Big Small: I love your halo, mummy. Me: Ahw thanks kiddo! Big Small: of course, you’re hardly innocent like an angel, but still you look nice. Me: 😐😐😐😐😐 https://www.instagram.com/p/BrvR9SGFcDC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qf1h90u8o7va

Today’s a weird day. Lots of photography loose ends to tie up, and I won’t get a chance to pick up my cello. It’s been a weird old journey transitioning as a professional from one industry to another, and now I find myself incredibly restless, wanting to just play and improve my performance skills ALL the time. : My sole income is through my cello now, just playing (no teaching). I never thought I’d see the day. It’s terrifying (can I survive Christmas, new year, and then my birthday?!?) and exhilarating, of course. : And I’ve also just remembered I have a Performance Skills lecture to give next Monday as part of my MA, so uh...I should probably get on that too... 😑 •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #Cello #Cellist #Music #Musician #BlackCellist #WeddingCellist #SessionCellist #Potra400 #FindInABox #FIAB #CarmencitaFilmLab #NotAPhotographerThough @carmencitalab @larsenstrings @kodak @kodakprofessional @stringsmagazine @unibirmingham #Polzeath #PolzeathBeach #CornwallCellist (at Polzeath) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq7EOill4Jg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ck5pkuaael4y

Well I don’t know about you, but my December is going SWIMMINGLY. 😍 (Also? My friends are GODDAMN amazing.) •~~~~~• : : : : #Gin #GinLush @sadlers_ales @isleofwightdistillery @peakyblindersofficial @marylebonegin @cityoflondondistillery @opihrgin @liverpoolgin @whitleyneillgin #MaryLeBoneGin #ChristopherWrenGin #PeakyBlinderGin #OpihrGin #MermaidGin #LiverpoolGin #WhitleyNeilGin #GottaTryEmAll #Cheers https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq5ji-5l9ux/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fbk1jga58sdz

This kid. He’s more talented than he realises, and literally has the world at his fingertips. Every so often he’ll ask if he can play one of my cellos (ALWAYS responding with yes of course), and he’ll spend time just enjoying the instrument as whole, making sounds, understanding the science of it. Doesn’t want lessons or any sort of tuition, and that’s fine. But he’s such a natural at it. (And no, he hasn’t got it from me, because all I’ve taught him is how to sit with it, and how to make a sound. I rarely practise whilst The Smalls are around.) This pic, simple as it is, makes me bloody happy because I know he was totally engrossed in a moment which I fight for as often as possible. •~~~~• : : : : : #JayEmmeCello #KeepMusicAlive #YoungMusician #Cello #Cellist #StartThemYoung #FilmPhotography #Lomography @lomographyuk @carmencitalab #CarmencitaFilmLab #LetTheChildren #LetTheKidsPlay @candidchildhood @childhoodunplugged #ChildhoodUnplugged #LBFilm @littlebellows #LomographyLadyGrey400 #LadyGrey400 #LarsenStrings https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqt_reXltSt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=78z5fwk82x4k

Doing some kind of blog post for the Huddersfield wedding in the woods last September; it’s SOOOOO lovely to revisit such a beautiful afternoon! : Photo credit and HUGE thanks to Craig at @mr_and_mrs_wedding_photography ❤️ Want to see more? Link in my bio! Contact me directly to hear me play, or to enquire about my services. 💕 •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #JayEmme #Cello #Cellist #WeddingCellist #WeddingCello #WeddingMusic #CelloInTheWoods #WeddingPlanning #WeddingMusic #LiveMusic #Musician #ProfessionalCellist #FreelanceCellist (at Stocksmoor) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqpheJZFYbT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qyzetko0hsl

Another concert, another venue...could happily do this every week 😍 : (Oh wait - I almost do! 🤩) : Today it’s @birmingham_philharmonic with City Choir, doing Dream of Gerontius, at @thsh_birmingham, and it sounds AMAZING. •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #Cello #Cellist #LiveMusic #KeepMusicAlive #ChoralMusic #DreamOfGerontius #Orchestra #BirminghamPhilharmonic #BPO #MusicMusician #LiveOrchestra (at Birmingham Town Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqmr6AplGTE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dwkz4v7mpi4g

Ahw one of the guests from yesterday’s wedding sent me this, I was just getting started for the morning! •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #JayEmme #Cellist #Cello #SoloCello #BlackCellist #BlackMusician #WeddingCellist #WeddingCello #WeddingMusic #Musician #LiveMusic #LiveSoloCello #IndianWeddingCellist (at Grand Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqW4f_BFYJ3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5excvv49hwke

Obviously I can’t photograph the wedding couple during the ceremony (any more!!) but I do still love to take a quick shot of a lush venue. I can’t get over the acoustics in @the_grandstation too; everything sounded AMAZING. : (I remember second shooting for @bhavnabarratt here a good few years ago; never thought I’d be back here with my cello. Maybe I’ll be back again soon?!) : And for any potential brides/grooms who are interested, I played John Legend “All Of Me” as the bride walked in, Bach Cello Suite 1 Prelude for signing the register, and Christina Perri “A Thousand Years” as everyone left. There was a perfect moment when the bride looked over at me and mouthed “thank you so much!” whilst I was playing”. Have to be honest, my face ached for smiling so much right back at her. 🤩 : It’s ALWAYS a pleasure to provide this service for my clients. ❤️😍🎶 •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #JayEmme #Cellist #Cello #Musician #Music #LiveMusic #WeddingMusic #IndianWedding #AsianWedding #IndianWeddingCellist #WeddingCeremonyMusic #LiveCello #SoloCello #SoloCellist #GrandStation #GrandStationWolverhampton #GrandStationWedding #WeddingPlanning #WeddingPlanner #IndianWeddingPlanning (at Grand Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqVSZtfFkcq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=osn32zi0pari

Shall we take a second to appreciate how lucky Sid and I are to play for another gorgeous wedding in a beautiful venue, @the_grandstation, Wolverhampton? YES. YES OK THEN. 🤩 : (Omg the acoustics in here are DIVINE.) •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #WeddingCello #Cello #Cellist #WeddingCellist #WeddingMusic #IndianWedding #IndianWeddingMusic #IndianWeddingCellist #GrandStation #GrandStationWolverhampton #GrandStationWedding #WeddingPlanning #Music #Musician #LiveWeddingMusic (at Grand Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqUi_z5FZFW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dlg0yxatau6r

Waiting for school run. Never too early for a coffee with Sid. ❤️ : (Even after the phenomenal weekend I just had!! Ahhhhh still buzzing. Maybe it’s this coffee. 😬🤩) : Also, I put some @larsenstrings #Magnacore Arioso on Sid a few weeks back, and my god they’re *QUITE* amazing, sounding mighty fine!! 😍 •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #Cello #WeddingCello #WeddingCellist #Cellist #Musician #LiveMusic #Nespresso #MorningCoffee #MorningCelloPractice https://www.instagram.com/p/BqHOMiCF7HR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=e8qovgxo0ygy

A few peeps asking to see the full outfit - here it is! HUGE thanks to Jo at @thecoutureco for inviting me to wear the corset and skirt, to @hellcatjewellery for the necklace, @binkybones for an AMAZING fox ring, @workingclasp for the headwear, @vnh0ly for my SUPERB makeup, and @boho.bar - my FAVE mobile bar - for props. Biggest thanks to @allaboutewe for being super cool with me NOT photographing the show, but modelling instead. Today has been AMAZING, and it’s SO GOOD to know that maybe there’s a bride-to-be out there who looks like me, and knows that she can relate to a face in the wedding industry. YESSSSSSS. ❤️🙌🏾 •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmme #BlackBride #AlternativeBlackBride #EclecticWeddingExtravaganza #AlternativeWeddingShow #AlternativeBrideOfColour #WeddingPlanning #WeddingShow #SteamPunk #SteamPunkBride #TheCoutureCo (at The Bond Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAuY8ilPdH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nize7bd6t40w

THRILLED to join @allaboutewe wedding show today - but this time, no camera or cello in my hand... I’m modelling a STUNNING outfit from @thecoutureco! I’m a badass warrior bride and it’s AMAZING. Headwear by brilliant @workingclasp. Make-up by @vnh0ly who is SUPERB. Necklace from @hellcatjewellery who is BADASS. 🤩 •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmme #EclecticWeddingExtravaganza #AlternativeBride #SteampunkBride #Steampunk https://www.instagram.com/p/BqALlsIlJ7z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ltaodg7bo7z2

This kid. “Big Small”, 10yo. Had a hell of a rough year last academic year, struggling with writing and spelling and learning difficulties and the rest, but continuing to battle on even when he was utterly done. (There were many late night “discussions” about what to do and how to support him. He literally quit a few times, and then picked everything back up and carried on fighting. It was amazing to watch.) : He’s in the middle of sitting entrance tests for secondary schools, and last week, he found out he’s been given a place at one of his favourite schools! 🤩 : We’re over the moon! And then things got amazing... : The school believe in him so much, that after watching him on a taster day back in June, they believe that he “would be more than worthy of our All-rounder scholarship, and, as such, would be delighted to offer [him] with this scholarship for September 2019...waiting until January [when children sit for scholarships] would be simply unnecessary.” 😍😱😍😱😍 : He’s known for a week, and has told people in small doses because he “doesn’t want to seem braggy”. He’s still going to sit tests for the remaining schools because he “wants to test and push himself to see how far he can go.” I asked permission to tell one or two of our “mutual adult friends” (yes - he and I have mutual friends who are adults. That’s how mature he is.) and today I asked if I could finally tell everyone because I’m fit to burst. He said “yes, I’m ready now. But this doesn’t change anything; I’m still sitting for the other schools too. And I’m not braggy, right? I don’t want to show off.” : Can I just take a second to sit here quietly, humble as fuck, in awe of this child, who quite often makes the world seem like it has the tiniest bit of hope? Right now my world revolves around my tiny little family, and I could NOT be more proud of my amazing children. ❤️🙌🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp6faZ1F-11/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7rzktmz4mp6e

First open fire of the year. *extremely happy face* •~~~~• : : : : #LogFire #OpenFire #OpenLogFire #WinterIsComing #NippyNips https://www.instagram.com/p/BpxOUiMFnz4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vv18y5ymqrye

Barely out of bed (note - pyjamas and bed-head), and Little Small just picked up French Horn for the first time. He’s been on it 7 minutes and has figured out how to change notes just with his embouchure. Not even using any keys, he’s worked out how to cover a range of nearly 2 octaves. He’s now working out how to get notes in order of pitch. : He’s never had a lesson on a brass instrument in his life. #ThisKid 😍 : (In the time it’s taken me to do this, he’s learned to tongue notes, and change volume. Wtf. 😱) •~~~~~• : : : : : #LetTheKids #LetTheKidsPlay #YoungMusician #FrenchHorn #GonnaNeedATeacher #LittleSmall #MorningFun #KeepMusicAlive #MusicIsAlive #LoveMusic #LiveMusic #StartThemYoung #TeachThemWell https://www.instagram.com/p/BptiirmFrg5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=264ikna9jfg

Half term = discussing life over hot chocolate whilst perched on some rocks by the sea. •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #Polzeath #PolzeathSurfBeach #Cornwall #Childhood #ChildhoodUnplugged #LetTheKidsPlay #KidLife (at Polzeath) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpo_RkeB5Us/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=avo60ozu2czq

Beautiful day to play on the beach! •~~~~• : : : : #JayEmmeCello #JayEmme #Pozeath #PolzeathSurfBeach #CellistOnTheBeach #Cello #Cellist #Music #Musician (at Polzeath) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpo7KLehjo8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dnaw5xq9uclr