Autumn Term Music and Music Exams Thread

Hi we usually have a quick run through with the pianist while waiting to go in; might try some scales this time too. But if its an early exam time I wouldn't try to do much

I never know whether to get them to play/ practise on the day of the exam, or not? Dd1 always has mornng exams but dd2 seems to always have ones around 3pm- which she finds hard as she has just turned eight. My gut instinct is to do ten minutes in the morning. What does everyone else do?

Thanks Janet. I figured it was 'luck' rather than 'lunch ' - made me smile this morning.

Good lunch Shakeyisles dd!

Three weeks to g5 cello,forDD. I managed to stop her attempt to swop one of her pieces for a brand new one on Friday. She often tries to do last minute swops - I don't understand it at all!

Well done to them both Julie and good luck to your DD Shakyisles.

DS2's choir was filmed recently for a BBC programme, which has been very exciting. (I was chaperoning, and they sounded amazing in my biased view!) Looking forward to seeing him on television.

Two piano duets today... First duo weren't together at all but soldiered on. Second duo 7yo were fab and won the under tens. Tbf there were only three entries, including the disaster. Disaster pair took it well and just found it funny, littles were really surprised bd pleased to win. First time on stage.

Good luck to your daughter Shakyisles

DD's usually taciturn sax teacher said yesterday that she is progressing fast, and has suggested she attend the senior wind band rehearsals which she is pleased about (it's a compliment - some of the pieces look ambitious for a relatively inexperienced player). I'm not quite so delighted as it's at 9pm on Friday nights ...

Two days to go for miss 8. She has been nervous for over a week and it is weighing heavy on her mind :-(

Miss 10 had her new music arrive yesterday: czardas and Barbara Barber book 3. So she is happy to have something new to go at.

Best wishes to everyone else in for exams shortly!

DD loved these pieces, thanks Julie.

Has said, let's not panic yet, which I think is code for being too scared to approach teacher with change suggestions, which I can understand. Or maybe I have missed that the fact that she has suddenly matured over the Summer and is control of what she is doing?!

oops, trigger happy

Great, thanks Ishouldbeweaving. I never thought about the fact they may ask for parts of a piece! Most seem to ask for 2 short contrasting pieces with G5/G6 standard as the minimum.

Thanks also for the additional pieces to check out Julie. I will definitely review them. Like a lot of kids the faster, upbeat pieces are my DD's preference - Schindler's List was selected to see if she could tone down and reflect the mood of such a poignant piece...not easy when Perlman plays it so beautifully! She's a big John Williams fan though so that has helped.

Great, thanks Ishouldbeweaving. I never thought about the fact they may ask for parts of a piece! Most seem to ask for 2 short contrasting pieces with G5/G6 standard as the minimum.

Thanks also for the additional pieces to check out Julie. I will definitely review them. Like a lot of kids the faster, upbeat pieces are my DD's preference - Schindler's List was selected to see if she could tone down and reflect the mood of such a poignant piece...not easy when Perlman plays it so beautifully! She's a big John Williams fan though so that has helped.

I wouldn't dare tackle Schinlder's List myself because the original recording is so fab!

Czardas is closer to grade 8 (because of those harmonics). The Rumanian Folk Dances by Bartok are on the Trinity diploma list, but I think the last two were set for grade 8 on ABRSM years ago and would be achievable by a grade 7 student. Similar in feel to the Czardas but you coiuld do just those last ones and not have the harmonics which are in another nmovement (they work best on new strings though!).

Another alternative to the Czardas and less well-known is Keler-Bela, The Son of the Puszta

Sun over San Sofia in Gypsy Jazz! by Waterfield and Kraemer (Faber). Something just a little bit different to whatever anyone else will be doing! But don't do this with the Czardas or Bartok. as the feel might be too similar.

There's a Sibelius Romance...

Meditation from Thais (definitely grade 7). Possibly over done.

Was just looking at the ABRSM forum suggestions on a similar matter and the pieces suggested range from 'achievable at grade 3 but played well at grade 6+' to 'flashy stuff from the diploma syllabus that you probably can't play well enough'.

Ealingwestmum - can you speak to someone that's taken the audition before to check for the format? DS has done four auditions to date (not a string instrument and none of them for a school scholarship so this might not be relevant at all) and there wasn't one where he played his pieces from start to finish. Each time he's been asked to play from X to Y, this bit here, those bars there.

There are no prizes for guessing that their choices always include the most challenging part of the piece.

Thanks Julie. I am with you. My concern is that I have challenged the teacher a few times over the years and don't want to fall out in the last year of school. She is also the teacher and as you know, it's not great having parents who think they know better

I will see how the prep goes over the next few weeks before panicking about a Plan B - learning Czardas step by step has taken time, DD has only been taken to half way.

Demonstrating musicality I would think would be valued more than a child playing a piece below standard. However the teacher's point re competition being high and awards favouring more unusual 1st instruments is valid I guess.

I'll have a think but TBH I'd personally go for a slightly easier piece and play it well - something that can demonstrate musicality. My concert pieces range upwards from grade 5 ;-)

No exams this term but still preparing violin audition pieces for Y7 entry scholarships to our local independent schools in Sept 15.

Challenge is now shortlisting to 2 contrasting pieces, that are not too long/flashy but showcases accordingly, potential. DD is working on Schindler's List Theme (Williams), Adoration (Borowski), Concertino Op.25 (Rieding) and Czardas (Monti).

Our challenge is, these need to be short (but even without repeats, most are circa minimum 4 mins) but at G7 level are there pieces that are more appropriate to showcase and shorter for this level? DD's teacher is wanting Czardas as one but I have to say I don't think the false harmonics will be mastered well enough for an audition in Jan, so we are not convinced unless she has a major breakthrough before then!

Violin teachers/parents on this thread - any thoughts with your experience of audition processes? Prepping for AB exams now seems so much easier!

Thanks again JulieMichelle. I'll be curious to see how he gets on. If he seems very keen I may look for a teacher. Unfortunately I don't believe that DD's teacher is suitable as he doesn't have enough experience with beginners, though he has done extraordinary things with her (she is learning Schumann's Traumerei this week and it sounds so lovely that I'm almost tempted to start lessons again myself.)

Misti, borrow JT if friend will lend. They're fine, just silly pics and big notation. I use books 1 and 2, plus the jazz one and the carols. Complete Keyboard Player would be more adult. Piano Time is an option, again pics etc Most adult books go too fast even for adults.

Down to one exam this term - snafu at music centre means they had to cancel one of the exam days and DS1 is on a trip the only other day they offer. Plan is to do a mock exam for G3 flute and move on. DS2 all set for G1 cello, just needs to do some intensive sight reading practice. At the moment he is reclining on the sofa having been sick last night, though!

Thank you JulieMichelle.

I don't think he knows what he wants to do! It would surprise me enormously if he ever became a serious musician but I'd like to encourage him to learn a few basics, because if nothing else it will be good for his fine motor skills.

I like the Rockschool idea but I think it would be too challenging to start with. He has some basic knowledge, but he isn't "musical" like your pupil, and the year of lessons was a long time ago. Chords plus a melody line would be too much at this stage, he will need to start with something much more simple and progressive.

A friend told me this morning that she has the John Thompson beginner books (which I guess are aimed at younger children - but might be OK to start with) so I may borrow these and then buy the book you're using with your 10 year old pupil.

Hearts - you'll have fun with the new tuning issues for a couple of weeks!

Mistigri,

It depends what he wants to do. If he can already read music etc. (at least basic stuff) I might throw him in at the deep end with the Debut level from Rockschool. There's a book I'm using with a 10yo boy (who also plays viola) which begins with a mixed approach between chords and note-reading, which is aimed at adults but working quite well. I can't remember what it is right now so I'll have to look on Tuesday and get back to you! He's had less than a half term's lessons, can handle melody in right and chords in left, various comping rhythms using basic chords, and I've thrown Rockschool debut music at him already.

Once he can handle approx. grade 1 level music, I'll combine the Rockschool syllabus (or another) with the Alfred "Piano for Teens" books which come in five levels with a 'chunk' of a piece to learn each week. However, they don't really explain things as they aren't tutor books.

"The Complete Keyboard Player" might work?

Thank you Mistigri and Wafflenose ! I think you are hitting the nail on the head, it is my own exam nerves that I am letting run out of control precisely because I can't control the situation - apart from encouraging practice. Interestingly I didn't have any of this when DD1 did her Grade 2 singing in June.

That is also a great idea about checking with her teacher now rather than the week of her exam. I do trust her teacher.

We just moved up to a 1/2 size cello from a 1/4 yesterday so I am looking forward to hearing DD2 play this afternoon!

Now can someone tell me the difference between ABRSM and Trinity exams?

Shakyisles um 2.5 I think? What her teacher advised, anyway. Her sound is generally (to my ears) good but it just sounds clearer and louder on the lower notes IYKWIM? I think part of the issue is that she is progressing through the repertoire faster than most beginners because she previously played recorder to grade 6/7 ish (she can basically sight read the whole of the book of studies she has been given, which goes to about grade 4) - but she has a beginner's mouth and face muscles which means that her stamina is poor. Her sound deteriorates noticeably during a practice session. Like your daughter she is more interested in jazz and blues and improvisation, as she plays jazz guitar to a good standard.

Oh and I have a question for JulieMichelle (or any other teachers).

My Ds is showing interest in starting the piano again - he did a year when he was tiny. I'm going to put the synth in his bedroom and get a beginner's book. What would be a good choice? He is a quick learner generally, and already has some basic musical knowledge (note values, basic reading of both clefs) - but unlike his sister he does not have any particular aptitude for music. His fine motor skills are OK but not fantastic, so I am looking for a proper progressive method, suitable for teenagers, that he can use by himself with a bit of help from me.

Mistigri- I don't know. My daughter has never been breathy or squeaky. I guess she has just the right type of reed for her mouth. She is definitely going down the Jazz and Blues route. She plays classical and the borrowed repertoire nicely but she likes the freedom of improv.

What reed is she using?