Young Grittleton: Thomas aged 13

I would like to say a massive Thank You to Hidersine and JDCMF for the bursary to attend
the Young Gritttleton Chamber Music course. It was amazing.
After the arrival period, we all headed down to the practice building and started sight-
reading some rather fun pieces to play. Then after dinner we were given our first chamber
music session. I remember playing Mozart and Boccherini. In the other sessions I played the
Brahms sextet, Schubert quartet, another movement of the Mozart quartet and Haydn.
On Tuesday we had to write down our favourite pieces and who we would prefer to play
with. I was very happy to be given the Schubert quartet op.125 no 1 and to play with Dan
(1 st violin), James (2 nd violin) and Will the cellist. We had to practise very hard to understand
the piece and then we timed it but unfortunately it was too long (8 mins) for the concert so
our tutor managed to cut it down to 5 minutes. The coaches were very helpful and taught
me loads of useful techniques such as dynamic contrast and bow control.
I really enjoyed the orchestra pieces too and each piece had a different style. There was a
Baroque piece by Vivaldi, a “jazzy-type” piece and an intense one. It was fun to play as one
of many talented players.
After practising to our best, our chamber piece was ready for the concert. The performance
was tremendously exciting but my composure was calm and every participant, me included,
played away just as how it should be.
The entire experience will definitely add to one of my best memorable moments of my life
and I will cherish this indeed.
Thomas (13)