Concerts and lessons
Since the last post I've played two concerts with Alderley Edge and one with CAOS. Tomorrow I'm playing with Harmony Gospel Choir (not really my scene, but they asked for string players to accompany some of their songs and I didn't say no quickly enough!).
I had one cello lesson, but since then my cellist friend has been elusive about arranging any more :-( Verticial viola also not progressing a result.
I had a lesson with Alison on the subject of piano teaching - I lined up three "guinea pig" pupils, but one left the country (!), one has cried off on the grounds of academic commitments, and the third has yet to get back to me to arrange a lesson. I went to Alan Gregory and bought a couple of tutor and study books, which I've started working through myself. Teaching piano is just like teaching someone to drive (and probably lots of other things really): it makes you think once again about things which had become subconscious, and makes you re-visit your own technique as a result.
Probably the most significant development however is that I've started having lessons with a new viola teacher (Vivienne Blumfield). She's got me to change the way I hold both the bow and the instrument, but after three lessons it's already sounding a lot better. I've been trying to religiously do some practice every day, and almost managed it so far!
I had one cello lesson, but since then my cellist friend has been elusive about arranging any more :-( Verticial viola also not progressing a result.
I had a lesson with Alison on the subject of piano teaching - I lined up three "guinea pig" pupils, but one left the country (!), one has cried off on the grounds of academic commitments, and the third has yet to get back to me to arrange a lesson. I went to Alan Gregory and bought a couple of tutor and study books, which I've started working through myself. Teaching piano is just like teaching someone to drive (and probably lots of other things really): it makes you think once again about things which had become subconscious, and makes you re-visit your own technique as a result.
Probably the most significant development however is that I've started having lessons with a new viola teacher (Vivienne Blumfield). She's got me to change the way I hold both the bow and the instrument, but after three lessons it's already sounding a lot better. I've been trying to religiously do some practice every day, and almost managed it so far!