October Music and Musicians Thread

Evening all,I'm after some advice please. Ds is getting ready to audition for junior guildhall (violin) and has selected and is practising his pieces. The auditions aren't till the Spring so we have time. He is doing really well on both pieces but for some reason he is struggling to keep in time. He has been practising with a metronome but still finding it tricky. The piece is a grade above where he is but he can play it and his tutor is very confident it's within his ability. Ds has Aspergers and does find it difficult to control his emotions and is at the point of giving up on the audition. If he doesn't want to do it that is fine by us but I don't want him throwing it away because he doesn't think he's good enough.

Other than all the usual support and stuff I'm not sure how else to help him/encourage him as I'm not especially musical.

Can anyone help?

Is anyone else's DC doing a theory exam on 8 Nov? DS2 is capable of doing well (usually gets >90% on past papers) but needs to keep the momentum up and not forget everything in the coming fortnight.

He is also scheduled to do G5 clarinet in December. He is making steady progress and practising daily, but the pieces sound quite tricky.

DD is enjoying her first term playing the flute in the school's beginner orchestra and has had a couple of singing lessons (lovely voice, good ear, low confidence).

I sing in a choir and we're doing the Bach Magnificat in less than 3 weeks. This will be the first time I've performed it, and there are several sections where I've been bluffing my way through in rehearsals, so I'm planning to look at it properly this week. The tickets are up to £30, so a certain standard is expected.

Mine all used Recorders from the Beginning for both Descant and Treble, but I'm quite sure Wafflenose will be the right one to help you out!

I think a big part of keeping playing is bands/ groups. Not just school, see what's around. DS1 was used to playing with different people in different environments.

Raspberry I really hope DD will still play while at Uni. Your DS seems to be having a great time!

Can anybody recommend a recorder beginners book? DD discovered that she can play (certain notes) a clarinet grade 1 piece on recorder and now wants a bit of guidance to transfer the skills.

Good luck to miniprada and the other NCO people still to audition.

Well done to all the adult performers, I am in awe!

DS2 has submitted his NYO Inspire application, lots of written questions about why he wanted to do it, and what he hoped to get from it. It took a long time to do, but gave him some food for thought too.

I'm spending half term trying to get ahead with some Christmas stuff, as December is looking rather busy already!

I've found another advantage to playing an instrument once they are at uni (apart from the three-legged bar crawl the music society ran on Friday). DS1 has been asked to be a student mentor for our County Youth Orchestra, so he will come home for the weekend

We had a week off both instruments last week as we were away, clarinet started up again, relatively well last night, one piece plus two half pieces sounding good. She often spends ages practicing the same very small sections. One of her pieces has a couple of very tricky slurs and she spends at least 50% of her time on that piece just on these. She has requested a sight reading session tonight, I like it when we have a bit more time in the holidays and we can spend a bit more time on having fun with it.

We are putting the bassoon together afterwards for practice, and then giving it its own bed for the week so we can leave it put together!

Does anyone know of any good Easter Music courses in the south/London? Dd has done a good one the last two years but I think she will be above the junior one she has done, but not old enough for the senior course, and as its residential wouldn't cope well with it socially either I don't think.

Drummers really good article.

prada good luck tomorrow with the audition!

DD keeps watching this guy on YouTube he has quite a few videos including a Halloween one but this one fascinates her as the piano is opened

A reminder...
www.theguardian.com/education/2016/oct/24/want-to-train-your-brain-forget-apps-learn-a-musical-instrument?CMP=share_btn_tw

Thanks mending it sounds great and crazy fun!
I have a DVD at home of a film called "Mighty Wind". I think it's about an amateur brass band. Have you/anyone seen it? Is it any good?

thanks guys!
drummersmum I am very very far from being professional. I play flugelhorn in a small brass ensemble where the only requirement for membership is pretty much being able to breathe/blow. Quote of the concert from a trumpeter who joined us for one rehearsal and then the concert was 'it kind of annoys me but practicing does actually help'

Mending: very well done!
Prada: best of luck for tomorrow!

Wow so many brave performers here, well done mending!

Prada I know what you mean, tonight we were at some friends and the girls (same age, 9, similar level grade 4-5) started playing the piano suddenly in a dining area and I wanted for a second to say "OK girls, stop watching other people playing on YouTube and play something yourselves" but then realised it was them playing.

mending ANOTHER BRAVE ADULT! Because I can't keep up with everyone on this thread, I actually don't know what instrument you play and whether you're a professional or not. Please enlighten me!

Well done loose!

Green, loving the pumpkin (and the fireplace!) we all watched strictly last night but agreed X factor will be won by the kid who looks like the chap from 1-D so not worth bothering with it too much.

We are doing the NCO audition on Tuesday but had a crap rehearsal yesterday so hopefully that's a good sign I'd love her to get a regional place if possible I don't think she'll be a good enough sight reader for the violin in the main orchestra as there is so much competition for violin.

Thinking of postponing g6 piano to spring term as I don't think she'll realistically be ready. We'll see how we go...still on I think for G7 violin in December but I'd rather she wait and get a solid merit the next term rather than rush. Lovely watching her play with the teacher yesterday. I love it when I go out of the room and I am not sure if it is miniprada or the teacher playing. This time last year there was a loooooooooad of difference!!

I think my audience could have done with a beer or two! Bet the band was awesome, Mending!
Thanks for the positive message drummers, made me smile!
Green I do like the pumpkin very much - also your fireplace looks fab!
Wonder if DS1 took bass guitar comments to heart as he has been practising his scales without any chivvying!

i played a concert last night with band and i think we should play to people drinking beer more often..... they were most enthusiastic

Thank you, you are very nice!

Green you reminded me I need to get carving, I think I'll do it next Friday as I am having the day off.

Drummers I felt we were onto a winner with the piano teacher from the beginning when she almost shouted at me when I made a mistake. Now seriously, I do appreciate every second our piano teacher dedicates to us, she calls randomly in the middle of the week to remind us of something or to say "just had this idea, I think this should be the next piece your DD will play because...", she sends texts to tell DD something in particular, she's also texting to share her good news. I feel she is very invested in DD's musical upbringing and it makes us feel so fortunate. I know she's like that because she really believes DD has potential but I feel very lucky.

We forgot DD's clarinet cd accompaniment at her teacher's today and she really wanted to play this spooky piece with the piano over the Halloween period. Oh well, she'll have to play it without the cd.

Fleur love your boast, keep 'em coming. I also love your piano teacher btw....

Loose

Fleur: I bet you had to hold your tears, of all these moments being parents, the monents their hardwork and ability are acknowledged are the best isnt it, and being August born in the year def makes it more special!

We were busy watching Xfactor till just now(and it was very late for someone who usually is dead on bed at 8.30), and also caving few pumpkins, first one in the show here

Thank you ladies! Talking about the scale fingering, I do agree is crazy. However Loose you are right, DD's fingering comes natural, she doesn't need to think about it, depending on the key signature. I find it fascinating!

NeverEver only clarinet break next week for us, piano still going on through holidays which I am happy with.

Fleur Well done to DD. :)

We are having a half-term break. No music lessons next week.

Boast away, Fleur those moments are your reward for all the support you give your DCs and you should rightly bask in the glow! Also, lovely to know the piano is back in tune. I have dreams of getting a 'proper' piano...
Green thanks for your kind words! And scale fingering is mind-boggling! The only thing is the more you get the fingering right, the more likely it is to become natural. Getting everything together and not hesitating is so hard to do - my fingers tend to rest at certain points, so I have to imagine the keys are very hot or something!

Oh and (boasting alert!) had parents evening last week and I had such amazing feedback that I felt overwhelmed. Apparently working at the highest challenge in maths, top with another 5 kids, which I had no clue about. Not bad for a child that started behind the curriculum in reception (due to being August born I'd say).

Thank you for the reassurance Waffle yes, that is what her teacher said, in fact she said once we are back after half term she'll move on also, a bit of sight reading and checking the pieces quickly but other than that she can introduce other stuff. Oh and DD did do grade 1 aural with her piano teacher and she did well so no worries. I think she does hope for a distinction as she keeps asking if her playing is distinction level. (Like I would know lol).

Looking forward to hear Rara's playing when you have time Waffle and happy birthday to Goo!

Green in fairness grade 1 is easier than grade 5. DD finished her scales for piano grade 5 but her teacher is not happy with their quality (she has some wobbles, one hand apparently going down first so not completely synchronised, but so small is the detail that I can't actually hear it ) so she's starting them again one by one and discussing the technique behind it. I have to say if I was DD I would have felt demotivated but DD seems to respond well to criticism and want to improve.

Is your DD playing Orange (Burgmuller) by any chance Green? That was my favourite from the previous syllabus but DD is of course taking the new one so no chance to play it.