Spring/ Summer Music and Musicians Thread

Thanks for all your encouragement for DS for his upcoming group audition with Britten Sinfonia Academy, especially to icouldbeknitting for all your thoughts - perhaps I'll get him a "smart casual" shirt for the occasion - he brushes up quite well really! Maybe hair not too short? - he tends to get quite a short haircut and then it gradually grows out. He likes it short, I like it slightly more classic, so it's a compromise approach!
I especially liked what you said about being positive about the opportunity. As it's a whole day with them he can mostly just do his best, and be engaged and friendly and positive I think, which he basically is. Think we'll try to talk with a couple of friends over the next 2 months who are a bit further down the musician's road - one at the Royal College of Music, and one a professional flute player, also music teachers at DS's school (one also a professional musician)

I'm thinking we might put grade 8 on hold til December and concentrate on the audition preparation and scales (lucky DS!) Scales are not so great at the moment so some solid practice of those alongside more sight reading experience might do him good as prep for both audition and grade 8?
And I feel we have quite a lot going on already with DD doing her AS exams this summer. 2 weeks time!
Yes, think I'll definitely go for that if I can persuade the music teacher. He's been saying it's absolutely our choice, but I know he favours doing it earlier! Not that sure why.
I think December is soon enough though, and maybe DS can work towards a merit with some solid practice behind him?

Fleur - we went to a harp trial session; was lovely and I had a go too. But we would a new house AND anew car!!

I had to explain to DD that DH would probably move out if we end up with another huge instrument in the house. We already had to rearrange the living room to accommodate the piano. I love the harp too but unless NeverEver wins the lottery and buys us that mansion she promised no space I am afraid.

Is it easy to find marimba teachers? And no, I am not looking into marimba lessons, I am just curious.

DH has played marimba, he went on a brass band summer school and signed up for percussion rather than his instrument. I think it's fair to say that he learned a lot that week.

Ha ha! When I went mad and bought a xylophone for DS1, his teacher did suggest. Marimba. We basically only just shoehorned the xylophone into the house; there was no way I could get a marimba into any of the rooms without removing the sofa from the front room! And I know this is what people do!

Fleur the harp is a rather lovely instrument, I can see why your DD would want one. And why you had to say no!

The marimba sounds awesome! I hope you have a large front room ;)

Fleur we also drew the line at harp (and at double bass )

Fingers crossed for you to win the lottery NeverEver!

We do have a glockenspiel though. Does that count?

If I win the lottery I'll buy each of us a marimba (and a mansion to go with it)!

Drummersmum that's fabulous but I imagine it doesn't leave a lot of space in the living room! Lovely sound, though...

Oh, and is it very difficult to learn how to play? It looks difficult.

drummersmum I had no clue your Ds was learning marimba, in fact I know nothing about the instrument except that it sounds amazing.

Fleur he has been learning both marimba and xylophone for a couple of years. He tested it with Albeniz's Asturias with three mallets and it was so nice.

When I asked "can he play it" I meant are the skills transferable from another instrument?

I love the idea of it! I would love one. But then DD will hold me ransom that I didn't allow her to learn to play the harp due to the instrument being too big.

Two metres - there's plenty of room to get the mattress underneath. I'm sure that you'd soon learn to ignore the clanging every time he turned over in the night.

Ohhhh! Marimba! Love it! Can he play it?

I have marimba envy.

Today DS chiefly moaned about not playing well enough.

Living room. We had to move piano against book shelf... marimba is 2 meters long.

Ha icould Big hanging resonators are not good sleep companions...

Is it big enough to sleep under? Stick his mattress underneath it - space problem solved.

mistigiri how fabulous!!
I also have news. DS was given an award recently towards an instrument and we have bought a 4.3 octaves marima! and I am moving out

Gosh Mistgri that sounds fantastic.
Its brilliant that your dd's talent is being recognised and supported.
Our new piano is being practiced on a lot ( sounds lush) and dd has new piano teacher who is challenging her... Which is good ( despite the whinging)
And it's sunny and lovely today! .. -Just did a big walk in the peaks..was beautiful

I have my old piano books too! They've been patched like anything and now that DC have progressed beyond some of the more basic ones I'm thinking about binning them...