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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

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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Original poster
Wafflenose · 19/05/2017 13:53

Totally up to you. If it were me, I would go to the JD, as it's so early on, and in the 'settling in' phase, and just apply for the scholarship anyway. They will be awarded on merit, and I'm sure he'll get at least one. The director is likely to be on the audition panel in any case! I reckon the taster day will be for working out which children they want to encourage to apply... or not. And by not, I obviously don't mean your DS... I work at a good private school with an enviable music department, but we had quite a few children (all from other private schools, interestingly) playing a Grade 2 piano piece and singing a simple song, or a Grade 2 violin and a Grade 1 piano piece. Some of them were quite good, but needless to say, they didn't get 11+ music scholarships!

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Kutik73 · 19/05/2017 13:52

Thanks Waffle. So it's not a big factor for the decision of offering, I assume?

Kutik73 · 19/05/2017 13:49

string, thank you for your advice. I called and asked them just now. Unfortunately it's confirmed that they don't offer any alternative slot to play to the director outside of the scholars taster day...

I booked a slot for their general open day so we can see the music department and other facilities, just won't have a chance to play to the director, or see other scholars and so on.

Hmmm, should I let DS go to the taster day instead of JD on the day...?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 19/05/2017 13:43

Nah, loads of our scholars didn't come to the specific days!

Well done to mini, that's amazing!

We are looking into funding Goo's new flute, through the VAT-free school scheme. We'd have to rush it through before she leaves primary school, and ask her to contribute a little bit (she has already offered). We can't really afford it, but might not be cheaper to go for full cost minus some grants, and she needs it now. I'm going to set the school scheme in motion, and we will have some thinking time built in.

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stringchild · 19/05/2017 13:26

Replicate not relocate! And dd not dd!!

stringchild · 19/05/2017 13:25

Kutik - ring them back and ask if they can offer other slots to play to the director (don't ask for them to relocate the whole day for you though as there will be general open days you can go to without dd). You won't be the only one. We didn't meet all the directors ahead of auditions but it was really useful to especially to see how your dd respond to them (dd had quite marked thoughts that influenced final decisions for us)

Kutik73 · 19/05/2017 13:20

Advice needed (yes again, sorry...)!!

We had a parent meeting the other day and were encouraged to apply for music scholarship for 11+ entry.

I looked for the information on the website of the suggested school and realised their scholars taster day is scheduled on a Saturday in September which means DS misses one of his very first Saturdays at JD. I requested the absence and was accepted by JD but they stressed out the importance of attending the first few days of the academic year, implying I should look for a way to avoid the absense.

SO I called the said school and asked if it's OK not to come to the taster day. The lady who answered the phone said it's not compulsory and can still apply for scholarship without attending the taster day however it's MUCH preferable to come as you have a chance to play some pieces to the director.

It's totally a new world to us. No idea what to do. Both give us flexibility what we should do, BUT both seem to think it's VERY important to attend... Will it be disadvantage if DS didn't attend the taster day? It's advisable to see the director prior to the audition? Someone can share their experience...?

Doubleup · 19/05/2017 09:39

Obviously a Duracell bunny you have there mini; all that energy on a Friday! Excellent result!

Minimusiciansmama · 19/05/2017 09:33

Thanks so much all of you! She's chuffed to bits. It's been a good week for her. And i love that despite all she's achieved this week with her YYM place and her exam etc, she ran at 6.15am and went through some new pieces her teacher had given her for the clarinet and then sat at the piano this morning and worked at her scales & arpeggios happy as larry, head already focussing on her June exam. They don't stop, do they?!

AlexandraLeaving · 19/05/2017 08:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleurdelise · 19/05/2017 08:06

Mini that's fantastic! Well done!

raspberryrippleicecream · 19/05/2017 07:58

Well done mini.

NYO advise earplugs too, when DS has been to Inspire.

drummersmum · 19/05/2017 07:38

mini 👑🏆👍bouncing girl: 🙇🙆

LooseAtTheSeams · 19/05/2017 07:28

Amazing result, Mini! No wonder she's bouncing! CakeStar

Trumpetboysmum · 19/05/2017 07:24

Mini that's fantastic news ( she can bounce all day today now too!!)

Minimusiciansmama · 19/05/2017 07:14

Happy little musician here today- I told her this morning that last night her teacher had emailed to say she'd got 96/100 for her G3. She'd spent the whole day absolutely bouncing, before and after her exam. It was her first clarinet exam and she had a wonderful time! She asked if 96 is a distinction Grin

Fleurdelise · 18/05/2017 19:24

Dd's clarinet teacher also plays the piccolo and she told me once she practises with ear plugs I'll ask her advice also but thank you all I think I'll purchase some and see if she stops complaining.

Fleurdelise · 18/05/2017 19:23

Just testing I can post as I downloaded the app. It's a bit rubbish as I can't see what anybody posted while I write.

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/05/2017 17:15

Yep, DS1 has to wear them, especially for marching band. They check they have them and there are temporary ones for anyone who forgets! I think I got ours on drummers recommendation a while ago.
Would second the comment about tinnitus.

drummersmum · 18/05/2017 16:22

uses them

drummersmum · 18/05/2017 16:21

As the mum of a percussionist, I’m a dictator when it comes to ear protection. It’s not only loss of hearing, it’s tinnitus you also need to worry about. Living with tinnitus is horrible. DS wears special drummers headphones that feed him the backing track whilst protecting. Sometimes he wears B&Q builders headphones, if he doesn’t need the backing track being fed. Then he also has special in ear plug with different filters which change their potency. He used them for orchestral work and light jazz: www.gear4music.com/Drums-and-Percussion/Alpine-MusicSafe-Classic-Earplugs-White/1OXC
Sometimes he’s the only one using them, but I don’t care!

Kutik73 · 18/05/2017 12:28

We all know heavy use of practice pedal, mute or ear plugs won't be great as it will lose sensitivities. So I guess we have to work out when and how to use those clever devices. One tip I got from a violinist - use mute for left hand exercises as much as possible, then work on bowing/tone quality without mute as much as possible. Obviously even for left hand exercises, it's better to listen to the full sound, but less important compared with right hand exercises.

ealing, let's hope my 9 years old is also sensible enough to listen to his mum's advice!

ealingwestmum · 18/05/2017 12:05

Sounds like a sensible approach Kutik. I've never really thought about it before until you've raised it - I don't think it's been discussed on these threads before (but I may be very wrong)!

Kutik73 · 18/05/2017 11:20

Someone claimed that 30-50% of orchestral musicians suffer from hearing problems. But it also means more than half-ish are non-effected. So I guess it depends on genes/environments/pure luck.

I would like to take the safer approach so will teach DS how to protect his ears and ask him to use ear plugs or mute when I feel it's needed (maybe for long hours of full orchestral sessions or again long hours of personal practice). I feel it's my responsibility to inform him properly and have some control of how to prevent possible damage at this stage as he is still too young to make any decent judgement. However, while I was researching, I noticed some people really dislike using any sort of device as they are uncomfortable or remove fun out of playing music or whatever the reaons. I respect personal preference/choice, so once DS is old enough to know what works best for him, I will leave him to decide whether he should continue to use ear plugs and so on.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 18/05/2017 09:16

We have never used anything like that.

I had similar problems at that age, and it turned out to be my 12 year old molars rumbling away, just before they came in (I was early). Worth considering. It could also be caused by a tense jaw when playing certain things.

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