About me
My main instrument has always been the piano, which I started learning at the age of 7.
I also play the violin and viola, and have played with various orchestras and also in string quartets,
playing for weddings, Birthday Parties, and other events. As a pianist, I particular enjoy accompanying
others, for exams, concert performances, and charity events. I also play in a successful folk band
that is available for ceilidhs, barn dances and other events.
I enjoy a broad range of musical styles and have a particular interest in early orchestral music.
It's far from easy to pick favourite composers, but Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Bach, and Grieg would all
be in the top three, if only there was room for them. Ah, but what about Rossini, Dvorak, and Rimsky-Korsakov?
As well as playing, I have interests in composing, arranging, conducting, education, and attending concerts.
Hobbies and other things that occupy me include IT, Science, Art (favourites: Renoir and Turner), railways,
tropical plants (especially moss and members of the Araceae family), and my treasured hammered dulcimer.
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Desert Island Discs.
That would present some difficult decisions. Do the nine symphonies of Beethoven count as one? I hope so.
Anyway, some ideas, in no particular order:
Beethoven:
The 9th
Carl Orff:
Carmina Burana
Roxy Music:
Avalon
Rachmaninov:
Piano Concerto No. 2
Malcolm McClaren
Duck Rock
Cesar Franck:
Violin Sonata in A
J.S. Bach
The Brandenburg Concertos (especially No. 6)
Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade
Rossini
The William Tell Overture
Brahms:
Violin Concerto in D
Vivaldi:
Gloria
Favourite Films.
More difficult choices!
Sofia Coppola:
Lost in Translation
Ron Howard:
Apollo 13
Rush
Kevin Costner:
Dances with Wolves
Stanley Kubrick:
Barry Lyndon
Dr. Strangelove
Penny Marshall:
Awakenings
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Quotations.
Percy Scholes (1877-1958): Applause. The custom of showing one's pleasure at beautiful music by
immediately following it with an ugly noise.
Duke Ellington (1899-1974): Music is music and that's it. If it sounds good, it's good music.
Artur Schnabel (1882-1951), when asked the secret of playing the piano:
I always make sure that the lid over the keyboard is open before I start to play.
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), on "Bolero":
A piece for orchestra without music.
Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961):
The English may not like music but they absolutely love the noise it makes.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):
To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable!
Robert Schumann (1810-1856), advice to young musicians:
Endeavour to play easy pieces well and with elegance; that is better than to play difficult pieces badly.
Pablo Casals (1876-1973):
The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all.
The art of not playing in tempo - one has to learn it. And the art of not playing what is written
on the printed paper.
Victor Borge (1909-2000):
Many people have asked me why there are three pedals on these grand pianos. Well the
pedal in the middle is there to separate the two other pedals.
Johnny Depp:
Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can't.
Shai Agassy:
Sometimes people have to remind you to aim high. Most of us are afraid of aiming high
for fear of failure and our biggest failure is that we aim too low.
Ray Charles:
The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.
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Jokes.
When I found that even my accountant had a 'jokes' page on their website, I thought 'why not?'.
Apologies to anyone
that plays the instrument(s) ridiculed in any of the jokes, but we are all in the same boat. Some of the harshest
musician-related jokes are aimed at viola players, and I am one of them, so I know how you feel!
Clarinet
What's the difference between a clarinet and an onion?
Nobody cries when you chop up a clarinet.
Drums
How do you confuse a drummer?
Put a sheet of music in front of him.
Accordian
What's the difference between an accordian and a used lawnmower?
You could always sell a used lawnmower.
Viola
What do you with a dead violist?
Move him back a desk.
Synth
How do you know if a synth player is at your door?
You can hear the knocking but you can't tell if it's real.
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