Autumn Term Music and Music Exams Thread

Oh, and all my Wunderkeys children are starting school, so we now have a whole string of mini Mozarts, with a handful of new students joining. I'm excited to have changed my 'studio syllabus' for the older ones, too, and to have found some great teaching materials for violin.

Most of my students are having a break from exam stuff this term as I refuse to go from one syllabus to the next. However, we have the local Eisteddfod to look forward to. I'm trying to encourage as many as possible to participate, with no thought whatsoever about the competition aspect of it.

It's really funny, locally, that the music teachers are all into getting everyone to just perform, while the dance schools are super competitive.

I have one lad due to take grade 3, delayed from the summer as he was ill for over a month, and a few who may start to work on things for Easter or Trinity terms.

Meanwhile... I'm training for Stringbabies (well, I teach piano to 3yos so why not violin?) and have a vague aim of finally doing my performance diploma next summer. Tempted to enter the Eisteddfod myself just as a reason to bring pieces up to standard and because I never perform any more!

Hope you all had refreshing Summer breaks - back to school tomorrow here also.

Only 1 DD - entering Y6 (nearly 11). Plays violin G7 level, piano G5 aiming to be sat in Spring.

Mostly academic term here with prep for common entrance exams in Jan 15, in addition to learning pieces for music scholarship auditions (violin only). DD is good, though not exceptional so chances are slim, but she is up for trying!

Back to school tomorrow here. DS2 is at a chorister training day today, though so it feels like we are back to it!

DS1 (16) plays trombone and tuba, plus piano just for fun these days with an occasional piano lesson. He is hoping to do Grade 8 trombone in spring, it will be his last chance if he wants it on his personal statement. He plays in many school groups, music service concert band and a community concert band.

DD (14) plays bari and alto sax, piano and cello. She also may do Grade 8 alto sax next spring. She too plays in lots of groups in school and out. She no longer has cello lessons but still plays in youth orchestra.

DS2 (11) plays piano, trombone, clarinet and is a Cathedral chorister. He has taken Grade 5 piano. His piano teacher is his theory teacher, he is also working at Grade 5 theory, hoping to finish that this term and work on past papers until Spring and take the exam then. As he is going to do ABRSM Grade 6 (she likes the pieces better) this has slowed him down exam wise although obviously the learning will still go on.

He is changing teachers for trombone this term, moving from primary school lessons with the peri to a specialist teacher. The teacher knows him, he has had a termly 'masterclass' with him to keep him on track until secondary age, he may do Grade 5 this term or wait. Clarinet is also a bit of an unknown quantity as he will be having lessons at his new secondary school.

He will also be joining new school music groups.

Looks like a quiet term for once in the pavlova household. I will enjoy it looks like next term will be busy with exams, and our local Music Festival.

Recent name change, but have been on the music exam threads before.

I have dd (10) who is taking grade 7 violin this year. She recently enjoyed a week away with NCO Under 11s and is now desperate to get in to the under 12 orchestra next year. She is auditioning in October and I am going to keep my fingers firmly crossed! She started cello at school last September and took grade 4 cello in April and achieved an excellent distinction. She is likely to take grade 5 cello sometime this school year. We also have to fit grade 5 theory in before the grade 7 violin, which is not going to be much fun.

Ds (6) took grade 2 violin last week and is hoping for a high mark. He is extremely musical and seems to have a natural talent. He might start the guitar at school soon...

DD (3) is going to be starting violin or cello soon!

We still have a week of holiday left, I've got tomorrow set aside for finding all the kit that's hidden itself, seeing what is too small/lost and buying replacements. Theory lessons started a couple of weeks ago and DS had a lesson with his peri teacher last week. He's started playing trombone again after years away and I needed someone else to tell him that he wasn't always in tune. I can't tell you whether it's sharp or flat but I can tell you when it's wrong.

He starts his GCSEs this year, I assume they get the talk when they go back about how it's serious now etc etc and I'm hoping to get him to sign up to homework and practice as soon as he comes in rather than the teen slacker "later, whenever" approach that he's had. He's kept up with daily practice through the holidays so that's a big improvement but it's easier when you have more time. I have no idea what this term will bring, too early for diploma on first instrument, no idea where he'll start with trombone (he wants to do exams, I was rather enjoying being exam free) and his G5 theory papers vary wildly between practically full marks and being written by chimps.

He's away for a few nights with a County ensemble in October half term and he's thinking about a contest in November. No doubt everything else will crystallise in due course. I'm assuming we'll be looking at buying a trombone this side of Christmas to go with the sprays and grease and cleaning things and the stand that's coming this week. We're lucky that we can have one on loan from the bandroom cupboard but I'd be happier with it going backwards and forwards to school on the bus if it were ours.

Good to see a new thread Wafflenose!

I have DS1 who is thirteen who has got through three grade 5's in the last year - piano, theory and violin. He wants to do Grade 6 piano this term but I'm not sure - and as his piano teacher my opinion counts! He also starts three GCSE courses (that he will finish in Year 10) so I think a term to get used to that might be helpful. He has played a lot over the summer, but most of it towards getting a band going with three friends. So we'll see about that Grade 6....

DS2 is eleven, he may do Grade 2 clarinet this term but I'm not sure - he is also starting at Grammar School, and I think the homework may be hard going till he gets in the swing of it. He has also decided to drop piano after narrowly failing Grade 2 jazz piano in the summer (mainly due to taking it straight after getting back from a weeks' residential - so very tired and no practice!). He has dropped it in favour of drumming - which apparently he has always wanted to do , but never told us - he has Aspergers, so doesn't always communicate everything to us. He is adoring the drumming so far though, I am just on the look out for a second hand electric kit now. Does he win the prize for most instruments learnt to Grade 1/2 standard - so far he has dropped violin, viola and now piano!

I have around fifty piano students as well, can't say at the moment how many may be doing exams this term, depends on who has touched a piano over the summer!

Schilke, I just saw your post, and I really feel for you - apart from the piano, the instruments are all banished upstairs in our house but we have had our share of practice/homework battles! Good luck with the extension!

Sounds like MiniWaffle and BabyWaffle are both doing excellently! I love the sound of MiniWaffle's determination - she reminds me a bit of DS2. His elder brother is a more laid-back personality! The boys do music practice before using the computer or XBox, so it's worked quite well up to now. I will definitely give some thought to DS2 practising regularly before school, though. He did this before his piano exam and it helped a lot.

I admire you for getting up at 6.45 and getting everything done before school. I'm not sure we can do it all (too early for the drums, we live in a terrace!) but it certainly would help to do some! There are days where I feel as though I've spent so much time supervising other people's practice, that I have forgotten to spend time on my own! My next lesson is Saturday, though, and I have scales to learn, so no excuses for me!

Mine are back on Wednesday and I don't want it all to start In the middle of an extension at the moment so have lost 2 downstairs room for a bit. The thought of homework and music practice going on in our one sitting room/dining room/music room panics me. Dd1 (10) might be doing grade 2 clarinet this term. Nothing for the other 2. Ds1(14) will spend a while preparing for grade 8 violin. Dd2(8) desperate to start grade 3 trumpet but her teeth are a right mess so everything is on hold for a while.

I feel so unenthusiastic about it all.

Hello! Really welcome this thread and all the useful advice. We go back to school tomorrow and most of the music lessons don't start for another couple of weeks so am trying to keep the practice going! I don't have to nag but I do have to remind them!

DS1 (aged 12) is learning flute (grade 3), orchestral percussion (G2) and drum kit. He's come very late to music lessons compared to MiniWaffle and BabyWaffle but loves the social side of playing in bands. It sounds as though once he's done his grade 3 flute, I need to think about theory lessons as well!

DS2 (age 9) will be doing cello grade 1 this term if all goes to plan and possibly grade 2 piano the term after. He also likes to have a go on the mandolin! He plays in one string group, which he enjoys immensely, and is about to start in the school orchestra.

To add to all that, I am learning the piano - not taking exams but currently learning a mixture of pieces including a grade 3 piece that has taken me most of the summer to play with both hands, thank goodness it's slow! ('Jack is Sad' is the piece, very lovely when played well!) Would love to hear from any other mums who are learning!

Right, back to the name tags...