(Mostly) August Music Thread

Not last night unfortunately we are currently in Birmingham as going to see ds in nco today. Seeing them perform at the snape proms a year ago was amazing and is really what spurred ds on. He had never been to a full on concert before ( he's been to many more since) and I really wasn't sure how he would react. He was totally blown away and said " I want to play with them what do I need to do to get there?" Good to have ambitions I suppose. no idea whether he will achieve this ambition or not but he's having a great time trying !!

Did anyone else go and watch the NYO at the Royal Albert Hall last night? Those kids are super talented (although the music they played wasn't to my liking at all).

Drummers our piano teacher is Sheku's parents' cousin. Can't remember Mum or Dad. I'll ask her who chose!

Well DS has done a fair bit of Grade 6 theory, and some buzzing on this trombone mouthpiece.

The lady who runs his jazz group picked him the other day to distract him with some jazz vocals for their upcoming gig. And has asked him to go and help her on a Gamelan and electronic music course she is running next week at a local Day Services centre, so he's still managing some music.

Alexandra hope the Boy had a lovely day.

Niggle: I am sorry to hear your story, I wish your plan will turn out well.

Prada, Ealing, SE22, Alex, Drummers, all: thanks for sharing yours and your friend's.

Drummers, Ealing: we should have a SW gathering for your special yr next year(everyone else everywhere else is well come to join too). Ealing: my 9yrs old had reflux too, she just sicks all the time, even now she cant read while on the train or car. When my second was born I was so happy she didnt have it, then from 2nd night till 4 months she just cried day and night with her colic. The good thing during these times was I lost the 20kgs I gained within 2 months(life is easier now and I start gaining them back).

Many of our Kiwi, Aussie, SA colleagues did go home as £ hasnt been strong and pay has been squeezed. We earn the same, I am slightly higher as I went to banking straight away right after graduate while my husband did practice and qualified before joining. We are in mid 30s, no family here and started from Zero in London so staying at home hasnt been an option. Hopefully in 15-20 yrs time(or at least when the mortgage is paid off).

Kutik: we paid £3.5k for the full size violin back in Xmas and felt in love with it, it took me long to decide to return it as the sound was beautiful, its so pretty and my daughter wanted it. It was too big for her and we need a 3/4. She doesnt remember it 1 bit now. I think they have to play it alot to feel attached to it. I wouldnt go for it now as having an unused expensive instrument is a waste and risky!!!

We spent our day in Hasting today for a tasting violin 1hr violin lesson. Surfing a little bit then now sitting in RAH for a prom.

No music lesson until next term. We will start having clarinet too, she is very excited about it.

loose it's interesting about your two boys taking to different instruments. When I see Sheku Kanneh Mason's siblings, all strings and piano, I wonder if it was the parents decision very much and they weren't guided towards wind, brass or percussion at all. Or they're just similar.

ealing '68. A good vintage, uh? The world was turning upside down and we were in nappies. Haha, Cafe de Paris. More like my kitchen and a good wine. Let's make plans!

You're just a lot closer than i thought you were - we're a bit further up the M5!

Thank you drummers.

Aah, another 1968 here. I can see you planning your Cafe de Paris or similar venue preparations as we speak. If I didn't know you better I'd say to hell with it, let's suffer as a duo, and do it. And then, maybe not, as I plan to be in bed by 10pm

For all of you with residential music camps still to go, hope your DC enjoy. Mine misses hers terribly, but has a swim one to go late aug...lucky her. Though the sloth permanently lay on the sofa may not think so...

ealing now that I am a wise middle age lady (50 next year you babies) I know that boundless amount of energy is a gift for life. Being able to get up early to swim like your DD and still put in hours of school and then be playing that night. That's the kind of capacity that takes you far in life.

Waffle, for some reason iI thought you were over East Anglia / Lincolnshire way! That's really surprised me!

waffle I'm heading to Somerset tomorrow for DS residential! But I won't have a car.

Wow, so many of us having similar experiences in the same time period! Another city victim here with DH in equally precarious profession, but I left it all behind 3 years ago. People who knew us would pre-empt a conversation with a nervous laugh and question are you both in work right now? We passed the redundancy baton between us so many times. Such was the nature of 2 x parents in high risk silly jobs, now all lies on the shoulders of one.

My only throw back now is occasionally donning a pair of Church's shoes when I do venture out (how do you ladies do heals for work?!).

No such angelic music stories here of DD when young. I went back to FT also after 14 weeks, planned but also so ready after 3 months of her having dreadful reflux. Those that know the condition will understand a baby only sleeping 20 mins only during the day and endless walking the streets in all weathers as the only reprieve. BUT, once on solids, her personality completely changed from an angry, really angry baby to a singy songy happy thing, with lots of excess nervous energy (many called it hyper back then). We still didn't officially start music lessons until 7 yrs but she took to both instruments well and developed quickly.

I am convinced her early angst is what helped her have boundless amounts of energy now to be so active across lots of things.

City or burbs/rural, it's a tough one to call which is the better option, it so depends on where you and your family are in life also. I miss the salary of my previous world, but it's also been an eye opener on how effectively one adjusts. My life is so different now as a sole trader. But whether you spend 20 mins or 20 hours a day with your kids, it's the being present that counts. And they know. Green; hang in there, you are doing a grand job

thanks waffle

Niggle we live in London and it has lots of perks. However dd spent last weekend visiting my sister in Somerset doing simple this like making grass whistles and sitting In a field watching tractors. She was so relaxed, she could have stayed forever I think. Your dd will have a great start

niggle pollution in London is so bad now I worry everyday about what's going into DS' lungs. If the Heathrow plan goes ahead I will seriously consider moving. Your DC have had a great start xx

Kutik, I remember your DS will go to RCM. Does he still learn violin with current teacher? Or your DS had learned with RCM teacher?

Kutik, I think you said that the teacher wants to go through technical things and would prefer to do this on the 3/4. It might be easier to do this on the 3/4, totally focusing on the techniques, rather than also dealing with finger stretching and adjusting to get the right tone.

Although, here I am opining that you should do as your teacher suggests - while I have just had a squabble with ours only this week because we don't agree..

Drummer, I can see that on a good day. At local parks, when the whole scene looks like a commercial for what life should be like. And I think back to Battersea Park, and keeping young DS away from furtive teenagers with their "drug" dogs, which at the time were the weapon of choice after a clamp down on knife crime.

It was very hard for a lot of people wasn't it. But we are still here. I think DD (7) was a L Bros baby. Desperately wanted something to look forward to!

Green, there is a whole bunch of us.

when the time comes he will be able to fall in love with another violin.

I really do hope so. And I must say it's more likely. DS claimed he found 'the one' at the violin shop 1, then next day, he claimed he met the equivalent at the violin shop 2. After spending a few days with them, he made his mind up and claimed his forever love for the one from the violin shop 1. So yes, he is very much like a 10 years old.

I hope he won't be like that when it comes to choose a girlfriend...

Sorry, I mixed up the information! The price WON'T go down IF we buy now as we CAN'T trade as we still need to keep 3/4! So if we return now and go back to the shop when DS needs 4/4, then we can trade it with his 3/4 and no extra payment for the insurance, so unless DS chooses something more expensive it's easier for our bank account.

Niggle, the musical issues you meant is the possibility of DS's taste changing? DS will keep using his 3/4 until the time comes, so buying one doesn't mean he will start playing 4/4. Although, as the teacher said, having one would tempt him to play it more than his smaller one....

But yes, the voice of my reason is getting louder now. I must return them....

Ahh niggle - sorry to hear of your struggle. My friend joined Lehman in the Middle East on the Friday before the collapse on the Monday. They didn't honour her (very fancy) hotel bill, she'd sold all of her stuff, rented out her flat and because her boyfriend of many years wouldn't get married to satisfy the laws in that country, she chucked him too. It was a pretty crap weekend for her!

I'd say (without sounding crass which is not my intention at all) that my DD is very fortunate to experience lots of fabulous trips/events/restaurants etc but do you know what? If you ask her what she'd love to do on any free day, she'll say 'the park' or 'the beach'. Kids want to spend time with parents who are present in the moment - not eating in a fancy restaurant in a far-flung location with mum and dad furiously replying to emails.

It sounds like you are doing a great job. I do hope your court battle ends soon.

niggle that sounds so stressful. But believe me when I say that growing up in a small village is a happier childhood in my view.
We had out mortgage in s foreign currency and our debt doubled so that we lost all the capital we had in the house and it was starting from zero. I cried many nights then did that thing in which you tell yourself things and money are not people and only those I love are worth crying for.
kutik it's an impossible dilemma. Keep it away where he can't use it? (Grandparents house?). OTOH I'm sure when the time comes he will be able to fall in love with another violin.

I just did my first bolding!