May/ June Music and Musicians Thread

Prada good luck with secondary school applications! I had one go through last year, it was hard lots of wine (for me). He applied for music scholarship (at 11+) with two instruments at Gr5 but did not even make it to auditions, there were much more advanced candidates.
Now for the middle one I know that to stand realistic chance to audition, really he needs to be around grade 7-8. This is London/South East, but maybe different for where you are applying to...

Prada well done to mini one!!!
I also agree that piano is good to have. Building up now to exams (4 this session) ...

Morning all! Just back from G5 music practice (we are on hols in the Middle East) so finding a place to practice during ramadan has been a challenge. The price of music lessons here are frankly

Congrats to those with results so far. Definitely agree piano is a useful second study although piano was miniprada's first originally and now violin has taken over thanks to a beautiful antique instrument (much easier IMO to make a beautiful sound). Mini has finished all three pieces this week (4 x 90 min morning sessions) by herself so she thinks Her teacher will be very proud when we return (not to mention received as exam is on 01.07!!) it's lovely when they are doing well to make themeselves and the teacher proud not anyone else.

Looking forward to a bit of a break from music exams whilst we do secondary school applications from September - including auditions for music scholarships - (well this was the master plan but as we all know, best laid plans....!)

Hope everyone is getting on well this week. Looking forward to hearing Goo when I get better wifi

bebesidethesea.. Welcome.
I am not musical at all either. I think this has been a good thing for our relationship as dd has got older.
I just make encouraging noises .
I can't help her... (which is a shame).. But I also can't be critical in a specific way about her playing because I have no idea whatsoever.. Dd is quite a fiesty character and a major head pecker .. It's a good thing there aren't any arguments about music

I am not musical. I learnt tenor sax for a few years as a teenager, but was taught in 'for fun' classes. I have rhythm and timing and an 'ear' for a bum note, but can't read music (can work it out) and most difficult cannot tell if he is actually playing an F (for example) when he is meant to be!

Welcome BeBesideTheSea this is me too, replacing tenor sax for violin! However, I've learnt not to make it an issue, they just end up being more independent with good teaching support and parents acting as time managers for practice

No real advice on best 2nd instrument other than the added value piano brings later in their music development...

besidethesea piano is probably my advice. Do you have one at home?

BesideTheSea Piano!

Hi everyone .. Congratulations to the mini-peeps on exam results
Dd has been playing the piano for about a year and clarinet for 6 years. She says the piano is much easier ..."because all the notes are there for you to see and each note exists as a note.. And you don't have to hold the instrument and get your mouth right too"
However .. I think the clarinet has informed her piano playing hugely .. particularly in terms of finger strength and two handed agility ( as well as sight reading / music theory obvs)

She's 8.

Violin is beautiful...after grade 5

Thanks Fleur. How old is your DD? (I am with you about no violin )

Well done Miniprada I am so impressed! Gosh I now feel DD need to raise to the high expectations of this thread on her second instrument! (just joking, she'll progress as fast as she will).

Welcome BeBesideTheSea! I am sure more experienced people will come along to advise you with regards to second instrument but at that age I would start with piano, we do loved piano in this house though.

DD decided that she'll practice ahead on clarinet as she really wants to play Ode to joy and jingle bells. She also spent 10 min doing her rythm composition homework on the piano so she played happy birthday by ear and "composed" that as her rythm.

She then went on to tell me she wants to concentrate on studying music and go to the music school. Yesterday it was ice skating...

OMG that was an essay - sorry!

Hello. I have read most but not all of this thread and wanted to drop in . I have one son 6.5 yrs who is about to do his prep test on recorder then G1 in the autumn.

I am not musical. I learnt tenor sax for a few years as a teenager, but was taught in 'for fun' classes. I have rhythm and timing and an 'ear' for a bum note, but can't read music (can work it out) and most difficult cannot tell if he is actually playing an F (for example) when he is meant to be!

He has lessons at (private) school once a week, but I feel bad that I can't help him more at home.

The music teachers at school and his peri all tell me he is very talented(!) and are pushing for him to audition to be a Chorister. But the only thing he likes about Choristership is "they get to learn two instruments". He doesn't particularly like singing so we are.not going for it.

So, experienced and musical people, DS wants to learn another instrument as well as recorder next year (at the.moment flute but also like brass). I would like him to learn piano as it seems a lifelong skill. Any help and advice gratefully received

Great news Loose and Prada!
In terms of more or less difficult instruments, you do hear of children making big leaps and fast progress in grades on other instruments more often than you hear of it on piano, which usually (with exceptions) takes longer to master. DS needs to put much more practice time into piano to achieve the same result...
I watched BBCyoungmusician's final with a professional musician, and she said that what the cellist was doing was way harder than what the sax player was doing she ducks waiting for NewLife4Me 's answer

But it does look fun.

You know one of those youtube vids where they show you the score while the music plays? A great reality check, it is.

Hah! Having looked at the score I don't think I can play Les Cyclopes. It will have to be Les Sauvages.

I am that you can play Les Cyclopes. It does look like a lot of fun to play. I would love to be able to play it one day. Maybe not in the next couple of years, though.

Meanwhile, Les Sauvages and Les Cyclopes from ICouldBe's link above. Thank you, ICouldBe

Cote I see what you mean by Le Rappel des Oiseaux. I'm very tempted ... But I may try Les Sauvages and Les Cyclopes first. Les Sauvages sounds more manageable and Les Cyclopes looks really fun to play.

I'm off to see if I can find them on IMSLP!

Prada, amazing result, this is a big WOW from me for achieving from G1-G5 in violin at 9-10 in less than a year(because we find it very hard for us)!

Loose, everyone else, good luck!!!

Thanks guys!

Congratulations miniprada, fabulous result in such a short time!

Well done Miniprada - pretty fantastic indeed! That is a wonderful achievement - hope you are all celebrating!

Hi everyone. On hols but just heard....We've got a high merit here on the G5 violin! Miniprada a bit gutted at just missing out on the distinction but me and her dad (and her teacher) think g1 to G5 in under a year aged 9/10 is pretty fantastic! G5 theory and piano here we come! Xx