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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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raspberryrippleicecream · 25/10/2016 09:54

Open in our Festival is for anyone who doesn't make their living from that instrument. They are all a bit different. Ours also doesn't penalise for winning previously. You need to check the syllabus very carefully.

There will be other competitions too, we have a Young Musician near us that isn't affiliated to the Federation.

Fleurdelise · 25/10/2016 09:35

NeverEver you are right, I've read the rules again, closed means (in our festival) that you couldn't have won a piano competition in any festival in the last 5 years. From what I can gather each festival has a different "closed" rule but essentially they are trying to prevent "professionals" or on their way to become professionals.

Greenleave · 25/10/2016 09:32

❤️ to everyone who has braces, we will soon be joining you too!

Raspberry: thanks so much for sending the clicky Wink link. There are so much else happening near us too and the best thing is many of them are non-selective which is great for beginners like us who'd like to have a stage performance experience

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/10/2016 08:56

Goo has had massive turquoise blocks braces for 8 months. I am astonished that she can speak with them in. Apparently she will be finished with them next month, so train tracks will follow on November 30th. She won't be the first child in her class to get train tracks, but she's the only one that's got to have both! The blocks have to be done at precisely the right moment, when they are growing fast but just before the jaw stops growing.

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NeverEverAnythingEver · 25/10/2016 08:49

I thought "open" means professionals are allowed, so "closed" probably means amateurs only?

(Disclaimer: I've never heard of these things before and all I know is from a quick look earlier this morning. Grin Turns out there are a few near us...)

Fleurdelise · 25/10/2016 08:25

I was as confused as you drummers until I looked into it and where I am coming from we'd call them competitions. From what I understand not all classes are competitive but some are. DD will (hopefully) do one in Jan/Feb and if she likes it there is another one in the area in May.

Anybody knows what "closed classes" are? Is it only by invite or something?

drummersmum · 25/10/2016 00:41

Thanks a lot raspberry I will have a look.

raspberryrippleicecream · 25/10/2016 00:08

Look at that, a clicky link!

raspberryrippleicecream · 25/10/2016 00:07

I don't know how to make clicky links on my phone, but this website might help.

www.federationoffestivals.org.uk

Basically they are all over the country, from small to big.

Classes means the different categories of competition.

At the end of each class, an adjudicator gives hopefully positive and constructive feedback about your performance. You get a mark. Depending on the Festival there might be medals, cups, certificates.

drummersmum · 24/10/2016 23:33

Someone has to explain to me about this festival business. Maybe it's a non-UK born thing but I thought festivals were places you went to listen to music, not compete? And what do you mean by classes, are they classes or competitions? Sorry, I'm really lost and never had DS doing anything like this. How many festivals are there?

raspberryrippleicecream · 24/10/2016 23:12

Minstrel I second just enjoy it.

Top ti would be to make sure you have your adjudicators' copy of the music, it's awful when people turn up without it.

TheSecondOfHerName · 24/10/2016 23:01

stringchild when he first had the braces fitted he was in a lot of discomfort and could only play for a minute or two at a time. He has now built up to 20-25 minutes, a bit less if he's just had them adjusted. He has an adjustment this week, so I must remember to schedule the next one after the exam, not just before.
He also currently has bands connecting upper and lower jaw, bless him.

Minstrelsareyum · 24/10/2016 22:52

Thank you! I'm nervous we might have got the length of the pieces wrong. Teacher said to try and estimate as closely as possible! (I might enter myself next year as a practise run for my diploma!).

Original poster
Wafflenose · 24/10/2016 22:47

Minstrel just have fun! And read the syllabus... all classes have a time limit, which includes announcing the pieces, some have age limits, some stipulate one piece, two contrasting ones or a set piece!

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Minstrelsareyum · 24/10/2016 22:44

Hi, DD (10) has, at suggestion of teacher, entered a music festival. First time, never done this before. Not sure what to expect, especially in adjucation room. She is entering on violin, 2 sections - 10 and under competitive and a Junior Recital class. Anybody got any useful tips please, dos and don'ts, what to watch out for? Many thanks.

stringchild · 24/10/2016 22:42

TheSecond - are you are in braces zone as well? we just had a nightmare 3 weeks where dd hasn't been able to practice much at all, as the braces were tightened and the teeth moved so quickly and were so sensitive/painful she didn't eat for 4 days, and couldn't bear the pain of the clarinet. Has finally settled but big lesson learnt to not time the future tightenings with exams/auditions etc. Shame as she had no pain/problems up until now.

Waffle - i think all the Tarantellas we have come across (incl on clarinet) are pretty fiendish!

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Wafflenose · 24/10/2016 22:31

Ha, one German word came up on the March exam paper. Goo hadn't had time to learn them, so guessed... wrong.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 24/10/2016 22:30

TheSecond DS1 is doing the grade 5 exam on Nov 8 as well. He really needs to revise German musical terms though.
Good luck to Miniprada for tomorrow!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 24/10/2016 22:28

I really don't think you can drool down there... it's all condensation usually!

Fleur Yes, books 1-3 are for descant (soprano) and there is a combined book for treble. And yes Rara is using my favourite clarinet tutor, which you mentioned. I'm going to write my own once I retire, though.

stringchild she's not that good... it's the Earnshaw one. It has been set for Grade 3 in the past. In fact, we are going through a phase of being stuck at Grade 3 - Rara on the recorder and cello (the latter is likely to be around this level for a long, long time!) and Goo on the piano! The only exam we have coming up is Rara's recorder though. She isn't sure about doing any more on the cello, or any at all on the clarinet.

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TheSecondOfHerName · 24/10/2016 22:19

Thank you andantecantabile and stringchild
He was always a droolier-than-average child (I thought it was maybe related to the ASD or the hypermobility) but he has only been doing the sucking-up-moisture thing since his braces were put on in April, so hopefully it's temporary. I just hope that this term's examiner isn't too grossed out by it.

Fleurdelise · 24/10/2016 22:16

Thank you all! Waffle is the book suitable for soprano recorder? I have one since my DS was about 6 and DD got hold of it tonight, I have to say it is so high that it drives me a bit nuts. Hopefully with the book she'll sound better.

DD sucks on the reed of the clarinet.

Waffle is Rara learning the one in the clarinet basics? There is one we're doing this week quite spooky but she forgot the cd at her teacher so no accompaniment. Sad

stringchild · 24/10/2016 22:12

Disorganised - is DS getting much chance to play with an accompanist? If not, it may help to slot some regular sessions in rather than just closer to the time. We are just starting to do this for DD as otherwise she never plays with a piano until right before an exam or concert, and that really isn't enough when they start playing more complex pieces. But i agree to start other stuff/have fun pieces on the go, or the pieces will go stale and start to become a battle (in this house anyway!)

Waffle - the Squire one? That is fast and tricky!

The Second - DD does that too sometimes...gruesome; esp now she has braces as there is even more 'wet' than usual

Prada - good luck tomorrow!

andantecantabile · 24/10/2016 22:05

TheSecondOfHerName

If any of my students did this I'd try to get them not to do it. I do have one who insists on wiping his face on his shirt every time there is a long enough rest though.

It shouldn't be excessively watery in there anyway, but I would just wipe the reed/mouthpiece tip gently with fingers if need be.

My recorder teacher however did always made me suck up any extra water that was blocking the mouthpiece when there wasn't enough time to clear it the proper way, it always made me feel a bit yucky.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 24/10/2016 22:00

Fleur Recorder From the Beginning is right - book 1 and 2 should keep her going for a few weeks. Book 3 takes them virtually to Grade 3 and gets hard too quickly, so I supplement at that point.

disorganisedmummy I'm sure he will be fine as it's so far away, but make sure he plays lots of fun stuff as well, while he masters the difficult piece. I usually advise people to go down a grade for auditions - so if he's Grade 5, for example, play a Grade 4 piece as if he's Grade 6. Sound advice given to me by someone immensely more experienced - I didn't like it at first, and others on here don't like it either - but true musicality shines through regardless of what they play, and sometimes more readily with something relatively simple. You might find it makes the difference between him wanting to throw in the towel, and not. Or he might suddenly decide that he's not going to be defeated by the piece! It's been invaluable advice for my daughter Goo, who's very able but thinks she's useless and constantly needs her ego massaging! Anyhow, that advice is worth what you paid for it (nothing!) so use it, or not!!

TheSecond it's just a bit of a weird habit, and yes, other kids do it. It has no effect whatsoever on the clarinet though (unlike the recorder) so I'd encourage him to wipe the reed instead!

Rara is currently trying to learn a Tarantella on the cello, and a suitably spooky clarinet piece, to share with you all in time for Halloween. Watch this space!

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TheSecondOfHerName · 24/10/2016 21:49

A question for woodwind players/teachers: I sometimes hear DS2 sucking the moisture/condensation up through the clarinet. He even does it in the middle of a piece (in the rests). Is this normal? It sounds rather unpleasant.