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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

(Mostly) August Music Thread

842 replies

Wafflenose · 28/07/2017 14:29

Here's a new thread for August, but we're starting it a few days early, because you lot have managed to be super chatty this month! I wonder if things will slow down in August due to people going away... maybe or maybe not?

I'm Waffle, a teacher of woodwind - mostly recorders and clarinet, but I have a couple of flutes currently, and teach saxophone, piano and theory when required. I am determined that the music threads should be open to ALL, including complete beginners and adult learners. It's a good place to discuss lessons, practice, concerts, exams and our generally hectic lives!

I have a DH who plays the guitar for pleasure (no lessons) and two girls. Goo is 11 and has her Grade 7 Flute (March 2017) and Grade 6 Recorder (December 2015 and now pretty much stopped ). She has been learning the piano for 15 months, is refusing to perform in any way, shape or form, but will probably take Grade 5 next year. Rara is 9 and has Grade 3 Cello (July 2017), Grade 3 Recorder (December 2016 and also ceased) and is working towards her Grade 3 Clarinet... probably next spring. Goo is off to NCO Under 12s on Sunday, and we need to pop out to get her some shoes and general supplies in a bit.

I have just realised that we will probably have Grade 8 Flute and Grade 3 Clarinet going on in the same session, Spring 2018. Oh dear! If Rara bothers with Grade 4 Cello, we'll probably have that at the same time as Grade 5 Piano, next summer. Double oh dear!

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Thread gallery

Mistigri · 25/08/2017 20:26

I don't envy you uniform shoppers! What do parents do if they are not well off?

DS is starting lycée (like sixth form college, but years 11-13) but there is no dress code so no shopping to do - he will just wear jeans and trainers. He hasn't owned a pair of shoes (as opposed to trainers) since he was a toddler!

Fleur well done to your DS - those are excellent grades even if not quite what he would have liked.

I have put DS's name down for guitar classes (he is now close to being a better guitarist than me - which is impressive and annoying at the same time) and am waiting to hear about my piano lessons.

Doubleup · 25/08/2017 19:44

Kutik, yes she is also doing South Easterlies. Not sure how much playing there will be next week though after U11s. She may be wanting a break, but she will be doing the rehearsal at the weekend in case she can't make the October date for any reason.

Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 19:11

I used to teach Year 6, and tended to use shoe sizes to collect data and make pie and bar graphs. The range was generally size 13-7, but one year it was 12.5-8!!

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Fleurdelise · 25/08/2017 19:10

Dd is 135-138cm (didn't measure her in a while so not sure exactly) and just turned size 1 this month, she was size 13 till end of year 5.

Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 18:53

Is that odd? Rara is 132 cm and has been size 1.5 for a whole year.

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se22mother · 25/08/2017 18:25

New trainers and shoes here for a princely sum. 135 cm height but size 2 feet. An odd shaped child

Kutik73 · 25/08/2017 17:36

I emailed so will wait to hear from Mairi. It's November so we still have plenty time anyway.

Kutik73 · 25/08/2017 17:35

Yes, it's South Easterlies in November. Is your mini also in the orchestra? We are coming back from Morzine a night before, so not sure if DS can make the rehearsal. He is determined to go though. We had to change our plan from coming back on Sunday to Saturday for the reason! But it'll be action packed mountain holiday so I can imagine DS would be pretty tired, so will see. Would be great to see miniDouble there!

Doubleup · 25/08/2017 16:31

Is it South Easterlies in November Kutik? At least you should have time to get hold of a tie. DD2 didn't do it last year as she had a late audition at the end of May. Will be doing it this year though. Will he be at the rehearsal next weekend?

Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 16:26

I'd ring them up, Kutik. When is the concert?

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Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 16:11

I can't buy Goo trainers from Clarks. She veers between a C and D width fitting, and they are utterly unsuitable!

My mum and her two sisters are a similar height to me, and they all have size 3 feet. I have massive feet for my size... 5.5! Goo is a size 6 and I think her feet have now stopped growing.

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Kutik73 · 25/08/2017 16:11

Could I just ask any of you whose son has done NCO concert if I should get an adult or youth tie for NCO concert for my tall 10 years old who often wears 11/12? I assume youth, but I cannot quite work out if youth means those littlies (6, 7, 8 and so on) and adult means the older ones (12/13/14). School tie is just one size, so I have never needed to think of this... The NCO website doesn't have any measurement of the tie.

Fleurdelise · 25/08/2017 14:07

I love the Clarks shoes and the trainers, I think I may get myself a pair of trainers if they do it in size 3

Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 12:53

I got shoes from Clarks and insisted on full-coverage lace-ups, due to cycling in the rain. Most uniform had to be bought at school, but I got the shirts from M&S and the trainers in the sale at Sports Direct. I hope to be able to pass some items down to Rara, but what fits Goo at 11 will probably fit Rara fully grown.

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Fleurdelise · 25/08/2017 12:33

Waffle if it helps it is only the first year that you spend a huge amount on uniform at secondary. We found the other years a bit more manageable, only changing the blazer every couple of years and buying just shirts/trousers and shoes.

But the first year was indeed a shocker I remember paying £250 in the uniform shop without any shoes.

Sixth form was a suit which he used for the prom so I consider that a saving, and I also got him another pair of trousers and shirts and shoes so in theory he should be fine for the first month and then we'll buy some stuff as and when. I haven't been informed of the type of bag he wants yet.

I'll have all this to come next year again with dd, this year it was shoes and trainers from Clarks but a skirt and tops from Asda as she tends to stain them really quick so I refuse to get anything expensive.

Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 11:51

Ooh, enjoy shopping, Fleur. You definitely deserve new shoes and a handbag to go with your lovely new jacket! I have spent £150 on Goo's new school uniform, and a further £100 on school shoes, football boots and two pairs of trainers. She still needs shin pads, a gum shield, bike lock and a new coat, AARGH! What with that, Rara's equipment, SWMS, piano and cello money due imminently, I appear to be hemorrhaging money with nothing to show for it myself. However, I am currently losing weight, so maybe I'll get a whole new wardrobe next year.

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Fleurdelise · 25/08/2017 11:26

Well school doesn't answer, I still need to confirm they have received his application, which is the most important, we have 21 days to decide for a remark (whatever that means these days because apparently nobody will re-read the paper, they just check they have applied the correct marking criteria and added the marks right ) but I am not bothered, I think I am off to buy some shoes (for myself) for once.

Got myself a nice leather jacket on holiday and now I need matching shoes and handbag.

Piano teacher is popping over tomorrow to give dd a lesson around ours so we can have a glass of wine after and celebrate end of GCSEs together as she has a DS who got his results yesterday also. I love our piano teacher, did I say this before?

School shoes and uniform bought as well as DS's sixth form attire.

Life is beautiful

ealingwestmum · 25/08/2017 11:18

And thanks for the concern for DD - she's fine, DH just gone to pick her up. She's says she's never been to such a "boot camp", but is completely stoked and proud of herself for completing 42 training kms in 4 days, ready for season and has made a request for home made chicken curry to recover.

Now if only she could apply this to her music hours! Back to school on Friday, think we're all ready for normality to resume now.

drummersmum · 25/08/2017 11:12

Don't worry waffle it's called adolescence. It's temporary and non contagious. We're been spared in this household by some sort of miracle but my niece became the worst person she could become. Now she's a 17 year old woman, mature, affable.

ealingwestmum · 25/08/2017 11:10

hang in there waffle.

And hope you get constructive advice from your DS's school today fleur to help you guys move forward.

drummersmum · 25/08/2017 10:53

fleur well with such short difference, why not My BIL is a teacher and once had a student go from a D to an A after a remark. They did ask for a copy of the exam though, so he was pretty certain that it was worth it

Original poster

Wafflenose · 25/08/2017 10:38

I got a B for my music GCSE. I got a very good set of results including 7 As (back in the dark ages, before A*s) and have always wondered what went wrong in music. I don't think there was such a thing as re-marks then, and we weren't given any breakdown of marks. I had to shrug it off, but managed to get a B in my A level and a 2:1 in my degree, so it was all fine in the end.

After a couple of days off practice (partly due to laziness, and partly due to such bad behaviour/ mouthiness that I couldn't work with her) I got Rara to do some yesterday and am so pleased with her progress. The camera is coming out today! I'm not allowed anywhere near Goo with it, and NOBODY is allowed to hear her play any more. I'm not quite sure what's come over her.

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Fleurdelise · 25/08/2017 08:15

Thanks ladies, Loose that's my intention, I'll see what the school says I need to contact them today anyway as I received an email requesting to submit his official sixth form application which he did yesterday's morning so I need to check if it was only a generic email.

If they believe it is worth rechecking I'll do it, otherwise, as nothing changes with regards to his path I'll leave it.

No music practice again last night as I was exhausted, hopefully we can now get into some sort of routine. 2 weeks to the 11+ exam now and the MAT.

AlexandraLeaving · 25/08/2017 07:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Minimusiciansmama · 25/08/2017 03:42

Ah ladies you must be so delighted with the not-so-minis. Well done, I'm glad they're able to move on to the next chapters in their lives. I particularly feel for you all in the muddled times with these new gradings and uncertainties. fleur I think You've got a great attitude to it- I can understand why you're wobbling in the "put it aside and move on" resolve now you have the additional information!

Well done all

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