(Mostly) August Music Thread

Thank you all for the good wishes.

Truffle I've just googled that and it looks amazing. DS wouldn't have been ready for it this year, he just started in January. I'd promised him he could when he finished his Choristership and (theoretically) had more time. He is doing very well and I reckon is about to overtake trombone and piano.

Likewise I can recommend that shop and another if you are in London

Just read Green's post. I used two shops for re-string but yes I can recommend one in Hampton if it's within your reach. They did a quick check-up (and some minor repair as well) when I asked re-string. They didn't charge extra. It may be because DS's violin was bought from them. But I think they are very honest and fair.

Raspberry - all the best to your DS for a speedy recovery.

Yes, organists are pretty thin on the ground aren't they? DS1 has just done TOSE (The Organ Scholar Experience) for the fourth year! Has your DS done this or thought about it? DS1 has made loads of contacts through doing this and it has been really worthwhile.

raspberry, I'm praying for the quickest recovery. Now, I am anxiously waiting for DH and DS coming back from their bike ride....

Niggle, we changed strings twice in the past. The first time was because the teacher told me it's wearing out. The second time was because DS told me the same. Actually I could see a string looked different from other still healthy strings when DS/the teacher drew my attention to it. But wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

I didn't think of the maker too much. I may have done a little research but had the same ones fitted in the end.

Oh no Raspberry: hopefully its no worrying and he is on the mend soon!

Waffle:

Niggle: never got to do it yet however I heard people mentioned here that the strings can improve the sound quality alot, they can be expensive too. I guess only the music shop can tell. Do you live in London, Se22 and Kutik gave me contacts for London central and SW london when I wanted to rehair our bow, they most likely will do strings too. I should leave it to the experts to commend further.

Oh no raspberry hope he's on the mend soon

DS has chipped a piece of his radius off! They have repositioned it while had gas and air. We will know if an operation is needed tomorrow.

Waffle your tale has really cheered me up this afternoon!

Truffle an organist! DS2 just started organ in January so it's lovely to have someone on thread to talk to. He absolutely loves i. Though obviously poor DS won't be practising for a while.

Waffle it definitely wasn't me !! Ds was keen for me to leave quickly ( as was I so that I could complete my journey) . I did speak to a couple of mums but they were parents of boys !! I will keep an eye out for you next Sunday .

Ah yes that would make it easier to decide to change them! What type of strings is the violin currently strung with?

Sorry waffle but that is hysterical!! I think you are the only one here who knows who I am (well, who DD is really) and sadly we are unlikely to meet at NCO as it's DD's last year; I am now chuckling to myself at the thought of parents in concert foyers exchanging furtive glances, winks or perhaps checking for carnations in buttonholes!! We should all agree on a 'sign'!!
NCO Main concert was amazing last weekend - good luck to all under 12's this week, I hope they are having fun.

Thank you. I think the exact moment to change them is a bit easier now as the E string snapped when DD was trying to tune it. Thank God she was wearing her glasses as it hit her face.

DD is renting an antique £800/£1000 3/4 size violin from her teacher. Would like to get some really good strings to take her through grade 5.

.niggle dd1 s strings usually get changed when they are well last their best - last time the winding was actually unravelling..... hopefully someone more helpful will be alone soon

truffle sorry to hear about thumb problems. DS was developing calluses from playing four mallet marimba but we found the solution in marimbist Adam Tan's YouTube channel and he now wears finger protectors.

raspberry hope it's not too serious ...

raspberry, hope your DS2 is alright. Cycling is my DS's another passion (Influenced by his fairly serious cyclist dad). They are going on a ride later today....

paulweller !!!!
waffle I could end up doing that myself.

Hi everyone, have been busy with so much lately that I have only lurked over the last few threads. Haven't posted here in ages.

A bit more time over the summer holidays so here goes. I have DS1 who has just left school, he is an organist, pianist, choir master etc. Has Grade 8 distinctions in both organ and piano. He has today gone on a five day tour in the Netherlands with a couple of other people. This came out of an organ competition he took part in last year. He also had a recital in a big church in London last week as part of the follow up and there is talk of some sort of tour to Australia in 2019. He works really hard to source opportunities to further himself in his chosen career as an organist.

DS2 plays clarinet and sax. Started sax proper lessons much later but prefers it now over the clarinet. Has done Grade 8 clarinet and the sax one will be soon. No ambitions to follow as a career but thoroughly enjoys his music.

DS3 is musical but lazy! Has dabbled in clarinet and sax, took Grade 5 but no interest beyond that. A very soulful piano player but hates supporting tests so no more exams or lessons even for him, his choice. Still dabble occasionally on the piano and twiddles away at the guitar when the mood takes him.

DD plays clarinet at Grade 8 level and piano Grade 6. She borrows an A clarinet at school when she needs it but we are hoping to buy one soon. She is petite and hypermobile and she did have problems caused by playing the bass. Took several months to recover and gave her thumb problems even when playing the Bb so no more bass for the time being. It has recovered now after physio and rest. We think it was because there was some sort of problem with the support for the bass so that DD was having to grip too much. If the thumb issue recurs we are going to try the Ton Kooiman thumb rest but we are definitely banning the bass for the foreseeable future.

I hope everyone enjoys their summer courses. DD isn't doing one this year but is doing masses of playing of a huge variety of stuff. I love the big holidays as I get to hear more of it.

We have just moved house so I know exactly how many bloody instruments we have (not that many by the standards of this thread but enough to have required a separate instrument removal - I had the piano moved by our tuner and he took the guitars too).

We have: 2 electric guitars
2 acoustic guitars
1 classical guitar
1 sax
2 pianos (acoustic and digital)
1 synthesizer
2 recorders (one very nice Mollenhauer rosewood descant and a cheaper alto)
1 cajon

Not a huge amount of music stuff going on here. DD played at a local concert last night, that's it now for the summer - she is off on holiday on Sunday with her boyfriend's family. Now we have moved I need to start practising the piano in case there is a place free at the local music school.

We have;
Full size fender telecaster guitar,
One acoustic guitar full size,
One baby Martin acoustic,
1 squire strat guitar kid size,
1 electric violin 3/4,
2 x 3/4 violins,
1 x 1/2 violin,
1 full size violin (never used)
Drum kit,
3 x timpani,
1 full size Xylophone,
1 small xylophone,
1 tiny glock in a case,
1 proper piano,
1 digital piano,
1 Tin whistle,
2 x recorders

I think that's it....... 😀

Raspberry I hope it's not as bad as you think it will be.