First.Stop.for.Musicians The Fishmarket Café

Saturday 18 July 2009 4th Meeting.

First.Stop.for.Musicians closed for the summer on Saturday. The discussion was, as always, enjoyable and useful. There is a running theme that runs through all the meetings; should musicians be able to perform as well as talk at the these meetings. I tried it once and promptly dropped the idea.

Something different happened this week to make me change my mind. Several musicians had instruments with them and played an improvised set. Even me, with my extremely dodgy left arm, joined in. This turned out to be a very good plan. First they talked and then they played.

Another good plan was a young bassist was given some excellent advice on how to improve his playing skills by a professional bass teacher. I think I might ask some teachers to run a musicians advice clinic when we re-open in September.

All in all a lovely afternoon. It gives me great hope for the future of the venture.

Saturday 20 June 2009 3rd Meeting

There were 2 meetings of First.Stop.for.Musicians this week. Both could have done with a few more people turning up. Those who were there chatted happily with each other and shared their experiences. The Photo's are from the Fishmarket Cafe.

Saturday 16 May 2009 2nd Meeting

This was another success. Just like the first meeting of First.Stop.for.Musicians at The Fishmarket Café I had a wide range of musicians joining in the conversation. From composers of classical music to a shy bass player/singer.

Everyone was saying some very nice things about the project. This was a very busy week for First.Stop.for.Musicians. The Fishmarket Café was the 4th venue in 8 days. Here are some of the people that were there.

Listening to musicians of all ages, styles and experience levels talking about their music is a really good way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

To find out more about Roz and Ant (above) and Earthdance visit their website: Click here.
	Sandeep Raval was a very interesting and experienced musician to talk to he was there with his wife and two children - both are young musicians. To find out more about Sandeep Raval The World Music Percussionist visit his website. Click here
Sam: Keyboard/harmonica player	Tom: Composer and Guitarist

This event was supported by Kevin Stoney of Sole Studios: Click here to see Kevin's website.

Saturday 18 April 2009. The Photo's tell it all. I had songwriters looking for singers. A harmonica player came looking for other musicians. A guitar teacher introduced himself.

Singer guitarists drank tea and coffee and a young girl who plays the piano and the trumpet shared a table with a shredding guitarist.

Parents wanted to know how First.Stop.for.Musicians could benefit their children. A musician who does card tricks wandered in with a girl singer. I took photographs and let the musicians talk among themselves.

Two of my young students came too, they're almost veterans of First.Stop.for.Musicians. They chatted and ate cakes. Next week they team up with a young bass player who was at The Maltsters Arms in Weedon last Tuesday.

It was exactly how it should be.

A very special thanks to Tamsyn Payne for welcoming First.Stop.for.Musicians to her Café.
She's the one with the big red teapot.
An even bigger thank you to Kevin Stoney who did the publicity.
An even bigger thank you to all those who joined in the conversation.

If you own an eating place and want to join in Contact: len@firststopformusicians.com