New Year Music and Musicians Thread

I am so excited today. Goo finished her theory paper from the other night, and scored 97%!!! She lost 2 marks because she didn't know what a German word meant, and I gave her 14/15 for her composition - it was excellent and fulfilled all the criteria, but I think she might have been pulled up on several repeated notes in the middle. She really has nothing to worry about now. 2.5 weeks to go. We haven't started on the foreign words for Grades 4-5 yet, but will just do our best. They're not usually worth too many marks in the exam.

I had two new clarinet beginners yesterday, spanning quite a wide age range!! Anyone like to guess how old? (Excluding anyone I know in RL who already knows!) I am so proud of them both!

Oh wow, that's amazing! It sounds like she's on her way to becoming a professional musician!

Goo has had two orthodontic appointments this week. She was referred two years ago, but they were waiting for all her adult teeth to come in fully, which they now have. Anyway, she's getting (turquoise) blocks braces on March 2nd - yes, the same day as the theory exam! - then train tracks in about 9 months' time. I'm sure this will affect the flute profoundly in the medium term, but when her teeth are sorted, things will be much easier for her than they are currently. Knowing her, she'll whinge, moan and kick up a massive fuss... then cope with everything like a trooper.

It's theory night in the Waffle household - did any of you hear the whining/ yelling? I haven't made Goo do any for two weeks, due to the music festival, yet she still sat there and moaned non stop... mostly "I CAN'T DO THIS! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" etc. After 35 minutes she had done just over half of a past paper, and dropped 2 marks because she doesn't know any German yet. Do clearly it isn't as bad as all that. Roll on March 2nd. I am SO over this.

It's usually half a day, but we had sectionals this time, as it's early in the year. Last year they did the same thing once. Goo played 2nd Flute last year, and is on 1st this year. She's far from being one of the best - she's the youngest for a start - and two of the children who played 1st last year and are further on are playing 2nd this year. I think they just like to mix things up a bit. Anyway, the principal flute was absent yesterday, so Goo had to lead, and got to play a solo in Libertango! She did really well. It'll probably never happen again, but I'm glad she had the confidence to do it - she wouldn't have last year. She did come home saying she couldn't play much of the John Williams tribute. I printed out the music today for her to practise, and I can't play all of it either - it's a good Grade 8!! We'll do what we can, and try not to worry about it.

Goo had NCO yesterday - 11.30-5.00 this time. I thought she would be tired today, but she is now practising the pieces. Rara is going to a cello tea party with a few other little ones at her teacher's house later. We are taking cakes, and they are going to get to know each other and play some pieces together. She's quite shy, but I think she'll enjoy it.

Family Music was fun, and DH was singled out for being "very competent". We won a medal... between us. Rara is now wearing that one!! Parent and Child Duet was meant to be non-competitive, but a first place was awarded, doh! I thought it was just a bit of fun. Anyway, Rara and I came 2nd because the marks were distinction, commended and merit for the three items, and we got the Commended! So Rara can say she got two 1st and two 2nd this week. If she wants to.

No, she won't be auditioning for NCO this year. She's only around Grade 2, really not precise enough (so I doubt she would be chosen), hasn't played the cello too well this week under pressure, and is not a particularly mature 7 year old. She's adamant she doesn't want to either, although we might think about it when she's 9 or so.

I am very tired. I've just made up some school lessons which I had to miss on Tuesday. Anyway, the 42 children played really nicely on Tuesday. Each year group had a serious piece and a silly one: Year 2 - Joe Joe and We're Not Sitting Still; Year 3 - Sword Dance and Pop Goes the Weasel; Year 4 - Galopede and Five Little Ducks (including a sad minor section which they suggested themselves); Year 5 Hi Five (from the Grade 2 Xylophone syllabus!!) arranged for Trebles, and The Runaway Train; Year 6 Rumba (Xylophone piece arranged for Trebles again) and The Music Man, during which the recorder group gradually morphed into an orchestra. A string group from another school won the class, and my Year 4s came second. All the groups had silly sound effects and percussion. I expected everyone to fall about laughing as usual, but they didn't... the whole atmosphere was a bit flat. Not sure if it was the venue or the adjudicator, but they had fun anyway.

Rara played in two strings classes - beginners and 8 & Under. She played OK but there were some amazing musicians in both groups and she wasn't placed this time. Her teacher is impressed with her though, and has suggested Grade 2 next term.

Today, all four of us are playing in Family Music (DH has been playing the guitar for 20 years but has never performed in public) and Rara and I are playing in the Parent and Child Duet class. Both are non competitive, so a quiet end to a very busy week.