MatheMusician.bsky.social
mathemusician.bsky.social
MatheMusician.bsky.social
@mathemusician.bsky.social
Mathematics Teacher, Church Organist and Lay Minister. Sometimes all 3 jobs get mixed up...
Wow! The Beloved walked all the way from the car park to the cafe: twice as far as usual. Yay!!
November 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The choristers *literally* squealed with joy when they found that we were doing my canticles setting this evening. I am gobsmacked. If anyone wants a lively unison setting that choristers will really enjoy, let me know! Happy to send pdf in return for small donation to our church.
November 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Any basses near Oxford available for an Advent Carol Service evening of 30th November? St Mary's Wheatley. I have tenors, but no basses! 4 unaccompanied choir items planned... Other voices also most welcome.
November 11, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I've fixed up a piano lesson and it feels a tad nerve-wracking. Haven't had one for about 20 years, and that was a one-off with a friend who refused to let me pay for it. Before that it must have been 30 years ago when I last had vaguely regular lessons. It feels a life-time ago.
November 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Got stuck behind car travelling 10mph or more below speed limit all the way to the station so had to run and didn't have time to get coffee. ☹️ Good job I wasn't relying on getting breakfast there as I usually do.
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Oxford Diocese annual Lay Ministers Service today. On my way to direct the choir: we've challenged ourselves to sing Beati Quorum Via as it's All Saints Day. Praying no more sopranos go down with colds!
November 1, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Muscle memory is a funny thing. Playing a Bach Trio Sonata on organ relies on it entirely: way too much to think about o/w. The odd thing is, if my hands go wrong it's almost always because of an earlier foot error I probably barely noticed. I have to go back & find the hiccup which set off the mess
October 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Soooo much fun with The Cellist this afternoon. Lots of progress made on the Mendelssohn 2nd Sonata. Still struggling to find anyone to give us a lesson on it though. Can't understand why it isn't more widely played. Ok, the piano part is fiendish, but it's so rewarding to play.
October 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Words you don't expect to hear your Assistant DoM say: 'Don't take the butternut squash into the vestry'.
October 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I've got my 4 best mezzos (+me) this morning, and no men. The temptation to switch the anthem to 'Lift Thine Eyes', for no reason other than that we *can*, is too strong. I'm playing Mendelssohn's 2nd sonata for voluntaries too... Yay Mendelssohn. 🥰
October 12, 2025 at 7:05 AM
The Cellist is coming round next Thursday. That's 5 more days of practice. It's certainly improved with around 30 hours work since he was last here a month ago. *He'd better notice*.
October 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Phew! That was an exercise in how fast I can talk for an hour! Anyone listening to the recording of the Problem Solving Matters final online session for the TMUA might want to listen on half speed!! 🤣 The attendees seemed to find it helpful though.
October 2, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by MatheMusician.bsky.social
Is your school ready to become champions?

Ritangle 2025/6 is coming and will be open for registrations from 8 October!

Keep your eye on our website, BlueSky and X for more information.

#Ritangle #MathsChallenge
September 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Muscle memory is an amazing thing: sometimes I wonder how on earth I'm playing a fast and/or complex passage as my fingers seem to be operating independently of my brain but completely accurately. It is immensely satisfying, but only happens after lengthy disciplined practice. 1/2
September 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Grrr. Phone just did update and my stats for Byrdle and Square word are gone.
September 13, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The Cellist is busy for the next month, so I'm going to ease up* on practising the Mendelssohn sonata and learn some solo piano music. Played through the Holberg Suite earlier and feeling it's doable: watch this space.
*mustn't let it slip totally - I need to get that 1st mvt nailed by 9th October.
September 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Good news all round today. The Beloved's scan is clear: the next one will be beyond the 3-year mark. And we've found an exciting holiday for our silver wedding anniversary next year: we've booked a cruise! Really not our sort of holiday, but needs must & we're so excited to be able do something. 1/2
September 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
So proud of our Junior Choristers today - first Sunday back after the summer, and they remembered so much and sang with real confidence. Bairstow canticles (which they knew), a simple anthem & a challenging introit (both new). Now we just need to find some more youngsters to join them...
September 7, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Looking for cello teacher who knows Mendelssohn's 2nd sonata. Hardly anyone seems to play it which is odd, as it's brilliant. Also their pianist as I could use a lesson or two too. Does anyone have contacts? We're Oxfordshire but prepared to travel. Both very good amateurs, looking to perform this.
August 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
It's time for Mendelssohn 3 (that's organ sonata not symphony). Hoping I've left myself enough time to get it back up to scratch before our Patronal Festival on 7 Sep. I usually roll it out once a year but this is the first time since the reordering so it's probably 3 years since I last played it.
August 23, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Holiday task is learning Mendelssohn's 2nd Cello sonata (piano part). Very pleased that I played the last mvt at current target speed (110 by end of August, aiming for concert speed of 120) with only 2 small sections falling apart. 🥳
August 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
We usually have afternoon tea on our wedding anniversary but all the tea shops in Norfolk were closed last Monday. So back at Bicester Garden Centre today.
August 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Half way home. Wimpole Hall. Walled Garden worth the visit on its own. Hall will have to wait for another time.
August 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Is this wise?
July 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
@annabeerauthor.bsky.social you quote 'the Book of Samuel' on page 1 of Sounds and Sweet Airs. There are two Books of Samuel so that's not a good start. Please provide chapter and verse for the quote as we can't find it. Thank you.
July 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM