Scratch choirs and scratch orchestras

If you love doing it onmy, then why stop. You seem to like a challenge from what I've gathered.

I'd love to join you! Haven't played mine for at least 30 years

Unless you plan to pop your clogs very shortly - why not? I sometimes wonder why I go to choir on a foggy cold frosty night in February, but when I get there all cares drop away because I have to concentrate, I think it's worth it for that 2 hours of brain break alone.

janerowena, thanks for your posting, and yes, all of those things, I agree

- but "making yourself practise at home" - well, I did this for long periods of time, practising for about two or three years, when I last picked up my violin, over 20 years ago.

I'm not sure if, now, after another 20 years of not playing, I want to spend lots of time polishing my (very rusty) technique for long periods of time on my own. Maybe I will, or not.

Maybe, as you say, a social life, a sense of community, will blossom - this has happened, gloriously and very ordinarily with my scratch choir involvement. But it didn't happen for the first two years.

So as you say, there are other bonuses. It can take a while. So do I want to go for that again?

If you are all determined enough, yes. A social life, sense of community, giving pleasure to others, exercising your little grey cells, getting out and about to new places, making yourself practise at home, bringing a little more art into the world.

I can't see any negatives, really.