May/ June Music and Musicians Thread

Re age/grades - it varies so much. DD is 10 and taking g7 this term (because we have to for other reasons although DD is ready) - but her repertoire is still extensive both as a soloist and because she plays in so many permanent and ad hoc ensembles. For auditions, festivals etc she will rarely chose exam pieces but insists on choosing pieces that appeal to her . Others are like her and yes, we know some, who never stray from their three pieces - but sometimes it is not a lack of skill, but of confidence in these children, and that us a shame to see. Also some children are just not that keen in their instruments but have no choice but to continue!

I completely agree with Newlife - musicians grow; as long as grades aren't being used as a constraint, they can be a path for some. We will step away for a few years on instrument no. 1 until DD has the emotional maturity to really get g8 pieces.

Sorry, trying to read and type, and it is too late already,
I didn't say, not "I don't said" of course :)
Should stop for now :)

Btw, I don't said that because dd had low marks, quite the opposite I found myself in a situation where marks were high but skills were poor.

NewLife4Me I am for grades, but.... I hate when people start comparing grades! As you quite rightly said because high grades don't make you a good player. And to be honest even high marks don't too. I would not say that marks are totally meaningless but they can be subjective and not necessarily a fair reflection of a child's ability.

CoteDAzur when exams are done I should investigate more, I am hooked on baroque music now and with Bach being my favorite too though I am more on the violin side Bach violin concertos is my favorite CD since the beginning of the year :) But harpsichord sounds lovely! Thank you for the link!

On the grades subject I am learning so much about music and becoming accomplished.
Too much emphasis is put on grades and I can see why because I've been there myself.
It's a difficult mindset to get out of, being a grade 8 does not make you a good player.
being a good player makes you a good player.
I'm not suggesting that exams are meaningless, they serve good purposes, but they aren't necessary.
Says me who occasionally still wonders which grade will be next on which instrument. It's becoming far less frequent.
I do know she won't get the pieces until a few weeks before the exam because she will already be at the required level so won't need long.
It's a theory of taking the exam when you are about to consolidate the one above.

Talking about musical lessons for adults and to encourage non musical parents, unfortunately I never did musical lessons myself though I would like to, but don't have time as have too many hobbies already. But I was sitting on the lessons since dd started and of course we listen to music together. I can feel how I developed musically during those years. I can hear her being out of tune most of the time, I know enough of music notation to figure out if her dynamics correct, or if she missed the rest, hold the note long enough or missed the retake! You learn it as you go along and it is not as scary as it seems

Fleurdelise

I do wonder if the grade 6/7 by 10 have done any other repertoire outside of the abrsm syllabus.

But it is not unrealistic, is it? If a -musical- child starts at 4-5, skips some odd grades, -or doesn't skip,- surely it can be achieved? You mentioned that your dd will be doing grade 5 next year, so she has all the chances to be grade 6 at 10, doesn't she? Mine can achieve it too just because she started early. And she does not play only syllabus pieces, I would change the teacher should it be the case :)

ealingwestmum, what a good comment, totally agree with you! This is why I stopped worrying about going through the grades quickly as I realise now that repertoire and good grounding are more important

"the travesty is that some of those children would have achieved those higher grades without a deeper grounding of music beyond their pieces vs those with lower but more rounded musicality. "

OnlyMusic - I'm glad you liked them I'm new to Rameau's music but like you, find it totally engaging. I have also just recently discovered and feel like my musical horizons are finally widening beyond Bach, who has been my one and only love since... well... ever.

Greenleave my dd also think that piano is easier than the violin but her violin progress is faster even though she started it later and struggled a lot at the beginning.

Fleurdelise I totally agree with you about the piano - two clefs and two hands and pedals of course! I am always impressed with someone's quick piano progress.

Only our cello teacher is the same. All goes well for three grades then at the last minute I end up having to buy the book anyway because the other accompanist needed the piano part in advance and teacher not around to lend her copy! Never mind, I think we will use it for sight reading practice!

CoteDAzur talking about photocopying - dd's teachers always try to save me money even though I don't like it - I really prefer to buy books - it is just more convenient (but then they are not very expensive). The latest inconvenience is - teacher promised to make me a copy of past theory paper for grade 2 . I don't feel to be in a position to say no thank you, but thinking of buying a book (secretly )

And good luck exampanic for Tuesday. dS2 got one practice with the accompanist but his cello teacher accompanies him in the lessons so he knows more or less what to expect.

Got the exam notes back for both DSs today - plus the shiny certificates! - and they make interesting reading. DS2 lost out on a merit due to scales (pieces obviously went pretty well from the marks). They sounded OK at home but not consistent enough and of course an exam is very different as I know too well myself. DS1 also had scales disaster and an aural disaster but was saved by phenomenal snare drum playing! Sight reading was OK. DS1 has unofficially been getting a longer lesson since the exam and I am now determined to make it officially 45 minutes just to get everything covered.
I think the problem with my DSs is that they still see practice as the Mini Concert! I would say DS2's piano teacher has got the measure of him, though, and directs practice very specifically and it does pay off.

dd1 exam due Tuesday, she has had 2 practices with piano (2 different people). dd2 has me playing with her all the times. just that I tend to go wrong somewhere in the middle, regardless how many times I do it....

CoteDAzur you posted some very beautiful music, totally engaging!

Greenleave, thank you for the recommendation of theory web-site and books (see how much I have to read to catch up :))

Onlymusic DS has had one half hour rehearsal with the accompanist all the way up to grade 8 although for that one he ran through the pieces a few times with a pianist before he saw the centre accompanist.

I've given up trying to keep up with this thread now, it's the last week of GCSEs next week then summer starts for us. It was the listening element of GCSE music yesterday, it started off with Bob Marley and "Every little thing's going to be alright" and finished with The Rolling Stone's "I can't get no satisfaction". Whoever set the exam has a sense of humour.

Onlymusic

If she is playing her pieces from memory make sure she is familiar with the music markings as obviously she won't be able to see them.
Things like speed, change of tempo, dynamic, any crescendos etc.

Yes, the examiner will play a short phrase and your dd will sing it back or play on instrument whichever she prefers. Most people sing it back, but
either is acceptable.

Now, dd would have a few rehearsals as she has an accompanist allocated to her, but previously with the LA she got one rehearsal in a 20 min slot, but if there were any problems the accompanist would continue until you were happy. Even it it meant leaving the next person a little late.

Newlife: music school is tough, miniNew is doing really well, I cant imagine mine is practising that much
Only: our teacher and my daughter have been practising with piano the last couple of lessons. I asked my teacher to come 45 mins early so we could do 20 mins practise just before the test then go to the test centre together. Best of luck to miniOnly

I am yet to catch up with the news of this thread, but have a quick questing about aural test (grade 4). One part of it is "To sing or play from memory a melody played twice by the examiner". The teacher told me that dd will be playing from memory. I know she can do it but it still worries me as I understand it is less conventional way of doing things. Is there anything I have to be particularly aware of?

By the way, we tried aural books app for this purpose and it still works, does not matter if a child sings or plays on a musical instrument.

Another question is - how many rehearsals do your dc have with the accompaniment (where applicable)?

New That is a mind-boggling amount of practice! obviously school has seen a lot of potential in your DD.
In theory news here, DS1 is moving onto the grade 5 workbook so hopefully on track for Autumn term exam. DS2 was so tired he fell asleep in bed before the lesson and I left him there as he's doing CATS tests this morning!

Have just had conversation with dd teacher, well dh has.
Apparently, she is very lazy and they are upping the ante? anti ? next year.
She is getting good results and doing well in assessments, but sitting back on her laurels a bit.
Not sure what to think tbh. Dh reckons she needs it and she won't crack with pressure, but I'm not 100% sure.
She'll be playing 3 saxophones, clarinet, piano and singing.

I'm trying to get some sort of time structure for her practice over the holidays as they are still expected to work, but can't get it down to less than 2.45 hours a day, which is too much during the holidays.
She usually does a couple of hours but not everyday during the hols iyswim.