memories

I paid a visit to my favourite little one pound vinyl shop, and came across a gem from the past. It was a record made by the North Bucks wind band ( that Chris and I both played in). The band is pictured outside the old music centre ( sadly now in ruins!). I took my grades there ( highly traumatic!) and had my first violin lesson ( yes! violin lesson)

"Switching it on"

A while back I was asked to write for the "Sing up" musical which is out in this terms magazine. Copies have just gone out, and it has been interesting to hear the differing styles of the composers who have written the music to each song. See link for more details.

http://www.singup.org/songbank/songwriter.php?id=282

The musical is about inventions and is called "What a good idea". My song is called "Switching it on" and is about Electriciteeeee.

Where others have made music.

I have been adjudicating at the Stratford and East London Music festival this week. Its a big festival and I have found it exciting that it has been running every year since 1882. I wonder what has changed since it started, I suppose there were no plastic recorders or blue violins, but the principal was very much the same, perhaps some of the music is the same. Its quite comforting to know that in these days of change some things remain constant.

Happy Valentines day!

Shrimp biscuits.

Did you know?

That most toilets flush in the key of E flat?.

That in 1970 a Pink Floyd concert was so loud that it killed all the fish in a nearby lake?.

That Beethoven said " they'll learn to like it one day"?.

That Paul Mc Cartney took up music because his Dad told him he would get invited to lots of parties?.

That the most purchased instrument in the world is the harmonica!

Snow day!

It was all going very well until I found a Darlek in the garden!

Spinner excitement!

I bought Chris a turntable for Christmas that you can use to put your vinyl onto ipod. It has revolutionised our listening!. Not only have we re lived musical memories through our old vinyl collection, but have discovered the vast unit in our covered market that sells all LP's for a pound!. They have everything!, and we are all discovering interesting music that was never available to us before.

Martha is especially enjoying trips to the vinyl shop. She comes back with several LP's, and cannot get over the novelty of playing both sides!!.

Sleeping in a cardboard box!

Martha and friends spent last night in sub zero conditions sleeping rough to highlight the plight of the homeless. They had many stories to tell, and there was a lot of life experience gained but I was thrilled to see that Martha's friend Rob, an up and coming guitarist just kept on playing!!.