361 more days to go...

So, Christmas is pretty much all done and dusted for another year. Each year it seems to fly by all too quick and, sadly, the magic it holds as a child seems to have worn off now I'm (allegedly) an adult.

However, I had a lovely Christmas period. Busking, spending time with Amy and her family, and my own, coupled with good food and good drink (plus 7 points out of 9 for the Alex!) meant this festive season has been a good one.

Doesn't it go quickly though. After all the build up, blink, and it's gone.

Still, like the title of this post says, just 361 more days to go!

Wycliffe...

Wycliffe Gordon. Trombone superstar.

Have a listen to this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTQkTLKA8Pc

Cor... Let's be honest, the band behind him are pretty spectacular (the Cory band), but wow, this man puts them in the shade!

Wow.

Edit: Just chanced across this too... the conducting in Toccata In D is really rather something - it that itsn't directing music... I don't know what is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOkUvPiy68c

Rocket Science

I mentioned a while back that one of my pupils had sat their playing exam on Tenor Horn. They sat Grade 4, and I was delighted for them when they told me their results had come back and they had passed with a distinction and a score of 138/150.

I was delighted for her and told her so. However, I'm not surprised. At the conclusion of the Fodens gig I went to watch the other week, I was talking to a gentleman named Kevin who used to conduct a band at the same time I played there. He is now a renowned local brass teacher in the local schools so he knows his gravy. We were discussing many different players, particularly ones who shine through with that little bit of star quality. There was one young man in particular (taught by Kevin, and attends the Lions Beginners) who we were both impressed with. The quote given to me was 'he goes home and practises, is always early for his lesson, listens well and works hard.'

So does this girl. That's why I wasn't surprised at her result. This is the same pupil who won her section in the Lions Slow Melody Concert and came both first and second in the duet section too. Kevin and myself both agreed that there is no rocket science involved in brass playing (good job really, have you ever met a bass player? ;) ), but listening, practising and hard work are the key bits - this girl does all three.

It really is a potent combination.

Tradition

Writing, or typing, is my current medium of choice due to a flu virus that I've picked up, rendering speaking rather painful. It's something of a tradition that I pick up a cold around Christmas time - this year I'm just glad it's - hopefully - arrived early so I can get over it by Christmas itself.

A word on ambition

Last night I realised an ambition of mine.

Due to Nigel, the regular conductor, being unavailable to conduct the Lions Youth Band in their annual concert in Cheadle, Staffs, I was asked to fill in for the night.

Since I started conducting it's something I've always wanted to do; to conduct the band that started me off as a player in an evening concert. Last night I got to do just that. Ok, so it wasn't the biggest of most important concert. But I'm proud I got to do it. It's a night that will long live with me.

Particularly because it was freezing!

That was the week...

...that was.

Wednesday was the highlight of the working week. The Fodens concert was, simply, excellent. What an enjoyable evening. 17 talented local brass playing youngsters performed in the Spotlight Concert - including two of my pupils - before an 11 piece from Fodens took the stage. Their audience-friendly programme included a WW1 memorial spot went down a treat with the knowledgeable crowd.

However, the weekend topped Wednesday. On Saturday one of my pupils took her Grade 4 exam, playing with great style. She came out smiling, and sounded great from in the corridor. Now it's just a case of waiting on her result.

Then on Sunday it was the Lions Slow Melody Contest and I was delighted with the results that my pupils received. One won her solo section, won her group section as part of a quartet (and came second in the same section as a duet), whilst another won her section. Finally, another pupil won the James Gorse Memorial Award for 'Most Promising Player' in the contest. The day ended with a Lions concert, in which my Beginners played superbly.

I say the day ended with a concert...actually, mine ended with a - if I do say so myself - well deserved pint!

All work and no play...

This week is what can only be described as 'busy.'

Monday was an after-school football tournament (very pleased with how my team did) followed by a couple of music lessons.
Tonight was a rehearsal at Lions.
On Thursday I'm teaching.
Friday night is a night off - spending some quality time with the other half.
Saturday, I have a pupil sitting a grade 4 exam, followed by hot-footing it to the Alex to watch the match.
Sunday, I'm at the Lions Youth Brass annual Slow Melody Contest and concert - this is always a fun and enjoyable event.

I've left out Wednesday. Well, tomorrow is a bit of a highlight. I've got two pupils performing in the 'Spotlight Concert' before the latest concert in the Sandbach Concert Series. The main act is a 10 piece brass group from Fodens Band. It will make a change to be at a concert as a listener, rather than a performer and, I have to say, I', really looking forward to it.

Organisation.

I can't claim to be the world's most organised person. Professionally, I'm pretty organised. Personally... I'm a shambles.

However, for once I can feel proud in my organisation skills. It's the 19th November, and I'm pretty much sorted in terms of Christmas presents. Well, I've bought the majority, I know what I'm getting the two people I've not yet bought.

That just leaves Amy then... hmm...

Maybe I'm not quite so organised!

The Magic of the Cup

Warrington Town 1 - 0 Exeter City
Coventry City 1 - 2 Worcester City

Who says the FA Cup is dead?

Happiness is...

About 18 months ago I, through work, took part in a course entitled 'The Art of Being Brilliant,' let by a man named Andy Cope (Google him). He spoke about being a 2%er amongst other things, and that it was easier to be happy then be grumpy.

It was an enjoyable course. However, sometimes, things just transpire to make you happy. Take my last week. Half term yet, sadly, my other half Amy was only able to get one day off work. The first weekend we travelled, as mentioned in my last post, to Doncaster for the weekend. Amy's day off was the last Friday. So we went to the zoo. An enjoyable day was spent at Chester, roaming around the animals, spotting Amy's favourite (Red Panda) and mine (Penguins).

The Saturday saw us take a shopping trip to Liverpool. I convinced a red to part with some money in the might blue's shop, we had a nice meal out in Pizza Express and added another Costa to our list of Costa's ticked off (20-odd gone, just 2000+ to go) before spending the evening in front of the box; Doctor Who and X-Factor. Sunday was spent roaming around Amy's hometown of Newport, garden centres, and then catching 'The Croods' before heading off to her parents for a nice Sunday roast, a lovely end to a truly fantastic weekend.

A weekend spent in the company of a loved one. To me, that's happiness.

Brass at it's best.

With it being half term, I've been able to get stuck into a few bits and bobs for Lions today, programme planning, rehearsal planning, things like that.

After I'd done that, I treated myself to a little mooch on Youtube and, when searching for the Cory Band, discovered this cracker of a performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dob6Y4ocMs

It's a live performance of King's Messenger, from January 2013. Stunning playing of an oft-overlooked work for brass band. Enjoy...!

Truly, Madly, Musical!

On Friday evening I, along with my other half, travelled from Cheshire to Doncaster ready to take in a show on Saturday night.

After a relaxed day in York on the Saturday we took our seats in the front row of the Dearne Playhouse, near Mexborough, ready for the show, put on the Voce Musical Group.

I will, at this point, claim my connection to the event; my brother and sister-in-law run the Voce group, teaching all of the young people involved, arranging all of the music, props and choreography.

What an evening it was! A whistle -stop tour of many musicals, with a more in-depth look at Les Miserables was a truly, madly, musical event. Particular highlights for me were 'Good Morning Baltimore' (from Hairspray), 'For the First Time Ever' (from Frozen) and 'Stars' from Les Mis. However, to pick just three items out of the packed programme seems a little harsh.

Viva, Voce!

Marvellous

Tonight I have finally caught up with many people and finally watched Marvellous; the story of Neil Baldwin, an ordinary man who is leading an extraordinary life.

Wow.

Where there's muck, there's brass!

Brass Band's are a huge part of my life. In fact, just last night I was part of a concert with the fantastic Lions Youth Brass organisation, where my Beginner Band performed alongside the organisations two other bands, the Juniors and Youth, and also the locally renowned Roberts Bakery Band.

Having been a member of the Roberts band for a couple of years in the early noughties, I was intrigued to hear how the band sounded under their new conductor. Wow. I was, if you'll forgive the pun, blown away. They were excellent; entertaining, classy and very watchable. In fact, they were everything that a brass band needs to be to continue attracting audiences.

One little note; sat on the front row, right in front of my band of little beginners (average age of 8) was a man who had, just the day before, been performing on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in the National Brass Band Championship Finals for the world famous Black Dyke Band. Not only did he perform in it... he - and his band - won it!

The contrast of children just beginning their musical journey, being watched by a man who is at the very peak of the genre; it was that kind of evening.

#forzaJules

Sometimes, words aren't really necessary. All thoughts, during this F1 weekend in Russia, are with the Marussia team and Jules Bianchi and his family.

 

#forzaJules

Chuff chuff!

A while ago I 'outed' myself as a railway enthusiast. I'm not a spotter, far from it, but the railways have always held fascination for me.

As a child...ok, as an adult, I loved the Thomas the Tank Engine series. I've still got all of the original Railway Series books I had as a child, and a full set of the Egmont reprints tucked away somewhere. Thomas had an appeal that hasn't yet released me, yes, I'm a big kid.

Then in my late teens I ended up working for a rail company, a freight operation company in fact, as a train planner. A train planner, in case you're wondering, is exactly what it says on the tin - you plan trains. Coal, waste, cement, oil and cars; I spent three years of my life sending trains laden with these all over the country. I enjoyed the job, but a combination of feeling like I couldn't progress any more and that it wasn't my true calling meant that I decided to move on.

However, I've never really lost that love. You'll never find me on the end of a platform taking pictures and making notes of engine numbers, but I like to read the latest news and see what is going on.

And, just occasionally, when my godson is around, we might just sit and watch the odd Thomas episode... it's for the kids, honest!

'Time, gentlemen.'

I'm pleased to see that my cricket team, Derbyshire, have had an inspired end to the season that has seen them finish fourth in Division Two of the County Championship, after a final round win by over 400 runs against Leicestershire today.

One particularly pleasing aspect of this season has been the form of left arm seamer, Mark Foottit. He has taken over 100 wickets in all formats and been a virtual ever present, putting many injury problems behind him. I have to admit a few years ago I doubted he would be a decent county performer, but what a season he's had.

However, man of the match must go to young opener Ben Slater. At just 23 years of age, 'Slats' scored his maiden first class century on the first day, and then today followed it up with his second, to contribute 223 runs in the game to the Derbyshire cause. Judging by recent events both his and his teams futures are bright!

The sad thing is that this is the first time in three years I've not been to a cricket game all season. I shall be getting down to the 3aaa County Ground as soon as possible next year!

Doctor Who?

As an avid 'Whovian' I have to admit to being a bit concerned when news of Matt Smith's departure broke. Off the initial people on the bookies list of replacements my own personal choice was Ben Whishaw (the new tech buy in the Bond films), so when I heard it was Peter Capaldi, I have to say I wasn't sure at all.

Now the series is five episodes in and I must say he's excellent. Darker, with lighter moments, but excellent. Personally, I thought 'Listen' was the best episode so far, the idea of perfect hiding being so simple, but a stroke of genius. Other episodes have been less impressive in terms of story line, but overall I've enjoyed the series.

One nice thing though is that, with Clara being so much younger, it's nice to not have a romantic will they/won't they connection between the Doctor and his companion.

Bravo Mr Capaldi - it's all good so far!

Nostalgia

Today, thanks to the wonders of Amazon Prime, I took delivery of a book I had purchased. Murray Walker's 1987 Grand Prix Year.

Recently, I've developed an interest in the early 80's and 90's that shows no sign of abating. These were my formative years (born in '84) and I've found myself increasingly interested in the goings on then. I want to know more about the football during the 80's - hardly surprising as my other team, Everton, had it 'going on' back then - the railways (ok, I've 'outed' myself here, I'm a rail fan, not a spotter, but a fan... more of which in a future post I'm sure) and the world of F1.

With that in mind, the addition of the first edition of this book (I previously had from '89 onwards), was a no brainer. Particularly at £1.89 including postage!

First thoughts; the cars look so heavy I think my Seat Ibiza would beat them in a race! However, I'm looking forward to reading through it.

Music was my first love...

Well, to be honest, Raynor was my first love. I was five. It was Year 1. I thought I'd marry her, but, anyway...

A while ago I blogged about how inspiration is a funny thing. Well, at my child's beginner band last week a child (6 years old and been playing for about 4 weeks) approached me and told me she could play 'Hot Cross Buns... even one a penny, two a penny' and, lo and behold, stood there and belted it out, without music.

Fast forward 7 days (last night) and the same child walks up and says 'I can play Tromp of the Romans now as well.' Cue the demonstration. And she was right. She could play it. Absolutely spot on.

One hour later, at the end of the rehearsal, I mused over what this girl had done. It got the cogs ticking. Every year we enter two competitions. One is a local thing, the other is a national event (last year we were awarded the prestigious 'Band with Most Potential Prize). The national event takes plenty of planning and this year I've been wondering about a focus point for the programme of music. Well, thinking about what this child had done gave me the perfect idea. Twenty minutes later and the idea was fully formed.

Like I say, inspiration really is a funny thing. Walk around with your eyes open - you'd could be missing out on the perfect inspiration for you!

P.S. I actually got to marry Raynor Pearce. I was 7/8. It was our Primary School Christmas play!

Going down?

You'll have picked up on the fact that I'm a Crewe Alexandra fan. I've mentioned it once or twice (or lots). Well, you'll also probably be aware that this season has been something of a car crash so far. Won one (Capital One cup game) and lost the rest. Really not great.

This has led to widespread condemnation. But then, let's be honest. If last season you had a ropey defence (one of the leakiest in the league), release one of your first choice centre halves and 'replace' them with two squad players who weren't good enough to force their way into the aforementioned leaky defence last season, then you're always going to struggle to stop conceding goals.

Throw in the fact that the top scorer (on loan from Arsenal) returns to his parent club, another striker refuses a contract whilst another pushes through a move to Italy, leaving you with one striker. The remaining striker is 21, inexperienced and in his second season of league football, having scored just twice last season. Therefore, you're going to struggle to score goals too.

Let's look a the evidence; a team that can't score lots of goals, and struggles to keep clean sheets. If you're not a rocket scientist, don't worry, as it doesn't take one to work out that isn't a great combo.

So, you might say, why didn't the manager replace the defender? Why didn't he sign more strikers (apart from a guy released by a club relegated from our league last season)? Well, it's simple. He doesn't have the money to. The manager is a guy who, in 2 and a half years in charge, presided over an 18 game club record unbeaten run that culminated in winning promotion at Wembley, and then topped if off with another victory at that famous stadium that saw us win the Johnstones Paint Trophy. He knows what he is doing. In turn, the board know that this is a manger that knows what he is doing. So why won't they back him with money? The sad truth is they probably would if they had it available. If you aren't going to back a manager with a record like that, who are you going to back? This leads me to the conclusion that there is no money to back him with, despite the club raking in deals worth upwards of £5 million over the past three summers. Where has that money gone? Only the board know.

Are Crewe going down? Without doubt. I can't see any other outcome. I can't even see us getting to 40 points, let alone 50. The only benefit this season can have is that, with such a threadbare squad, we get the chance to blood our young pros and help them get the first team experience that will see them blossom next season.

Sometimes, clouds really do have silver linings. Let's hope, for my team's sake, this is one of those times.

Back on the hamster wheel...

Well, in seemingly no time at all, the summer holidays are gone.

It's been a good while since my last blog post too. Since then I've been to Menorca for a week with SWMBO (and what a super week that was), followed by two days at home to unpack and repack for a long weekend in Tenby (once again with SWMBO).

Not really anything else to report, so I'll leave you, for now, with this picture, taken exactly a week ago, at around 7.15 on the beautiful beach of Punta Prima, Menorca. Take me back...

Writing. Writing, writing, writing.

Let's have another little look at the summer challenges.

1) The website will go live once I've returned from my holiday. So, that's done.

2) The music writing has gone well. Although I haven't written a piece each week, I've written in fits and starts meaning I've got several pieces done at a time. Therefore I've reached my required target of a piece a week. However, with two holidays over the next two weeks, I'll need to get writing a little bit more to keep the ratio of pieces to weeks up.

3) The book writing has gone all to pot! After an initial start it's been pretty rubbish. Writer's block in an epic way. I still don't know what I want to do. I've got a little idea in my head but am unsure how I can go about it. I think I just need to write my way out of it. Let's see what happens as the day progresses.

It starts...

Tomorrow is the start of the football league season.

It's a day I eagerly look forward to, it's a day where everyone starts off equal and Crewe Alexandra, thanks to their alphabetical advantage, are near the top of the league!

That said, at times I find it bitter sweet. The start of the football season heralds the beginning of the end of the cricket season, a cricket season in which, this year, I've not made it to a game.

However, back to football. There is something about the beginning of the football season; the freshly cut, painted grass. The seemingly unrelenting sunshine (although weather for tomorrow is not supposed to be great). The new kits, new signings and new managers. The new season holds promise, nothing is tainted or spoilt, a league win, a glorious cup run culminating at Wembley - everything is possible.

The sad thing is, by 5pm tomorrow night, many people will already believe this promise is lying in ruins.

I just hope I'm not one of them!

Inspiration...

...it's a funny thing.

My summer challenges are, now, not going too badly. Prior to today I'd sorted my website out, it's not online yet, and won't be for a few more weeks yet. However, it's all ready to go.

My writing challenge however, is not doing so well. I still can't focus my ideas, in terms of what to write about. It's driving me scatty!

However, this blog post is about the composition challenge I set myself. Last week I got my first piece completed. However, this weeks music writing was not going so well. I tackled an arrangement I'd been requested to do by the Lions Junior Band, but in terms of original composition, I didn't have a clue. I'd written a few ideas down, but I felt everything was about as good as a Spice Girls song, i.e. pretty rubbish. Then today I had a thought; a collection of short 8 or 16 bar items aimed at total beginners. One hour later, three pieces in my 'Let's Play!' collection are complete; 'Starting Off,' 'Hymn,' and 'Rainy Day.' With ideas already in my head for further items ('Express Train' to name one) the collection is coming together nicely.

Like I say, isn't it funny how inspiration can strike?

Form is temporary...

So, here it is, the first cricket post on my blog.

Any Twitter followers of mine will have noticed that recently I tweeted regarding the press that England captain Alistair Cook was getting. I wrote that Cook was a class act and that, we as a nation, should be telling him how good he is (he is England's leading century maker of all time, after all), not shooting him down all the time. You don't score 25 hundreds and play in over 100 tests at the age of 29 if you're not a classy player.

After a well-publicised lean run, Cook scored 95 yesterday.

Then there is Ian Bell. There has long been a debate over Ian Bell's test credentials - he only scores easy runs, never scores 'tough' runs. People forget that he won the 2013 Ashes for England pretty much on his own last summer with three classy centuries. He was the only batter who stood up to be counted. But sadly there are many people with short memories, and this was long forgotten.

Today Bell - who when he is on top form, is the classiest stroke player in world cricket - stroked the most sublime 167 you could wish to see.

As they say, form is temporary, class - something both Bell and Cook have in abundance - is permanent.

Compostion Complete!

You'll recall one of my challenges this summer is to write a piece of music every week. The plan was that I would start that next week, however, whilst looking at the picture below, I started getting an idea.

 

 

The above picture was taken in Ibiza, by myself, back in 2011. That said, in three weeks time I shall be in Menorca with my other half. The idea of a piece revolving around a Menorcan Sunset started to take shape and before you know it, there is a piece written. It needs a few little details added here and there but, on the whole, it is done.

 

A Menorcan Sunset will be published by my own label, Chris Thompson Music, and is a cornet solo with beginner brass ensemble accompaniment.

 

I love it when I get on a role!



Summer Challenges

Today has seen the 'school's out' sign go up for me for the next five weeks or so. Therefore I've decided to set myself a few little challenges to keep me going and stop me 'wasting' my holidays. Progress will be reported on my blog as and when it happens (hopefully there will be frequent updates then!)

Challenge 1: Compose one new piece of music per week.
The best way to improve compositional skills are simply to keep writing. Therefore that's what I shall be doing. One beginner ensemble level of music per week, with the aim of them being performed by my band, as well as be put up for sale on my website (see more of this on challenge 2).

Challenge 2: Create a website to enable me to sell music.Using wix.com or similar, I will be creating a website for Chris Thompson Music, my own self-publishing company. I'll be looking into designing a simple logo as well. I've designed a few sites in my time, so using a template I'm sure this shouldn't take too long.

Challenge 3: Write a book.I have long wished to write a book. Therefore, I am challenging myself to do exactly that over the summer hols. As of yet, the only real idea I have is that it will be about cricket however, as to whether it will be a story book aimed at children, or a more itinerant look at the game for adults, I'm unsure. I'll spend the rest of this week planning a few ideas before trying to crack on with it in the near future.

And that's it!

Second Season Syndrome/The Difficult Second Album

So, I guess writing my own blog carries some implied conceit that my life is worth reading about. Whilst debating what to post, I decided to avoid the difficult second ‘album’ by giving you more of an idea of what makes me the person I am. So, in no particular order, here goes.

Let’s start with the basics. If you’ve not worked out my name yet then I’ll just give you a nudge in the direction of the blog title. I’m based in South Cheshire and have recently left my 20’s behind.

I currently have two jobs. I work at a primary school in Cheshire as a Teaching Assistant. I’m just approaching the end of my fifth year in my current school, a post I really enjoy. I also have a self-employed job, teaching brass instruments to children. I only teach a handful of pupils, but it’s more than enough and it’s nice to be able to pass on my own experience to players of the future.

Away from the professional side of me, I’ve got a range of hobbies really. I’m a season ticket holder at Crewe Alexandra (all condolences are very warmly received) whilst I also have a more than passing interest in the fortunes of Everton too. I’ve been following Crewe since 1991 (April Fool’s Day 1991, to be precise), which has been the most bountiful time in the club’s history really. Whilst at college and university I held a job at the club in the ticket office, a very enjoyable little student job that had several perks such as free season tickets and meeting players and the manager (then a rather reputable chap named Dario Gradi).

I’m a keen follower of cricket as well. My team is Derbyshire (again, I don’t half like to pick the winners!) and I always enjoy a trip to the 3aaa County Ground in sunny Derbardos whenever possible. Recently I became a member of the English Cricket Board Association of Cricket Officials (ECB ACO) and enrolled on the Level 1 scorers course, which I’m looking forward to completing over the coming months.

You can throw a bit more music into the mix, aside from the brass teaching, too. I’m a trombonist (currently enjoying early playing retirement) by trade, whilst the last ten years have seen me move into conducting. I have spent the last 9 years conducting the Lions Beginner Band, an extremely pleasurable and rewarding role. During this time I’ve also written plenty of music for the band, some of which I’ve had published by companies. Over the summer months I hope to be able to announce the launch of my own publishing name, enabling people to buy pieces for beginner groups.

In addition to writing music, I like to write. That’s the point of this blog. I want to write, write and write some more. I will be posting about a writing challenge that I intend to take up during the summer holidays – whether it is doable I don’t know, but we’ll see.

So, that’s me really. You’ll probably see a bit of all of the above over the course of my blogs. I hope you enjoy them.

What's in a blog?

Hi one and all, and welcome to this, my blog.

Some of you will be aware that I'm not exactly new to this blogging malarkey. I've tried and failed to keep a few differing blogs going over the past few years. They've been about a range of things, football, cricket and music to name just three. Perhaps that why they failed - I tried to be too niche and didn't embrace the diversity of things I like and enjoy.

So this blog will be different. I can't tell you exactly what I'm going to blog about because I don't rightly know. However, I'm sure there will be a bit of music. There will be a bit of football. A bit of Cricket. Maybe a bit about writing - this blog is a tool to aid my passion for writing, as one day I'd like to write a book (which you'll find out about in a later post). There might be some stuff about the day job (education) too... I just don't know.

Therefore, I advise you to strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. The most exciting part about it all is that I don't know where it will take any of us either!