Autumn Term Music and Music Exams Thread

thanks weaving

will have a look

hope it wasn't me

SpringHeeledJack - there was a harp thread on here recently, it's still on the front page of extra-curricular and titled (not surprisingly) "does anyone here play the HARP". I'd link it if I had a minute to work out how but the school bus just went past the window so I'm on standby.

just over scholarship auditions at secondary school (last weekend)

DD 'joked' that now she can 'just leave the harp for a couple of weeks, to get covered in dust'

are there any harp parents/teachers on this thread, I wonder?

I told D she could have a new lever harp (pedal is beyond us- in cost and space) after her grade 1. It wasn't so much that I was going to see if she passed- more that I wanted to see her reaction if she didn't- ie losing interest, getting frustrated etc etc. I've also made it clear that it's her birthday and Christmas present, and she has to save her pocket money (from Sept-Dec).

(I know this might sound harsh, but I feel we have to make sure she's serious, as she's only been playing just over a year)

we're looking at this (camac Korrigan) or something very similar. She fell in love with the Hermine at the Early Music Shop, when we took her twangy little starter harp in for a repair and so did IWe've been told that you can get to grade 8 on a 34/8 string lever harp, but D's teacher is doubtful

grateful for any info on this. Harp is pretty alien to me, so we're feeling our way a bit

Well, ABRSM confirmed my marking again (phew!) so S has passed her bronze medal with excellence. It helps that she's playing a pretty decent Stentor II with upgraded strings, compared to her contemporary's hideous Skylark thingy (inherited from a cousin and she loves it... sigh....). I need to buy me a stock of violins to lend, or something!

Grade 3 piano for N coming up late November. Was hoping for a few more weeks... and he's now away for half term too. 2 pieces are reasonable, third is getting there and would probably pass even with wrong bits if he doesn't stop, aural was pretty good but not perfect yesterday (teenaged boys + singing is either wonderful or a nightmare, but he hummed and got rhythm and general shape, and aced the other bits after a bit of discussion about how 6/8 is 2 time and 9/8 is three time). Scales are dodgy, arpeggios aren't yet known. He was supposed to do this exam last term... I can't make them practise, though. Panicking about the sightreading.

Good luck to your DD! We have two exams (dS1 flute, Ds2 cello) at our centre in December, I'm hoping they are on the same day as I got lucky last year and had consecutive slots for them. All this mention of scales reminds me I keep avoiding my own scales practice! They are hard!

Ha, just got the date for dd2 piano exam today. Will have to take dd to the exam centre myself so will be fun...
Slightly nervous now because I suggested dd to leave her pieces for a bit and play something else (but keep practising her scales). But as it was 3 weeks till her next lesson I suspected she would get bored just playing same 3 pieces day in day out.

I love quality wooden instruments. DD fell in love with a guitar made of koa at the guitar shop, beautiful but out of the question having just bought a saxophone.

I had to go look at the photos as I've never heard of grenadilla - how pretty is that? I know it's all about the sound but they are a thing of beauty.

Hi Theas
Dd picked the Hanson T5 in aged grenadilla with a french bore.
The intention was to go for the intermediate range of their clarinets.(SE range).. But unfortunately they put out a range including the T5 (from their professional range)...which she of course tried and fell in love with instantly! >
It sounds beautiful though ...lol I tried not to flinch as she sauntered off down the street with it and instead just repeated the mantra "we have insurance... We have insurance"

Hanson were brill for the record

One exam here this term, now counting down weeks. The plan is for a theory exam after Christmas. It's interesting to hear how everyone else is doing and that we're not the only house where 'scales' is a dirty word.

No exams here either Theas and I can't say that I'm missing them at all. At some point they'll start with the second instrument but with any luck that will be summer term (or even better - not at all). DS is entering a contest next month but there's not the same pressure with that, entering is as good an excuse as any to turn up and see some people he knows.

No exams in the Pavlova household this term either Theas although next term will be very busy to make up, I think.

DS2 has had a horrendously busy start to term with Choir, but that's settled now so he will have time to get some practise done and also some theory. He is also tired from starting secondary school, but has been thrilled to have been invited into two of the 'higher' groups as the only Y7. I have also agreed to let him go on school band trip abroad next July.

It depends a lot on prior music experience as well as age and general hand coordination/ fine motor skills. DS did a year of piano as a 5 year old, he didn't take any exams but I can confidently say that he was nowhere near grade 1 standard! He has generally good coordination and he worked quite consistently. OTOH his sister, as an older beginner (12) with solid music experience has progressed very fast. Older kids tend to have more stamina for practising too.

Also should add that it was at least a year from scratch to the prep test and I would say there is a big jump in standard from prep test to grade 1!

Not sure if this helps but DS2 did ABRSM prep test last Christmas and then grade 1 in the Summer term. This was on 20 minute lessons in a shorter term than the normal school one (it's now 30 mins). Two terms meant he could play the pieces well, was solid with scales and had prepared well for the sight reading. I'd like to say that he was also well prepared for the aural but as he refused to practise singing I would say he got away with it because of a great sense of rhythm!

When the parents of the 5yo beginner ask "When can he do grade 1" I usually play them a couple of grade 1 pieces and they gawk a bit... it explains why it will take more than a term or so ;-)

I'd say at least a year, looking at the level of the LCM Step exams and assuming a child doing them is fairly young (especially if prep, step 1, step 2, grade 1). I reckon a year between Prep and Grade 1 for 6/7yo beginners. But also depends on practise and coordination when it gets to real hands together playing. Grade 1 piano is surprisingly hard. :)

Thx Theas18.

mom17 very child/age dependent.

If very young (6 or7) then may be 6-12 months (a very broad brush average is a grade a year basic progress . If it's a 10yr old they may well do it in a term.

An offline qs: How much time it takes on an average to move from Step-1 to Grade-1 piano ?

Creeping in to say hi.

Trouspout do you mind saying what instrument your DC went for in the end? I suspect we will have yo fork oyt for a grade 8 plus clarinet before long. Fortunately dd has just get a buffet E series on loan from wind orchestra having got to grade 7 standard on a Yamaha I bought for her big sis on eBay about 10yes ago lol.

I have no " right " to be in the thread really as we've no exams this term and oddly might only have few left ever- and I kind of miss it!

Student S (7) just passed her bronze music medal on violin - with excellence unless I get moderated down. She played much better than the last one I entered! Playing for about a year, I think she started at around the half term lags academic year. No aiming for grade one, we like the medals as there's no pressure. Wish they existed for piano!

Thanks for the other insurance providers too... Will take a better look when it's renewal time next year

I think you are right Bramshott
We also have a mini despot!
I think the our saving grace is my musical ignorance as i can't help her so it saves us locking horns too badly.
If something sounds wrong I sometimes draw her attention to it but pretend it is probably my " bad musical ear" and that "it's probably right anyway". Invariably she plays it again an makes an adjustment.
Then I usually say "oh yes I think it was my bad ear for music coz that sounded fine then"
If it doesn't improve I say " It's probably just me.. But ask your teacher"
Apart from saying.." oh that sounds beautiful! .. Play if for me again while I'm..." I try and keep out of it as much as poss tbh