November Music Thread

raspberry she accepts the teacher's decision (with piano she did 1, 3 and now she'll do 5 next) but if I suggest it i get a big fat "NO". Bribing sounds like a good idea, I think I'll suggest that but obviously I need to talk to the clarinet teacher to ensure she doesn't suggest taking them in order otherwise she trumps me, DD will always take their word as "law".

What about a bribe Fleur? Exams are so expensive, especially as you go up. Cash/ some nice music/a clarinet T-shirt when teacher says they are at that grade!

It's not a problem I've had, mine have been happy to skip, but I think I would have resorted to that if necessary.

raspberry good luck to your DS on Tuesday. I quite like this exam session as it gets it out of the way and you don't have time to stress as Christmas is just around the corner.

I was trying to tell DD it would be a good idea to skip some grades on clarinet now and she is adamant she wants to do all of them in order. Hopefully her teacher will convince her otherwise.

Drummers - brilliant!

Well done Drummersboy.

Another one out the way Fleur.

DS2's exam is Tuesday. Pieces sounding lovely. He just scraped a Distinction on his mock, but we will see. It was his birthday today, but he has had his usual lesson and also practised.

It will be just nice timing to be out of the way before the Christmas concert madness begins!

Yes it was drummers!

Waffle DDs BFF is a bit competitive as she does piano also so I am dreading it, hopefully all will be fine, I told DD not to engage in conversations about music. She said something really mean to DD the other day and I am still considering if to pick it up with her mum.

Well done drummerson! What a fab mark!!

Fleur was that clarinet exam?

skip to grade 2 I meant Waffle*

Thank you ladies!

Green good luck for next week I am sure mini will do amazing.

Waffle are you not tempted to skip straight to grade 1? How is Rara dealing with her and her BFF doing the same instrument? DD's BFF will start clarinet and I am worried about negative competition.

Good to hear your feedback Waffle and Radio, somebody once stated her DD got lower than expected marks because her DD's exam was moderated and it got stuck in my head that this is the case.

Yes I totally second Waffle's comment - moderation is about checking the marking scheme is being followed, nothing to do with meanness or otherwise with marks. Haven't managed to check in here much but have been following. We have turned a corner with ds1 and his bass as he now not only can play his orchestra parts for his Saturday orchestra but actually is starting to enjoy it and not be terrified. Hoping we get to the concert without him getting ill and he gets to enjoy the fruits of his labours. Sadly he currently seems to have given up the recorder though, as he's been having singing lessons and hasn't been able to keep up with practicing. Congratulations on the fab exam results I have read about on here from drummersmum and others.

Best of luck Fleur, we are next week. The exam taker is down with a cold so in bed for a blessed mid day nap now, I am trying (very hard) not to think about it.
Stringchild and all nco(s): we know our fate so luckily both of us dont think about it at all. She completely forgot that she hasnt got a result. We will try again next year though, will work for it properly. I am so looking forward to the piano exam to be over so I could start with violin again, we have been switching teachers, taking time off for the last 4 months

Done, thanks drummers!

Her piano teacher came out very pleased after the two piece, she said she did great. The exam was moderated though so from what I understand they are a bit mean with the marks when moderation is going on. Her teacher did s mock this morning and said she was expecting distinction but we'll see.

Good luck fleur!

We're at the exam centre now waiting for DD to enter

Drummers please add me to the always subscriber to your PMs with your DS playing. Also the other DCs, I'd love to see them perform so if not happy to post here please PM me links.

to your son drummers!

drummersmum I just played her that Kaski piece and she loves it! Thank you! The other piece got a less good reception - "I'll never be able to play that" .

She will see what her teacher thinks. She has literally not a hope of winning anything, it's just for the experience, so I'm not sure that having a varied programme is especially important. More important that she enjoys playing especially this year when she is so busy. The Schubert impromptu (which she does not especially like) has been a bit of an uphill drag - it sounds amazing but she will never love playing it.

mistigiri the URL to Kavalevsky didn't work at time so you need to forward to 1:55.

Mistigiri what a great opportunity for your DD! They must've heard her play somewhere?
Re her third piano piece, DS is now playing a XX century piece by Finnish composer Heino Kaski called "Nacht am Seestrand": It's very lirical and gives a lot of opportunity for expression. The only thing is that it may not be very contrasted with the other two if she wishes to add contrast.
Kavalvesky's Prelude op38 n.2 would be a huge contrast and a showy pieces for a finale, it's considered Grade7 (this link will take you straight to min 1:55 when the n.2 prelude starts:

Ah Fleur and mistigiri thank you guys, drummer boy allows filming but probably not hanging the film on a public forum where his mum has said all sort of things about him without him knowing So if I get to steal some footage I may just pm it if people don't mind. I also love seeing all the DC in this forum play and don't mind if someone pm's me a link by the way!!!

Congratulations drummers, great result.

Wow drummers congrats! I want to see the drummer boy, would he allow you to film him? He must be amazing!

Misti good luck with the concert!

Thinking about it maybe she could do Joplin's Bethena waltz which she half-learnt as a beginner. She should find that easy now. But I would be hugely grateful for any other ideas.