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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!

OP posts:
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Fleurdelise · 10/05/2017 09:59

Just wanted to quickly share this for the recorder fans

www.facebook.com/scottbradleemusic/videos/1402760379760143/

RapidlyOscillating · 10/05/2017 03:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doubleup · 09/05/2017 23:32

Hi Lollipop, good luck with the flute. I'm trying to get my brother to lend me his so I can have a try at teaching myself. Always been a little jealous that he was able to learn a woodwind instrument; my sister and I both played violin as strings was all that they offered at our tiny country school. By the time my brother went, they had a visiting teacher for woodwind. He's agreed, but getting hold of it is another matter!

LollipopViolet · 09/05/2017 23:03

Hello all, may I join you?

I played clarinet from 11-16, only got to grade 2 but happy with that. Haven't really played since, but dabble occasionally - my ability to read music is shot! I'm now 27, for reference.

I'm also very lucky, I have a friend who plays flute professionally, and during conversation mentioned I would've loved to have learnt that too, but the cost as an adult is prohibitive. She's offered me a long term loan of one of her old instruments and a beginners' book, to see if I take to it! Grin I tried a flute a while ago in my local music shop, and can get a sound out of one, so there's hope :)

Pradaqueen · 09/05/2017 22:53

I avoid adding it all up after Dancing, Spanish, violin, orchestra and piano. I used to buy lovely handbags (hence the username) now I just peruse the handbag websites whilst waiting outside miniprada's activities 😂

Fleurdelise · 09/05/2017 22:19

Green Grin love the choice of seat!

woolleybear · 09/05/2017 22:07

Thanks, unfortunately it is not likely that dd will be able to have lessons at school, I don't think there it is worth a teacher coming for just one lesson a week and I don't know that there would be much call for others to learn. We have no music centre in our county either but I am waiting to hear if there is another bassoon teacher who will teach after school in the county arts team.

Our area wind band is split into two, up to grade 4 and over grade 4, many move on at grade 6/7 to county orchestra or wind band but stay with the area one also.

The similar string orchestra is split into 4 groups from beginners up.

Thanks for the mouthpiece info, think we will look at that for birthday or Christmas.

Greenleave · 09/05/2017 21:53

Yes, "we" find many ways to pass the practice sections (did I mentioned someone playing violin laying on the sofa).

Living in London while being spoiled with choices of many good teachers, the lesson cost is high and over time I think lesson is the most expensive. We pay £100/week for 1hr violin and 1hr piano(teachers come to us). We hardly take holiday so it could be easily £5000/yr. I cant imagine 3-4 instruments and 3 kids(although both of us cant play at all so lessons from tutor is the only way). For family who (2-3) children have multiple activities then many of us could be struggling.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 09/05/2017 21:30

Two people have mentioned Benslow to me today. I was reluctant before, because the hire money could go towards her own flute, but I suppose we might be able to hire one until the next round of auditions for grants.

OP posts:
drummersmum · 09/05/2017 21:28

Green Grin

foundoutyet · 09/05/2017 21:15

ha ha, dc3 got an upgrade in her second instrument.. Thought it was time as she is due grade 3 next month and also went to a NYRO day
The £4 instrument from dc1 , got upgraded to a...... £16 recorder.

(dc3 did try out a tenor and bass recorder, even though she is too little at the moment, but I did have a look at what they would cost.... I shouldn't be laughing too quickly)

Kutik73 · 09/05/2017 21:04

It must be a great confident booster, Double

Kutik73 · 09/05/2017 21:03

Green hope your 3 yo is good at sharing! Grin

Doubleup · 09/05/2017 21:03

Loving the choice of seat Green! Grin

Doubleup · 09/05/2017 21:00

Lots of focus has been on DD2 with her rapid progress/being on the local gifted & talented programme etc (although in the family we have always recognised that DD1 is talented too). DD1 is happy though as she has been asked to audition for the county youth symphony orchestra. She may not get in this year as she is not yet the G7 standard that they ask for, but she is really pleased to be considered good enough to try!

Greenleave · 09/05/2017 20:52

Someone got home earlier than me tonight and was sitting next to our 9 yrs old supervising her piano practice. I must share it here

Fleurdelise · 09/05/2017 20:48

Howarths does the take it away scheme by the way.

Fleurdelise · 09/05/2017 20:47

violinandpiano we have a LA music service and they have various orchestras and bands for different ages. Junior/senior and THE official orchestra. Smile Dd is in the junior wind orchestra but I don't know what will happen next year as it is up to grade 3 level.

I never thought I'd spend much on instruments and music but funnily enough I don't mind it. I was already looking at a wooden clarinet out of curiosity to see the cost and I got excited (got knows why I'm excited to spend that amount of money, luckily it won't be for a while).

violinandpiano · 09/05/2017 20:40

Hi, may I know what kind of youth Orchestra your DC go? I googled and found several orchestras nearby but two of them need grade 8, one need above grade 6 and need 13-18 years old. All seem not suitable for my DD.

drummersmum · 09/05/2017 20:33

Sorry to hear that Woolley but could she maybe continue with someone else.
It makes me sad that music is so costly because I always think of those who can't afford any of this and whatever the help and bursaries out there, it just keeps costing more and more and it's not fair. It's the small details, the strings, the mouthpieces, the mallets, the tuning, the traveling, etc. Foundations always talk about instruments and lessons but never the small things which can mount to a lot and make a huge difference to the playing and learning.

Greenleave · 09/05/2017 20:14

I could never imagine that I would spend this much for music: lessons, exams, orchestra, concerts, instruments. Apart from our mortgage, our car and nursery fee, music is the most expensive and the thing is, I dont mind paying at all(even I do count my penny sometimes, we do have to budget). My aim has always been investing in the family education and adventure, not to give her a pot of savings to inherit.

Doubleup · 09/05/2017 20:09

Woolley, would your dd not be able to have lessons at her school or music centre with a different teacher if necessary? You could maybe hire a bassoon through Howarths if you can't keep hold of the current one.

stringchild · 09/05/2017 19:56

goodness am sorry that sounds like we spend loads on instruments - we really don't, we hired for a long time and then did the trade in scheme; and everything else gets sold to afford the next one. Plus DD won a music competition which pretty much paid for the clarinet, thankfully.

Waffle - have you tried Benslow? i know some people with some really special instruments through them.

stringchild · 09/05/2017 19:47

Rapidly - DD didn't spend long on a 3/4 at all; she has been on a full size for a year i think. Also has a tall daddy!! we have secured a relatively low cost one that will live at school when she moves up in sept, as she will be playing a few times a week at least, and the more expensive one will stay at home/go to JD. She is tall but slight and can't imagine her not creating havoc on buses and trains with a cello!!

Woolley - DD has moved to a wooden but insists on still using her very old mouthpiece which looks battered and worn! she took a long time choosing her wooden one - ended up going an unusual route/make which has amazing sound quality. I don't think she will need to change again 'ever' given she is unlikely to pursue music as a career. Interestingly when we were testing them all out, we were told that clarinettists are very stubborn about moving to 'new makes' etc and it can take decades for a new model to gain wide favour!

TheSecondOfHerName · 09/05/2017 19:46

That's the same mouth piece that we bought DS2.