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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

October Music and Musicians Thread

589 replies

Wafflenose · 01/10/2016 09:47

I thought I would start a new thread, as September's is looking unlikely to last for another month.

The music threads are open to all musicians and parents of musicians, no matter what their age or level might be. We have quite a few kids on here who are very serious about music, and plenty who do it as one of many hobbies.

For anyone who's new, I am a teacher of woodwind, and mum to two girls. Goo (10) plays the flute and recorder to a similar level (Grade 7 on both), and started the piano in April - she won't be doing exams on that. She is hardworking, committed, highly strung, and a stubborn little madam. Rara is 8 and far more laid back. She is taking Grade 3 Recorder this term, is a little behind that on the cello, and just this week started learning the clarinet. I don't suppose she will carry on with three instruments in the long term, but we'll wait and see which she loves!

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TRL · 31/10/2016 10:34

Fantastic, Rara! Thank you for a great, spooky start to the day! I can't believe you've only being playing for such a short time. Really well done. Halloween Smile

Original poster
Wafflenose · 31/10/2016 09:49

Happy Halloween from Rara! She has been learning the clarinet for a month now, and has been practising this one for 7-10 days for you all.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 31/10/2016 09:26

Green there hasn't been much practice here either! It's sort of been a relief to get through half term and wave them off this morning!
Just remembered - for cello fans, King's Place in London has a big cello season next year. So far, I have got tickets for a concert that isn't until next September, which is massive forward planning for me!

Greenleave · 30/10/2016 22:07

We went to the Picasso one(well the kids and their dad) as I have someone who thinks she can draw. I am completely exhausted this weekend, just chasing after them everywhere, and no practice. I was hoping for a little practice this midterm until tonight when I confirmed with our teacher about the lesson tomorrow lesson then I realised we havent done any(or any evening when I was home). Well, it was her break so what I was asking for?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 30/10/2016 20:57

Listen to Perkelt too! We went to see them last year and met them... the recorder player is astonishing!

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Drivingmadness · 30/10/2016 20:45

With 2 older siblings making fun of dc3 playing a "toyinstrument" I thought I would get dc3 to listen to some "real" recorder music. Found out Red Priest is visiting our qtownon....on a Friday....when I am working....grrrrr

LooseAtTheSeams · 30/10/2016 20:43

No, mr industrious at the last minute is embellishing the pop-up book. There is frankly an unnecessary level of colouring in!
I have resorted to Wine
Right, that is it. I'm off go the National Gallery tomorrow!
DH is attempting to watch F1 and Antiques Roadshow simultaneously. It's quite surreal.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 30/10/2016 20:35

OMG, I hope the pop up book is now finished! I have just put my kids away for 11 hours, and will be opening the Wine shortly. They were quite industrious today - they finished their homework (!), helped put groceries away, helped me clean out some of their five gerbils and Goo did two lots of practice. Rara did one, and threw a strop, because it wasn't clarinet! I decided that she had to practice for her upcoming recorder exam, but she is struggling with the treble piece. Oh well, she just needs to work at it a bit more... too late to change it now! After dinner, they both perked up further and were lively, silly, loud, rough and shrieky, so I'm pleased they're now in bed!

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Fleurdelise · 30/10/2016 20:31

I assume it is the Picasso exhibition at the National Gallery, we've been today. DD was more impressed with Van Gogh to be fair.

LooseAtTheSeams · 30/10/2016 20:26

Alexandra it could be the same child. I am frankly starting to suspect a double life....
DS2 has just got to the point where he is colouring in THE END on his sodding pop-up book homework. I made cooking dinner last as long as I possibly could...
Hang on, Picasso exhibition? where? Life is looking up!
Please tell me half term is over!

AlexandraLeaving · 30/10/2016 20:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Drivingmadness · 30/10/2016 20:17

and then there is also the difficulty of actually handing in the homework to the teacher when they have completed it.....

Pradaqueen · 30/10/2016 20:15

Never - it was really good wasn't it?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 30/10/2016 19:29

Prada We went to the picasso exhibition too!

Fleurdelise · 30/10/2016 18:37

Hey at least your DS is not getting a detention for forgetting to submit his homework on the first day of term after the bloody summer holiday! 6 weeks he had to do his homework, 6 WEEKS, and he goes back to school, on his GCSEs year and I get an email to confirm the detention!

And breathe....

Pradaqueen · 30/10/2016 18:35

Ahh yes Ladies. Mine too 'remembered' a piece of HW not done. I have as a result put Daddy in charge and opened the Wine. This means I will not care what noises come from the study. It is fair to say Daddy does not have the patience of mummy....

We have quite frankly been murdering Gershwin's prelude number 2 today. This prompted Daddy to ask why we had taken a step back to 'strangling cats'. However he also described the Picasso exhibition we went to yesterday as 'all boobs on head' so I guess I didn't select him for his cultural leanings!! It is fair to say the Gershwin does not sound as if it will be ready for the music festival in under two weeks....,Grin I have naturally pointed out that I have been asking her to practice this piece all week. We'll see.

Back to school tomorrow. Lunch boxes here I come!!

AlexandraLeaving · 30/10/2016 18:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LooseAtTheSeams · 30/10/2016 17:18

Waffle the bit that made me laugh was the apparent discovery of 'surprise' maths homework! DS1 has finally finished. DS2 is still constructing a pop- up book! Smile

Original poster
Wafflenose · 30/10/2016 16:52

My two have been doing homework today as well! It was all quite easy really - book reviews, times tables practice and checking some spellings - but they didn't fancy it! Goo has played the piano loads, and the flute twice, over the past 9 days, so we are about to remedy that situation. Guess which of Rara's three instruments has been played every day without fail?

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NeverEverAnythingEver · 30/10/2016 16:45

Loose My DS1 is similarly talented ... >

LooseAtTheSeams · 30/10/2016 16:30

I've discovered what my dcs are talented in - leaving all the half term homework until the last minute! Confused
I think DS1 is convinced now he can do his solo GCSE performance from his grade 6 bass book with the backing track and I reassured him it will sound great. If he waves the book at the teacher she should allow it the top band for difficulty! It sounds a better plan than learning guitar pieces off YouTube!Smile

disorganisedmummy · 30/10/2016 14:32

It was through his school. He was in year 1 and they're allowed to take up an instrument and he chose violin. It took him. A while to really get going on it because of his Aspergers he does tend to have problems with his co ordination.

onlymusic · 30/10/2016 14:23

disorganisedmummy, thank you. How did he choose violin? (I am interested because mine is playing violin too :))

disorganisedmummy · 30/10/2016 14:18

Only,ds has been playing violin for around 5 years.

BrollySmolly · 30/10/2016 12:17

Yes I agree. We have found that our dc stand out from normal cohort and are regarded as amazing etc. However, in the real musical world, although talented, they aren't really exceptional!