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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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troutsprout · 02/05/2017 07:33

Hellooo
I have Dd ( yr9) who is sitting her gcse music exam in a few weeks Shock. She seems to have taken it in her stride and really enjoyed the course.. particularly the composition element.
She plays clarinet, piano and guitar and has just started enjoying uke and drums too
She's had a great time recently with her music .. it has informed , enhanced and helped her with so many other areas of her life.
I am not musical at all so ( so can't help her) but I am in awe at her skills and really really estatic that she has this passion. 😊

Kutik73 · 02/05/2017 06:30

Fluer, just read your last post! I understand your feeling. But all I can say is I truly think your DD will be fine. She is a quick learner, naturally musical and what's more, HARD WORKING. The last one is probably the most important, and she ticks the box. And, she has an amazingly supportive mum! Wink

Kutik73 · 02/05/2017 06:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleurdelise · 01/05/2017 22:33

Thank you Loose the only thing I can say is that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have a mantra stating "the sooner the exams begin the sooner they are over".

Yes dd does do her practice, I guess she takes after her dad being very conscientious, once she starts something she tends to stick to it and doesn't like not being on her teacher's good side. She is doing a lot currently bless her but I have to say even though I didn't think the exams were achievable this term I realised tonight that this time it is actually the least stressful experience, in the past she had her pieces completely ready and polished by the exam entry date and it felt like there's no progression while waiting for the date, she was starting to make new mistakes, while now I feel like, while the pieces are pretty good, there is still work to do, not massive to worry me but enough to not feel like we're wasting time on just three pieces. Not sure if that makes sense.

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/05/2017 21:37

Good luck to your DS, Fleur! We have that to look forward to (not sure that's the right phrase!) next year!
I remember when you first started posting about your DD and being so impressed with how much she practised. It's no surprise she's doing so well!
DS2 has been fairly diligent with piano practice recently so should be ok for grade 4 in July if he keeps this up...

Trumpetboysmum · 01/05/2017 20:34

Thanks for the new thread Waffle. I have a ds in year 7 who plays the trumpet. He's also in the under 12s NCO as well as playing in numerous county and school bands and orchestras. He's taking grade 7 this term on his trumpet ( I think!!) he also started to play piano just under a year ago and loves this and apparently is starting singing lessons at school. I'm also mum to a dd age 9 who also plays piano but mostly loves to sing

Fleurdelise · 01/05/2017 18:47

New thread, yaaay! Thank you Waffle!

Quick introduction: I have DS15 who is doing his GCSEs in two weeks time, he's academic with no interest in music other than listening to it.

I am on this thread due to DD who is turning out quite musical if I can say so, she's taking grade 5 piano and grade 3 clarinet this term. I've joined this thread for a bit of support slightly over 2 years ago when she was doing grade 1 and here I am still nervous having two exams in sight (probably on the same day) but if somebody would have told me two years ago that she will add another instrument and she'll progress quite quick to grade 5 piano two years later and clarinet grade 3 a year after first picking it up I would have laughed.

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/05/2017 17:45

Thanks so much for the new thread Waffle
I have DS1 (15) who is doing grade 8 electric bass this term. He also learns tuned percussion (grade 6) and drumkit (similar) but is refusing to do any other exams until his bass one is out of the way. He is also doing GCSE music at school and oh! the agonising over the performance pieces! He plays in a drum corps and a concert band with the borough music service.
DS2 (12) is in Y7, plays cello and piano and is in the music service's concert orchestra. Their highlight is on May 8 when all the borough groups play at the Albert Hall!
I am an adult learner of piano, just starting on the grade 5 book. I never intended originally to take any exams - it just shows how influential these threads can be!

raspberryrippleicecream · 01/05/2017 16:58

Thanks for starting us off again Waffle. We've had a lovely May Day. Beautiful weather, DS2 played a set with his Jazz ensemble and there were other lovely groups to listen to.

I have DD Y12 who plays alto and Bari sax, and has just started clarinet after padding Grade 8 last year. Also DS1 who is in first year at uni, but plays brass in lots of uni bands.

DS 2 plays piano (working towards Grade 8), clarinet and trombone around Grade 7 (no exams on these) and sings in our Cathedral in Youth Choir and as a Junior Choral Scholar. He began organ lessons in January and seems to be progressing well. It means lots of time spent in empty churches and organ lofts chaperoning practice!