New Year Music and Musicians Thread

Fleur: she didnt do too well the last lesson as she was ill(a terrible cold, got it from me). We have only another lesson and I have been home late these days so dont know if any progress. I hope to find out tomorrow night when I could rush home slightly earlier and check on it( she hasnt been fully recovered so tired and has been in bed from 8pm, I got home around 7pm and after putting the baby to bed then there isnt time). How is Minifleur doing, I hope she is in better shape. I keep telling myself that after this one then we will take some break, just another more than a week.

Waffle: hope the sore goes real soon and its good to hear Goo was confident. My dd is very likely gonna need a brace too so I am dreadful to think about that day!!!

Regarding to theory, my dd reads the red book (must have reread it more than couple if times now to be able to remember anything) then do the practice book, if all errors, questions were answered then move to the past papers. I bought 3 for each grade 1 and 2 (yr2012-2014). The practice book takes longest. The grade 1 was very easy(did everything in 2 weeks) while she found grade 2 was hard. I havent planned anything yet as I'd like to see how she is doing within her own pace. She is the "love learning" type so I am lucky in the way that I dont have to tell/nag if no progress. If she hasnt done it there must be a reason(illness, busy with other things). This approach might be completely different for her sister as She is not showing any similar sight as her elder sister(very boyish, playful and little or no patience to anything so far)

Fleur how old is your DD? Mine did grade 5 theory at age 13 having done nothing before. She did about an hour a week with the abrsm books for about 3 months and taught herself. She got a merit, even after losing loads of easy marks from not having bothered to memorise the terminology and on the composition due to lack of detail. So it is definitely achievable.

Assuming your DD is younger and does not have my DD's cavalier attitude I would recommend using a tutor and doing the odd past paper.

Thank you for sharing Pradaqueen. DD is probably just ready to look at grade 2 theory but I would like to accelerate the learning process and give it more focus as her teacher is suggesting she may skip grade 4 practical and move to grade 5 therefore after this she'll be stuck unless she takes the theory exam. I hope she'll be able to cover all grades by next year and I was wondering if it is achievable.

Good luck to your DD, I hope the results come out soon.

Green how is preparation for grade 3 practical? Is she ready?

Hope Goo did well in theory and the new brace isnt sore!

Pradaqueen: thanks so much for sharing. My daughter started theory from Jan(we had more than couple of weeks holiday between) and now just finished grade 2 theory. Grade 2 is already a step up, cant imagine grade 5. She is 8 and in year 3. Her marks for past papers were around 80%

Hello everyone! Minprada is out of the grade 5 theory exam. She took the full two hours... Don't think we've got anything more than a pass but I'll take that any day to take the pressure off the educational arms race next year in year 6.... She said the paper was on the hard side only one foreign word (German!) so that'll help Goo Waffle!

Fleurdelise, I'd say it depends on the child and the teacher how quickly/ slowly it'll take. Miniprada has gone from Grade 1 theory (distinction) last summer (July 2015) to grade 3 xmas (merit) to Grade 5 now but she is exceptionally good at languages for her age and most importantly, she loves learning. A couple of Her friends hate theory which is a real shame as frankly they have to get past grade 5 to move on in the practical should they want to. I am indebted to her piano teacher for being so patient and encouraging. Roll on the results and I wish everyone much luck with their entries!

Waffle how did Goo do in the exam? Did she come out satisfied?

I hope she's getting used to her new braces also.

Can I ask you, how long would you say it takes to prepare a kid from grade 1 ready to grade 5 theory?

Good luck to Goo and all other DC.

Good luck Goo! I am sure she'll do amazing!

What about some Scottish fiddle music? There is a lot of crossover with American folk and really good for improvisation and building technique. Scott Skinner's The Scottish Violinist is about grade 5 on and my go to reference. Trinity have just produced a fiddle syllabus and lots of other ideas in there.

Sorry, I missed the jazz piano book somehow.

Thanks for that.
Does anyone know if there are similar books in violin?
And maybe jazz/ragtime piano books for Grade 3/4?

ABRSM has published some books with graded pieces such as these for piano. I don't have them but they are on my wish list for future reference

Encore: Book 2, Grades 3 & 4: Your favourite ABRSM piano exam pieces (ABRSM Exam Pieces) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1848498489/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_SNi1wbVGVJZ8Q

Jazz Piano Pieces, Grade 4 (ABRSM Exam Pieces) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1860960065/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_RMi1wbK2VG1VN

Hello
I wondered if anyone could give me suggestions for piano and violin books for my DS.
He loves jazz and ragtime and would be interested in Grade 5/6 for violin and 3/4 on piano.
However, he likes to play a variety of music and we are looking for something outside the Grade books, that he can practise at home. Maybe something that has a variety of classical composers and styles?
I am not musical so do not really know how to help him.
Thanks

Waffle

Well done to Goo, she does sound well prepared, Good luck. Let us know as soon as she has passed I should say distinct not passed

Dd has grade 2 Piano coming up soon and will take grade 5 theory in October.
I thought she'd be one of the last ones to take it, but there's quite a lot in her year yet to take it, and some even older.
It seems strange to be away from the pressure of preparing for exams but dd likes it. She will do exams, but not each one, and only one per year varying instruments. So might not do another Piano exam for a couple of years and whichever one she's ready for iyswim. They only get about a month to practice pieces but they are taught to be ready.

So sorry for the hijack above btw.

Hasn't March come round quickly? I remember the theory exam being AGES away and then suddenly here it is.

Thank you! I've inboxed you!

No it's fine, happy to help.

It just means it doesn't cost you as much, they disregard a certain amount.
I may have seen over a thousand/ maybe 2k for other dependants, but I may be dreaming that bit
No, it doesn't matter what school they attend, it's to appreciate you have another mouth to feed.
I remember they look at savings but strangely don't count tax credits as income, but need the info.

I'll pm you when I get off backside and find last years notes.
You have 3 bills per year August, January and not sure now with Easter being soon. Probably beginning of next term.

Also when you say there are allowances for other dependants I assume it is regardless of what they do, by this I mean the other dependants don't have to be in a music school? We also have DS who would be going into 6th form as she enters secondary school.

Gosh, I should just email the school with all these questions, shouldn't I?

Green we're in the same boat, not sure what brings next, if she'll do grade 4 or skip it and do 5 later on. No rush, Dd's teacher seems to think there isn't a huge jump between grade 3 and 4 with regards to pieces so she said she'll see how she's progressing, she'll decide later on if it is worth doing or skip to grade 5.

NewLife thank you for your advice, in think we may give it a go as one of the schools in on our door step (20 min away) so it would be a shame not to. Probably for entry into year 7, she's year 4 now, she seems to be on track to achieve the level suggested in piano.

Now my other question: I know that having more than one instrument is an advantage, DD sings but not seriously, just school choir and always singing around the house. Would I have to hire a teacher to get it more serious? Would another instrument give her more of a chance? What is your experience, which instruments is your DD playing? Sorry, I am sure you stated before, but if you don't mind repeating the info I would appreciate it.

Fleur

I kept last years in my file I'll check documentation, but off top of my head.

We are small business and had to send everything.

If you didn't read all the school stuff there are allowances for any other dependants. Not sure how much because we only have dd dependant now.

disorganised

I think they are pretty similar tbh, it's Wells that seems a bit different as it offers scholarships for other things than music.

You learn something new everyday there is assistance for Art, photography.
I hadn't seen this before, nor did I realise how many centres also attracted support.