Good afternoon from London and the RCM!

[Katie Long]

If anyone's interested in seeing some photos of the RCM double bass weekend we held recently, you can see my photos here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...f&id=504531785
and here
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...d&id=504531785

Should give you an idea of how fab it was, especially if you're a Rabbath or a Paul Ellison fan.

Regarding grades in the UK you can follow this link to see the syllabi for d. bass: http://www.abrsm.org/resources/allDBass0506.pdf.
I have to say that past a certain point they are a bit pointless in my opinion unless you want to either do the ABRSM diplomas or have it in writing. I haven't done my grade 8 (yet) because I figure that I am proof enough of my own ability and don't need to have a piece of paper to prove it...

Any of you fellow londoners doing the amateur orchestra circuit at the mo?

[Steve_M]

Unfortunately Katie I don't play double bass. I came this >< close to buying an NS CR5 electric upright bass last year from the Bass Centre when they were doing a ridiculously low deal on them and then baulked after trying it.

Even with the EUB I found I needed to attack the instrument to get any satisfaction out of it and at the end of the day I didn't really like the prospect of fighting the instrument in order to express myself. Maybe thats more of a sign that I didn't understand how to approach the instrument but I went back to bass guitar anyway.

Instead of being in an orchestra, I'm in a soul band with 6 female singers which has been through a fair amount of upheaval since the musical director walked out on us. So we're in the process of putting ourselves back together again and hopefully will be gigging by the summer.