January Music Thread

Anybody else watching? She's amazing isn't she?

Loose good luck with grade 5, it does suddenly feel serious doesn't it?

DD went in to join the wind band very reluctant and came out skipping with happiness. She loves it and she can't wait to go again. I am so happy for her as I feel lately music has become a chore and "must do every day" while forgetting the reason behind it. I do get it why, the festival and exams, one after the other but my final aim is enjoyment so the wind band will help with that.

Looking forward to hearing about wind and Fleur.

Oh and delighted to hear you're still playing Drummersmum - that's excellent news!

DS did Beavers and is now a Cub. One of the things that got him through his grade 1 clarinet exam practice was the possibility of getting his level 1 musicians scout badge. Scouting/Guiding/Army type stuff are amazing things for children to do. It's all the fun things of school and none of the boring bits!

DS had his first clarinet lesson today since the Christmas break. No news on his grade 1 results yet, but his teacher has given him 3 pieces from grade 2 to learn. I'm hoping that's a good sign! Does anyone know when the current 2014-2017 syllabus ends? I thought it might be the end of the school year in the summer, but maybe it's the autumn term instead?

Breathing is definitely an issue! It turns out the head of the piano department once fainted off the piano stool because she held her breath for too long! My teacher now has a theory that the correct breathing can solve everything.
I love hearing what all the dcs are up to and wish Minifleur lots of happiness with her new group. DS2 staggered in with his cello after school and informed me he's starting grade 5. It turns out the piece he played in the Christmas concert was grade 5 level so his teacher reckons he should focus on that rather than grade 4 - although it's really going to take quite a while to cover everything. He's going to try out for the next string ensemble up on Saturday. Getting a bit more serious now!

Oh, really Prada??? Didn't realise it could be that popular, not surprised though. Dd's TA is organising it, so we may be just lucky...

prada I'm not on fb either I got the link from Twitter. You can always try.
loose DS had to work on his breathing during drumming when he reached g5. Good luck! I keep my practice, currently on grade 0.

DS is back to school tomorrow. I am in awe of him today, 4 whole hours at the piano for classical, jazz and transcribing and now off to drums lesson! Bless the holidays!

gilly so happy your DD is doing so well in her school. It was so right letting her go there :)

I am quite new to this Facebook thing.., so for NICOLA Benedetti later, will it just appear on my tablet if I click that linked posted on page 3 of this thread or do I need to do something else?

Green - well he sounds just fab! Yes we also record here to listen back to how the audience hears it but not for the teachers to critique.

Only - brownies is great but where I live, you need a name down from birth it's so over subscribed!!

Today is DD's first day joining the wind band at the local school of music. I hope she loves it, very nice people and lots of different instruments.

Loose You have to breath during piano playing or you'll asphyxiate when you play the Hammerklavier.

(I'm going to check if I hold my breath next time I play ...)

I was told to do video recording during the week since last term and we used whatsapp. The thing is I dont always do what I was asked, he asked for twice a week now and I am not too sure if we could do it. He is a great passionate teacher, we are very lucky to have him, he has been with us for 3 yrs. He has more belief to my daughter in terms of her piano playing than I do and he always says she can do it. He tells us items we should look at between the lessons and what is expected in the next lesson. Emails exchanges have been great mainly because I dont present in the lessons. His compliment on her results, achievement has been (very) modest and it suits me well.

Piano teacher encourages recordings, but for DS to listen to himself. She also likes duets videod so they can see how they are playing together.

thank you Prada, will investigate, and yep, my childhood was away from British realities :)
Waffle, from what I have heard our Brownies sounded pretty much similar-a lot of going out, campings, yesterday they have been playing a lot of games, just amazing... Not sure why I didn't send her there before...ah, I know, she had piano on that day! I knew music lessons would not make her any good :)))

Our teacher also asks for recordings but not to be emailed, she wants to see how she practises.

Green DD is also doing one of the Beethoven sonatinas, one movement for the festival also, it would be interesting to know which one is your DD doing and how will she find it.

Good job no one asks to see videos of anyone in this house practising!!
My teacher has pointed out that I hold my breath when I play one of my pieces. Apparently, it's not uncommon! I now have to include breathing in my piano practice!

Gosh Green- videos of practice? That is a seriously interested teacher!!

Beavers/Cubs/scouts depending on age. I assume you are not from the UK only?

I have confession to make ladies...
Yesterday I took my dd to Brownies for the first time ever....
I am thinking now-what is happening to this world if children got God knows what grades at such a young age but are missing such a normal childhood activities like Brownies?....
Or is it just my fault as a parent?
What a great place to be - Brownies...
Is there anything of that kind for boys too?

I will need to have a look tonight Fleur, just saw his note for this week practice, will show it to her tonight. We have our county festival this March so we aim for 2months for these pieces(if I remember to do the registration this week).

Back to school for DD today and she came home happy that she saw her friends and had lots of fun.

Green which pieces did your DD chose? Trying to find more inspiration in case we have them about as she can't wait to start something new once the festival is over in a month time.

This is such an interesting topic, dd friend is very able in Maths and about 3 years in advance.
She took to music in primary and was very good for a beginner, both school and we encouraged her, but her parents couldn't see the point, there again they are the same about her Maths ability.
We all tried to get the parents interested in their dd future but failed miserably.

Dd back at school again, had a brilliant report and think she may get an award this year, as has really improved attitude and effort in every class except English and that was still satisfactory.
She is still nowhere near grade 5 Theory, but school don't seem to bothered.
In other respects she is beyond the grading system and understanding jazz harmony, able to solo improvise in big Band etc.
Ask her to answer theory questions though and she just struggles so much.
It isn't like she doesn't understand, but struggles to retain the info, a bit like me really.

I love these threads as we all seem to have children/ teachers taking varying approaches and the range of instruments is interesting too.

Raspberry: nice presents, music players do look(very) smart.
Prada: how was tge travelling to the school for second round today. I can imagine you are having a glass now to breath as the day is over.

The piano lesson tonight went well. We chose 1 Clementi, 1 Beethoven and 1 Bach and we are back to etudes. She was so engaged during the lesson to my surprise(working from home today so be able to be in the lesson-tube strike). I can not for 1 moment to imagine that this little roller could sit still for the whole hour and so focused.

It is an interesting chat.

On a more practical note, DS1s favourite Christmas presents were his own iron (the uni flat one is rubbish apparently) and a shoe cleaning kit. These are for band concerts. Nice to know music is keeping him smart too!

Helen total sympathies with solos being spoiled, especially in your DDs last year