November Music Thread

thanks Waffle - interestingly the Sax has been a slightly better experience through all this, as has softer mouth piece (or so i am told)?

so NCO results within the next two weeks i guess - i have nightmares of all the school and nco results arriving on the same day :(

Waffle - sounds like a really helpful report/process; eccentric=good - who wants to be all the same! how is Goo's finger? i hope she has a better time with train tracks then we; started really well but the last tightening was horrific and the clarinet teacher has told us that progress will now slow right down, and even may go backwards as dd can't bear to play long enough most days. Has also changed the saliva quantity in the mouth - also not helpful. I am hoping the next tightening will go better....

Re the groups - how do you know if the child is G+T? dd is in a selective prep, and they don't identify in this way? i occasionally peep at the G+T forum, but feel a bit of an interloper really. I guess the obvious answer back to me is, if you have to ask if they are G+T they prob aren't....(which is my assumption anyway)

audition day again tomorrow.....

Waffle great to hear you have a better understanding of Rara's way of functioning. I am sure it will help you and the people involved in her development to tailor to her individual needs. It would be so great if we could adapt everything, learning, play, work, by understanding each person is an individual in their own right and stop trying to fit everybody in the same "shape".

Apologies, long time no post ... life is very busy right now for both me and DD.

waffle I mainly came back to say that I'm glad you got help for Rara. She sounds a lot like my DS. He has always had trouble finding his words, and there is no such thing as a simple version of anything, ever. Also sensory issues, slow processing. He's not creative in the artistic way like Rara but has a very instinctive way of reasoning esp in maths.

Anyway, music has taken a bit of a backseat this term here because of school and to a lesser extent boyfriend. DD has a very heavy timetable due to the course she is doing (a regular French science bac, plus additional classes in Spanish and Latin American history, and Spanish literature, taught in Spanish). She is still doing piano and guitar but practice time is suffering and she's had little time to write.

Piano is going ok - she has a Schubert impromptu finished and up to speed, and she's starting to work on three pieces for a competition next year. She will play something by Debussy, a Chopin nocturne, and a modern work (no idea what yet).

Guitar is just keeping on keeping on. She has a support slot on 14th December opening for this singer (I'd never heard of her but apparently she's had a Billboard hit in the US): en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yael_Naim

I won't be there (sob - gutted) - I am away for work that week so going to have to beg the organisers or one of DD's friends to get someone to film on a phone.

Waffle: great news that Rara report was as expected!
I am so so so tempting about violin. I was told by our previous (experienced) teacher that she doesnt need one for the next at least 6 months. Will try to stay put.
I wont have time on fb group to ne honest as I spend my lunch, train time on mumsnet and thats already a luxury.

Yes, I suggested the group Wafflenose.
Ha-ha, the G&T forum here is a nightmare. But fb group - well, there are some occasional proud mum posts but 90% of it - problems. Anxieties, perfectionism, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and so on, sensitivities, sensory problems, , poor sleep, problems at school, how to choose right school, etc. And PLENTY of support!
If anyone else feels that they would benefit from the group like that (support of parents of G&T children), please join. It is called Parenting High Potential and it is on fb. And their home -site
www.potentialplusuk.org/new_parents_main.php?contentid=318&webid=235#.WDYPe7KLQdU

Waffle interesting report which makes sense to you, doesn't it? And the school is on board to help so all's good and I'm glad for Rara.

Glad you've got the diagnosis you need waffle. I hope you get the support needed at school.

Glad to hear Rara finally got the report after all that waiting, Waffle! It is really interesting to hear about her vocabulary. It sounds like she is a very creative person, and I'm so glad school is giving her more time for tasks as I can only imagine it is stressful to feel rushed. I am sure over time she will get faster anyway.
DS2 has been invited to play a cello solo in the school Christmas concert. Something festive or classical is requested. I think he's going to have to ask his teacher to make the final decision or there'll be a lot of dithering and not a lot of rehearsing!

Thank you stringchild
I know expensive violin will be good-Gligas are very good Romanian make (and Romania is very traditional fiddler's country :))). It is only cost really that makes me doubt.... It is like - oh, does she really needs it, she is only a child, not a virtuoso... But on the other hand it made me feel better when I saw dd playing "proper" antique looking Romanian violin as opposed to to a cheap glossy Primavera

Only - we now always take instruments on trial so DD can have a good play in different moods and settings, and her teacher can have a go too! seems v usual to do this. Re cost - for the full size cello we splurged a bit, didn't take it on trial, and DD never got comfortable with it. We ended up persuading the shop to take it back if we bought another (Cheaper one) from them; we lost a little money but better than a v expensive instrument hanging around unused. Was an interesting lesson in the price tag not being everything...

In case anyone is interested NCO Open Rehearsal at The Barbican on 11 Dec. Concert in the eve, but rehearsal might be interesting for younger children who might be thinking of auditioning next time.

Thank you for advice ealingwestmum and NotAMusician

Paulweller11 I have heard hindersine viloin-it is indeed good!

Wafflenose, join Parenting High Potential group on fb - it is very good and very supportive-basically pretty much like this thread. Plenty of advice on Rara's issues you described

Just catching up - sorry I missed your query on violins only but most of what I would have said has already been covered. Whatever you get, worth checking it by (especially if you are able to test-run some) your teacher/an expert to validate if it has good strings, bridge, finger board etc like Paulweller has mentioned, as these can get 'down-graded' for sale in the less known violin retailers and can add cost if not in good nick. We upgraded similar time to you, but DD was already on 4/4 primavera in Y5, to a 1900 german one through to Y13. Bow was changed at the same time from a carbon fibre to a pernambuco and both made a huge difference to her playing, even if it was psychosomatic! £800 and £400 respectively. Big ouch at the time but now I think, it was well worth it. Good luck!

waffle, good to here you are able to work with the new information and that you are seeing changes for the positive in Rara's confidence. That in itself is the key to change so much...

Hello eliphant if you are still around? I am going to pm you.
If you are unable to locate i.e are new to Mnet, come back on and someone will help.

Sorry, have been working and a bit busy.

Dd2 has a hindersine violin, but it has been setup by a violin luthier with new easy tuners, better strings, bridge etc. It sounds good- according to violin tutor.
Once they get into full size I'm hoping it will be easier to find good violins that are second hand.
Dd1 had a 1/2 size westbury antique- that sounded very good and it was only £400/ but again had replaced bridge, strings etc.
But she has a 3/4 now.

Only, most expensive violin will project a good sound and it's good for every player. It might be necessary for competition. However, I doubt it is necessary for G5 or upper to update to an expensive one. DS took g7 exam with his 1/2 violin I bought from eBay at around £50 and still got full marks of two pieces.

Thank you for advice ladies!
Prada we already have full size violin, so part exchange will be unnecessary unless ds2 will carry on playing too, but he is only 5 so I would not risk :) Dh wants to buy 600 one (oh these grown up boys....), to be honest I wholeheartedly support his decision but being a practical female....

Thats the thing with practical, we can never go back the moment the note was played incorrectly or not nicely while with theory we could always check. I would never have confidence in practical exams, it can really go either way. We just have to believe in them Fleur and worry a little (less).

I dragged myself to a friend for dinner on last Saturday as they pitied on us were all sick like dogs. They asked about our plan for secondary and we said we will go private. Then they said its no worry then as paid selective schools are easy to get in. Well, I really wanted to say that it is actually not true, many selective private schools are not easy to get in at all. And I am saying it from a parent with an above average performed child perspective.

Waffle: glad to hear things slowly back in order. I love this forum where I can moan even just about my flu, its really a sharing and supportive one.

Regarding to sight-reading, we think we are ok with it now after theory grade 5 last term. It might be true only for grade 5 and under and I expect the challenge to come back with above grade 5 level. Although I have someone completely felt in love with theory and asked for grade 6 and above exam. We wont do it yet though as it adds cost and it consumes time and we need to catch up with practical on both of the instruments first.