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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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Fleurdelise · 08/05/2017 09:43

Well done miniwoolley and minigilly!

Good luck tonight Loose!

drummers looking forward to hear the practice tips, I am currently tempted to follow gilly's suggestion of poking her with a stick. Grin

LooseAtTheSeams · 08/05/2017 08:33

drummers sounds fab and look forward to hearing the tips.
Big day for the dcs today - rehearsals at Albert Hall this morning and concert there this evening for the borough music service. Basically once the cello gets there in one piece on the district line my worries are over!

Doubleup · 08/05/2017 08:01

Great results for minigilly and miniwoolley!

Did you say that your dd might drop bassoon next year woolley? That would be such a shame. Although they have more bassoonists than you can shake a stick at in this county, it's not so common elsewhere and there is some lovely repertoire out there. Have a look at the Big Double Reed Day too. I think there is a website. My dc have been several times and always found it useful and fun.

drummersmum · 08/05/2017 07:42

Oh hertz i didn't know you were there 😀

hertsandessex · 07/05/2017 23:24

Great day wasn't it drummersmum?. Benny Greb was amazing but not a chance in hell of my son following some of his practice suggestions about journaling, rating himself etc. :)

drummersmum · 07/05/2017 23:08
Grin
gillybeanz · 07/05/2017 21:38

Thanks.

Hey drummers, does it involve poking them with a wooden stick Grin
Sorry, couldn't resist.

drummersmum · 07/05/2017 19:50

Yay to minigilly and miniwooley Star
Just back from RCM percussion festival. Got some good tips on music practice which I will share when I have more time!

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/05/2017 17:45

Star all round to minigilly and miniwoolley! Great results!

violinandpiano · 06/05/2017 23:28

onlymusic,I think JD maybe like potential DC. But in my opinion every DC can prepare polished pieces, so good sight reading and aural is more important.

foundoutyet · 06/05/2017 21:34

Well, despite electronic calendar, things do go pear shaped at times. I usually work school hours, but had 2 evening work meetings. So there was not much music practice this week, although I suspect we have 2 music exams this term....

BettertoChange · 06/05/2017 20:28

Onlymusic, just curious about the examiner you mentioned. Dr ML?

gillybeanz · 06/05/2017 18:45

Hello all, wow this thread moves quickly.
Hi, to all the new ones that have joined over the past 6 pages Grin

Well done Woolley on your dd performance in the festival.

Mine is at home after we spent the afternoon shopping.
Two distinctions for Classical and Jazz assessments.
They award in levels not grades, although they do these as well. It's their own curriculum, so not the same criteria as ABRSM or other music boards.
I have no idea why. Grin I think it was level 3 but not to be confused with level 3 on usual framework.
Has been asked to join the chamber choir too, where she will be the youngest by a few years. She didn't want to do it before next year as she said she felt a bit out of place as all are Y10- Y13, mostly years 12 and 13.
Now cuddle up on settee with Midsomer murders, she has strange tastes.

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 18:31

foundoutyet I soooo envy my friends who literally dedicated their lives to one dc. Private school, million of activities- sooo many possibilities for a child and so much easier for a parent.... I guess I should not complain as you have three!

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 18:28

LooseAtTheSeams - well done to your mini re GCSE mock!

Btw, deadline for on-line exam application is 12th May (which made me think I had to find out about ours....)

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 18:18

Fleurdelise always admire your teachers!

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 18:16

drummersmum looking forward Flowers

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 18:15

I try to keep diary, electronic, or paper-not very successful....Keep forgetting to check paper diary and keep forgetting to make entry into electronic one... Grrrrr

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 18:03

About keeping eye on schedule.... I do feel absolutely useless when I read about your schedule Green, however.... In spite of not working (I only volunteer once a week), I struggle to organised everything.... During the week I am on my own with the children and therefore need to keep their activities going, then dd has some therapies like osteopath, massage, etc- I try to do those during school time as much as possible, I keep finding myself out in a situation where there is a, say, class assembly but I only remember about it the day before. I forgot about parents evening once....Costumes, crafts for school-I hate it-so difficult to fit. Fortunately we don't have much homework not to mention I hardly ever remember about it - so we often ignore this. Also, luckily both children are doing well at school even without doing homework Grin. My greatest worry is that though they are also bilingual I don't have time to maintain it. Both speak and read in second language but reading can disappear without regular practice and I absolutely don't have time for writing. (big sigh)
Interestingly when dh is at home it is like I have even less time though he is supposed to help me with dc.....
I am soooo looking forward to my retirement years Grin

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 17:47

Greenleave we practice together, yes (ok, my choice, super controlling mother is detected GrinGrinGrin).
We usually start with scales/arpeggios, then studies (if we have any) and then pieces. To be honest at this stage I would love it to be 1-1.5hs practice but life is not that easy therefore it is usually 30-50 mins, and then depends on her mood- sometimes we add about 30-45 mins of "negotiation" (few days ago more than 1 hour, but that was after the long break as she had severe cold recently) - I don't feel well, I am freezing, I want to go to the toilet, my heart hearts, I am tired, I want to sleep, I hate you, I hate violin, why do you always make me to play violin GrinGrin - don't you agree that playing violin is some sort of occupational hazard as it causes so many problems Grin. It became quite rare nowadays though but still happens from time to time.

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 17:39

Pradaqueen very interesting about style of playing-mine is very quick and smth like allegro suits her the best! Her teacher chose Vivaldi A manor concerto (or is it major?... not sure, but it is pretty quick Grin) for the forthcoming festival and this would suit her better than some adagio (which I would personally prefer)

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 17:36

Icouldbeknitting, oh this is so sweet... Imagine, in few years time you may give interviews about your ds - so take writing his biography seriously-it can be a rehearsal before you are interviewed about him! :)

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 17:31

violinandpiano and other JD mums, in your opinion, what would be deciding part of an audition process - the quality of performance or aural skills? We had an interesting discussion with one of my friends and it appears that her statistics based on her friends is that aural skills are more important (not quite sure about Guildhall though - they seem to be quite relaxed about their intake)

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 17:23

Kutik I probably didn't express myself clearly (and it was quite late too :)), I actually agree with your opinion about JD and private lessons, I was only trying to say that sometimes poor teaching closes the doors to the JD, but on the other hand you are right- with good teaching JD is not that essential....Takes years and fortune to figure out....

onlymusic · 06/05/2017 17:12

Oh, ladies, you all missed the point, it is not a marathon posts - I was missing you so much that I made it my mission to read all your news Grin

Thank you for pm, will read through the posts with the view of this info

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