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Extra-curricular activities

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May Music Thread

784 replies

Wafflenose · 01/05/2017 15:59

Hello, and welcome to the May thread. It's a public holiday in the UK, but my school is open and I had to work today, which is why I've only just got round to it! This is a place for parents of musicians of ALL levels, and adult learners, to chat about lessons, practice, scales, concerts, exams, and whatever else they'd like to! We have lots of regulars, some occasional posters, and sometimes people who just pop in to ask a question. It's a friendly place.

I have two daughters. Goo is 11 and in her last term at primary school. She's working towards her Grade 8 Flute (some time next year) and playing from the Grade 4 Piano book (currently refusing to take any exams, and putting off the first proper performance!). Rara is 8, may or may not be doing Grade 3 Cello this term, and is approaching Grade 2 Clarinet.

Both of them played the recorder for years, starting as preschoolers. They reached Grades 7 and 3 respectively, but sadly neither has really played since the music festival a few months ago. They are obsessed with their Flute and Clarinet, and really enjoy Piano and Cello. There won't be many opportunities to play the recorder at the secondary school they will attend, so much as I love it, it's probably a good time to quietly drop it. Recorder has given them both lots of opportunities, confidence, reading skills... and festival prizes!

Goo does NCO and South West Music School. Rara isn't that level at all when it comes to music, but is gifted with her hands. Instead of practising the cello and doing her school spellings today, she completed a lovely sewing kit without bothering to look at the instructions, and also made a lovely crafty construction from card and coloured paper. Both girls are keen on drawing and playing computer games. Rara swims and Goo plays sodding netball and dodgeball, which have both been responsible for multiple injuries over the past few months!

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LooseAtTheSeams · 20/05/2017 19:21

That's the one, Waffle!Smile

Wafflenose · 20/05/2017 19:09

I think it is a general law!

Oh yes Loose, Voldemorts!! I do remember that, but haven't got a clue how it came about.

Not much practice around here lately. I've asked the girls to do two lots each tonight, which should take Goo 60 mins if she cuts corners, and 40 minutes for Rara. So what are they doing instead? Playing Exploding Kittens!

Ohhh... was it "the thing that shall not be named"?

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LooseAtTheSeams · 20/05/2017 18:41

Oh no, poor MiniDouble - that made me wince when I read it! Hope it's better soon!
Don't know if that was me, Waffle! I do remember when we were referring to exams as Voldemort, though!
I think MiniPrada was very brave today! Star

Doubleup · 20/05/2017 18:20

Thanks Trumpet. Bubble wrap is my padding of choice Grin. Just didn't think that it had to be for DD1!

Doubleup · 20/05/2017 18:16

Is that Goo's law Waffle, or just a general one? Need to campaign for a change in the law Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 20/05/2017 18:13

Oh no double hope it recovers soon
I think I might just wrap ds in cotton wool on the run up to his grade 7 Grin

Doubleup · 20/05/2017 18:12

Prada, well done to her for doing the exam when feeling under the weather. Hope she gets a decent result. Cake for miniprada and Gin for you Smile

Wafflenose · 20/05/2017 18:07

Doubleup, Goo manages to hurt herself every time something is coming up. I think it was Loose (correct me if I'm wrong) who told me it's the law! I hope your DD will be OK soon. We had to pull Goo out of County auditions last autumn, with her suspected broken wrist, which turned out not to be, but was debilitating anyway.

I'm sure MiniPrada will have done well.

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Pradaqueen · 20/05/2017 17:49

Ouch Doubleup!

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. Exam was ok. A major slip in the Gershwin. Not sure what happened but sounded like she lost concentration which is not surprising given the amount of medication she's had today. Scales sounded ok. Maybe one or two errors. Aural and sight reading - who knows?Grin

Fingers crossed!

Doubleup · 20/05/2017 17:35

So, DD1 managed to shut her finger in the door today. Lovely blue-black crescent appearing at the bottom of the nail and very tender. Great timing for her audition for the county YSO on Monday. Sad. I had thought that she had grown out of being so clumsy, but apparently not.

Wafflenose · 20/05/2017 15:45

I doubt she has damaged her hearing. I think it is more likely to be either an ear infection, or discomfort coming from her jaw (due to the position needed for playing high notes or something?) or possibly molars coming in.

I hope MiniPrada is feeling better and that everything goes well for her today. I have been reading lots, but also busy, so well done to anyone I might not have got around to congratulating personally!

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Fleurdelise · 20/05/2017 13:45

Well apparently dd's teacher didn't ever have a student having ear problems from clarinet so definitely we need a trip to the GP if it doesn't go away this week.

She said her husband does wear ear plugs in the orchestra but that's because he has a trombone playing in his ear. She had her hearing tested after playing for all her life and she is fine so she doesn't believe dd would be affected after such short period of playing.

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/05/2017 12:38

Also ealing I admire all the parents of sporty children as it seems to involve a lot more parental effort! Smile my only involvement with sport was taking mine to martial arts twice a week for two years, plus their gradings. I was so relieved when they decided to quit - obviously I didn't say that to them but it was incredibly time-consuming! Some parents actually took it up themselves on the grounds they were there so much anyway!

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/05/2017 12:34

ealing well, I'm still just far enough ahead of DS2 that I can gang up on him with the piano teacher! On the other hand, my only contribution to cello is deciphering his teacher's writing! Smile

Doubleup · 20/05/2017 12:23

Good luck to miniPrada - hope she feels better asap! Is she dosed up with paracetamol and ibuprofen?

ealingwestmum · 20/05/2017 11:37

Btw loose, I can't even swim, not even tread water! Bit like being a non musical mum Grin. But at least you give it a go!

ealingwestmum · 20/05/2017 11:27

That's why I am hooked on this supportive thread like you all. We know that our children put themselves out there, whether it's music solos, sport, exams etc (inc the dreaded aural) and pick themselves up when things don't go to plan. But when they do, it's so worth seeing it! Because we know what it takes behind the scenes...

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/05/2017 10:59

Ealing people with manners know not to say anything or they say good effort! It happens to Olympic swimmers, for goodness sake! Parents sitting in the crowd can't say anything unless they're prepared to leap in and give a demonstration! Grin
Frankly, I am in awe of anyone who swims competitively. I can manage a length swimming very, very slowly and quite frankly my dcs aren't that much better! Your Dd is amazingly talented!

ealingwestmum · 20/05/2017 10:47

Haha fleur, I'm with you. The old adage of it you can't say anything nice...at least in public! Competitive parents hey.

Fleurdelise · 20/05/2017 10:41

ealing that's terrible. I guess when they get older the competition is taken at a more serious level therefore you would hear mean comments, nevertheless, they're still kids, unless they were competing the the Olympic Games.

I am always weary of making any comments that could be interpreted if I am a music concert or sports competition spectator. In the festival I tended to be over praising also as all the dc impressed me.

ealingwestmum · 20/05/2017 10:12

...Thought it best not to correct them with it's called a change-over on this occasion Grin

ealingwestmum · 20/05/2017 10:09

How lovely to have over heard great feedback on your DS's bio from other parents Icould*! So much nicer than my over hearing parents commenting on how that girl just lost the team that relay on her appalling handover at a swim gala this week Shock]. It was harsh but true...

foundoutyet · 20/05/2017 10:02

dc music scholarship covers just about 1 instrument's lesson...

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/05/2017 09:16

ICouldBe - that's lovely for your DS and I am sure his biography was immaculate! Be careful - that could turn into your new job!
Get well soon Miniprada
Prada is right about really checking out music provision in prospective schools. Don't forget highly selective grammar schools are still state schools and they don't have spare cash. They have music provision, of course, but it's worth trying to find out how many of the older students are involved with orchestra etc. In the dark ages when I went to grammar school, some of the most talented musicians did all their music outside school, apart from a school production one year when the orchestra was about three times bigger than its normal size! Smile

Fleurdelise · 20/05/2017 09:07

Dd is having her clarinet lesson this morning so I need to tell her teacher she'll be playing with accompaniment soon so she can ensure dd's pieces are ready.

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