Random thoughts or comments...

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 06 Apr 2015, 16:55

You're being defeatist and wasting a lot of talent. Carry on!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 06 Apr 2015, 22:04

I've had a rethink. I seem to be so tempted to come on here and moan incessantly whenever things go wrong. I've not been on here AT ALL today and I've had the best piano practice I've had all week this evening. I've only thought about things I can do and not kept reminding myself of things I can't do just to come on here and bore the world with.

I spend too much time sat in front of a computer screen anyway and sometimes, that in itself makes me anxious and depressed.

I also believe that I think too much.

You will notice I've put what I think is a positive statement in bold type. Now, I need to put piano lessons with Fanny Fosdyke into that part of the filing cabinet upstairs that contains the low points of world history (Holocaust, 2 World Wars, apartheid, 9/11 etc)

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 07 Apr 2015, 17:04

Well done - hurrah!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 07 Apr 2015, 22:03

It is so tempting to come on here and whinge like the Australian stereotypical view of the English but it really does not do me any good. It's not letting off steam at all, it's the opposite effect. Maybe things don't happen as quick as I expect them to after only 14 months of regular lessons.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Apr 2015, 18:05

If you ever fancy coming to Malvern, it's a faragers' paradise. I found a rather humourous cast iron sign in one antique shop that read On This Site In 1782 Nothing Happened. I googled it and found that it was quite common - why it was only £13 surely.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 08 Apr 2015, 21:30

Never been to Malvern...I think the furthest we ventured in that direction is Evesham.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Apr 2015, 21:51

You'd have to take the A44 as far as Worcester then along the southern relief road to the A449 then it's only 5 miles. Interestingly enough, just past Evesham on the Worcester side is Vale Pianos and an antiques emporium on the right that had loads of antique pianos in last time I went there. Forgotten the name of the place, off to Googs to jog my mammary.

Craycombe Farm. That's it.

http://www.craycombefarmantiques.co.uk/

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 08 Apr 2015, 22:03

Went there hundreds of years ago with a customer to look at a piano - interesting place. I'd forgotten all about it until you just joggled my mammary, matron...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Apr 2015, 22:06

Vale Pianos is nice too. It's a real piano retailer in a series of Army-barracks style outbuildings, all heated and controlled for the pianos. It's between the A44 and Throckmorton.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 10 Apr 2015, 11:37

Had a strange experience the other day I've never had before in my life and I may never actually have again. Went to the toilets in the Avoncroft Museum and I was sitting there when suddenly the lights went out and I was plunged into darkness. Fortunately I'm a former Boy Scout.

gizzy · Post by **gizzy** » 10 Apr 2015, 13:19

dave brum wrote:Had a strange experience the other day I've never had before in my life and I may never actually have again. Went to the toilets in the Avoncroft Museum and I was sitting there when suddenly the lights went out and I was plunged into darkness. Fortunately I'm a former Boy Scout.

pure in thought word and deed, you mean?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 10 Apr 2015, 13:39

Well, resourceful. Like the time I was in the Galleries shopping centre in Bristol one time and it was too late when I realised there was no paper in the loo roll holder. Fortunately I had a copy of the Bristol Evening Post in my pocket.

See, I'd have been kicked off the ABRSM forum for saying that in their 'Forums Cafe' (most cafes have toilets anyway!)

gizzy · Post by **gizzy** » 10 Apr 2015, 14:23

Not these days, you wouldn't. Admittedly I am probably acknowledged as the joint first-place smuttiest together with a certain Yo

rkshireman from the Wirral (and I've met him, and swapped stories which would have got us both warned) but much of it I feel has lightened up.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 10 Apr 2015, 16:02

You mean C# minor?? Ah, but he's a darn good musician so he's earned his place on there as a grandee - so he can say what he likes. Whenever a new member comes along, that is when the alarm bells begin to ring.

But alas for me and the Belle of Burwell.....

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 11 Apr 2015, 08:32

Thinking about the old song 'Funky Town', originally by Lipps Inc and covered by an Australian band called Pseudo Echo with lead singer Brian Canham led me to thinking about famous Brians and Bryans in the world of music - but I cannot think of many. Here are all I can think of:-

1. Dr.Brian May
2. Bryan Ferry
3. Brian Eno (also in Roxy Music)
4. Bryan Adams
5. Brian Jones (Rolling Stones)
6. Dr.Brian Cox (formerly of D:Ream now a TV historian)
7. Brian Johnson (ACDC and before that, the band Geordie)

I suppose if you were to count Brian Canham that would be eight.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Apr 2015, 08:25

In the Anglican calendar, the first Sunday after Easter is commonly known as 'Low Sunday'. But if you suffer with severe depression and low self-esteem then it's Low Sunday every day.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 12 Apr 2015, 16:22

Brian Cant sang some good stuff on Playaway...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Apr 2015, 16:40

On musicteachers.co.uk there's a piano teacher in Brierley Hill called Tracey Cant. I often wonder if she's any relation.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Apr 2015, 19:31

Lovely pictures of Easter at St.Nicolas' church Kings Norton (around 5km away), the splash of blooms and in the distance the organist, who incidentally has the same surname as old Gizzy.

http://www.kingsnorton.org.uk/photos/ea ... index.html

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 14 Apr 2015, 06:15

I had a dream last night about Frank Muir. I was interviewing him for a magazine. After I awoke, I realised I hadn't asked him about Wilsons No1.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 14 Apr 2015, 20:38

Better late than never - found a biodegrading palm cross on Oakfield Drive in Cofton village just now.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 15 Apr 2015, 17:40

Early for next year!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 15 Apr 2015, 20:53

Just had twenty minutes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians down the local takeaway. If I can endure that I can learn to sight read.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Apr 2015, 12:55

...and less than twenty four hours before I shall have the opportunito to hear the Edwardian Norman and Beard organ of St.Nicolas (that's how it's spelled) King Snorton. Played with a bit of luck by Miss Llwynog.

Wonder which hymnal they'll be using? I saw one floating around called Anglican Hymns Old and New, which I must admit I'd not heard of b4.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 18 Apr 2015, 16:58

I think that AHOAN is a trendy job with pc words - none of that 'mankind' stuff or 'brotherhood' in case we womem feel alienated.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Apr 2015, 17:02

But still in the SATB four part arrangement, so Anglican Kryptonians are the only beneficiaries then

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 18 Apr 2015, 21:49

I keep telling you, play the tune and one other part.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Apr 2015, 22:11

If I tried that, the dots would all interfere with each other and I would get really flummoxed. I'd never be able to do that, it would be way out of my depth.

I ay as clever as yoh, Gill!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 19 Apr 2015, 15:48

The key words being IF I Tried. You don't know till you do, so give it a go. Just one bar. Bottom line of the bass with the tune. On a hymn you know.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 19 Apr 2015, 16:05

It's not a case of I cannot do it. It's more a case of I can do it but it would take me months to learn it and try and cram it all into my head. Then supposing I forget about it for a week after I've learned to play it - I would have to go through the whole rigmarole over again. Doing that with 779 hymn tunes in A&M Standard would be absolutely unfeasible and a waste of time. Either that or try to memorise 779 hymn tunes and then some.

I shall say this once more. I cannot open up a page of music and play it at sight unless it's a very simple Carol Barratt Chesters Easiest Tunes exercise aimed at kids or similar. If I was doing Tracey's job on the organ at St.Nicolas, or Mabs at her church in Warwickshire, then I would need them to pick the hymns three months in advance so I can learn them, and they ain't going to do that! This is how it is with me Gill unfortunately and I intend to have it out with Mabel over this on Wednesday. Because something needs to happen NOW, if it doesn't then I shall just get worse and more despondent and frustrated - and the enjoyment, which I'm trying so hard to try and keep, will be lost.

UPDATE: Just had a go with the hymn tune 'St.George' and yes I told you so. In this case, in two bars I started off with the bass line and went into the tenor. There are too many dots to concentrate on. I'm only human.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 20 Apr 2015, 16:25

Just do the tune first. Gently Bentley!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 20 Apr 2015, 16:30

Gill the Piano wrote:Just do the tune first. Gently Bentley!

Which tune? There are four of them.

I might ask Mabel on Wednesday. Or Trace, if I get the chance to catch her.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 23 Sep 2016, 20:50

Friends, Romans, Countrymen???

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 24 Sep 2016, 14:27

Hello ratbag, where you bin? Wot you doing?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 24 Sep 2016, 14:47

Ratbag eh? A fine welcome back. You'd be booted off the AB forum for calling somebody a ratbag.....

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 24 Sep 2016, 16:28

How long has Feg been cyanised then?

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 25 Sep 2016, 13:12

Few months? Barrie obviously thought we needed a grownup in control who could work a computer!

I can't even get my avatar picture up!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 25 Sep 2016, 14:33

So then, how are you, how is Eric and how (as Wogan always used to retort to Boggy) is the organ?

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 25 Sep 2016, 19:38

All well, ta; apart from one note on one organ that won't work. Got a new gig now - first Sunday in the month. Might yet get a tour t shirt made up! Mr G is also doing well, hospital only want to see him 3 times a year now.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 25 Sep 2016, 20:43

That is encouraging news in an age where human church organists are being replaced by MP3 players and karaoke machines. And of course, encouraging news for E also.

We went to Oxford a few weeks back, and had a butchers at the new Waitrose on Botley Road. Then we proceeded to drive through the centre of Oxford in awful rain on a Saturday afternoon.

Have you ever thought about becoming a crematorium organist??

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 25 Sep 2016, 20:49

...Long live the art of idle chitchat!

Where's Feg? Hello Fiona, how are you?

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 26 Sep 2016, 15:37

No, but I am on the list for the local natural woodland burial place which has the most beautiful little chapel (with a disproportionately loud organ!) after I played there for a friend's funeral. Played for a Welsh tenor and everyone joined in with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Post by **Feg** » 26 Sep 2016, 16:39

dave brum wrote:...Long live the art of idle chitchat!

Where's Feg? Hello Fiona, how are you?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 26 Sep 2016, 17:27

I have now taken up manual campanology.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 26 Sep 2016, 20:06

Where? Nice group? Big chest of bells, madam?

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 26 Sep 2016, 21:24

A local handbell group. I play the bass bells as I am able to cope with such large pieces of brassware. Our bells start with bell CC (the C below middle C) and go BB AA Z Y X W 12 11 10 9 8 etc. down (or should that be up) to zero.

It is great fun and I look forward to Monday afternoons now, which is our practice. We have 3 gigs coming up in Oct/Nov, for which I had to buy an orange tie in John Lewis before work today. I was in charge of 11 and 12 today.

Some of the elderly ladies can ring two treble bells on each hand. However, my pair of bells don't have this tremendous resonance which can be heard, felt and even seen!

My wife, being from Hertfordshire talks of my 'handbowels' when she means handbells.....

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 27 Sep 2016, 14:08

I have a chest of Victorian ones but they need work on them before they can be used in anger.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 28 Sep 2016, 13:40

Our bells are quite numerous, and we also have a set of midrange 'Pritchatt's' bells. There is a Pritchatts Road in Edgbaston near University of B-Town, I would assume the family were big manufacturers of brassware based locally.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 30 Sep 2016, 06:34

Off for my flu jab today. Don't want any time off work, or doing carol singing smelling of Vick as was the case in 2015.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 30 Sep 2016, 20:33

EVERYONE smells of Vick in the winter!