The Music in my Life

Many years ago I was, for a brief period, a music student. My first instrument was voice, my second was French Horn and a very poor third was the piano.

I spent a year at the University of Hull, realising day by day that although I had a good voice and was good at the History of Music, I was not making the grade with the other required elements of my degree, particularly where playing ex-tempore from a figured bass was concerned. One of the most embarrassing moments of my time at Hull was the First Year viva voce exam;  I was expected to accompany a flautist who, by the time I had figured out where my hands should go on the keyboard, was merrily tootling away several bars ahead.

None of this was a surprise - knowing that I had made a mistake, I tried to change degrees to a BA in English Literature a scant six weeks into my first term but the course was over-subscribed. At the end of my first year, I decided to stop wasting my parents' money and my time. I gave my (required) year end recital and left.

It was a pity that I didn't play the piano well, otherwise I might have chosen to go to the Royal College or the Royal Academy instead and focussed on my voice; however, good keyboard skills were a requirement of entry. I had been told at my interview at Hull that my deficiencies with regards to the piano would not be a problem, so when I was offered a place there, I accepted.

I left Hull in 1976 and after a brief spell working at Terminal One, Heathrow (a previously-arranged student summer job), I went to live in Copenhagen for a time.

Looking back at that year at Hull, I don't regret it for one instant. I got to sing and play some wonderful music with the University Orchestra, the Chamber Choir and the University Choral Society. I met some lovely people, studied Drama with a very young Anthony Minghella who had us re-writing 'A Confederate General at Big Sur' for the stage, met my first real boyfriend (who was Danish - hence the time spent in Copenhagen) and was part of the choir that performed Verdi's Requiem. Finally, the fact that I didn't complete my degree was the catalyst for my decision to study with the Open University.

The years have passed and the last time that I sang in public was a solo at my brother's first wedding in 1984.

And I MISS my music.

 Listening is one thing, but performing......being part of a choir or an orchestra is the experience that I crave. So when it became clear that we would be moving to the West Country, I started looking for choirs that I might join and it looks as though there are some that might welcome me.

I do hope so - there is still so much music that I have never sung!

Choosing OU Modules

Having deferred 'Reading and Studying Literature' (A230) until October, I am now faced with a decision to make regarding the module that will have to accompany it if I am to retain my Transitional Arrangements and graduate before the December 2017 cut-off date.

I would prefer whatever it is to be exam-free, which cuts down what I can do somewhat (really cannot see myself revising for two June exams).

So there are a couple of choices......

I could study 'Worlds of English' (U214) which, to quote from the OU Website,has the following scope:

This course looks at the history, diversity, and use of English around the world and explores the origins of the English language, how it has spread internationally and whether worldwide influence of English is a cause for celebration or concern.

Alternatively I could study 'Creative Writing' (A215) :

This practical creative writing module identifies your strengths and interests, and helps you develop as a writer of fiction, poetry, biography, autobiography or travel writing.

I am really not sure what to do at the moment - fellow students have been really helpful, especially one who is currently doubling up on A230 and A215, which she says requires less 'academic thought' and less reading than perhaps A230 and U214 would require.

I'm just not 100% sure about my Creative Writing skills; I have always been OK with academic subjects because there is a clear-cut pathway.

Gah! Well, I have until 24th April to decide, I suppose.

The Theatre at the Cinema

Hats off to the National Theatre Live! We've now seen two productions at our local Vue Cinema - 'Othello' last year and 'War Horse' on Sunday and there is a live streaming of 'King Lear' to come in May, with Simon Russell Beale in the title role.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's encore performance of Richard II (David Tennant) is to be streamed on 15th April, to be followed by 'Henry IV Part ' in May and Part 2 in June,and then 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' in September.

 At the Farnham Maltings last December, we saw a production of 'The Taming of the Shrew' filmed at the Globe Theatre; we have both wanted to experience a play at the Globe but could never afford to go.

These streamed performances are not simply confined to plays; the English National Opera, The Royal Opera House and the Met Opera are also involved in this method of getting productions out to those who otherwise might never experience them.

There is no way that we would have seen any of these fabulous productions, had it not been for someone's brilliant idea to stream them to cinemas around the country and indeed, around the world. We desperately wanted to see 'War Horse' but the combination of theatre and train tickets put it out of reach, financially. It was as enthralling and as moving as we thought it would be - the puppeteers seem to 'disappear' as one watches and in the end, one only sees the horse.


Some might find the filmed experience to be somewhat second-hand - we did not. We were as engaged with all of the productions as if we had been there in the theatres, watching the live performances.

So again, hats off to the genius who started this, whoever it was!