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Original poster

New Year Music and Musicians Thread

991 replies

Wafflenose · 04/01/2016 13:46

Morning all, and Happy New Year. I decided it was time for a new music thread too. I really enjoy hearing about what everyone (and their DCs) are up to each term, and it's great to hear from new posters too.

I have two DDs. Goo (10) - the child previously known as MiniWaffle. She's not very mini any more... she's 4'10" and catching up with me. Anyway, she plays the recorder, flute, piccolo and a bit of piano when it occurs to her. She is doing Grade 5 Theory and possibly Grade 5 Flute (if the new teacher deems her ready) this term. Next recorder exam will be Grade 7, but possibly not for about 18 months! Am hoping the new flute teacher will also do a bit of piano with her... we'll see.

And Rara (7) - previously known as BabyWaffle - plays the recorder and cello. I was thinking of putting her in for Grade 1 Theory, but she's not keen, so we'll wait. She is in the blissfully calm position of no exams this term - yay!

We all have the local music festival next month. I think Goo is doing 11 Classes, and Rara about 7 (plus possibly helping with some percussion parts). I have 27 groups, pairs and individuals entered, so am going to be busy for the next month or so.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 04/02/2016 12:18

It's great to see Rara with her medal - the start of many, I suspect! Hope today goes really well for the school musicians. Love the duck quackers!
DS2 has overdone the growth spurts and needs a bigger cello. Luckily, his teacher thinks she knows someone who wants to sell a good 3/4 so he could be in luck! On the piano front, Stormy Coast is sounding so much better thanks to him actually practising it without being chivvied.
I seem to be progressing faster with the pieces for grade 4 than I remember doing for grade 3. On the other hand, the list of scales is very, very scary.

raspberryrippleicecream · 03/02/2016 23:18

What a pretty girl, Waffle. She does look proud. Hope she has a good day tomorrow.

andantecantabile · 03/02/2016 22:34

Congratulations on the fab results Wafflenose! I've read this thread a lot, although I am a teacher and not a parent, but this is my first post.

Just wanted to reply to woolleybear - is she keeping her right hand down over the keys when crossing over the break for the scales? Doing this will make it smoother and hopefully make the breath last a little longer.

I have two grade 6s, a grade 7, a grade 3 and a grade 1 this session - I might have no fingernails left by the end of it!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 03/02/2016 22:23

Wow, I am overwhelmed by your support. Thank you all so much. Fun day at the festival tomorrow - taking a coachload of 42 recorder players from our school. Plus a train whistle, duck quackers, cymbals and more. All will be revealed tomorrow evening, or the next day.

Raspberry we have more recorder classes than we used to - this year they were overhauled and although I'm not on the festival committee or anything, I was consulted, which was very nice.

May I present to you... Rara! She is very proud of her medal, and put it on again when she got home from school.

New Year Music and Musicians Thread
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Mistigri · 03/02/2016 18:42

waffle wow what a haul!!! Well done to your DDs and all your students, and hats off to their teacher!

drummersmum or anyone else who knows piano music - I have the list of Chopin nocturnes for DD's end of year exam. She's going to give them all a good listen tonight, but if you have any thoughts on whether any of these are reasonably accessible (or to be avoided at all costs) I would appreciate your views, bearing in mind that she's a very musical but relatively inexperienced (second year) pianist with small hands. She would struggle more with a technically difficult/fast piece than one that is rhythmically or musically complex and needing sensitive interpretation.

Opus 9 no 1
Opus 27 no 1
Opus 55 no 1
Opus posth. 72 no 1

se22mother · 03/02/2016 17:12

Well done waffle and family- brilliant results.

I gave notice to the shouty teacher today. Hope we find something else soon.

drummersmum · 03/02/2016 14:18

Well done Waffles and thank you for sharing the photo. It makes it come alive.

SuspendedinGaffa · 03/02/2016 13:58

Wow! Awesome results for the Waffles personally and professionally. Many congratulations, and good luck with creating enough free space to display the haul! Smile

ealingwestmum · 03/02/2016 10:35

That's some medal clean up from your family and students...well done to waffle on a very successful festival!

Musicmom1 · 03/02/2016 09:45

Waffle - great results/kids/teacher 😀 DD was super motivated to practice last night when I showed her the pic!

Icouldbeknitting · 03/02/2016 09:16

Congratulations to the family Waffle, it sounds like a lot of work for you both professionally and as mum but hasn't it paid off?

LooseAtTheSeams · 03/02/2016 09:04

Waffle congratulations on an all-round triumph! Star It's lovely to hear all your hard work was rewarded and Goo looks so happy! i think your students are very fortunate to have you as a teacher.

Fleurdelise · 03/02/2016 07:42

Congrats Waffle for the great results! You must feel really proud being such a fantastic teacher!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 03/02/2016 07:29

mom17 they go to the village (state) school. We will stay with state for secondary - the local one is fab, and we definitely can't afford private. I wouldn't want to home school - I would have to give up my main job, which we rely on financially, and Goo and I would drive each other round the twist. She Is extremely sociable, high maintenance and loud... I am the opposite!

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Pradaqueen · 03/02/2016 05:54

Congrats Waffle to you and your family, what a fantastic reward for your hard work!

mom17 · 03/02/2016 04:26

WOW, wafflenose. BIG Congratulation to both of your DDs. Just wondering Are both attending normal school or you are home schooling ? Can't think doing so much with school.

raspberryrippleicecream · 02/02/2016 21:32

You've reminded me I need to return DS2s two trophies ready for our festival next month.

Good luck on Thursday

raspberryrippleicecream · 02/02/2016 21:28

Well done Waffle, Goo and Rara!!!!

So pleased for all of you, and lovely Rara has a trophy too!

You have so many recorder classes! We have, 2, beginner and advanced.

P

Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/02/2016 20:59

LOL we live in a tiny cottage and the girls share a tiny room! Will have to clear the mantlepiece and put them there, until Goo gets her own room in the summer (we are going to sort out the spare room/ office for her, which is even smaller but will be all hers) and she can have a special shelf in there.

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Greenleave · 02/02/2016 20:47

Wow Waffle, thats amazing!!! I wish we will have one of what Goo is holding

RapidlyOscillating · 02/02/2016 20:36

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RapidlyOscillating · 02/02/2016 20:31

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/02/2016 20:04

As I know some of you in real life anyway, I don't think it can hurt... here is Goo trying to carry it all.

New Year Music and Musicians Thread
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Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/02/2016 19:52

Great day at the festival today! I don't take Junior pupils from my main work school (private) as there are sooo many of them, and they get loads of performance opportunities anyway. I took my Seniors though - one won a beginner class and came second in the Descant Recorder 12 & Under, and the other came second in the 14 & Under. I concentrate on the kids from our village school. This year, our year 6 group ended a 15 year reign by another school and won their ensemble class, with Year 5 joint runners up. Rara and her friend won their 8 & Under duet (a year young!!) for her first medal and trophy at a festival - yay! Rara was also 2nd in the 8 & Under Descant Solo. Goo and her friend flattened all opposition to win theirs easily, playing a fast, modern piece and a beautiful Sheep May Safely Graze. Goo and I won our open duet, by being the only entrants. Goo also won three of her four solo recorder classes (Descant 12 & Under, Treble 10 & Under, Treble 12 & Under) one to three years young for the groups, and (the icing on the cake) also won her the Woodwind 10 & Under class, which was massive, on the Flute! She was also the youngest - the others are all Year 6, so she can have another go at all of this next year. It's been her best festival by far, and mine too - most classes were well attended, and our lowest finish all day was 2nd!

Tomorrow, I'm at work, and on Thursday, Rara has two strings classes and both girls will be among the 42 I'm taking on a coach to compete in Group Tuition classes - all kinds of silliness lined up. Then on Friday the four of us are in the Family Music class, and Rara and I are doing a non-competitive Parent and Child Duet. I'm so happy... and Goo can't get over her 6 titles, 6 medals and 6 trophies!

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Mistigri · 02/02/2016 18:13

drummersmum thanks for that, she may have her work cut out ;)