This week began as a bit of a shock to the system. I have been learning the Cello for a year now and have a recital in front of the rest of the School of Music next Monday (20th Jan 03). I thought I was going to be playing a short, simple piece for my first ever solo performance on the instrument, but on Monday morning my professor, Mr Cullis presented me with a Cello sonata by Vivaldi, and suggested I also played one of the faster movements, as a contrast to the slow piece I had being learning for weeks! This meant that my main focus for the week ahead was to get this piece up to performance standard, before my rehearsal with the pianist on Thursday.
When I wasn't practising for the recital I was working on my Euphonium. I joined over a year ago having never played a valved instrument, as I was a trombonist. Over the last year I have being learning the technicalities of valve technique and learning how to control the instrument. This week in my lesson with Mr Cresci I was given my first ever slow melody to play - a beautiful cornet solo called Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms - finally a break from taxing Arban studies and technical finger work!
Our evening rehearsals this week were focused on the forthcoming Concert Band gig in the Theatre Royal, Portsmouth. This will be our first concert this year and the first chance for the newest members of Training Company to perform to an audience on their instruments since joining the Band Service in September last year. Hopefully the concert will be a huge success, as rehearsals seem to be working well, especially given the amount of new pieces in our repertoire. This gig will be even more of a test for us, as many of our more experienced players are going to be away for week on a Skiing trip in France - lucky for some!
Musn Walton