Jul
26
2010

Orchestrating a social life

This is a particularly attractive photo of me… circa about 1986/1987 (I think). I am posing with my clarinet wearing my Guernsey Music Centre tie. The fringe is dire don’t you think?

I was reminded of this picture (which my Dad kindly showed during his speech at my wedding!) when I was watching the TV programme on Channel 4 called Orchestra United. Basically a conductor is taking young people who play instruments, but who have no opportunity to play in an orchestra, and turning them into a concert orchestra. I loved watching it… loved seeing how the kids were passionate about their music, and also how much they started to learn through playing with each other. I love that they recognised that whilst some of the kids weren’t musically brilliant, they had potential.

Growing up in Guernsey we were extremely fortunate to have access to the most fantastic music service. Admittedly we worked really hard, from about 10am-3pm every Saturday, but I played in a Youth Orchestra, Concert Wind Band, Clarinet Choir and sang in the Guernsey Girls Choir and Guernsey Youth Choir. We had music and singing lessons, and aural and theory lessons were also included in the package. It was hard work and took up a lot of time, but when your best friends also play instruments and are in the same orchestras than it doesn’t seem to matter so much. It was fun, we had inspiring teachers and we worked hard but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Music made such a difference, both to my social life but also to my confidence. Since moving to Leeds I have been on a 10-week choral singing course and have loved it. I am still contemplating whether I will have the time to commit to a choir at the moment, but I have realised how much I love being in a choir. Music has always mattered to me, but there is something particularly special about working hard at something with your friends and achieving something great. I am looking forward to seeing whether Orchestra United manage it.

Written by Anna Williams in: Uncategorized | Tags: ,

5 Comments »

  • Nice to see another clarinettist!!

    I’m always sorry that I didn’t have the opportunity for that kind of music making until I got to higher education. It’s at the top of my priority list, to get involved with a regular music group or choir.

    Comment | July 26, 2010
  • Good to see another musician! 🙂 I was in the Leicestershire orchestras and really enjoyed it from the music-making point of view (it wasn’t quite the same with the social life because I was ridiculously shy!) It’s cool you’ve got involved with a choir. I’ve thought lots about getting involved with either a choir or orchestra and I’ve always ended up concluding that I’ve not got enough time, but I think that’s probably a cop-out 😉

    Comment | July 26, 2010
  • Ian

    I have no talent for music, but hearing it greatly lifts my spirits. Wonderful to read of your achievements and the sense of satisfaction in participating and reaching a goal.

    Comment | July 26, 2010
  • Sigrun

    I did my A-levels in Music on the bassoon, but played the piano and organ as well. And I sang in a youth choir. I really miss being part of a music group so I hope to take that up again once I get a life back after the PhD 🙂
    My brothers both sang in a boys choir and they have amazing friendships from that time. In Germany we have a saying “Where people sing, there settle down. Evil people have no songs.”

    Comment | July 28, 2010
  • I too played clarinet and my Saturday mornings from the age of 10-18 were always orchestral. I do miss it, it was so good for me as I was quite dorky as a kid but having something that I was good at and enjoyed did wonders for my confidence. I sang in choirs too but didn’t really appreciate them so much at the time, though I think I’d enjoy it now. I’d love to play in an orchestra again.

    Comment | July 29, 2010

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