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Ben Clapton

Going to Melbourne!

August 30, 2006 at 1:26 PM

My mum brought up the subject of my 21st birthday today. I hadn't even started thinking about it - it's in APRIL!! I've kinda got a recital, some exams and the whole graduating thing before then, let alone starting the conversion course to get my bachelors.

Anyway, she said that I would get the same offer that my sister got - a trip to Melbourne. That's awesome. I was born in Melbourne, but we left there when I was three, so I don't remember anything of it, despite my mothers near constant reminders about things there. But I'm really looking forward to going to Melbourne. I'm hoping that there will be an Eagles match there whenever I go (I support the West Coast Eagles in the AFL), but if not, I'll hopefully get along to a game at the MCG (Basically the hallowed ground, it has held all of the AFL Grand Finals).

I'm also going to try and see if I can get a lesson from one of the Melbourne Conservatory teachers while I'm there. William Hennessey is the head of strings there, and while it would be awesome to have a lesson from him, I think having a lesson from any of the teachers there would be great.

On other topics, my string quartet chose a new piece today. We were doing the Beethoven C# Minor, but found it too difficult to get into, so we've decided on Mozart D Major, K. 499 (Hoffmeister). I was trying to push the Barber Op. 11 String quartet, because the adagio is soooo beautiful, so mournful. But they decided Mozart. I think Mozart is probably a better choice for our quartet anyway - we fit better into the classical style.

But I ordered the Barber anyway. I'd love to perform it somewhere, and it's the piece I think I would love to have played at my funeral. Longway off, but oh well.

I think that's all that's happening atm, at least I hope it is, because that means I haven't forgotten anything.

From John Lanceley
Posted on August 30, 2006 at 3:14 PM
Hey thats a nice depressing thought to end with! haha! The C# minor is one of my favourites, the ACO played it as well as the Barber while I was in Perth. Im missing it a lot, your lucky that you live in such a beautiful country!
From William Yap
Posted on August 30, 2006 at 10:53 PM
I don't play the cello but I have seen cellists use their thumb to play double stops and chords.

I hated 3rds initially, now I hate octaves. Didn't like the 6th much either. But I've come so far that I can play them much more comfortable than when I started learning them. Next year I will have to do 10th. I have a feeling it will make my hand hurt!

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