Autumn 2020 music thread

[thirdfiddle]

Oh go on then, let's have a new music thread. Spring wasn't good.
What's going on music parents? Are they going back to real live lessons? Is it all virtual for Autumn? Have they sustained interest over lockdown? Any new starters want to join us - or new departures for established musicians?

[squintsoftheworldunite]

When I said in the spring thread "I certainly couldn’t have predicted 2019 this time last year! I hope we can say the same of 2020 this time next year", this was NOT what I had in mind.... Spring sucked, summer isn't living up to much, I haven't got huge expectations for autumn... But we do have exciting things on the horizon when this garbage is over. And there have been sparkly moments in this mess. Individually, lockdown has meant brilliant progress. But all the everything elses that are missing feel like they're out balancing that often... I think for me, one of the hard things is that many people seem to think apart from it being weird when youre out, life is back on. Someone said to me just this morning "so is life all back to normal now then?" and with our lives so tightly entwined in the arts, it really is anything but....

[thirdfiddle]

That's rather poignant
We're not back to normal by a long shot yet. Still working from home, school arrangements are weird and somewhat joyless- no assemblies, no events, no singing, no clubs. No peripatetic teachers which is worrying. Music centre where my kids do bands is going virtual in September. We're just trying to work out if the amateur orchestras I play in can do something, however cut back.

[PaddingtonPaddington]

Thanks for the new thread. DD is back with in person violin and piano lessons. She hoping to try one of the remote exams in autumn for piano.
Last week her local string group got together for the first time with lots of measures in place and she came out buzzing and said how much she’d missed playing with others.
Virtual JD for the autumn term although county youth orchestra hopefully in person from October half term (fingers crossed).
School on the other hand looks less hopeful as year group bubbles means no orchestra or string group.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Thanks third.

JD is mostly remote for DS2 for the coming semester, though they are hoping to do an ensemble rota! Organ has pretty much impossible. Obviously no churches to practice in during lockdown and it's still very difficult, plus lessons can't happen yet.

Singing lessons in school will hopefully be in person though.

County Youth Orchestra is hoping to have an in person rehearsal in November but we'll have to see.

DS2 is in Y13 so we have the joys of UCAS.

[QueenMabby]

Thanks for the new thread. DD’s had a couple of in person piano lessons over the summer which she’s loved. Like Paddington she’ll be doing a remote performance exam in October and then g5 theory online in November. Cello’s on hold til she’s back to school. Teacher will be doing in person lessons but likely no ensembles or choir at school. She’s also due to start individual singing lessons so fingers crossed for those. Her piano teacher did say she had hopes for small group chamber music and piano duets though which would be nice.

[thirdfiddle]

DD sneaked in a last minute remote exam this term. For which I am stupidly impatiently awaiting result. Really any pass would be great, she had 4 weeks and 2 lessons total prep and only took the grade before in spring. Nice no fuss way to take an exam for her, it's just me being silly about it, I feel personally responsible for recording quality and selection!

[thirdfiddle]

ps we never had any ensembles or choirs at school anyway. DD was looking forward to Christmas panto though, I doubt that will happen.
And they usually get to do whole class clarinet in y4. Or perhaps that's a blessing in disguise, they were rather squawky when DS's class did it! Seriously though, all these missed chances to try things or start things, in an area where there are already very few young musicians, we're going to see the effects for years to come.

[disorganisedmummy]

Hi, Ds will still have Skype violin lessons until October half term at the earliest. It's so hard because it's really killed the love of music for him. I'm not sure that he even wants to carry on playing anymore. He hasn't picked up his violin for weeks as teacher has been away. No enthusiasm at all. He's always wanted to be a musician but now he's not sure. No idea whether he will still want to do music GCSE. He goes into year 10 in September. Very hard to know what to do for the best. I don't want to force him, he needs to decide for himself what he wants to do but I must admit that I'm a tiny bit devastated 😢

[Mendingfences]

We're not in the uk but we are back to in person lessons (some start next week) and some groups (also the kids are back at school). Lockdown purchase was a 3/4 double bass.....

[thirdfiddle]

disorganised xx it's been a demotivating time for them.
mendingfences - eek, 3/4 bass is getting quite big isn't it? Do you have a van to match?

[Mendingfences]

thirdfiddle Volvo v70 with one of the seats down 😆.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Update from JD this evening to say everything will be remote until the end of October. Unsurprising, but still sad. DS2 was only doing two years, and after Christmas the main focus will be a levels.

[horseymum]

Ooh, new thread! My DC's have definitely made progress in lockdown, played loads. Just had a couple of face to face piano lessons, hopefully woodwind can start soon as teacher took August off and not really wanting zoom when we go back. I know the feeling that some people think everything is back to normal but not when music is such a big part of your life. No wind band/ orchestra for me or them, no singing/ playing in church, no singing or wind at school. No external opportunities like previous years like come and play days. On the bright side, applications open for NYOS next week so that will give her a goal.

[horseymum]

Mending fences, congratulations on the double bass! Mine fits in my friends Nissan note so don't always need a big car. At least you are unlikely to ever need a full size, I don't know anyone who had one, 3/4 is the standard adult size. I'm just contemplating new strings for mine as never bought any (violinists are aghast!) but they are over £50 each so it might be a gradual process.

[horseymum]

Grade five theory this term has to be done as hopefully grade 6 piano next year. Lockdown had seen DD go from about grade 6 ish on oboe to tackling what I realised on looking them up was some grade7 and 8 pieces, she has worked hard. Hope there are some fun things this year to look forward to.

[thirdfiddle]

We started a good theory boost in lockdown but have flagged over the holidays. DS only does trinity exams so doesn't technically need it but it would be good for him. DD will need it at some point for violin and is further through the books. I'd quite like both to take it at the same time so they can practise together - and I think DS would feel under pressure doing it later if little sister already passed!

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

Hi everyone! Name changer here but have been a regular on these threads although not so much lately.

I wish I could say my two have thrown themselves into practice and found solace in their instruments throughout lockdown... but bumbling along is probably more accurate! 😆

Zoom lessons haven't been a hit. But both have in the main coped, except for youngest DD on cello, which just didn't work on zoom for her. Fortunately teacher was happy to do socially distanced lessons in the garden for DD until we were allowed back in houses again. Otherwise I think we would have had a forced break..

DD1 is off to specialist school in 2 weeks time! A big change but she can't wait. And will be delighted to get back to in-person lessons and some chamber music even if big ensembles are off the cards for a while.

They've both also benefitted from a Pro Corda chamber music course and DD1 is heading back there next week for a second course concentrating on solo repertoire. Leiston Abbey is home from home for her, and the chamber music course definitely gave her her bounce back!

Of course, we've also lost out on some fabulous things that were lined up for this year which has been hard. But I guess it means we appreciate things all the more now.

Hope everyone is faring ok x

[LynetteScavo]

I don't think I've posted in a music thread before! DDs flute teacher abandoned online lessons as she found them too difficult and doesn't wasn't to go back to teaching flute, but is offering theory lessons. I've found another teacher who is doing online teaching (and will be offering lessons from her house to those who want it) DD had abandoned practicing over the summer, so a lesson with a new teacher who told her she needed to do a lot of work if she wants to be entered into the exam in the Autumn was the wake up call she needed!

[thirdfiddle]

Hi Lynette, shame about ex flute teacher. It's been a tough time for musicians. But good that your DD is motivated again now!

Hi again doesanybody (yes I do recognise you ). Eek, 2 weeks! That's suddenly very soon. Good luck!
May need to ask you for info on procorda at some point, DD is keen to try a music residential next year. Had been hoping to audition for NCO but it's not looking like they're auditioning.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Good luck to DD1 doesanybody. (I recognise you too!).

Not music but poor DS2 spent hours yesterday trying to book his driving test. He got as far as the check out before it crashed. It's down now until Wednesday

[hopelesschildren]

Not a lot of practice over the holidays but then there usually isn't. Dc did some online workshops which kept her going for a bit. Not sure yet what is happening with lessons. Is considering doing the performance exams to avoid aural tests..

[Mendingfences]

Welcome to the thread lynette
We didnt have much issue with practise over the summer in terms of amount but the quality wasnt neccessarily brilliant - lots of play myself a concert and not much technical stuff, so it's a bit like technical boot camp right now. Lots of duets got played and new stuff explored though so thats a big plus

[minisnowballs]

Hello all! Yes, tricky times for music making. We are struggling on with online lessons and dd2 takes the theory exam tomorrow. I am equally worried by her lack of ability to remember the stuff she needs and by the technology. Suspect she won’t pass... so we are seeing it as a mock for november. She could have passed in June but lockdown has done for her mind and I can’t help much.

A new term looms. Dd2 starts secondary at her sister’s school, which is nearby, so that’s good. Waiting to see if there’s a cello space for her there. Dd1 goes into year 9 and has picked GCSE music.

She also became fed up with the local music service and did a late audition to her sister’s centre for advanced training on viola which she picked up in lockdown. No-one was more surprised than she when they gave her a place and after dithering she accepted on the last day of term. Guess it will be online to start with but she’s used to that with violin.

So new starts here, but not enough practice. So hard to motivate at the moment, for us all.

[horseymum]

So hard to motivate them when the fun stuff is not back yet. Hopefully the guidelines will change soon. My DD s bassoon teacher said it's time to think about a full size one for her which will be exciting, I imagine the change from mini will be a bit tricky. Everything is still shut down here and online only so it may be a while before we can get one. I think she will love it though, low notes are her favourite.

[thirdfiddle]

Viola opens doors minisnowballs! Just have to put your foot down about sometimes playing violin if you still want to.
It's actually looking like my orchestra can do something this term which would be awesome. Kids ones are only virtual sadly.