Abbotsholme 2010 - what we did.

I wonder if I'll remember it all. If you were there help me out if I get it wrong.

Wednesday

- we arrived. Andy and I drove up via Gatwick airport to collect Matej Zupan. Our car is normally chocker block full, but because we had to collect Matej, I had to be careful about what I packed and I was extremely grateful to Emma's parents for taking some things up for us (including the tuck which Emma and her sister Alice managed not to eat!). I was worried about traffic and getting there on time and had Stephen all ready and briefed to book people in, but all went amazingly well and we arrived earlier than I thought we would.

Everyone else arrived in good time and once the parents had left, we found our rooms, played through a flute choir piece with Stephen waving his arms around, Matej played us four pieces from Project:Flutewise 3 for everyone to choose a piece to work on,had dinner, played a game and watched a DVD. For the game we divided into groups of three; two people had to tell an interesting truth about themselves and one had to tell a lie. We all had to guess the liar. It was good fun and meant everyone got to know everyone else.

Thursday

- Breakfast was at 8 am as usual on a course. We then all had a warm up session with Matej which included breathing and balloon blowing. Of course Stephen had to try blowing his up on the end of his flute which isn't what he was meant to do I don't think. Everyone chose one of the Project pieces - they were:

• Purcell:Air
• Jacob: Cradle Song
• Rutter: Suite Antique - Ostinato
• Bowen: Sonata - Andante Piacevole

We divided into groups, each one going to Matej in turn to learn their chosen piece. The others rotated around Chris working on their own solos and Abbie and Stephen playing ensembles and chatting about Flutewise. After lunch we played 'Musical' rounders where everyone had to sing a hit from the Musicals while running. Then it was flute choir, performance from some of our course members of their solos - they had the great honour of Matej playing alongside them. After dinner we had 'The Wrong Concert', it was hilarious - maybe there will be youtube clips soon. It was Vicki's birthday so we had a cake and Vicki was given a present - any idea what? What we did on Friday and Saturday coming soon....