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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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mom17 · 01/10/2016 15:09

DS(10 years ) will be taking Grade-2 Piano this winter( Nov-dec), I think he could have given Grade-3 easily as he has done Gr 3-4 pieces with 2'nd teacher for almost 6 months but since we discontinued last month with 2'nd teacher as he was finding it very hard to practice two teacher's work everyday. Our first teacher is not aware of 2'nd teacher. My plan was to take grade -5 with 2'nd teacher sometimes next yr but couldn't pursue. I wanted to finish 5'th grade ASAP as come middle school, focus will be more on academics but ALAS!! He also did guitar for 8 months but we discontinued 8 months before as DS wasn't doing much practice. Plan is to start it again in Jan when academics are little less. Motivating him to do 45 mins practice is a goal from my side but DS is determined to break it. Pre-teens symptoms are already starting so better to take a back seat for Mamma. I m really impressed with so many kids here doing so many instruments, can't fathom my son doing more than 2 at any instance, so envy all of u.

AlexandraLeaving · 01/10/2016 13:47

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Fleurdelise · 01/10/2016 13:05

Thank you for the reassurance, DD's teacher pointed out the same thing today, she's done grade 1 before so she knows the format and most of all the aural part doesn't need any preparation, she got full marks for it in her grade 1 (and 17 out of 18 in grade 3) so it is mainly the pieces that need the focus.

Waffle the teacher pointed out the tongue and dynamics work that needs to be done today, she could play C3 (the Spanish one) at first sight today but obviously it needs to work behind in terms of where to tongue and so on. Thinking about it there is enough time to perfect them, we don't know the date yet but hopefully at least 6 weeks. I decided that she'll have to practice the clarinet even on the days we visit schools so she'll have to do it in the morning before school.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 01/10/2016 12:45

Oh yes, I forgot... Rara is also doing whole class trumpet lessons this year (Year 4) and going nowhere fast...!

Fleur this term is perfect for Grade 1 Clarinet - she can play the pieces, but they need work, and I think I pointed out the kinds of things... I would absolutely have entered her for this term. She's a tiny bit further ahead than required at this point.

OP posts:
Greenleave · 01/10/2016 12:05

Petra Grin

Loose: good luck with GCSE( nails biting here)

PetraDelphiki · 01/10/2016 12:04

Although dd told me off for meeting someone in real life who I had met on the Internet....I guess they do listen to Internet safety warnings!!!

PetraDelphiki · 01/10/2016 12:03

I have a dd who plays piano (G3 this term) and violin (G4 but not aiming for 5 for a while). Both of us working through G5 theory (her by understanding it and me by rules) . Oh and cornet for fun (dd started lessons last term and freaked at being given G3 pieces so we are keeping it non examined for now)!

Same orchestra as green so get to have nice chats while waiting!

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/10/2016 11:57

Thanks ICouldBe and Drummersmum that's helpful and reassuring about bass guitar. I'll make sure he understands playing grade 5 well is more important than overdoing it with something unnecessarily difficult. I think he has also asked his bass teacher for some ideas. (He might consider music for A level so I am storing info for later! A friend's DD has started A level music and loves it!)
Fleur - DD will be fine because she's already done exams so she won't be nervous. Good luck (with DS's exams as well)!
Waffle great to hear about Rara's clarinet progress and that she is having so much fun with it!

Greenleave · 01/10/2016 11:55

Fluer: because I have no idea what I am doing or heading to and mostly because its fun with little cost

Fleurdelise · 01/10/2016 11:26

Thank you Waffle for the new thread!

Good luck with the NCO audition everybody and Green I am impressed with how determined you are. Smile I take a long time to make decisions, to asses the situation, is she ready, is she not, while you seem to find it so easy to make these decisions. Hat off to you!

I have DD 9 years old who plays piano as a first instrument, passed grade 3 in March and aiming for grade 5 sometimes next year. She'll be entered for a festival in January and maybe a competition next summer.

She also plays clarinet just started this year in June with a break over the summer and she'll take grade 1 this term. Her teacher just confirmed she has been entered and suddenly I wonder if it was the right decision (see what I mean Green?)

I also have DS (15) who is not musical or interested in music performance but plays some sport and is quite academic, he is taking GCSEs this year.

Good luck to all the DCs with their current projects.

drummersmum · 01/10/2016 11:14

Oh we needed a new thread already!!
DS 14 is preparing Grade8 on piano, drumkit and orchestral percussion. Also enrolled in music gcse and seven different weekly ensembles which are too many

Loose as far as I know bass guitar is as food as any other instrument for GCSE, as they treat popular music as seriously as classical. Lots of people do singing.

Icouldbeknitting · 01/10/2016 11:14

Loose DS took GCSE music last year so everything I know is now out of date except that I know how to find out. Search for the music syllabus on the exam board he's taking and have a look at the performance element. There will be a link to a marking scheme that shows you what they are looking for and how marks are awarded. When DS took AQA the maximum difficulty they awarded for was G5 so it was better to play a G5 piece really well than a G7 piece well because there would no be more marks given for the extra difficulty but you'd pick up the marks for the better performance on the G5. It will also stipulate what you can and can't have in an ensemble, timings, etc.

Please don't recreate our drama - keep a copy of the score yourself. We had a week of total madness at the end of the year trying to find the dots for the piece DS had played earlier in the year. If he'd handed it in at the time it had lost itself or he hadn't handed it in or whatever - the result was panic and upheaval.

DS did his ensemble performance to a backing track of a full brass band. I've seen the A level syllabus and it wouldn't be allowed for that because there were more than seven in the group. If there are other players of a similar level in school it's easy to put together an ensemble, if not then it may take a bit of planning.

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/10/2016 10:37

Thanks for new thread Waffle
I am trying to learn piano, hoping to take grade 4 in Spring and plugging away at grade 4 theory (I have no idea what I'm doing!)
DS1 is learning tuned percussion, drum kit and bass guitar. He is taking his theory grade 5 in November and bass guitar grade 6 this term. He is also just starting GCSEs and if anyone has any tips on the solo performance piece for GCSE music, do let me know! I think he wants to do it on bass whereas I think xylophone would be better but difficult to lug to school!
dS2 is in Y7. Has done grade 3 in piano and cello and is described by his piano teacher as a 'free spirit'. We call him 'stubborn'...apparently all his previous bad practice habits were due to being in year 6 and he is now 'more mature' Grin

Greenleave · 01/10/2016 10:30

Yayyy for October!!!

I have an 8 years old, playing violin and piano. I am finding a solution for an internal motivation for her to practise on her own a little a day so I could put my feet up. We have paid for NCO audition last night and have no idea what we are doing, £25 wasted and no coffee for me for weeks, hopefully someone has some goal to play for the next couple of weeks. We go to an Orchestra and its great fun, she loves and enjoy her Sundays. Piano is on grade 5 exam this term. Scales are not too bad, pieces sightread 2. Aural is terrible though!