J Simon van der Walt
@tedthetrumpet.bsky.social
composer, performer, teacher. gamelan, livecode, trombone, supercollider. glasgow scotland. birdwatching. table tennis. cycling.
https://jsimonvanderwalt.com/
https://jsimonvanderwalt.com/
Word of the day 'stultifying' – as in 'stultifying academic beaurocracy'. (Also… origin mid 18th century: from late Latin stultificare, from Latin stultus ‘foolish’.)
November 19, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Word of the day 'stultifying' – as in 'stultifying academic beaurocracy'. (Also… origin mid 18th century: from late Latin stultificare, from Latin stultus ‘foolish’.)
Have I got enough trombone-related clutter on my desk?
November 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Have I got enough trombone-related clutter on my desk?
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
Event Spotlight: Resonances of Nusantara
🗓️ 27 Nov, 1–3pm
📍 RS/G 01
Dive into Indonesia’s radical sound worlds at this free vocal workshop with Dinar Rizkianti & Gema Swaratyagita.
Secure your free place here: hcmf.co.uk/programme/workshop-resonances-of-nusantara/
🗓️ 27 Nov, 1–3pm
📍 RS/G 01
Dive into Indonesia’s radical sound worlds at this free vocal workshop with Dinar Rizkianti & Gema Swaratyagita.
Secure your free place here: hcmf.co.uk/programme/workshop-resonances-of-nusantara/
November 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Event Spotlight: Resonances of Nusantara
🗓️ 27 Nov, 1–3pm
📍 RS/G 01
Dive into Indonesia’s radical sound worlds at this free vocal workshop with Dinar Rizkianti & Gema Swaratyagita.
Secure your free place here: hcmf.co.uk/programme/workshop-resonances-of-nusantara/
🗓️ 27 Nov, 1–3pm
📍 RS/G 01
Dive into Indonesia’s radical sound worlds at this free vocal workshop with Dinar Rizkianti & Gema Swaratyagita.
Secure your free place here: hcmf.co.uk/programme/workshop-resonances-of-nusantara/
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
EXCLUSIVE: Scottish musician Raymond MacDonald tells the Sunday National the 10 things that changed his life
Scottish musician Raymond MacDonald on the 10 things that changed his life
www.thenational.scot
November 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Scottish musician Raymond MacDonald tells the Sunday National the 10 things that changed his life
Long shot: anyone in Glasgow able to lend me a #Cajun t#riangle for a gig? Something like this https://www.studio-aube.com/shop/p/cajuntriangles – I don't have time to get one on order. Or, anyone know a #blacksmith who might make one for me?
Aube Cajun Triangle/ T-fer handmade and forged in Louisiana traditional percussion instrument — Studio Aubé Design & Fabrication
This Cajun Triangle (t-fer if you're in Louisiana) has a nice ring to it. It is a traditional percussion instrument in the regional music of South Louisiana known as Cajun Music.
Aubé Cajun Triangles are hand-forged in South Louisiana with the musician in mind. The goal is a nice sound and consis
www.studio-aube.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Long shot: anyone in Glasgow able to lend me a #Cajun t#riangle for a gig? Something like this https://www.studio-aube.com/shop/p/cajuntriangles – I don't have time to get one on order. Or, anyone know a #blacksmith who might make one for me?
Six months to my significant number birthday :) planning some performances of my works to celebrate
November 11, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Six months to my significant number birthday :) planning some performances of my works to celebrate
Difficult, got there in the end, some subtle definitions https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29849
Cryptic crossword No 29,849
Cryptic crossword No 29,849
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Difficult, got there in the end, some subtle definitions https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29849
Cuban Big Band weekend
November 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Cuban Big Band weekend
Just updated macOS for the first time in a long time. Who was it that thought a photographer's loupe would be a good icon for Preview?!?
November 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Just updated macOS for the first time in a long time. Who was it that thought a photographer's loupe would be a good icon for Preview?!?
Yay managed to finish a #Guardian #crossword , first for a while! Should have got 23ac a bit quicker :) https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29843
Cryptic crossword No 29,843
Cryptic crossword No 29,843
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Yay managed to finish a #Guardian #crossword , first for a while! Should have got 23ac a bit quicker :) https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29843
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
October 30, 2025 at 8:07 PM
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Just had some fab news, looks like my piece 'Two Minds Three' is strongly pencilled in for a performance at the RCS Piano Festival in March. (Trumpet in D, five clarinets, piano, two accordions, bass clarinet (optional), three percussion.)
October 28, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Just had some fab news, looks like my piece 'Two Minds Three' is strongly pencilled in for a performance at the RCS Piano Festival in March. (Trumpet in D, five clarinets, piano, two accordions, bass clarinet (optional), three percussion.)
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
coming to streaming services on Friday after only 24 years' wait - pre-save here concertocaledonia.ffm.to/mungrelstuff
October 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
coming to streaming services on Friday after only 24 years' wait - pre-save here concertocaledonia.ffm.to/mungrelstuff
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
Don’t forget the clocks go back this weekend… but not far enough 😬
October 25, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Don’t forget the clocks go back this weekend… but not far enough 😬
just found a mystery pack of paracetamol in my pocket. do my trousers know something that I don't?
October 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
just found a mystery pack of paracetamol in my pocket. do my trousers know something that I don't?
Turns out Ed Neumeister and Dennis Rollins were right! An H&B straight mute makes a great pixie for trombone :) better than the actual H&B trombone pixie.
October 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Turns out Ed Neumeister and Dennis Rollins were right! An H&B straight mute makes a great pixie for trombone :) better than the actual H&B trombone pixie.
Finale versus MuseScore – re-doing an (over fiddly) bit of piano music https://www.jsimonvanderwalt.com/blog/2025/10/18/finale-musescore
Finale versus MuseScore | J Simon van der Walt
I'm re-doing an (over-fiddly) bit of piano notation:
www.jsimonvanderwalt.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Finale versus MuseScore – re-doing an (over fiddly) bit of piano music https://www.jsimonvanderwalt.com/blog/2025/10/18/finale-musescore
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
If you're in Scotland and earned under £25k in the previous year, you can study part time at undergraduate level for free. Online or in-person courses. Even if you've already done a SAAS funded degree.
www.saas.gov.uk/part-time/un...
www.saas.gov.uk/part-time/un...
Student Awards Agency Scotland - SAAS - Funding Your Future
www.saas.gov.uk
October 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
If you're in Scotland and earned under £25k in the previous year, you can study part time at undergraduate level for free. Online or in-person courses. Even if you've already done a SAAS funded degree.
www.saas.gov.uk/part-time/un...
www.saas.gov.uk/part-time/un...
I don't often post links to stuff, but this is fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pn1CvQQUc8
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I don't often post links to stuff, but this is fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pn1CvQQUc8
Wow, seven glossy ibises down the Clyde! One of these days I'm going to have to retire so that I can go twitching during the day :)
October 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Wow, seven glossy ibises down the Clyde! One of these days I'm going to have to retire so that I can go twitching during the day :)
Really happy at the first run of two new charts last night with the Byres Road Big Band https://musescore.com/user/12368/scores/25691794 https://musescore.com/user/12368/scores/26835268
Is THIS cool??
Download and print in PDF or MIDI free sheet music for Piano, Trombone, Saxophone alto, Saxophone tenor, Saxophone baritone, Guitar, Bass guitar, Drum group, Trumpet other (Mixed Ensemble)
musescore.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Really happy at the first run of two new charts last night with the Byres Road Big Band https://musescore.com/user/12368/scores/25691794 https://musescore.com/user/12368/scores/26835268
I don't mind hearing the trombonists playing Walküre all day long, but I draw the line at the saxophonist in the room next to me playing the wretched Fauré. Off to work in the cafe…
October 6, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I don't mind hearing the trombonists playing Walküre all day long, but I draw the line at the saxophonist in the room next to me playing the wretched Fauré. Off to work in the cafe…
mon the cyclists https://glasgow.gov.uk/13887
Cycling trips surge by 43% as Glasgow's active travel network grows - Glasgow City Council
Glasgow is seeing a boom in active travel, with 4.65 million cycling trips recorded between January and August this year - a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
glasgow.gov.uk
October 2, 2025 at 3:15 PM
mon the cyclists https://glasgow.gov.uk/13887
Reposted by J Simon van der Walt
Our new release: MuseScore 4.6 is out now! This is an enormous release. Have a look and let me know what you think!
youtu.be/J2gY9CbMuoI?...
youtu.be/J2gY9CbMuoI?...
MuseScore Studio 4.6: New playback and engraving features, plus a new way to hide empty staves
YouTube video by Musescore
youtu.be
September 30, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Our new release: MuseScore 4.6 is out now! This is an enormous release. Have a look and let me know what you think!
youtu.be/J2gY9CbMuoI?...
youtu.be/J2gY9CbMuoI?...