zbd1960

Hi, welcome

Hi, welcome

Interesting word salad. Do they even know what words like 'triptych' actually mean?

Yesterday, I had the first of what should now be regular singing lessons. It was only a short one due to temporary issues around a teaching venue. That will be resolved once the teacher has got a new house. I also went to my first rehearsal with a new choir. First impressions are favourable. I have about six months or so to go of not being able to play sax owing to the bone graft and tooth implant. In a random fit of wanting to do something different, I had a go at playing a brass instrument for the first time (I did clear it with the dentist first). I went to a local group that was having a 'have-a-go' session for newcomers. I opted to have a got at a euphonium and got some noises out of it, some might even have born resemblance to a note. The euphonium is the same pitch as both my cello and baritone sax - it starts on the Bb below bass clef and cello and sax both start on the C. An annoying aspect is that in band repertoire, the euphonium is regarded as a transposing instrument in Bb and is written for in treble clef. This is so that a player of another instrument can just play it if needed as the fingerings are then the same. Away from bands, it is treated as being chromatic, non-transposing, and the music is at concert pitch in bass clef. If you want to play both, you need to learn two sets of fingerings. Saxes have the same issue. They have always been fully chromatic as they were invented in the mid-C19th and did not develop from a more primitive instrument. Nevertheless they are treated as transposing to avoid having two sets of fingerings for Eb and Bb instruments.

Definitely if you get the chance sign-up for a play day somewhere. The UK Amateur Orchestras FB page regularly has adverts from groups organising them - and there is a specific page as well for play days (UK Orchestra Play Days). These are ad-hoc events with no commitment beyond the day.

Community choir rehearsals have resumed... we have a concert at the end of the month.

Hi, welcome

Hi, welcome.

I think the simplest way is best - just say as others have indicated that it's not working for you and move on.

I'm back from a week at music summer school near Stafford. This year I'd signed up for a different set of classes to the past. I did conducting, solo singing, string orchestra, chamber orchestra, and choir. I even managed to overcome my dread/fear of singing solo in public and sang in the solo singing recital. I chose "Where'er you walk" by Handel. The YT video is sung by a counter tenor, so an octave higher than I sang it. The venue is a grand country pile which is now used to run arts activities, mostly for schools.

What would sort it out - but they won't do it - is to go and book a hearing test. These are easily available on the high street. Then they might understand that they've got a problem, or will have one soon... That would determine frequency range and sensitivity.

If you're wearing protection and it is that loud, then that is seriously wrong. People need to take this more seriously. I'm extremely wary of loud environments, which is why I have an app with an SPL meter on it. OK it's not 'accurate' since a proper reading requires measuring distances etc., but it's a useful guide.

Yamaha have been making musical instrument since 1887 and pianos in 1900, which is why their logo is three tuning forks.

It's a thing in the cello world as well "antiqued" - no, if I'm buying a new instrument I want is to look nice, not as if someone has thrashed it with branches off a holly tree

Five of us cellists from orchestra got together yesterday for a pleasant lunch followed by playing music arranged for cello quartets and quintets. Event was hosted by one of the cellists in a rather nice house with stunning views.