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Original poster

January Music Thread

769 replies

Wafflenose · 02/01/2017 22:24

Happy New Year!

Sorry I'm a bit late starting this thread - I've been away for a few days without internet access. Anyway, this is our monthly thread for musicians and parents of musicians of all ages and all abilities. It's a great place to chat, or to ask questions about lessons, practice, exams, auditions or anything music-related.

I have two DDs: Goo (11 and in Year 6) who plays the flute, recorder and piano, and Rara (8 and in Year 4) who plays the cello, recorder and clarinet. I think we have Grade 7 Flute and Grade 1 Clarinet coming up this term, and also the local music festival and Junior Young Musician competition for Goo. Grade 7 Recorder and Grade 3 Cello are tentatively pencilled in for the summer, but we'll think about those nearer the time. Goo is also in NCO, and lives for it... it's all she talks about, she loves writing to and texting all the friends she's made there, and she is in Under 12s this year. I am a teacher of woodwind and have a little clarinetist who's just got into Under 10s. I hope to have a few more trying out next time.

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NeverEverAnythingEver · 24/01/2017 11:39

I had a look at some of the ABRSM piano syllabus but am not too impressed with some of the selections ... But I am a well-known fusspot... Grin

Original poster
Wafflenose · 24/01/2017 10:57

I should add that Goo never actually competed - she was too young. The class was called 'competitive swimming' and seemed to consist of lots of starts and turns!

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 24/01/2017 10:55

Good on her, stringchild. I'm not a great swimmer, but go for fun when I can. I wish Goo had stuck with swimming - she was amazing when tiny (Stage 8/ competitive swimming at 6) but they have to really want to do it, and she had packed it in by 7.5. She did ballet and country dancing for years, but has swapped those for netball, dodgeball, and gimmicks such as house footy and house tag rugby when the mood takes her. Rara is flexible and coordinated, but not interested in sport at ALL - she is very active though, constantly bouncing and spinning, has a good scooter so gets some exercise on that, and swims for 1 hour per week (also Stage 8) - doesn't want to join a club or race anyone though.

Good luck with your preparation, Loose. Is it ABRSM? I don't teach anyone piano at the moment, so am totally out of touch with the syllabus.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 24/01/2017 10:44

Waffle I did indeed! Slightly wish they didn't ask for my date of birth...
Totally agree about the sport. Mine aren't sporty although DS1 enjoys PE at school. DS2 does a tennis class once a week and I'm so pleased he's stuck with it! I am hoping DS1 might go back at some point, or do badminton. At the moment he has an art club on a Saturday but that ends in March so maybe that'll be the time. On the other hand he claims that playing a bass drum in a marching band is quite a good workout!
We're going to try out a cello on Friday (Inset day) - very exciting!

stringchild · 24/01/2017 09:17

Raspberry - doesn't sound any less busy though :)

Waffle - thats great; i am big believer that these young musicians need a sport to stretch them out etc; dd has joined a swimming club and i hope it evens up her biceps (she has the biggest right bicep but nothing on the left!)

Original poster
Wafflenose · 24/01/2017 09:02

Did you enter for the exam this term, Loose?

Goo just gets busier. She played in her first netball tournament with the school yesterday, is really keen, and wants to join a club now! I'm all for keeping fit, so I've said yes, if she still wants to do it in a month's time, and is willing to give something up (preferably dodgeball, which I'm finding is a complete waste of money!). She's not sporty at all, apart from being a good swimmer and reasonable runner. But she tries hard and enjoys the social side, I think.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 23/01/2017 23:13

I bet that feels like the end of an era Raspberry but good luck for future singing. Good to know it's all going well.
The juggling continues. DS1 is going to join a jazz group from next week so basically he'll be in a total of three groups spread over two evenings! He has a concert this Saturday as well so should keep him pretty busy. I have to reschedule his bass lessons now but it's in a good cause!

Getting there with my piano pieces. Really need to focus on my sight reading now.

raspberryrippleicecream · 23/01/2017 20:15

I am no longer a Chorister parent, DS2 was valedicted yesterday!

In practice though, nothing much has changed, DS is still singing in Youth Choir and as a Junior Choral Scholar. I was still a bit sniffily as he handed over his Head Chorister medal.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 23/01/2017 15:04

Thank you all! I'm much reassured!

Trumpetboysmum · 23/01/2017 11:34

Ds went away last year on a brass academy course he was 11 and knew no one but he's fairly confident with new people and had been away before with school he had a great time and was really well looked after . He's going away with the nco this year and I don't think he's met anyone yet on his course but he's really looking forward to it .

stringchild · 23/01/2017 11:18

Never - first one when dd was 8 and she knew no one (and was the youngest there); it went really well although prob 5 rather than 7 days would have been enough - was tired and not completely shiny clean when we picked her up! I think pastoral care is key, and for younger ones being in a relatively narrow age range (as NCO does). That first course when from 8-14 and needs/attitudes are pretty different in that range. Narrower age ranges of around 2yrs have been 'better'.

DD loves her residentials.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 23/01/2017 11:07

I read the reviews in another forum about this particular camp, which also has a grown-up section. The grownups said it's great if you've got the energy. Grin I expect youngsters are fine.

Doubleup · 23/01/2017 09:26

Never, the first thing DD said as we were collecting her from her course was that she wanted to do it the next year. Good incentive to get her to practice for the auditions!

Icouldbeknitting · 23/01/2017 09:25

DS went away for a five day musical resi when he was 12 (I think, he might have been 11). He knew no-one there and it was his first time away since the disaster of a school weekend trip when he was 7. He really enjoyed it (helped in no small part by missing the last week of school), there were lots of activities that he enjoyed, the food was good - it was all good. He went on the same course three times until he aged out and has been back since as a mentor.

They all have a common interest so there's something you know you can talk about.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 23/01/2017 08:56

Thanks double and ealing! I feel less scared now. Grin

ealingwestmum · 23/01/2017 08:30

9 years here too never, this summer will be her 4th return to same 6 day residential, not in our county either.

First year she went solo, then meets the same faces each year. Loves it.

Doubleup · 23/01/2017 08:01

Never if you count the NCO courses, my DD went when she was 9. We had got her together twice with another girl who lived relatively locally for an hour or so each time (same teacher), but otherwise she knew no-one. She can be painfully shy, but had loved the course. I think the staff can make or break it.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 23/01/2017 07:29

Can I pick the brains of those of you whose DC have been on residential music camp? How old were they when they went? Did they enjoy it? Did they go on their own or with friends?

Trumpetboysmum · 22/01/2017 19:58

That was supposed to say dd mistigiri !!

Trumpetboysmum · 22/01/2017 19:57

Mistigri hope your ds recovers soon
First regional nco rehearsal today which ds enjoyed Smile

NeverEverAnythingEver · 22/01/2017 17:20

Ouch minimisty. :( Hope it gets better soon.

drummersmum · 22/01/2017 16:25

mistigiri she should rest her hand for a couple of days at least. Hope she feels better soon.

only I loved your story Flowers

ealingwestmum · 22/01/2017 11:40

(sorry for bad spelling)!

ealingwestmum · 22/01/2017 11:38

...And placing hand in ice bath (ballet feet injuries cure) intermittently for as long as she can hold!

ealingwestmum · 22/01/2017 11:35

Poor girl, I would do exactly what you have done mistri, keeping the ibuprofen going after you untape the fingers. Some RSI exercises may also help to counter stretch the area post inflammation.

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