Summer Term Music, Musicians and Music Exams thread

Shaky - DS's piano teacher said its something happens quite natural to DS. He read through AB book within two weeks himself last summer. Started last September, he did Eric Taylor's book 5. And then around 10 past papers. Piano teacher marked the papers and commentted in the piano lessons. He was lucky he knew all the Italian words in the exam. His bad handwriting prevented him getting higher mark. His piano teacher hope he is her first student to get 100% but found disappointed.

Last day of school here and a last concert tomorrow.

Shaky - I did g5 theory with dd(9) myself - result in another 10 days. We concentrated on pulling all her playing knowledge together - easier when they play instruments from different families. She plays in a lot of ensembles which also helped a lot. Fingers crossed for the result but it def worked for us to see it from her playing perspective.

Better - did you teach him his grade 5 theory? I got one of my chidlren through at age 8 and one at age 9 but it's not easy. Did you teach him or did he do an alternative? I'm interested because there aren't many of us who help the younger ones get higher grades without being allied to a music college, I reckon.

School holidays here and with eight weeks to go to exams, we have lightened up the instrument practise. Miss 8 has changed reeds and we have a winner! I'm hoping they will be more consistent than Rico royals.

Well done to your DD dotdotdot and welcome to the thread.

DS2 not totally happy with his G6 piano yesterday, but three hours (and a singing lesson) later set of happily on his band trip abroad. Have told him not to expect such a big post-exam treat in the future!

Last school music lessons this week as well, as the teachers are on the trip. Piano will carry on a while longer. Still several concerts ...... but definitely starting to feel we are winding down.

Can I join this thread for the first time with a big grin? My Dd16 has just heard from her singing teacher that she has passed her first ever ABRSM exam, G5 singing with a distinction! She had a heavy cold at the exam but still managed to get there. She's also currently attending the National Youth Choir of Scotland's annual training camp for the first time and having a great time.

Have just dropped off dd for concert rehearsals, completely unphased by a 3 hour rehearsal followed by performing in a theatre for the first time, not bad for a child who suffers anxiety!

For the wind band she has to wear all black, it's surprisingly hard to find black tops for small girls so I ended up buying a ladies size ten for her, she is big for 8 but it will last a god few years!

I shouldbe I agree completely. I also hate the black skinny trousers which is what DD and most others tend to wear instead. I have at least got DD into black socks. One band insists on at least knee length skirts. The school tour group insists on ankle length.

Thanks all.
Shakyisles, DS plays piano 20 mins, violin 45 mins each day. It's timed. He will stop the clock for something else. He's now used to record himself what he practices in each time slot. The outcome justifies the time spent on each instrument. Even he started violin half year later,he is more confident on violin now. This is his first violin exam. He got full marks on two pieces. The third one he play too quick so the accompanist didn't catch up. Most likely he will not be a musician.

RaspberryLemonPavlova I am glad that I have it easy because I have a boy and all he needs is school uniform with a different tie. I am obviously a boring old fogey because I don't think that something that ends eight inches above the knee makes appropriate concert dress. There were some lovely little black dresses at the music centre concert we went to but with the emphasis on "little". There tends to be more coverage for the Christmas concert as goosebumps aren't all that attractive.

(Eight days of school and two music lessons left - not that I'm counting or anything)

Woolleybear quite right to celebrate taking the exam - especially if they get nervous and feel a bit drained after. DS2 is normally quite confident but he was in a large hall this time instead of a small exam room and was a bit flustered.
Meanwhile DS1 has a school concert next week and is having age inappropriate strops about what to play and claiming to have forgotten everything on the flute, though I have pointed out a week of practising one piece would soon fix that. I have also made clear we are not transporting a 3.5 octave xylophone to school for one piece! Can't wait for the summer holidays!
Waffle lots of exciting news for Mini, well done to her! I do hope she pursues the orchestral percussion but I see what you mean about not leaving piano too late.

Snow! Wow. Enjoy, Shaky (or rather, Shaky's children)!

Better - that's amazing! Huge congratulations. I'm amazed he can find the time to practise two instruments at that level. My daughter manages an hour and a quarter per day. She started piano with me but couldn't find any practise time so just doodles round for fun on it. He must be really dedicated - does he want to be a musician?

It snowed here last night. My children are very excited as it doesn't happen very often. Not enough to even make snowballs :-( but there might be more snow to tonight!

We celebrate getting through the exam too Woolleybear.

Waiting time depends on the board and the teacher. Trinity's examiners hands them over to the local rep as they leave. ABRSM varies a bit but they have got a lot faster. Our teachers usually text us as soon as they know, or tell them if its at school.

DS2 was the last one in at his school based clarinet exam before Easter, he knew within 20 minutes!

Well apparently the grade 1 went well, we have been to dinner to celebrate the achievement of getting through the exam (success for us starts before the pass!). Dd said there was one big squeak during her unaccompanied piece but that was the only major mistake. She has been struggling with the aural but apparently enjoyed it today "because the lady was nice and she played really easy pieces". I'm guessing we will have to wait quite a while for results?

Thank you Loose and IShould. We will wait to hear but hopefully good results for both of us. Waffle - well done to your Mini. Such great opportunities lies ahead for her. V exciting. Better - fantastic results, congratulations!

DS2 has Grade 6 piano tomorrow, I think he will be fine but his scales and the Aural could probably be better.

He is also off on school band trip for ten days tomorrow, and has a singing lesson between the two to practice a solo he is singing when he gets back!

Apart from that we have had a huge number of concerts with all DC and several still to go.

I've convinced DD that a long black dress would look really nice for the County Youth Orchestra next week, (men are in bow ties, which will be a first for DS1). It does however mean we need to find one we both like!

Wow, some good results here. Dd's grade 1 clarinet exam will be over now but I won't find out til 5.30 how it went as it was at school. She was very nervous this morning but hoping for a pass and that it was a good experience. No time for rest, concert tomorrow, with a whole 3 hours of rehearsal before hand!

Well done for all the fantastic achievements of musical DCs! You must all be very proud!

Dd started one of her grade 3 pieces last week and she enjoys it, it is one of the alternatives which she really liked. I can't wait to see if she'll be able to memorise this one also as it is of course a longer piece compared to what she did until now.

Bettertochange, what a fantastic set of results, as you say it was a brilliant year for him.

Wafflenose what great news for Mini (the audition, not the 17 pages of music homework). Do they find/recommend the teacher or do you have to do that yourself?

I am beyond pleased that the group DS is with don't get any music in advance of the course - it doesn't give me something else to nag about.

wow, some fantastic achievements being shared by you all, well done to all the DCs (and parents for doing what you have to do!).

Junior school era over for us, see you all next term!

Waffle - slow start for DD as nco on Sunday was quite a trek into hot London; but looks like lovely pieces. Need to get dd's wind-playing stamina up before the course somehow or I fear she will be shattered by day 3.

Bettertochange - wow what a great year and a fantastic violin result. Hope DS is pleased!

Receiving email from his teacher that DS(9) got his G7 violin 142. He got G6 piano 134 last term, G5 theory 95 autumn term. What a brilliant year of music. Very proud of him.

Miss 8 actually loved scales - until this grade (6) where she has to learn melodics AND harmonics. Now she sees that actually they can, once committed to muscle memory, conspire against you. Her minor arpeggios want to turn into diminished sevenths. Her melodics want to change into harmonics in the second octave. It's driving her mad. Fortunately she has over 8 weeks to iron out the kinks. She does know all her scales but not effortlessly yet. All the melodics are a notch slower; she hesitates before playing so she can make sure her fingers are going to behave!

Miss 11 has started her grade 8 scales now the new syllabus is out. She doesn't like hates scales. I've told her and explained how they work. I've shown her all my Taffanel and Gaubert flute studies (in all the keys) and exercises journaliers - and tell her how lucky she is that she doesn't have to do many.
She remains unconvinced.