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
Wow! The Beloved walked all the way from the car park to the cafe: twice as far as usual. Yay!!
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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
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
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
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.
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
Words you don't expect to hear your Assistant DoM say: 'Don't take the butternut squash into the vestry'.
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
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. 🥰
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
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*.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Grrr. Phone just did update and my stats for Byrdle and Square word are gone.
September 13, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Grrr. Phone just did update and my stats for Byrdle and Square word are gone.
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.
*mustn't let it slip totally - I need to get that 1st mvt nailed by 9th October.
September 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
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.
*mustn't let it slip totally - I need to get that 1st mvt nailed by 9th October.
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
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
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
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...
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
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.
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
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.
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
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. 🥳
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
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.
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
Half way home. Wimpole Hall. Walled Garden worth the visit on its own. Hall will have to wait for another time.
Is this wise?
July 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Is this wise?
@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
@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.