November Music Thread

Green the good thing with the scales fingering is that nobody will watch over her in the exam so if they sound good she'll get a good mark anyway. The fingering can be fixed as you go. DD's teacher doesn't abide by this advice and will not tolerate DD's wrong fingering but it doesn't really matter for the exam. Thank you for your good wishes, DD is ready for the exam this Saturday however arpeggios could be a hit and miss based on her mood. Last night they were perfect. The night before she restarted G major 3 times (playing the wrong notes). Oh well, as long as she doesn't do the sqeaking mad noise she should be fine.

We keep postponing the 11+ thoughts, still doing some work here and there but not as much as we could/should.

Waffle good to hear the finger isn't broken, I wish Goo a speedy recovery!

Thank you prada on the info about the TV show.

Don't know anything about violins but I know I love instrument shopping. Seeing that I don't think will ever change the piano being an acoustic one I am looking forward going clarinet shopping when the time comes. Which will probably not be for a looong time so I will virtually enjoy your instrument shopping.

Reading posts on violin shopping with interest here, we were told that its not needed yet until at least another 6 months(on 1/2 side now, may be because we have short arms). I planned and already budgetted for it, its super tempting. And def need a new string, or rehair our strings.

Fleur: we werent told that we are not ready ever from our teacher so I really dont know. I cant even tell if her fingerings on the scales are correct(hopeless, I know). Your exam is this weekend I remember, all the best to miniFleur. Thinking about you and miniFleur in middle of 11+ as I now need to start thinking/planning of 11+ too, thinking of joining 11+ forum

That reminds me - has anyone change violin strings themselves? Or do you let the teacher do it?

Only - I was told categorically by our Russian teacher that we had to spend money on the 3/4 size to take her to G5+ We had previously a stentor conservatoire model for the 1/2 size with improved bridge and strings. It 100% improved miniprada's sound which became effortless which led to her going to practice without being reminded. I now need to think about a full size after the G7. We went to Woodbridge Violins who offer all of the money spent on the previous model as a p/ex against the next one. They have a full range for all budgets. Maybe give them a call and chat through?

Fleur - it is called 'young gifted and classical'

Only: we too are looking at larger violin. Would go for mid-range, not basic, but not too pricey as wouldn't want to be worried about it being left in the school music block. We are looking around £600 mark

Thank you NeverEverAnythingEver. Teacher also said that one of his students has good 3/4 Primavera and she is going to sell it. But teacher also said that dd's 1/2 Gliga is good too..... Grrr....

We just bought a 3/4 size. We went for the next step up from a "standard" but we got a pretty cheap one because DS2 liked it and it actually did sound better than the more expensive ones.

I was told not to spend too much too.

no need that is, sorry, posted too early!

Can violin mums share their thoughts please?.... We are about to upgrade to 3/4 size (will cover grades 5+). Couple of teachers I spoke to reckon that there is not need to buy anything expensive too good and Primavera will do. Dd's half size is Gliga (which is 300+). The next Gliga upgrade will be in a region of 600+, this is vs second hand Primavera. Would you go for a a cheaper or more professional model (assuming it is all serious, main instrument, etc). There is ds2 too, though he only started this year - so, presumably instrument will be used by second child at some point

Waffle I hope goo's finger starts to get better soon. I must watch that documentary on catch up. Funnily enough i was talking about parental input with ds's teacher last night. While I'm not going to get into any arguments with my two about whether they practice or not ( and I have never had to ask ds to practise , dd is another matter !!) but we decided that ( especially when they are younger) a certain amount of parental input is the key to helping them be successful. I'm not much help to ds now as I can't play a brass instrument, but I can find him lots of playing opportunities, help him with his sight reading etc

Thank you Prada I'll give it a go. What is the full name of the show? Sorry if I have missed it.

Bbc4 catch up fleur. It's great. I do agree with the comments on here about the fact that the parents have had far more musical input than they profess to have had provided. Watching the mother sit patiently next to the child doing G5 scales and correcting fingering I thought was a bit of a giveaway!

Unicycle club before the exam

Green I knew minigreen can pull it out of the bag, no need to worry, I am happy to hear your worries were unfounded. I hope you're feeling better today!

Waffle has Goo been seen by a doctor? I hope the finger isn't broken (don't mean to scare you). I hope you're feeling better soon.

Where can I see the Sheku programme? Sounds interesting.

at unicycle club. Sometimes I want to get in the heads of teenagers....

raspberry unicycle club 1 week before grade 7. That's a classic

I had 3 days off last week Green, hope you are feeling better.

I hope all the other poorly DC and parents are improving too.

How is Goo Waffle? DS2, with Grade7 piano in a week, announced tonight he thought he would try unicycle club at school this week. He was dissuaded from that idea fairly promptly!

Our piano teacher is related to Sheku and his family. I must watch the documentary this week.

I imagine she had to remind them to practise when they were younger and probably still does.
Going to RAM at 430 every Saturday is dedication- I wondered why they didn't opt for RNCM, as surely it would be closer?

green I have been three weeks with the bug and it won't go away. I do hope yours is shorter. I am amazed and happy that minigreen may actually be ready for it in spite of all the doubts!

Yes, the documentary was enjoyable but I did not buy the thing about the children never, even when they were very little, needing to be reminded to practice. She even told the older brother when Sheku was practicing during the holidays to get him to do the same. The mum is the one with magical powers. Seven children, Jesus. I know she doesn't work outside the house but still... and that 4:30 wake up on Saturdays to go down to RAM? omg.

Thanks for recommendation, I will play it back this week to watch too.

I am now in bed with my mint tea( for blocked nose) and the second of this(for sickness or/and stress). I am feeling much better now.

Report back regarding to scales, someone really try to memorise ALL the scales (well) for now. She was being able to play them mostly. We need to revise few each day till the day. Prelude and Am Abend are beautiful(I rarely said it), mainly because the two pieces are truly beautiful, I was paralysed when I hear the whole of them at once as we usually play a little bits and try to perfect them each time rather than play the whole piece. There are still much to improve, pedal here and there, legato bits in the second page of Am Abend can be done better. 60s swing needs work, its suppose to be fun and still light, its now more like jumping on the trampoline.

Thats all from me now, I am munching a bit more, finishing my mint tea and hope for some 60s swing practice tomorrow.

...is.

neverever I had no idea that the book inspired you so much. I'm really enjoying it. Thanks to it I had a truly lovely moment with DS attention on me! There's a chapter whaere he analyses the Ballade almost bar by bar. I asked DS help to understand what he was saying. We listened to the piece together following the text and DS would go to the piano to show me things, like what a Neopolitan sixth...