PrettyInScarlett

After last year's success, I was really excited about this year's The Piano Cloud meetup event at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Even more so once the room booking was confirmed - 2 Steinway Model D pianos!!!  Present for the afternoon were Andrew ( Keyquest Music ), Terry ( Purple Rhapsody ), Luke ( Freemondo ), Jacob Uhlig , Chris, and myself. Amongst a lot of chat and eating of Krispy Kremes, we enjoyed a super afternoon of music. Terry and Andrew both played pre-written pieces: Terry played a few songs from his new album Momentary Muse , including the fabulous Legions of Poppies, as well as treating us to a rare live improvisation:   Andrew treated us to 'Prelude to a Better Year', and the pair treated the rest of us to a really fun sight-read of Kevin Olson's ' Hoedown at Cripple Creek '. Andrew's good friend Chris also pleased with a few improvisations. Luke once again showed his breathtaking improvisational...

Since moving to Durham I have been looking for fellow amateur pianists, with some success: the inaugural 'Durham Amateur Pianists' group met earlier this month and another meeting is scheduled for October. I also attended 2 other amateur piano events. Chris Jolley on the Yamaha piano First up on Wednesday was Gateshead Piano Workshop , a montly event held at Caedmon Hall in Gateshead Library. The established workshop features teacher and performer Venera Bojkova . The programme, pre-announced about 2 weeks beforehand, included Brahms' Op.117 Intermezzo in Eb ; andante from Sonata in C K545   and adagio in B minor from K540 by Mozart; and the last 4 from Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky. A really friendly and informative evening! Something slightly different yesterday, as I went to Manchester for the UK meeting of online group The Piano Cloud . The Piano Could is a SoundCloud and Facebook group whose members encompass all genres and abilities including ...