-odd bar rests.
The word on the street is maybe some Schubert next term. I've been lobbying for Schubert 5 for about a year and a half with nothing but grumpiness from our conductor, but I think I've got the first violins on my side now, so that's half the battle won.
Okay, I'm putting off getting ready to go for pre-concert rehearsal because I'm a bit stressed about it. Wish me luck - last concert to play before Christmas.
