Rehearsals and other music things.

This post is going to encompass quite a lot.
Wednesday looked something like this:
10 am Piano lesson
11 am Tute for Chamber music
12.20 pm Lunch
12.43 pm Run to shops
1.07 pm Reherasal on piano at Newman Chapel
1.30 pm Choir rehearsal at Newman Chapel
3.00 pm Work in Library
4.45 pm Finish work
6 pm Think about getting ready for Valedictory Dinner while trying to do homework
6.20 pm Actually get ready
6.32 pm Complete one of the fastest dressing-up sessions I have ever done for a formal occasion
6.45 pm Attend pre-dinner drinks
7 pm Attend Valedictory Dinner
9.30 pm Finally head back to my room after Dinner
10.30 pm Attempt to go practice in the JCR
11.00 pm Actually get round to practicing, after having sing-a-long with SCR stragglers
1.00 pm Finally fall asleep after being restless, and ensuring ear-plugs are firmly wedged in ears, my Lamentations of Jeremiah, by the King's College Choir, is turned on, and the fire door closed

Only to be followed by Thursday:
6.30 am Wake up
8.30 am Trio rehearsal
9.15 am Rehearsal in Melba for solo (didn't actually start till 9.27 am)
9.30 am Rehearsal in Melba for trio (didn't actually start till 9.38 am)
10 am Lecture
11 am Concert Class - play
12.25 pm Hang in Con foyer
1 pm Meet Lauren, go to CU
2.15 pm Lecture
3.15 pm Hang in Con foyer
4.25 pm Sinfonia
6.30 pm End Sinfonia, administer QOTs
6.54 pm Come home

See? It's busy.

And that was just two days. Friday and Saturday were quite similar, although probably a bit less busy. Thankfully.

So, concert class.
We played. We, I mean, Trio Reginae. We played the 3rd movement of the Mozart trio. And I played Ravel's Ondine (solo). We had pretty good comments. Der Holtham is nice to play. Although we (Daniel) and I requested that the music stand of the piano be removed, because it is fairly hard to hear dynamic and tonal changes. Bill took the class; he was very nice, and gave constructive criticism.
I had lots of positive feedback for Ravel - many people enjoyed it, which was nice. And also because I really enjoy playing the piece, and think it is quite marvellous.

And because I'm starting to get a big head from all this, or because I felt special, some comments include...(in some sort of paraphrase):
'I love your playing - I cannot fault it'
'The highlight of the class'
'A solid performance'
'Minor note issues, but did not detract from a good performance' (yay! From somebody who is very good himself, and apparently doesn't say all that many nice things about everybody...!)
'Beautiful'
'How do you do that?! There are so many notes...!'

So, thank you all for the (mainly positive) feedback - it's nice to know that people enjoy my playing..!
Sam, Michael, Em, Jac, Danny, Lauren, Freya, Emily, Clinton, Sarah, Trev, Tom, Dylan, Tina, My-Hong, Kristen, Jenny, Ed, Daniel, Azy

So, we had Connect last night. It was a great wrap-up, and there were quite a few people there. Unfortunately, the whole Whitley crew couldn't come, but that's ok. We had a good time!

And tonight, I made up half a concert..! Chamber Music in the Chapel was held tonight at Newman College. Organised by the extraordinary Dylan Edge, appearances were made by Julie, Tom, Alvin, the intercollegiate choir (which held together quite well! And interestingly, had representatives from each of the four college choirs!), Trio Reginae, Rhiannon, and me. :) It was a success. More people should have come, because they would have enjoyed it. But nevertheless, it was lots of fun, and great to see so many friends there. Heck, looking out towards the audience, and not including the other performers, almost the entire right hand side were my friends whom I'd invited. And as for the left side of the chapel, well, I knew about half of them. As I had thought before, and Dylan said, "It was like the Gladys Chua and friends concert". I said I was sorry for hijacking, but now that he's bought me my hot chocolate, he's got me now.

I'm not even going to write about the piano, or the acoustics, or Dylan's shout, well, not now at least. But you know what? The aim of all this was to foster friendships through music. If I can be an example, I think that this goal was achieved. And still is. I got to meet a whole heap of (formal and informal) musicians. I got to perform. I got to listen to performances. I had a great Saturday night - music and friends. Just beautiful.

Thank you to everybody who came - it was great to see you all there. And at least you know why I practice so much...! :P Or perhaps understand how obsessive I am! What a night.