At Hordle Walhampton, we like to see our learning come alive. Last Thursday, E-flat clarinet player at the London Symphony Orchestra Chi-Yu Mo spent a fun-filled, productive day with us.

Starting with the Pre-Prep in the morning, Chi gave a practical class aiming at discovering the woodwind instruments, and more specifically the various clarinets he had brought with him. The little ones burst into laughter at hearing the variation of sounds he produced, and also enjoyed listening to some of Chi-Yu's pieces.
 

With the afternoon came the time for serious business, with a master class for the seniors; six HW soloists, trying to put on a brave front despite their nerves, faced not only playing in front of an audience but offering their work up for constructive criticism. One after the other two promising clarinettists, a sonorous trombone player, a genius recorder player, a jazzy saxophonist and a charming flute player received the musician's advice and tried to follow it whilst observed by their classmates. To the latters' astonishment, improvement could be noticed even by the least musical of us.

In the evening, Chi-Yu Mo accompanied by pianist Juliet Edwards gave his show for parents, staff and children in a recital that delighted the audience: a perfect way to bring a very successful day to an end.

October 2007