The great thing about Flickr is that I can take a snap with my mobile phone and have it up on the web as it happens. The problem is that its difficult to type any sensible descriptive text to go along with it whilst shaking a bucket full of money:)
Im just in from a really good rehearsal with the brass ensemble I play 2nd trumpet for and it has been excellent. Its been a while since Ive played with the group what with holidays and other commitments getting in the way, but it was definitely worth getting back into the swing of it. Ive [...]
As a result of my accident I am having to claim against my own insurance as it is becoming apparent that the 3rd party was uninsured:( What is really galling is that my insurance company took well over 2 weeks to authorise the repair to the car (I was expecting to pick it up upon [...]
Ive had two great rehearsals this week with the bands Im involved with. Firstly, the rehearsal on Tuesday with Watford Band was excellent and a lot of fun. Not only did we get a good turn out, but we also worked through some good stuff and had a guest pro with us to rehearse for [...]
The band has come through a very productive if not hectic summer season. Its been good as weve had a lot of varied jobs to do and the band have been appreciated where ever weve been, including getting several bookings for next year. Weve even had to turn a number of jobs down because of [...]
Something else I did over the summer holidays was to have a cornet lesson. Not too exciting really, but this was something Id been meaning to do for some time with a guy by the name of Roddy Lewis. Rod is from South Wales but happened to be coming by as he was flying in [...]
I am of course talking about Watford Band’s concert on Saturday in aid of the Peace Hospice. The concert was superb in all aspects: The band played well (if a little over exuberantly); the audience were excellent and numerous; the choir was excellent; it was all fantastic! I really need to work up the stamina [...]
Over on the Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN) mailing list there is a discussion taking place about the demise of the grand cornet solos as so perfectly recorded by Wynton Marsalis on his album Carnaval. James Klages posed the question and then has this to say on the subject: Isn’t some of the demise of [...]
On Monday we were supposed to be taking Euan up to his grand parents but he’d decided he didn’t want to go! I suppose he’s feeling maybe a little bit vulnerable now that his little sister has turned up. Anyway, we all went to Chalfont Fair instead where, coincidentally, the band were playing. It was [...]
Woo-hoo, got my new trumpet last night. It’s a Conn International with a rose brass leadpipe and yellow brass bell. Although it’s only a student model it comes with a first valve saddle and a third valve slide ring. I collected it at a rehearsal of City Brass, a brass ensemble I play in, and [...]
There are four of us in the Wiley family in Watford. There's me Greg, my wife Louise, our son Euan and our daughter Eva. There's also our cat Fundi. You'll find a bit more information on our about us page.
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