September Music and Musicians Thread

haha drummersmum! Having started a moan about boys (but not all!), I am in TOTAL agreement with you!

DD was in an all girls environment for 7 years before going co-ed, her wish to move as well as mine, even though she could have stayed where she was until 18. DH took some convincing but got there in the end.

Converse experience of men, I spent many years in the financial industry where I did encounter the mysoginistic cliches in droves, but still, had better experiences working for men vs women (in that industry). The women, disappointingly, became worse versions of the men, driven by the power. I have since found the light and joined the creative gang also after 30 years of corporate life .

I know DD will look back and agree moving was the right thing. And I think she likes the friction and competition when it doesn't tip into nasty, but really values the friendships with the non-neanderthal type more . There will always be boys who don't get the creative thing, know how to engage with girls decently, don't get boys that love to dance can be just as athletic (more I think) etc. And they grow up to be men with the same traits. But, how attractive is the musical, creative man, that has emotional intelligence, that has a sense of humour, quietly confident, geeky...oh I could go on!

So, no linching here! Our kids will encounter all types in life, and knowing how to deal with them is as equally important (and having a little patience along the way, note to self :). And yes to those that say some girls at school can be equally catty (or instigate trouble), much down to the luck of the cohort also...

It's the turn of the defence !!!!
As you all know I only have one DS and I must say I love boys. They're easier to read, more direct, less complicated and less concerned with what the world thinks of them and therefore more ready to laugh at others and themselves. Of course there are exceptions!! I'm also lucky DS is not grumpy, asocial, smelly, unempathetic, or any of the things I hear people say about their teenage boys. In fact I call him "The Empath" from an old Star Treck episode.
My whole life I have liked working with men and hanging out with men. Maybe because I move in the arts world and never encounter mysoginistic pigs, repressed weirdos or psychopaths of which I know there are plenty. With men I never doubt what they're saying in a meeting, women always seem to be thinking five things at the same time (including wondering what impression they're having on you and everyone else in the room) and you don't know which of their thoughts they're sharing with you.
When I was young I also enjoyed the sexual tension which I find very creative and energizing. These days, less so...hum...
I hope I have convinced the jury and I won't be linched.
I do love being a woman

Speaking of boys and girls, my daughter came home last night and said"mom, A didnt speak to me today when I asked him about this week Orchestra, he said he is busy and run off". She was worrying why he didnt speak to her. I said "well, it could be because he is busy, it could be because around this age it could be embarrased to be spoken to by a girl in younger class infront of his friends, they could be very shy about it". She accepted it but I dont think she fully understood what I meant. (She is quite boyish and plays with boys mostly, still carries her male friends around the playground and hanging up side down on tree's branches/rob when ever she could. She doesnt understand that boys could be very different to her yet). Regarding to boys vs girls arguments, my whole life has been going to schools where boys dominated heavily and working in teams where most of the time I am an only female. To be honest I think boys are more easily to handle than girls. There are many great single sex schools near where I live and I am nervous at the thought of a "girl only" school(if she ever gets a place)

We are quite hopeless with languages and that gene is very strongly flown through my two children. I have hired private tutor, send her to clubs, class. I wont give up, taking notes here all your experiences and advice
Only:

Fleur - that is exactly how we started - the Spanish teacher at school who became the teacher. Then she worked through the La Pandilla books with the teacher via Skype. The GCSE was a bit like music exams - a marker for progress and achievement. Her spoken Spanish is excellent (albeit with an Argentian accent ) neither her Dad or I speak much beyond 'dos cervecas por favor' so it had to be led by miniprada and the teacher. For kids who need an extra challenge beyond school it has been great and the fact we use Skype does not eat into any of the time available after school and our school definitely love me homework (1hr per night plus 20mins reading aloud which has to be handed in the next day).

Oh- just to add about Duolingo Spanish. I've been using it to try and refresh my rusty Spanish skills. I think it's pretty good for that but be aware the pronunciation tends to be Latin American, just in case that causes any confusion at first! What Inthink is great about it is that you can keep practising skills to stop them going rusty so the repetition is good - but it's not enough to get you speaking fluently without also having a conversation class or chatting with someone on Skype.

ealing hope miniealing is sorting out those rotten boys (she can silently say to herself 'boys are horrid and they smell' but in my experience some of them are actually quite sweet once they've stopped showing off to their friends!) totally agree about musical boys - the art ones are friendly too! dS1's friends all like music and/or art and computers so they are very low maintenance!
Completely agree with everything Mistigri says about language learning and DS1's Japanese teacher says she finds the DCs have unknowingly picked up quite a bit from manga and anime! She sets watching films in Japanese as homework sometimes!
On exams, it's totally horses for courses. Some people really prefer them as Green says, they want to rise to the challenge or they get bored. Other people find them stressful and don't show the best they can do. And sometimes it is useful just for highlighting what needs work - scales come to mind in this household!

Thank you ladies, I'll have a look. She does a Spanish club at school with a native Spanish teacher and she seems to pick things up quite quick but it is very basic, I'd like her to be able to hold a conversation after a while, more than "my name is... and I am 9 years old"

Mistigri, thank you! She is actually not a communicative type, rather self-absorbing in books in theory one, so abstract learning is actually what suits her the best... I could not find French club around, even private teaching was a problem! Agreed about listening, no matter how well you know languages, ear has to be trained....

Fleur, Muzzy course is also good, they do Spanish, but depends on level of course

Fleur if she's a beginner, then you could do a lot worse than the duolingo app, which is free and fairly child friendly and goes up to European level A2 (advanced beginner). For older kids and adults, having used it myself, I would say that Babbel is worth a look, but it's paying (still cheap tho') and less child-friendly.

Waffle good luck to Goo!

Misti it was for DD I was looking for Spanish lessons (thank you prada no problem), I have a Spanish course with CDs and all but no time in the day for it. Skype lessons were an idea but tv in Spanish is not a bad idea. DS is taking French for GCSEs.

only I generally like our teacher's approach too, I know that I could push for exams but I am not necessarily that bothered. DD on the other hand seems to think you just do exam after exam so I (and the teacher) had to explain to her that playing non exam pieces will take you to the same result, more so as she only did grade 1, grade 3 and now will do grade 5 next so she needed to understand that skipping the exam is ok but the teacher didn't want to miss the repertoire at every level. I said before DD is leaning towards baroque style generally and her teacher wants to ensure that she covers all the different styles, romantic, modern and so on. She is now playing one of Chopin's preludes and loves it even if it is sad. She loves her Grieg piece the most though, Dance of the Elves, her eyes light up when she puts the hands together and thinks it's wonderful. As you said different approach from different teachers, not wrong as long as it suits the pupil.

only with a younger child with not having formal lessons it's a bit more difficult, but as a general rule I'd say that putting a French children's channel on the TV won't hurt and might help. Most of it is rubbish of course, but I don't think that really matters, it's about ear training. When we moved to France, we listened to the local equivalent of a Radio 4 every morning. For the first month or so, despite A level french, I understood perhaps 25% of what was said - not because I didn't have enough vocab but because my ear couldn't separate the words properly. After about 3 months, my ear suddenly "tuned in" and I could understand 90% of it.

Also, depending on her level, you could look at a subscription to a French language children's magazine, which tend to be excellent.

Unfortunately, solo language learning is hard for motivated adults, and practically impossible for young kids, whose language acquisition tends to be based mainly on interaction not abstract learning. I'd have a look for a French club or similar.

Thank you all. We had a laugh about the less fairer sex tonight. And prompted by misti (inadvertently of course) to make DD shower a little more..I think DD thinks 3 hours submerged in water is the same thing...

And I have been secretly placing bets on the talented offspring on here making the cut on future YMoYs, there are lots of contenders for rich and !

And I see what you mean by challenge.... This is the problem with our school too...

Greenleave I think it is a good idea to take exams, I hope I didnt' sound like I don't

We are in a circle of defending our teacher I have to say that our Russian teacher has never suggested exam(might be because I am overly aggressive) as I mentioned in the past, he doesn't have alot of students, he still plays at weekends and teach in a music school, he isnt most familiar with abrsm. I love exams( just dont want to pay for them but hey hoo), going to state school there isn't exam at all, I am lost of how my daughter is doing, the report at end of the year is all we have, we even hardly have homework. We are so bored, even bored of playing, she even refused playdates at one point, she loves being challenged. I was told tonight that everyday is count for the next coming 2 months as we havent chosen the pieces yet. There isnt anything to loose is the best bit I love about the abrsm exams.
Waffle: good luck to Goo!

only

Drummers we are doing Essex 11+ then London indies. Miniprada would prefer London but we are giving grammars a shot as we are equidistant from both. I.e both would require a train same distance but in different directions. Out of catchment for grammar though so it requires an exceptional performance on the day...,

Mistigri do you have any advice for French language too please?....
For an 8yo and two years of private lessons with native speaker. Unfortunately we stopped now and I would rather not to have any formal teaching at the moment but smth to watch to would be useful...

Hugs for mini ealing from me too

Pradaqueen love that "rich and famous bit"!

Greenleave, go ahead for gr 5 if your teachers reckons it is doable!

Fleurdelise from what you wrote about your dd's piano teacher so far - looks like she is very competent and I like her approach! I personally think it is a good idea to play a number of certain pieces before taking piano exam. It is different with Greenleave though as her dd has a Russian teacher (is it right?) and it is different approach all together :)

On a subject of exams. Dd used to have teachers who were adamant to stick to their program and she had some more flexible ones. Some of them just prepared for exams and some introduced her to a wider playing experience. As she has two different instruments and different abilities for each of them I think it really depends on a number of factors. I would prefer her to take piano exams if teacher is confident she passes it but I would not agree to send her to violin exam if she is not prepared to distinction level - and even if she does not get a distinction - I would know it is her on a day and not because she is not capable of doing it. What I would probably take into consideration is how long it takes to prepare for the desired outcome. I mean if it takes three years to get a distinction - I would rather do it in one year but with a pass. And if to get a distinction takes one year I would rather wait that year or even 15 months and try her to get a distinction.
I hope I don't sound like a tiger mum...

Fleur is the Spanish for your DS? I really recommend getting hold of a Spanish TV series or two. DD watched Gran Hotel (classic Spanish language TV series) before she started her bilingual course last year, with spanish subtitles at first then without. Great for vocab, listening skills and accent. I order spanish language DVDs and books direct from Spanish Amazon.

ealing I'm sorry to hear about your DD, but please reassure her that the problem is them not her! I have a 13 year old DS and let's say his social skills aren't up there with the best. (He is at least fastidious about personal hygiene, so I am counting my blessings.)

Ps Fleur - Spanish teacher says sorry but no new students at the mo.