Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Spring/ Summer Music and Musicians Thread

981 replies

Wafflenose · 10/04/2016 11:25

My children go back to school tomorrow, and it's my birthday this week, so it must be properly spring in the UK now, and time for a new thread! Please jump right in by telling us about your DCs' learning (or your own), or by asking any music/ music exam related questions you like. We have lots of experienced music parents and teachers on here, as well as lots of new ones.

I am a music teacher, and mum to Goo (10) and Rara (7). Goo started the recorder and flute when she was tiny (age 3 and 6 respectively), has recently added piccolo, but not very well yet, and is starting piano lessons in a couple of weeks. She has no exams this term, but will probably do Grade 6 Flute in the Autumn and Grade 8 Recorder next Spring. She plays in her school orchestra and recorder groups, South West Music School and NCO, and has her first concert with County Wind Band tonight, after a trial course. She hasn't auditioned to become a member yet, and might not for a few years yet, due to age and time factors.

Rara isn't so musically inclined - she prefers to read and draw, and is also very physically active. However, she is due to take her Grade 2 Cello exam this term, and Grade 3 Recorder in the Autumn - she's currently getting to grips with the treble and loving it!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
onlymusic · 16/05/2016 21:30

Greenleave, this is great!

Greenleave · 16/05/2016 21:23

Fleur: please dooooo!!!

Onlymusic: I was too fast and bought the abrsm one. Then saw your text and now we have both yayyy!!!
Loose and all: got home tonight and saw a super grin from some one who had TWO stickers hahaha. Apparently it went well for both violin and theory(or our teacher is being kind!!!)

Spring/ Summer Music and Musicians Thread
onlymusic · 16/05/2016 21:20

NeverEverAnythingEver how do you practice the parts where they have to say what the change was or was music in 2/3/4 times? Do you play yourself or use a cd?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 16/05/2016 21:15

Our music school have free aural classes for pupils taking exams. We practise at home, but the improvement DS1 made in those classes was astounding. The teacher must be very good. I practise with them at home when we remember. But we don't use the app.

onlymusic · 16/05/2016 21:14

Fleurdelise would be lovely to see your dd playing!

NeverEverAnythingEver · 16/05/2016 21:13

The really fast bit is not really hard and is the most fun bit to play. Grin

onlymusic · 16/05/2016 21:11

Greenleave here is information about app www.playnote.com/web/index.html

Noteventhebestdrummer seems like app prepares better than the teachers and as already said it is never enough time for everything during the lesson. Did you try it? It is really good...

Fleurdelise · 16/05/2016 21:05

DD tends to do aural practice the last couple of months before exam, I also use the Abrsm app more so when I panic. Smile

DD got to the middle of Fur Elise which is really fast (semidemiquavers) and I will hand on heart post a video here of her playing it if ever she'll succeed playing that at speed. Grin Her teacher is quite confident she can but we'll just have to wait (a few weeks as currently she's just learning that bit hands separate) and see.Smile

Greenleave · 16/05/2016 20:58

We hardly had time for aural. Always the last lesson only. Will search for the Apps now. Many thanks

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/05/2016 20:47

I should add, I used the app for extra practice. And we've started the aural for grade 4 in lessons and I have the specimen test book from ABRSM with the CD.
But I don't think it gets covered until almost at the exam date in the DCs' 30 minute lessons!

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/05/2016 20:43

My current teacher is a singer as well as pianist so she's been very supportive - but I still used an app!
I really think for my sons the apps would be better as they don't get much aural prep at all in lessons. We've had 2 emergency lessons for grade 5, that's it!

Noteventhebestdrummer · 16/05/2016 20:39

Why would you do that?! Why not take the expert advice you're paying for?

onlymusic · 16/05/2016 20:20

I was wondering.... Did anyone else dismiss the teacher in aural test preparation and rely mainly on aural apps?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 16/05/2016 17:41

That is also why you should learn your scales and arpeggios, so when you see a thing that looks like scales or arpeggio you don't need to think too much.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 16/05/2016 17:41

I think when I sight read I'm looking for patterns. And always look ahead. DS2's teacher said to cover up one bar ahead, so by the time you play bar 2 you should know how to play bar 3 already. It does work. BUt takes practice. Grin

Fleurdelise · 16/05/2016 17:15

trout from what I gather from Dd's teacher when practising sight reading with DD is the fact that you should learn to recognise music patterns. So while yes, they do know "this is an E, C, A" if asked they actually read the pattern of 1 up, 2 down, a third, a fifth, a scale pattern and so on. When DD stops middle of sight reading trying to figure out the note name her teacher tells her to look at the note she's on and figure out if the next note is up or down and what is the interval (1 up, 2 down, a third).

troutsprout · 16/05/2016 16:22

Lucy , Dd has been attending local music centre for 6 years. She's there for 4 hours every Saturday and doesn't bring anything home either
I'm not sure if get her there if they produced homework! Grin

I have a question .. Might be daft (I'm non-musical) but bear with me . When music peeps sight read .. Do they generally look at a note and think "that's an e" or do they just look at a note and play it?. Is this the difference between becoming more fluent?

lucysnowe · 16/05/2016 10:04

Thankyou Icould! that sounds about par for the course then. My worries are that as she is just a beginner (and the only recorder) they are just kind of fitting her in. She doesn't know anyone else there and though she happily really enjoys it I am hoping she isn't left out or anything. Irrational I know.

Yes we have our eye on the cornet but probably not till Sept now so I will keep my eye out for a beginner band. That would be great for her.

Misti sounds like your daughter has the right idea! I am hopeless at memorizing anything so have to just judge the distance in my mind!

Fleurdelise · 16/05/2016 07:36

onlymusic no, we were entertained by Kodaly and Handel. Smile

onlymusic · 15/05/2016 23:58

Fleurdelise Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 and Mozart: Bassoon Concerto by any chance? Grin

Fleurdelise · 15/05/2016 20:59

onlymusic I do wonder if it was the same one Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 15/05/2016 15:58

Happy birthdays! Hope birthday tea and party go well! SmileCakeWine

Greenleave · 15/05/2016 15:11

Happy birthday Musicmum and hope Rara is having a fun party today!

We have 5km run today and its just ...too hot!

Wafflenose · 15/05/2016 14:57

Happy birthday Musicmom! We are having Rara's party today. It's not quite her birthday yet, but we'll all be busy on the actual day, with work and school.

OP posts:
onlymusic · 15/05/2016 13:51

Happy birthday Musicmom1! Flowers Cake!
I missed local symphony concert yesterday because of headache Fleurdelise, could be the same concert Grin