Spring/ Summer Music and Musicians Thread

Hi Lucy
first and most important is does he want to start? Then give it a try.
DS started at 4 because he was born in a house with a piano that was played very often and from an early age he started trying it out, experimenting ,etc till it became obvious he better be taught. A teacher said she needed to check if his fingers were ready. She said yes but we ended up not using that teacher (she was Russian old style, and at the time we thought she was too strict as he came out of the second lesson with teary eyes). Instead, his dad who can play started teaching him in a very casual way starting with the Bastien method which is very child friendly. They started with two books:
www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/piano-party-book-b-sheet-music/313032?narrow_by=Bastien
and
www.sheetmusicplus.com/look_inside?R=312590
This is a sample of the contents:
kjos.vo.llnwd.net/o28/pdf/WP200_PG_S.pdf
They took it super slowly always having fun and he didn't sit Grade 1 till he was 7.
I don't think starting young is a problem but I don't regret taking it slowly. He is 14 now preparing grade 8 and also added jazz lessons, still loves it and even though he's quite demanding with himself, he has a pressure free relationship with the instrument. It shows in the fact that he's become a fearless improviser.

Hi guys

Not sure if I am being caught up in the enthusiasm of this thread (and feeling competitive or just on the right track with DCs!

Anyway, can I have honest opinions about a five year old starting piano? DD has a lesson on Mon while DS and I wait in the room next door and I thought.. well, as we're waiting anyway, maybe he can do it too... BUT I don't want to put him off.

He's started picking out notes with most of his fingers (!!) rather than just boom booming, and he is reading fairly ok so I don't think learning ABC for notes will impact his school learning... BUT he is still an almost five year old whose favourite thing is to sing a willie bum poo song and laugh, so... might be better to wait!

Have any of you had an early starter on piano? Piano teacher is not Suzuki by the way. She also may think it's a bit too early.

Sorry about terrible typo as I am on blackberry and still tempting to mumsnet awggg!

Loose: fingers crossed, we are normally pessimistic being a mum, I am sure it's better than a pass

We are having a guest tonight who stays with us for a night. He did his grade 8 piano, St playing for pleasure an in a church at weekends. Hopefully the piano will eventually be recognised as our G3 learner hasn't appreciated it as much

I know what you mean, Fleur. It's not quite the same, but after DS1 started teaching himself the bass guitar, I got worried that he was picking up some bad habits with the fingering and made him take lessons. He has absolutely flown with it since!
Asked both DSs about their exams last night. Can't say I was filled with absolute confidence by the answers. I'm hoping they've done enough to pass but am also feeling pragmatic about resits!

Thank you Loose! I think I would have remained with the initial plan as she'll miss about 3 lessons in July but I feel guilty not taking advantage of her curiousity.

And also I think she'd get bad habits, I tried hiding it but she found it and she is already probably having a bad embouchure, I don't want it to become a reflex and have troubles to get rid of it.

I'll let you know if/when she gets bored.

Lovely to hear about her enthusiasm, Fleur - and good for you for moving things along! I thinks she's going to be very excited about her new lessons!

So after another day of DD not giving the clarinet a rest, literally giving me a scare, coming in the kitchen with the clarinet in one piece saying "look mum, I put it together myself" and making different sounds by pressing random keys and being happy about it I have texted the teacher and she can start tomorrow.

She doesn't know yet but I think she'll jump for joy when finding out given that she went to sleep saying "I love all my activities and I can't wait to learn how to play clarinet, I think it will become my favourite".

I hope she keeps her enthusiasm, I have to say, she wasn't so enthusiastic when she started piano. But she was only 6...

I'll have a look!

Never - the Vivaldi is awesome but very challenging!

Prada I found the syllabus. I must have got the old one when I looked last time. I was just wondering if it was this one. Thanks!

Ooh Fleur, that looks exciting! Congratulations!

Never- re the Rondino, I think it is the Kreisler one but will check. It's in the 2016/1019 ABRSM G5 syllabus list B from memory. She also did the Vivaldi from the additional pieces (list A) and the Intermezzo by Kodaly (C). The Intermezzo was a really fab piece that she played as a solo last week in the local orchestra concert.

Fleurdelise like your thing too!

I discussed potential cello lessons with dd's violin teacher and got big NO. The argument was that two different technical approaches can interfere with each other and it will be a mess.
(big sigh) No cello for us then....

Also asked our teachers about Practical Musicianship exam, it appears that one of them was already thinking in this direction and the other one promised to have a look too....

Its very beautiful Fleur, how exciting, I wouldnt wait either, hope Minifleur will progress real fast with it

Fleur what a beautiful thing...

Fleur

That looks very pretty and well done to your dd.
sounds like it was the right choice and definitely agree to asking for earlier lessons.

waffle Your lego battles sound similar to the ones I remember with ds1 and 2. I wish they were both still at home, arguing and creating havoc they grow up too soon. Glad to hear Goo is better.
Too many people to name, so good luck to all those taking exams.

I'll call the teacher on Monday, maybe she'll have a few spare lessons here and there. Maybe start officially in June, I don't know.

Looks lovely Fleur! Absolutely perfect!

We had a potentially music free Saturday for once ( no music centre today) but actually spent the day getting dd's clarinet ( Clarence) serviced. Booked it in for early this morning, then dropped it off at the workshop and spent a lovely day exploring before picking him up all perfect and leak-free later on. A day well spent

Fleur good for her - it's a long wait until September.

It was never going to be any other way fleur!

Enjoy, and good luck with getting her to start learning earlier

DD spent the afternoon learning how to put the clarinet together, take it apart, how to have a correct embouchure and to play a few notes. After an hour of fiddling with it and watching YouTube she stated she loves it while we put it away.

I am now considering contacting the teacher to find a solution to start early.

DH got his date for his G1 challenge exam (which is now G3 because he missed the date for entries in the last session) and by some fluke it's a date he can do. That's the first time in years he's started with a date he can actually make. He is now deciding what he'd like to do after that, keep on with flute or try something else. He mentioned kit percussion this afternoon. Fortunately words failed me for long enough for him to say that he'd be practising on the kit in the bandroom so I think I'm ok with that.

Well done miniprada! Good luck for all of the DCs taking summer session exams!

We have picked this beauty up

DD's got her date for her G5 oboe exam - her birthday! (End of June) She has her accompanist rehearsal next week, exams after half term and then her music exam...yay