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Extra-curricular activities

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

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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gillybeanz · 11/05/2017 22:08

The young violinists at dd school are doing outreach performances and talking to children in schools across our area, on tour.
I think it's important work and can really inspire others.

Greenleave · 11/05/2017 20:04

This is great support for children plays music at high level Double!

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 18:59

Double, sounds amazing. Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 11/05/2017 18:48

Double that's great we seem to have to find these opportunities ourselves

Doubleup · 11/05/2017 18:20

violinandpiano the G&T is through the county music service with kids being nominated by instrument teachers, school teachers etc. Six sessions a year with input from specialist music schools, conservatoires, professional orchestras etc. Gives the kids additional opportunities.

Greenleave · 11/05/2017 18:10

We have been practising piano 45mins solidly these days. Loads on a steady tempo, strong pulse, pedalling effortlessly and fast playing focus. As the pieces we were given are random so my teacher records have been used as a sample benchmark to track where we are. I listened to her playing which I recorded last night and our teacher playing today the first time I feel like I understand what to do where. Usually for violin I could only compare with the pieces playing in youtube and her playing and I could only say the rythm, the tuning etc. are not the same. I know I should start learning to play anything, I just need to start.

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 15:00

That's fab, Trumpet. I know a boy who was 3 years senior than my DS had been registered on G&T for his music at primary school but as long as I remember there was not much benefit coming from the school. It was more of recognition, and perhaps he had more chance to perform but that's all.

Trumpetboysmum · 11/05/2017 14:55

Oh and he came home with an as level book on harmony and composition the other day so they are trying to differentiate the work too!!

Trumpetboysmum · 11/05/2017 14:54

According to ds's primary school g and t has been dropped ( I wasn't pushing for it I just wanted to make sure that they told his secondary school about his music and not just to focus on English and maths) however his secondary school do seem to have a programme of sorts for maths ds got given extra work ( which he hasn't done isn't interested and is too busy doing music!!) music seems to mean that they let him have lots of days off for extra music, play first trumpet in the orchestra and let him use the composing software and practice rooms at school when ever he wants ( ds loves all this Smile)

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 14:23

violinandpiano, DS was not playing musical instruments yet at the time (may have been doing piano but nothing exceptional), so yes I think it was about academic ability. I got detailed reports at the time, but don't really remember the words now. It just confused me at the time. The country where I'm from doesn't have such a programme.

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 14:20

But quite recently those kids were sent to an academic senior school for extra sessions - I thought it was part of the programme, but they may be a separate thing.

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 14:17

Fleur, you may be right. I heard there were some changes in the system a long time ago, but I don't really know the details. I was informed he was on their gifted programme when he was much younger, and I remember those selected kids inc. my DS was being given extra sessions when he was Year 3 for instance. But I didn't get informed by school about the extra sessions, other parent told me, and I asked DS. School didn't and still doesn't communicate well so I have no idea what's going on. But as I said, we don't really pay much attention to such title as it hasn't brought us anything meaningful so far. I suppose it varies school to school though.

Fleurdelise · 11/05/2017 13:53

I thought the academic G&T concept has been dropped, as in there aren't any G&T programmes in schools anymore. DS has been on it while in primary school and it involved extra lessons in maths (being taken away from other lessons to do "stretching" work in maths) and having extra work assigned to him.

When we joined primary with dd it has been stated it doesn't exist anymore, and no, I didn't ask for dd to be enrolled. Grin It just came up in a curriculum meeting discussing ability groups, those have disappeared also, they work as a whole class but they are given 3 levels of work (challenge bronze, silver, gold) and the kids challenge themselves with guidance from the teaching staff on doing the appropriate level of work based on their ability.

Maybe it is just our school?

violinandpiano · 11/05/2017 12:45

Kutik73,thanks. Is it about academic?

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 12:24

pianoandviolin, you don't need to do anything as long as I know. Mine is on G&T too. I was told so by his school. I'd never heard of G&T until then. To be honest, it hasn't brought us anything other than 'recognition', so no real value for us. He is given some extra sometimes, but not much. Maybe his school is just lazy...

violinandpiano · 11/05/2017 12:07

"Doubleup"Lots of focus has been on DD2 with her rapid progress/being on the local gifted & talented programme etc"

This is the first time I hear G&T group in this country. Is it for music? May I know if it need apply by yourself or just need the teacher recommendation? Thanks.

Wafflenose · 11/05/2017 09:48

Not a lot of practice here at the moment. Rara is just being scatty, Goo is sleeping in and missing her morning slot. I think she is growing - she is very tired and having random aches and pains. She's now 2cm shorter than me, and she's only 11.

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Doubleup · 11/05/2017 09:48

Fleur, I thought it was a bit quiet too...

DD2 is doing lots of practice at the moment. An hour a day broken into 2 half hour slots. Hard work for a 10 year old to blow for so long. Getting much more focussed and with fewer strops, which can only be good! Also having to fit in aural practice and theory (G5 in June) - and homework, dance class, tennis.... It's a time tabling night mare!

DD1 is much more laid back although she has a couple of auditions coming up so will have to get her act together soon. Lesson tomorrow, so that should focus her.

Fleurdelise · 11/05/2017 08:01

That was piano but when I read it back I realise it applies for clarinet also, C piece faster and she needs to speed it up.

Fleurdelise · 11/05/2017 08:00

Very quiet here, is everybody practising hard?Grin

We're plodding along, dd's B and C pieces are coming along nicely for the exam, the A piece which was easy to learn from notes point of view is giving her a bit of a head ache as it is meant to be really fast and speeding it up she makes mistakes. Hopefully she'll manage to do it on time.

LollipopViolet · 10/05/2017 12:57

Icouldbeknitting I've joined that thread now :) I'm trying to find some classical music that's back at a more beginner level to get back into playing, and will buy some reeds later today so I can play tomorrow :)

onlymusic · 10/05/2017 12:03

I am getting behind again... Will need to catch up with this thread. Just a quick answer to BettertoChange - asked our accompanist the examiner name - he said it is Dr NW if he remembers correctly. I can get you exact examiner code though from our certificate if it is any help

violinandpiano · 10/05/2017 11:10

Doubleup,good lucky with your DD's audition. I think playing pieces to very high standard is much more important than grade standard in the audition.

Icouldbeknitting · 10/05/2017 11:07

Lollipop have you found the thread full of adults returning to music? Not that this will help you with your reed problem but you might find someone to talk finger positions with as there is at least one clarinetist there:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/music/2897437-Instrument-players-come-and-chat

LollipopViolet · 10/05/2017 10:54

So my ability to read music randomly reappeared last night, this morning I've managed to remember all my basic finger positions and thought I'd play a bit.

Got the clarinet out to discover that I need to buy reeds :( Not fair, I was looking forward to making some music, got one reed but it's got a bit missing from the top :(

Will call into the music shop later and get some :)

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