I’m looking forward to hearing everyone play The Donkey next week. Yes, the competition begins on Monday 8th December and runs until Saturday 13th December. There’s a first and second prize for each Category winner, and Humoresque will announce the winners on Monday 15th December. If you’ve won a prize, you’ll get it during your …
It has recently come to Humoresque’s attention that not many of you read these posts. Humoresque began on 6th April this year. The intention was to provide a weekly term-time blog post which would be helpful (hopefully!), informative (mostly!), entertaining (a humoresque!) and light-hearted (i.e. short!) All Humoresque’s posts are on my website, and you’re …
You are all invited to Hemblington Church on Sunday 14th December for our Candlelit Carol Service, followed by Cake! I know some of you are too far away to make this, but if you’re in Norfolk on that day, please do come along! It’s a very special event, with the Christmas story told through prose, …
Competition Time! At the bottom of this post, you’ll see a score of a song. This song is in a piano book which I use with adult beginners. The song is called “The Donkey”. This competition has four categories. Here’s what I want you to do: Category 1 is for beginners up to and including …
It’s a trick question! In my experience, most students rarely practise at all. Even from here, I can hear your cries of furious denial! Of course I practise! And I’m making good progress! I play my instrument three times a day/every day/twice a week/occasionally… Yes, yes (said soothingly), of course you do! And that’s wonderful. …
Yes! If you’re a musician, you begin Christmas in the summer – or even earlier. When I directed the Norfolk Keyboard Orchestra, I arranged the Christmas music in July and August and we’d start rehearsing it in September. So remember that, next time you feel like moaning at the cards, decorations and Christmas jumpers the …
A few days ago it was my brother’s birthday. On the same day, at least two other people I know celebrated their birthdays. After all, every single day of the year it’s the birthday of countless people all over the world. We acknowledge the special date when it’s someone we know. We celebrate the whole …
Do you remember that Performance is one of the three Ps? If you’ve forgotten the others, you can read the post about it all here. Performance is the ultimate goal of learning to play. You may be performing just to yourself, perhaps even with headphones on, or in a locked room with a cheetah prowling …
“He’s been playing the piano all summer. Of course, it’s not the sort of thing you’d give him to play.” So said the mother of a piano student. The student, aged fourteen, has been learning to play for the last six years. He’s always enjoyed his lessons, but it’s only this year that he’s discovered …
Horses are large, unpredictable animals, and riders are often thrown. Horsemanship wisdom says that if you don’t remount right away, fear and hesitation will make it harder next time. Obviously, falling off a horse is an event which might trigger fear and a reluctance to get back in the saddle. After all, it’s not a …