November Music Thread

DS was on the G&T programme in primary school as he was top of the class academically but I knew that meant their school selected top 10% and it had nothing to do with national ability. Fair enough, he got into a selective school but once in there he was part of a huge cohort (260 pupils per year) which meant he was one of many able kids and not a "star" anymore. He is still performing well but he's not a genius by any means.

I also find the idea annoying, gifted and talented means something else for me and it isn't found in all schools, the idea that only academic kids are G&T while the curriculum ignores arts, music, dance as these are not as important make me question the whole concept of it.

I'm with Alexandra on the G+T! Over the years my experience of it as it's understood by schools has been fairly bizarre, but Waffle is right that it really means top 10% in that year. I'd say DS1 has a genuine talent for drawing, but to me 'gifted' is a term that shouldn't be thrown around lightly. I used to joke that he might be gifted and talented at school but at home he couldn't sit on a chair without falling off it - and Monkey you are not alone in having a child who tried to leave the house without wearing shoes!

Yes I was wondering that too but I haven't had an email yet either . I was hoping with a bit of time between the audition and finding out that he would be less bothered about getting in, but it seems not. Hoping he does as school music is frustrating him no end at the moment ( more his unrealistic expectations than anything being wrong😀) And so I think having something else music focussed to do would be great but we shall see..

Waffle and Stringchild a was that an e-mail from NCO?

2ndSopranos and MonkeypuzzleClimber welcome!

My dd8 violinist is not neuro typical either, so double welcome to you MonkeypuzzleClimber . Also thank you for the violin recommendation , Gama 2 is actually exactly what I am thinking of! Her 1/2 size is Gems 2 which we bought from Elida too, so yes, I know how good and helpful they are

Waffle and other nco-ers - seems first letters will be out at the end of next week.

Monkey - welcome!

Welcome 2ndSopranos I hope the piano exam went well today, I know what you mean about being a big deal.

Welcome Monkey your DDs sound very musical! Good luck with the NCO!

DD has her exam on Saturday and she's going to an ice skating party tomorrow night!

Hello everybody. I've been lurking on and off since last year's NCO thread. Hope that doesn't make me too creepy to join you .

I have 2 violinists. Daughter 1 (8) is an adventurous, passionate, challenging, quirky kid. Flashes through life but sometimes misses things (or knocks them over) in the process. She adores her violin but not always practicing it right now. She had a brilliant time in the NCO Training Orchestra this summer, and we hope will be back there this year as she was one of the youngest on the course. We were feeling OK about the audition as she's trying for the same orchestra and I was hoping she only had to be as good as last year (and she has made good progress), but not so sure now, as she insisted on one piece being a very tricky bit of a Vivaldi concerto and got her first serious attack of nerves right before . Like a couple of your's here she is definitely non-neurotypical. Loves science, talks like a poet, obsessive reader with a reading age of 8 at 3, but can't remember to put her shoes on in the morning and a lot of sensory seeking behaviour. She had a sad and bad time last year with a crap class teacher and bullying but is getting back on track now. I think the NCO really helped.

Daughter 2 (5) is also very passionate but rather a perfectionist. She's one of those kids who is immaculately behaved at school and in public, but can be a horror to us (and sometimes her violin teacher, who has the dubious pleasure of being so long a part of our lives she is treated like family). She is a little more reserved (and a lot more organised) than her sister and has great emotional intelligence, so sofar is better at fitting in at school. Also adores her violin, but hates getting things wrong so is prone to having meltdowns over her f holes. Both of them hate being told what to do, especially by me as I don't play anything

They do Suzuki (individual lessons, group and ensemble for the big one) and haven't done any grades but I think they are around grade 5-6 and grade 2 ish. They also play fiddle and sing in a lovely, slightly anarchic kids folk school, and school 'orchestra' (all 5 members of it ).

Hope I havn't overshared. As I said, I've been peeking in on you for a while and its so hard to put ones kids into a few words (or it is for me -I'm a bit rambly too). And it's been lovely to read about all the hard work you and your kids have put in to music and all their achievements .

Onlymusic we just got a Gliga gama 2 (thanks to some lovely music foundation awards). Its a really beautiful instrument, and despite being just a 1/4 has a proper full sound if you know what I mean. We ordered it from Elida violins and the service was excellent.

Hi 2ndsopranos! Welcome.

Completely forgot miniprada did her G2 musical theatre exam today. She hates singing but according to to school singing teacher it went well 😀

What a nice thread. Apologies for skim reading and posting hastily before I forget.

I am almost at the end of the youth music journey as my DS is 17 and has just been offered a place on an undergrad jazz course at a conservatoire. I have loved being a musical children's mum.

drummers my DS has aspergers too. Slight but official. I wondered how he would get on at Saturday school at a conservatoire - aged 15 - he loved it. He recently got a massive book about jazz - practical/theory by Mike Levine. He loves this book.

As he was late starting - 12 - and didn't take it seriously until he was 15 he hasn't done any exams - passed G5 theory. I wonder if he should do G8 classical in case his BMus doesn't work out or if it would just be a nuisance.

Good luck to everyone taking ABRSM exams this month.

basically not ballsing up the written paper 😂! She'll be fine. She has to do the music scholarship for it yet though... Fingers crossed!

Another week, another entrance exam here.... Today one of the first rounds for the London indie options. We have also have a rather nice conditional offer from one of her two boarding options so pressure is off a little. Last exam before January madness begins!

Thank you Waffle, I will have a look on platform
Btw, do you know that siblings of G&T children are usually fall into 10 points to G&T one on IQ curve? I find it quite fascinating...
Off to school now....

thread, not group, sorry!

Btw, when I read about children in this group, quite a few sound as G&T to me .

stringchild if you didn't do formal IQ testing, just look through the FAQ in the link I gave above, otherwise Waffle described it very well.
Waffle what is platform for the private group (like fb, mn?) I am tempted but I hardly ever read even fb group nowadays - struggle with time management, hence "onlymusic" - try to find time for music but cannot find time for anything else :)

Ha ha loose we received the same email and had the same reaction because it's now almost two weeks for us.

Good luck on the NCO - I really hope it's all good news. The braces just sound too painful for words.
Had a funny moment this morning - email popped in from Rockschool. For one crazy minute I thought bass guitar result was in after less than a week! In fact, it was just to tell me the closing date for Spring exams is only a week away!