October Music and Musicians Thread

Wow- that was great!
I can see the appeal of the marimba, sounds a lot nicer than xylophone, less woody 😀😀.
How long has he been playing marimba?

Well, it's been long due as I was asked to post some marimba. This was last winter though and not great quality of sound, but it'll have to do! I'm really sorry you won't see any cute smiles but like I said, I don't have green light xx vimeo.com/185806581

Ha ha string considering the 11plus is an industry that moves millions maybe I should set up a private consulting agency... hmmm... No time.
Hope your DD does well!

Drummer - gosh i wish you had put that up a year ago! we were very chaotic in our preparations, and juggling music into the mix too has been a real challenge. Most of our prep was over this summer hols; first of the big entrance exams (10 children taking it per place) at the end of this week so we will see but i fear my lack of planning may not have done dd any favours.

am also so in awe of those of you learning instruments yourselves; another year has gone by when i haven't managed to start (or even choose!) an instrument....

Petra

I'm not sure I could either, I'm in awe.
I am a supporter of grammar schools though and hope that our area has some soon. We are miles away from any and don't fall in catchment for even the nearest ones, which aren't near at all

Good luck to all your dc, hope the planning and work pays off.

I am constantly amazed at how organized parents get around 11+...I'm not sure I could do that!

Good luck green. It's very doable, believe me. We ended up printing a schedule because DS didn't like not knowing what to expect everyday and didn't like the kind of "oh, now we have time lets do a bit of this and that." He didn't want surprises, he wanted to know what the terms of the DEAL were, IYKWIM.
Also, every child is different and needs to focus on different things. DS was very strong on English, so we did less of that.

Fleur: I am so with you on the difference between 11+ and SAT
Drum: oh oh, I need to do it, I will do the same, I think this is what I am missing, everything is in my head and they are all over the place at the moment I cant connect to what we need to do and what is happening. I will do the same as you did so hopefully she knows her time schedule and what is expected

Ah yes, we had the bonfire also once DS finished his 11+. It was in November (now it changed to September) and it was a great way to celebrate.

DD seems to cope ok, she doesn't complain as the daylight is not there anymore so no distractions, she can't play outside anymore.

We do abandon the schedule sometimes when we go and visit schools for example, or when we invite people over for dinner on a Friday/Saturday night. She gets plenty of time to play at the weekends and between 3,15 when she finishes school and 6,30 when the evening routine starts. My only annoying bit is the fact that it is all a race, quick maths, quick music practice, quickly brush your teeth... It is exhausting sometimes.

Hi, just popping on to say good luck to those auditioning for NCO and working for 11+, not sure when that is, we don't have grammar schools here it's a bit grim for secondary choices.
It must be hard trying to fit it all in, and I'm in awe of how you manage it tbh.

I too can recommend the Aural Book from the ABRSM website, dd downloaded onto her ipad so just took it round with her.

Very important: indian dance to be performed BEFORE results, not after. It's a celebration of the work done, of the battle fought, not of results.

btw this schedule was only during year 5, starting in November year 5 and finishing in Christmas year 6.
It was followed by a bonfire in which we burned all books and papers and did an Indian dance around.

green we prepared and printed out a schedule. Basically it went:
Monday: 30 min maths alone, 1hr piano lesson with DH
Tuesday: 30 min reasoning alone, drums practice
Wednesday: 30 min English alone, piano practice
Thursday: 20 min Maths alone, drums lesson w teacher, piano practice
Friday: Creative writing task alone, drums practice
Saturday: school homework alone, piano practice
Sunday: 1 hr maths with DH, 1 hr Reasoning (V or/and NV) with me, piano pratice and drums practice.

This schedule was to be broken the day DS felt fed up, tired or there was a better thing to do like going out for dinner with grabdpa - not the tiger mode!!
The key for us was:
MUSIC focus on scholarship pieces, not grades. So it meant stopping the grades for a while which probably slowed exam progress down but who cares. Priority was not exams.
INFORMATION I became totally dependant on www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/index.php and got so much information from that, including what materials to buy etc.
SATS: contrary to what some people feel, it's linked rather than mutually exclusive. All the children who achieved level 6 in DS school were preapring the 11plus. The change in maths attaintment was spectacular once DH started DS on the 11plus routine.

And yes, the 10min practice tests are great, we started him on those in year4.

spaghettihoopsagain You asked about the music character question - what in the music gives the piece its character. DS1 had a few aural lessons and he comes up with answers like it's a lively atmosphere because there are lots of staccatos in the middle, or it's sad because it's in a minor key. That kind of thing. (He passed so I assume that was fine!) A quick google gave me three websites that look like they've got some ideas:

www.e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests/guides/abrsm-grade-4-guide

www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=48812

www.edwardmaxwell.com/ABgrade4auralnotes.pdf

We are not doing 11+ and we are completely ignoring SATS. :)

Fleur agree - 11+ has far more riding on it than SATS! I think 10 minute papers are a brilliant idea, by the way!

I think I am just trying to say that doing too much of (the same) things they already know, or that they are going to learn at school, will not help much for the exam and time would be better spent, uh, maybe practising music...

I liked the 10min tests books. Had one for maths as well, just to check where the gaps where. In fact only gap was reading from analogue clock! Which made me realise we didn't have one in the house!, so now we do have hanging one in the kitchen. So rather than doing tests, it's asking what's the time, how many minutes left before we have to go, etc.

Aural tests app, someone here, or was it the Sept one mentioned an app, as we couldn't download the abrsm one (no ipad). It's a quite funny one, although dd says is going to kill the lady with the voice....

Loose when DS did the 11+ we told him we don't really mind regarding SATS results and we don't want him to stress about it. Same message will go to DD when the time comes. I don't fully agree with school testing mad, same goes for 11+ but as the 11+ will affect her choice of school we have no option but to prepare.

State schools don't prepare for 11+ here, some do a bit but they call it English comprehension instead of Verbal reasoning but no formal preparation.

i don't envy anyone trying to combine music, 11+ practice and school but it's so good not to drop activities. Although state primaries don't usually prepare for 11+ many do go mad over SATS and I know some schools don't even put year 6 children in for local sports or drama events because they keep them at school swotting for SATS. I think it's too much and I'm glad our primary school took a more rounded approach. Maybe music exams took DS2's mind off his SATS - in any case he did very well without giving up any fun stuff.
Good luck to everyone waiting for auditions, exams and results!

It is not me that is organised but the clarinet teacher, I also think it would obviously be good for her to have assisted with producing a music scholar. She mainly teaches piano and seems to get the kids who don't practice much so having someone who goes away and practices (though not much this week!), joins bands etc is a novelty I think.

If grade 3 is to be this term we need to really get better organised, and dd has been warned that the clarinet will be coming away with us in October, and scales need as much practice as the Take That piece she is trying to perfect!

We use an ipad app, we didn't get on with the ABRSM one we had to start with so we use Aural Book for ABRSM, which you get one per grade and are free. Its reminded me we need to get on this a bit more often as well, as its generally dd's weakest area.

Green we started 11+ this year (year 5) by putting a schedule together that includes: music practice everyday, 20 min either verbal reasoning or maths everyday, in turns, and Saturday one complete VR test, Sunday one complete maths test. We are in an area where they are only testing VR (Cem style) and maths. We are not looking at private school, only state schools. All this needs to fit around dinner so a typical day means we are all home by 6,30, DD does her maths/VR while I cook dinner, then we eat and then it is music practice. Lights off at 9 pm.

DD has free time from when she finishes school till 6,30 so I don't feel too guilty for it.

Obviously the schedule is adapted if she has homework as there wouldn't be any time for extra maths/VR but that happens usually once a week. She has maths homework on mathletics and she loves to do extra as it is online and she does extra as they get points and certificates in school if they reach a certain amounts of points. I found her doing mathletics this morning when she woke up.

Prada: all the best for nco this week and the result next week. As parents we tend to pessimistic and over worrying. As much as envying your energy and your support to miniPrada, you do inspire me to keep up.
Driving: we havent done vr-nvr. I told myself that I have to list schools that she could try then research for their requirement however I havent come to the point. I spoke to my husband the other day and we think we might try 10+ too, there are not many choices for 10+ though and with childcare for 2 yrs old we are worried logistically it could be too much stress for the whole family. Schools with school bus might work for us.
Our state school dont prepare for 11+, as much as its a lovely nurturing school it doesnt help with 11+preparation. Few children in my daughter class moved to a prep because of the reason and prep/private primaries do more work and better equipped. Both of us are only at home after 7pm so there is so little time during the week. After a very quick meal and cuddling and chit chat, its almost just about the time for bed. Awggg!

Hello October! I don't post much, but I do try and read everything as it's really helpful. I have a DS aged 8 in year 4 and about to do clarinet grade 1 this term. Hs lessons during school time via the music service. Apparently they will also be learning the violin in class time at school which should be interesting. I'm looking forward to DS figuring out that his music theory skills transfer across. Not looking forward to squeaky practice combined with a toddler!

I mentioned in my last post how I didn't have a clue if he was ready enough as he didn't sound as good as the YouTube videos I'd found. Anyway I found this on the ABRSM website: gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/practice-tools-and-applications/on-your-marks/ Where you can "mark" an exam. I had a go at marking the grade 1 oboe exam which was a "pass" and I'm relieved that he's currently working at a similar level. I'm going to show it to him at some point as well as the sections where she "passed" should be a confidence boost I think, and also he will know what happens in an exam.

We managed to find a someone fairly local via ebay who services and sells clarinets and bought a refurbished Buffet b12 to replace the one we hired from the music service. He came to our house (!) to deliver and adjusted whatever was needed for DS and gave him a few tips as he is a teacher as well. Amazingly the refurbished one does not squeak!

Has anyone used the ABRSM aural app? Is it a good investment? We are going on holiday over half term and I don't fancy taking the clarinet, but thought we could concentrate on aural for a few days instead. (Staying with the inlaws)

Greenleave, not an expert of 11+, dc did 10+, and all low key. But did not find doing more than about 5 be of the same vr/NVR useful as did not improve score after that. I did go a level up after that, so did another 5 of 11+ test . Oh, and those tests were 10 Min tests, only just before the exam did they do a longer one.

Dd3 loves maths so would often do online maths (mymaths) as that would give her the results as well, without needing my input.

homework often gets done in car.