Young Grittleton: Melissa (10)

My Young Grittleton Experience

Thanks to the Joan Dickson Chamber Music Fund and Hidersine, I was able to go on the Young Grittleton summer course in 2021. It was my first Young Grittleton experience as well as my first time away from home. I had such a wonderful time along with other young musicians for a whole week! I cannot believe how much I learnt in this brief period!

One very important thing I have learnt is how to take care of myself away from home. My Mum and Dad normally do things for me at home, but at Young Grittleton I learnt self-management. For example, I learnt how to set up my bed because they do not have pillowcases, duvet covers or bed sheets, so we needed to bring our own and set up our beds by ourselves. At the beginning it was a bit hard to remember the way around the school, but I soon managed. I have learned not to forget anything (especially masks), because if you forget or leave something behind, you will either lose it or must go all the way back to get it, so it is best just to not leave it behind. So my self-discipline and time management have improved.

Music-wise I especially improved on sight-reading! I can sight-read a lot better than I could before. Some of the pieces we played were: ‘The Owl and the Cuckoo’, The Great Western’ and ‘Hoe-Down’. I learnt how to play along nicely with others and make micro-adjustments to fit in with the team. It always feels nicer to be able to play with others, so you don’t feel lonely when you practise. Not to mention there were a lot of exceptionally talented players in the team and I have learnt an awful lot from them. I have a better understanding of what chamber music is. Our final performance was truly unforgettable!

The food at Young Grittleton was so good! I enjoyed every meal we had, especially the beef steak!

I feel more confident now! I have had so much fun at Young Grittleton! Thank you very much once again, JDCMF and Hidersine for giving me this opportunity. I have made lots of new friends there and I am looking forward to going back next year.

Melissa (10)  -  violin/viola