Strung Out

Dear O’h dear and Lovely Tea Jenny,

Tonight Eldest Mini Princess was in a music performance at school. She started playing the cello a few months ago and is in the Junior Strings.

There were some amazing performances. One of the sixth year pupils had written a piece of music which was scored for multiple instruments. He then recorded the individual pieces being played (including him on the trombone), and edited it to be the soundtrack for a short animated film which we were shown (also created by him). It really was amazing. It was genuinely like something you would expect to hear in the cinema. I know that software enables music to be produced at a high quality but you still need the raw talent.

I am always impressed with the musical talent of young people and their bravery for performing in public.

Apart from violins. Let me make my position clear on this. I CAN’T ABIDE VIOLINS. I don’t like the noise they make when they are played well (sorry Vanessa Mae) so you can imagine how well I cope with a school performance. There was more screeching than a troop of chimpanzees in a banana plantation. YMP went through a short phase of playing the violin (which I outwardly supported and encouraged). I could have wept with joy when she told me that she didn’t want to continue. I used to sit with my fingers in my ears while she practised*.

Violins should be banned. They would be consigned to my Room 101.

Along with coriander.

C

* Not in front of her. Obvs.