Fragile

💙 @Faith-and-Hope so glad you are arting. 😀 grown kids and all. I know you have your hands full. 💙

I musiked for 4 hours today, had a gorgeous young German conductor for a workshop. Recording tomorrow we have booked venue for 6 hours, not sure we need all that time. It’s a suite of 5 pieces evoking animals in a Nordic Forest.

🦋@Zoe7 hugs both of you, your continued contact over all this time is much valued.U2 kind of brought me back in touch with my feminine side.💙

Today I had 3 different women say they want to do music with me,, in addition to the bigger groups. As in we will get together for duets. So maybe that is what is meant to be. I like all 3 in different ways. So I am grateful I do have a rich and varied musical life. Finally I seem to have some sort of social flow. My main prayer is that my son finds his path and can thrive a bit more.

@REDLINEZ750 yep. Hold the fort, is a good mantra. Thanks for your good will. Totally agree, there are many forms of treasure.

@tyme @AlwaysMyself @heartathome @Dimity

Mixing and matching duets and different ensemble sizes sounds lively and enriching @Appleblossom .

Just remembered a nice ensemble I used to play with 30 years ago... recorders and piano. U3A during Covid didn't work out.

U3a can be tricky

lotsa human beings in it

covid times brought out polarised views more than usual

@Dimity

U3a is an activity I pulled out of 10 years ago, but I rejoined 2 years ago. It has been better for me this time around. I went into it with a group, maybe that was the difference instead of me pushing myself to blend into the wallpaper.

What recorder did you play in the ensemble? I like the mellowness…

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Thank you so much for sharing your comment about Mental Health Awareness @Appleblossom. I am so happy to hear that advocating for mental health awareness in your social circle has helped you to feel aligned and authentic. What an amazing moment for you. 😍

I can imagine many people will be grateful for your video and message, because it means that they too can unmask. You're doing wonderful work here to support others, all the while challenging yourself and how you show up. I am really proud. 🥺💖

@AuntGlow It wasn’t on a video that I advocated for mental health, it was in a social group in real life in a persons home. The purpose of the group was not mental health per se, but music and wellbeing in members of an older demographic. I run it every week during term time.Two members identified individually, as struggling with MH, the rest were more “normies”. I just helped shift the bar, and make it about human emotions and music.

I did complete a recording for a video this week. It was an entry to a specific music competition with strict guidelines. It was with an ensemble, (11 people ) which included the badly behaved psychiatrist. We had worked towards it all year. It went reasonably well, I playacted having a good time for the good of the group, but on reflection, I believe the pressure to work with and get along with that person is distorting my being and personality. I will try a different approach next year. The group had fun, and one lovely member said I was good at defusing tension, with my clowning broad Aussie style. I am not the leader of the group, but the field tends to attract high functioning nerdy types, Eg math teacher, physicist, engineer, shrink…

The shrink did agree that I analysed briefly and correctly some her performance nerves. It was pseudo in her case, cos her grandiosity is very overbearing. It is ongoing. I guess I will see her in festival in January, where she complains she is not put in high enough tier, even though she doesn’t meet the basic requirements in range of instruments played. Ie, she doesn’t play bass. I realise the feelings she generates in me, are my problem. Working on it. Maybe it’s my turn to feel legitimate moral disgust, after all the judgments put on my family and I

The psychiatrist seems surprised her entitlement doesn't cross over into other spheres @Appleblossom . Your forbearance is remarkable but possibly misplaced.

I'm not getting email notifications atm.

I think I played descant at U3A but also play treble. Haven't really played either for donkeys years.

@Dimity

I am a team player, and we were entered into a serious competition. Done well, taking it for the team for 2 years running. As I said to my psychologist today, there will be a reckoning soon, but Monday wasn’t the day. Maybe we will have an argybargy at festival in January or maybe after a rehearsal next year. The important thing is that I don’t withdraw completely and standing up for myself doesn’t have bad consequences. I want transparency and authenticity, will see how it unfolds. Options are also unfolding.

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so if you have some experience in descant and treble, you have played in C and F fingering which opens up all lower instruments if that ever interested you. It’s usually the biggest hurdle realising how they are similar yet different. Eg bass has F fingering like treble.

there are events and an organisation in each state. It’s not just U3a.

doing a lamb roast then going on train to singing event

hugs

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Hugs @Emelia8

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@Appleblossom 🤗🌸💮🍎🍏

Kudos for starting to stick up for yourself @Appleblossom . There will be consequences sometimes but learning to pick your battles is certainly part of process. And it's good to think strategically re time and place.

Yes a range of sizes in recorder family. One sister started on sop when still a preschooler with tiny hands. A good instrument isn't cheap so I'd want to be committed to buy a tenor or bass... and happily ensconced in a group.

I've lost sight of my music. And other things. Realised today I have no idea where my knitting patterns are. Had a rummage and turned up some old craft projects I should finish before starting anything new.