Philip Howie
@musicianbynight.bsky.social
Materials scientist by day and musician by night in Cambridge, UK. Christian. Percussionist, pianist, flautist, conductor, and instrument maker
Reposted by Philip Howie
I do not care what how much propaganda Silicon Valley tries to spread saying otherwise, a machine vomiting up slop is never ever going to be art to me the way an human being sitting and making something with their soul, knowledge and skill set is.
December 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I do not care what how much propaganda Silicon Valley tries to spread saying otherwise, a machine vomiting up slop is never ever going to be art to me the way an human being sitting and making something with their soul, knowledge and skill set is.
Well I certainly had my work cut out for me this evening, but that was a fun concert/workout 🥁
December 6, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Well I certainly had my work cut out for me this evening, but that was a fun concert/workout 🥁
Words no percussionist wants to hear: "We're raffling off the chance to play the sleigh bells to a member of the audience" #GiveMeStrength 🤦🏻♂️
December 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Words no percussionist wants to hear: "We're raffling off the chance to play the sleigh bells to a member of the audience" #GiveMeStrength 🤦🏻♂️
It's now 20 minutes after I was asked to arrive at the venue, there's nobody about, and there are bollards across the car park. Sigh
December 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
It's now 20 minutes after I was asked to arrive at the venue, there's nobody about, and there are bollards across the car park. Sigh
The car is full once again, and I'm on the road to London for today's wind band gig 🥁 🎄
December 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The car is full once again, and I'm on the road to London for today's wind band gig 🥁 🎄
Can I fit four timpani in my car at the same time? With a lot of pushing and shoving, yes I can.
Do I want to do this ever again? No, I do not
Do I want to do this ever again? No, I do not
December 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Can I fit four timpani in my car at the same time? With a lot of pushing and shoving, yes I can.
Do I want to do this ever again? No, I do not
Do I want to do this ever again? No, I do not
Reposted by Philip Howie
I have done
the admin
that was in
the inbox
And which
I had definitely
been
putting off
Inevitably
It was so easy
so quick
and is gone
the admin
that was in
the inbox
And which
I had definitely
been
putting off
Inevitably
It was so easy
so quick
and is gone
December 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I have done
the admin
that was in
the inbox
And which
I had definitely
been
putting off
Inevitably
It was so easy
so quick
and is gone
the admin
that was in
the inbox
And which
I had definitely
been
putting off
Inevitably
It was so easy
so quick
and is gone
I'm a day late, but the decorations are up 🎄
December 2, 2025 at 11:38 PM
I'm a day late, but the decorations are up 🎄
Last week, I decided to switch my (20-year old) current account to take advantage of a new account bonus. As of midday today, the money had gone from one account but not arrived in the other, so I couldn't buy any lunch. Thankfully, all resolved now
December 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Last week, I decided to switch my (20-year old) current account to take advantage of a new account bonus. As of midday today, the money had gone from one account but not arrived in the other, so I couldn't buy any lunch. Thankfully, all resolved now
When change can happen this quickly and smoothly, it shows it was the right time for it to happen. The technology and the economic situation are right; we can make this happen more widely
Energy transitions can happen faster than we think:
In 2000 almost 90% of Denmark's electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2024 less than 10% of Danish electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2000 almost 90% of Denmark's electricity was from fossil fuels.
In 2024 less than 10% of Danish electricity was from fossil fuels.
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
When change can happen this quickly and smoothly, it shows it was the right time for it to happen. The technology and the economic situation are right; we can make this happen more widely
The calm before the storm... looking forward to conducting Glazunov, Rachmaninov, and German in about 10 minutes!
November 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The calm before the storm... looking forward to conducting Glazunov, Rachmaninov, and German in about 10 minutes!
"Harps, if you arpeggiate that, we won't notice that the violas are doing the same" #ThingsConductorsSay
November 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"Harps, if you arpeggiate that, we won't notice that the violas are doing the same" #ThingsConductorsSay
Reposted by Philip Howie
I hate this graph not just because of what it shows but how it shows it - humans are still writing things on the Internet! It’s just the sheer volume of AI articles has already equalled the 33 years worth of human work online
Your universe is a photocopy of a photocopy of a…
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
November 28, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I hate this graph not just because of what it shows but how it shows it - humans are still writing things on the Internet! It’s just the sheer volume of AI articles has already equalled the 33 years worth of human work online
Reposted by Philip Howie
Hey all, do I have any UK based concept artists following me (or who knows anyone) who would be up for a long term 22 month contract working on Dragonwilds at Jagex? Remote with a very occasional day in office in Cambridge. Development experience and fantasy genre work is a must. Mid level role.
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Hey all, do I have any UK based concept artists following me (or who knows anyone) who would be up for a long term 22 month contract working on Dragonwilds at Jagex? Remote with a very occasional day in office in Cambridge. Development experience and fantasy genre work is a must. Mid level role.
Moving timpani ahead of Sunday's concert wasn't really what I wanted to spend my lunchtime doing, but never mind; at least it's done now
November 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Moving timpani ahead of Sunday's concert wasn't really what I wanted to spend my lunchtime doing, but never mind; at least it's done now
Reposted by Philip Howie
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
November 27, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
Reposted by Philip Howie
THE MAN IN THE RIVER
Once there was a wise man, who travelled to strange lands, and as he travelled, he came to the bank of a winding river. Edging the bank were houses, set at distances from one another. The wise man walked upstream, watching the slow current carry leaves and twigs past him.
Once there was a wise man, who travelled to strange lands, and as he travelled, he came to the bank of a winding river. Edging the bank were houses, set at distances from one another. The wise man walked upstream, watching the slow current carry leaves and twigs past him.
January 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
THE MAN IN THE RIVER
Once there was a wise man, who travelled to strange lands, and as he travelled, he came to the bank of a winding river. Edging the bank were houses, set at distances from one another. The wise man walked upstream, watching the slow current carry leaves and twigs past him.
Once there was a wise man, who travelled to strange lands, and as he travelled, he came to the bank of a winding river. Edging the bank were houses, set at distances from one another. The wise man walked upstream, watching the slow current carry leaves and twigs past him.
A friend asked for an opinion on this car she's thinking of buying. It looked great, but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I hadn't pointed out the number plate could be... misinterpreted... 🤭
November 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A friend asked for an opinion on this car she's thinking of buying. It looked great, but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I hadn't pointed out the number plate could be... misinterpreted... 🤭
After an insanely busy weekend, I could have done without having to call out an ambulance 🚑 for a friend at gone midnight. Thankfully, they're doing better now and should be home tomorrow. Night all...! 😴
November 24, 2025 at 2:22 AM
After an insanely busy weekend, I could have done without having to call out an ambulance 🚑 for a friend at gone midnight. Thankfully, they're doing better now and should be home tomorrow. Night all...! 😴
Conducted four hours of an orchestra rehearsal this afternoon. Very tired by now, but it was all worth it. It's going to be a phenomenal concert next weekend
November 23, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Conducted four hours of an orchestra rehearsal this afternoon. Very tired by now, but it was all worth it. It's going to be a phenomenal concert next weekend
Today is the feast day of St Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. I celebrated with a concert of English music, in Sir Henry Wood's church 🎶
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Today is the feast day of St Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. I celebrated with a concert of English music, in Sir Henry Wood's church 🎶
We don't set students exercises and homework because there's a shortage of essays in the world...
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
We don't set students exercises and homework because there's a shortage of essays in the world...
Working from home today - with the heating very much on. Am I allowed to be a little bit jealous of those who have snow while I just look out on rain and general drear? 🌧️
November 19, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Working from home today - with the heating very much on. Am I allowed to be a little bit jealous of those who have snow while I just look out on rain and general drear? 🌧️
This really is a fabulous place for an orchestra rehearsal
November 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
This really is a fabulous place for an orchestra rehearsal