The BW was understandably relaxed when the PO spoke to him on Monday night - the multiple pressures of the last few weeks are finally behind him, and he can at last relax a little and spend the rest of term focusing on other things - rehearsals of the Hogwarts Strings Group, preparing for end of year exams, tightening up that forward defensive and passing his fingers in a sort of eccentric intellectual way through his "flowing locks" (thanks to Mrs MOP for the lowdown on that one).
He was also typically blasé about his recent outstanding Grade VII results.
He admitted to having scored 29 out of 30 for his performance of Kadosa, which is gratifying, since he reported immediately after the exam that he thought he had played it better than ever before.
Otherwise, though, hard numbers were not forthcoming. Commenting on his scales and aural tests, on both of which he lost a few marks, he quoted his piano teacher who apparently told him that she would make sure that he scored full marks on both in his Grade VIII - which, incidentally, he will not be taking any time soon. The PO is pleased to hear that, rather than push him to take it very quickly (which there is no doubt he could do) in order to be able to say that he has done so at the tender age of 13, she prefers to give him plenty of time to prepare - as she says, he will only get to take the exam once, so he might as well work to get the highest score he possibly can.
Last Friday's viola masterclass, meanwhile, had the BW positively waxing lyrical and talking enthusiastically not only about what he had learnt during his half-hour with the master - including some invaluable advice about bow position that has helped him to coax a much richer sound from his instrument - but also about what he had gained from watching the sessions of the other participants, all of whom were more advanced than he is.
As for the Hogwarts scholarship, the Boy Wonder, as predicted, has chalked that one up to experience and moved on. One might say that it's old news - apart, that is, from the revelation that Young Mr Hoskins scored one, a fact unaccountably omitted from earlier reports - well done, YMH ! And apart from the fact that both their names were published in The Times and The Torygraph (thanks again Mrs MOP), thereby officially making them national celebrities ! No doubt it's only a matter of time before we get to see them on Big Brother or Hogwarts Idol...
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