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So, here is a REAL performance, by REAL learners.

December 25, 2007 at 1:06 PM

Woah, this actually uploaded quicker than I though it would. Someone must have opened the server gate.
Anyway, as I said in my blog of like 30 minutes ago, here are some clips of our ensemble.
We are adult learners, so the performance must be appreciated for what it is, not what it isn't.
I am seated in the outside seat of second row of 1st v's, my teacher and our instructor directly in front.
If you look at the cello section, a vcommie colleague is seated on the outside front row. She is playing her cellow that she MADE, by herself, and next to her is another blond cello. She made that one too. Go Jaz. an adult learner in both technique and luthiership, and what an astounding result.

the Fiddle Dance was a stunner for us - its such an uplifting gorgeous piece to play, we get very hyped doing it. but I don't recall rehearsing it at this tempo. I panicked a little to be honest, but I kept up. I don't think I had another fraction of a millisecond in the accelerator though.

Percy Fletcher Fiddle Dance, performed by the After Hours String Orchestra in Gosford, NSW Australia

What a great performance. You are so lucky to have an ensemble group to perform with. It makes learning an instrument as an adult so much more fun. Congrats on your accomplishments.
I used to have two old Aunties who lived in Gosford, NSW. We would visit them every Christmas. I was a child and had to kiss them both. They were lovely people though. Their names were Aunt Mona and Aunt Buddy. They had a pony out the back.
Absolutely, we are lucky to have the ensemble. Its so supportive, and everyone has some sort of learner - related weakness, so we are supportive rather than critical, and we don't need to compete with each other. We can't get kicked out. And we really did play our best at the recital (believe it or not). I only made some of the same mistakes I made every rehearsal, and no new ones! Have added a video to You Tube also - a little stuff up which I think shows how we take it seriously, but not really seriously!
Jon, I'm sorry I don't think I know your aunts, but it's nice to know that you were nice to them and kissed them. Was it a good pony? :)
That's very neat. The cello is beautiful! What a great group.
I wonder if they are similar groups in Melbourne... the orchestra I play with are a bit intimidating, with most players either teacher or ex-professionals. Wish I could find a group that doesn't play difficult music all the time and everyone just enjoy playing music and have a great time. Also wonder how it feels like to play an instrument that you made. Must be quite a bond with the instrument!
Alas, they both have passed on. I think I had drunk a little too much Christmas champagne when I wrote that rather overly-sentimental post. Yes, it was a good little pony. It didn't buck me off which was nice of it.
Wow, here we are on the web! How far we have come from our humble demountable.

Oh shucks Sharelle & thanks for the blurb on my cello playing/making. I love my babies.

Our ensemble is a fantastic bunch and everyone is so supportive of each other. Even when one of us makes a monumental stuff-up and we have all done it there are no hard feelings. It is a great way to learn in such a friendly environment.

Our conservatorium also has a cello ensemble which is similar to this one with a friendly bunch of adult learners and without both these I would be a very lost soul. We are very lucky to have a con that has these ensembles and such excellent instructors to teach us. If they did not exist it would make it a lot tougher to learn.

Now lets see what the next year holds for us!

Thanks Karen for your comment on my cello. Both the cellos at the front are instruments that I made from scratch!