Autumn Term Music and Music Exams Thread

'Jack is Sad' is beautiful, though it's having less of an emotional impact on me at the moment as I'm concentrating on holding down the right keys in the right places! I'm determined to get the scale sorted out this week but I always seem to miss a note out either going up or down, and not necessarily the same note!

Thanks so much for the tip about theory books for string players, Julie, I will definitely have a look at those. Smallish books that can be carried around would be better for DS2, I think.

Just a tip for beginner's theory for string players - the lady who wrote the "Hey Presto!" method books has also written a "Music theory for violinists" (etc.) series to go alongside. There are 6 smallish books, and they only go up to around grade 1 theory, but I'm tempted to use them for my fiddlers as a way in because AB theory seems so piano-oriented. There are viola and cello versions.

Best of luck to your 6th former, Wafflenose, they sound fantastic! I am now thinking of getting DS1 to start on theory grade books at half term, just doing some at home to start with, before enrolling on a course. I also have a couple of books aimed specifically at children for DS2 to try while he's sitting with me in the waiting room during DS1's percussion lesson - if nothing else, it might improve his sight reading for piano. He's doing well with cello practice, and the scales are coming along nicely though some way to go, yet.

My piano lessons have resumed. I am focusing on F sharp minor and 'Jack is Sad' this week. I'm supposed to be learning various alternative fingering for the scale but at the moment it's as much as I can do to get one version right!

We did it in bed for about 5 or 10 minutes a night before story time (theory) so a routine, every day. Some of it (grade 5 theory) is proving useful now in their GCSE music.

With my youngest two I did a gtheory rade a term 1 /2/3 Easter, grade 4 book but not the exam over a summer holiday and grade 5 the next term Christmas(which they both failed), resat next term - one passed, resat term after and the other one passed. They were about ten. The older ones when about the same agedid loads of theory every day with their father (a music teacher) - I remember he took them camping over one summer holiday and they did grade 5 theory every morning for an hour - it got them through it and one got almost full marks. I always liked music theory (and maths) as you can get full marks. I even almost got full marks in grade 8 theory a long time ago.

We have been the same Morethan and waffle - my dd has been stuck on grade 5 since she was in y4 and she has just started in y6! Theory will be done in November and then hopefully grade 7 in spring. She still progressed through suzuki books and played grade 6 & 7 pieces at festivals and for NCO audition. Need to give theory a big push now!

Ooh. I just read that back and don't want to get into a discussion about trinity or abrsm - I meant personally for me - not for everyone.

Oh yes - I was only talking about abrsm Aurals. Trinity are way shorter and I think, far easier.

There is a big step up in aurals at grade 4. A smaller step to grade 5 then another big one at grade 6. I prefer these modern aurals to the old 1980's ones I knew so well. I think the sight singing is very important for musicianship and I like the parallels between gcse and abrsm aural skills.

I also prefer the theory now. They took out some particular nasty stuff and replaced with mire general questions but the feel if the paper is about consistent with gcse level in my opinion.

Grade 8 aurals - we've started doing them weekly as singing the bass line (up in octave) is really hard for my daughter.

wafflenose

I admire your patience, do you teach your dds recorder as well as being a teacher yourself?
I have found that dh is far less patient with dd than the pupils he has.
Of course he is there to shout through when she gets something wrong and from day one has taught correct practice technique which I think helps tremendously.
The difference between saxophone and violin practice is distinct.
She is still determined to join music school at y9 so there isn't a hurry for grades yet. I think also she may hopefully give something up soon as she can't keep all four up at the later grades surely ?

My dd is starting County Youth Big Band on Monday it is her first step on her way to playing in her Dads NW Jazz Orchestra. She has a way to go yet though

She is still in the x choir but doesn't go back for a while. Looking forward to catching a glimpse of her on TV xmas day.

Then thursday another choir and County Youth Orchestra.

No exams for a while as she is skipping practical to concentrate on theory, then next year a few grade 6's

GreenGrow

Lovely to hear how your dc are doing, haven't heard about their music for a while. I bet that bass voice sounds lovely.

Not impressive - just helping her with her passion. It's all about building a habit.

I was going to have one of my teenagers doing grade 8 horn this term but he and his teacher have put it off until another term ( probably due to his lack of practice).
The other one has passed grade 8 trumpet and grade 7 singing but has decided not to do grade 8 singing which is a shame as he has a lovely bass voice now and I would have enjoyed doing it with him. He is moving up the electric guitar grades though - although that is not my thing really. He got almost full marks in grade 3 which is not surprising due to his other subject higher grades which must make things like grade 3 sight reading, aurals etc seem fairly easy.

Good luck to all the other new secondary starters!

DD1 seems to have survived her first day of 2 x instrumental lessons and struggling on the bus under the weight of a bassoon! Concert band from next week and apparently they're going on tour!

Julie - I am laughing at "actual practice, not just playing stuff I like". You're in touch with your inner teen there.

There is no morning practice here, not unless it's the morning of G8. The combination of a semi detached and a brass instrument rules that out. There's a two hour gap between the school bus arriving and my neighbour getting in from work and that's what I aim for.