New Year Music and Musicians Thread

If it helps, DS2 plays trombone and clarinet and has no problem with embouchure for either. He was playing clarinet first. (He tried trumpet before trombone, but was better with trombone).

Thanks Icouldbeknitting, the cost of having one at home is as much a factor as the space and while it does sound like a fun instrument to play I would rather she did at least a little practice outside of her lesson!

I have had a marimba in my car together with the marimba player. I think she said that it cost around £16k, considerably more than the car it was in. You can practise without the base, the bars all roll up and you can put them directly on the floor. It's quieter that way. You need different beaters because some of the bars are very fragile and if you use the wrong beater it gets expensive. That is the sum total of my knowledge other than you can get one in the back of a Picasso.

Piano is a good start for tuned percussion - many notes together and two clefs so maybe they all start on piano?

Hello, dd is now doing grade 2 clarinet this term as opposed to next which is when I was expecting it. The pieces came together within a matter of a few weeks but we are still struggling a little with scales, does anyone have any tips. She is happy and confident with the notes but is just struggling to save enough breath to do 15 clear notes in a row. Many thanks for any advice!

We are also having second instrument discussions in this house at the moment. Dd is favouring the marimba (can't afford to have one at home) or the trumpet (clarinet teacher very against this) whilst I am trying to encourage piano or another wind instrument! We are in no rush to start although the school considers we should be in order to consider music scholarships (prep school, so scholarships look good for them!)

All Chopin I forgot to add!

Mitigiri,
As far as I know, there are no grade 6 Nocturnes but these are the ones graded 7 difficulty:
n.02 in Eb Op.9 n.2
n.06 in Gm Op. 15 n.3
n.11 in Gm Op.37 n.1
n.15 in Fm Op.55 n.1
n.19 in Em Op. posth 72 n.1
n.20 in C#m
n.11 in Gm Op.37 n.1

Time to start Spotifying :)!

Loose it will be a panel. She will have to present three pieces, the Chopin will be the main one, the second will certainly be Mussourgsky's Une Larme which she already plays beautifully (is not really difficult or technical) and she'll need a third, hopefully easier, classical or baroque piece...

I'm interested to see which nocturnes she gets to choose from. AFAIK there aren't many that are accessible at grade 6/7!

She has a concert on Wed, she is playing a duet with another student - it's a new piece by a contemporary composer who has links with the local conservatoire. Still haven't heard her radio slot as I forgot to listen on Saturday (bad mother!!!).

I don't understand, why would a teacher scream at a parent? There is no situation that comes to mind to excuse this kind of behaviour.

Dd's teacher doesn't even shout at DD even in situations when it could be excused maybe, if she would be disrespectful to me there would be no coming back.

We changed two teachers because they couldn't take DS through the upper grades. It was therefore agreed. He loves all his teachers (four now...:O) but also liked the old ones I must say. Teacher that screams is OUT!
MISTIGIRI Chopin nocturne sounds fab. DS is learning one of his waltzes and I never get tired of it.

Mistigri hopefully you will hear very soon about the piece - Chopin Nocturne sounds challenging - though very lovely and I am sure she's going to do brilliantly in the exam! Is there a panel of judges or just one examiner like here?
SE22 I think I would give the notice anyway! I can't identify the planet on which a teacher should scream at a parent - or child. But it is an interesting question about changing teacher. DS2 has had the same cello and piano teachers and they are very good so we would only change them if they forced us to! I seriously can hear improvement after each lesson. DS1 on the other hand has had teachers leave the music centre so the change wasn't out of choice but even then, in each case I think it's been good to have new ideas. The time it went wrong was the disappearing drum teacher (it would be the drum teacher!) but that got sorted out and he has a great drum teacher now!

Thanks everyone, we are looking hard for a new teacher before the half term notice period.

vlad welcome!

se22 your teacher sounds awful, I wouldn't stand for that. Find a new one pronto!

There are lots of reasons why one might change teacher ... DD simply grew out of her first (recorder) teacher, though she ended up dropping the instrument rather than changing teacher. We changed piano teacher this year, for practical reasons rather than because of dissatisfaction, but the new teacher is also a step up in terms of teaching and DD finds her inspiring.

Sometimes it isn't even about finding a "better" teacher. I've changed guitar teacher this year (due to timetabling issues) and although I rate my old teacher very highly, the new one suits my learning style better.

We are STILL waiting to hear exactly what DD will be playing for her end of year piano exam . I was relaxed about it, on the grounds that the exam in question is for entry into the "second cycle" of the French music school programme (approx grade 4/5) - until DD told me on Friday that one of the pieces will be a Chopin Nocturne!!!! (exact one still to be decided, she will get to choose between two or three proposed by her teacher).

Sounds like a fabulous start viadthedisorganised, and yes to those considering change, inspired teaching makes such a difference...good ones strive to work with you, not scream at you!

Hello! Can I join?

We're right at the beginning of the music journey: DD is 5 so still very small. She started cello and piano this term - I was a bit worried as to whether two instruments would be too much, but she adores both. We're lucky in that she has two excellent teachers who are really encouraging. No exams for a good while yet; I'm happy that she's having fun and starting to play real tunes :)

It is nice that she proclaims the lessons to be 'awesome' each week - long may it last :)

Hi SE22, I have previously posted about my DD's change of music teachers from 15min school lessons and v slow progress despite her practising religiously. I was also inspired by the successes on this thread of v young children. As waffle also said, we too have had a profound change going from Grade 1 violin and not even grade 1 piano last June to her taking grade 5 violin and theory this term and 5 piano planned for the summer term. We've also had encouragement from both teachers to audition for the NCO (she didn't get in but enjoyed the experience) and also enter music festivals. I woukd definitely say move teachers, the right one makes such a difference!

Wow Waffle - that's amazing, glad you found someone who fits so well. Good luck with the festival!

Re choiresters - DD (yr 5) got an unexpected invite to try out for a place for sept but it would mean boarding and that's not our plan right now. But I guess that they approached us means they are short of applicants.

I'm surprised that you're even asking. Anyone screaming at me would find it difficult to find a second opportunity to do so (toddlers excepted but then you aren't paying them). Unless you live in the back of beyond you will have a choice of violin teacher although some may have a waiting list. Do you really want to continue this relationship? I'm pushed to think of anything you could do as a parent that called for screaming but wasn't serious enough to have the lessons immediately terminated.

We changed music teacher after seven years, it was not such a big deal. DS was not the player he was when he started and he needed a specialist to progress. The current teacher (I think) would have been too scary for DS at 7 but was just what he needed later on. Not the same scenario as you are in because we left with the first teacher's blessing but there is nothing to say that you have to have the same teacher for life.

Hi, can anyone please reassure me that the process of changing music teacher can help a child grow in the long term. After several years of accepting outbursts from did violin teacher we are taking the plunge into looking for a new teacher as this term the teacher's behaviour has escalated. Teacher spent a lesson screaming at me rather than teaching did and this week's lesson and lady both dd and I felt the teacher wasn't really bothered about perfecting her tricky passages. Can a new teacher bring the enjoyment back? Dd does not want to give up the instrument

NewLife, I know another Y7 slightly, who local to us and has an older sister already at school. Their Mum tried to persuade me to consider it for DS2. Piano teacher is also keen to take DS2 to the open day next autumn, but that's a way off yet!

Singing lessons take a chunk out of another evening. They aren't compulsory so not everyone does them, which I think is totally mad, they are really good lessons with a sought after teacher.

Rapidly DS gets pocket money. It's based on length of service, Voice for Life level achieved, being side leader or head chorister etc. They also get paid for Special non-Cathedral events, weddings and broadcasts. He was paid a tiny bit last year for a brief appearance on Songs of Praise.

He also gets free 1-1 singing lessons and a grant towards the cost of one instrumental lesson. Additionally parents get a bursary each year for help with expenses.

He's there 4-7 after school twice a week, and 9-4 roughly 2 Sundays out of three. (Services shared with girls and Youth Choir).

Our church, different domination, has been very supportive of DS2, and put things in their newsletter occasionally about him.

Rapidly

Do you know that choristers are encouraged to continue into the school with their instruments after y8.
So from y9 until they leave after y13, they can study up to 3 instruments, including voice.
Although voice can't be a first instrument until 6th form, unless special circs which I don't know about yet.
Would be happy to tell you about funding etc if you want to pm.