September Music Thread

craddock im an adult piano learner (about g4~) and my teacher had floated the possibility of aiming for the intermediate too. I don't much like the exam thing, though part of me would like to aim for g8 after but only for the having reached that very recognised target! Welcome xx

Hi Craddock! Lovely to see another adult learner - you'll find this thread very supportive!
I took up piano in middle age as a complete beginner and avoided exams for ages until somehow I got talked into it! I'd say the downside for me is nerves - apparently adults are worse for this than kids! - but that's completely outweighed by huge sense of achievement when I pass! But I would take the attitude that no one needs to take a music exam and you can learn just as effectively without them.
Kutik you can't trust schools on homework and Fleur is spot on about hearing different things from other parents in the same school! Some of DS2's friends apparently have loads - but not DS2. I think a lot of it depends on whether you can get it out of the way in class.

Craddock My husband went back to piano as an adult, he left school with a G2 pass and found a teacher when he was in his late forties. He didn't take all of the exams but he worked his way up to G8. I would say that he enjoyed it other than the day of the final exam where he threw the music onto the floor with an enthusiastic page turn.

Kutik we always found that homework takes half the time that school say it will. They must build in an allowance for chewing the pen and looking out of the window.

Craddock287 I would go for the certificate. A chance to play to a critical listener and get an assessment of your playing will give you ideas of where to work on next. Exams have drawbacks for adult learners with aural and scales. Scales are very useful in your practice routine but trying to remember the right one under exam conditions just adds extra stress. Aural if you have never done any would be a bit of a shock starting at grade 4 or 5. It will also give you a benchmark of your standard if you want to join groups or go on music holidays and courses.
I'm an adult learner of singing and sax and a long term flute player so have seen it from both angles.

Ds has settled back into school well I think gilly. Kutik ds got lots of homework in year 7 probably an hour at least most nights and about 2 or 3 hours minimum at the weekend . He counted all of his pieces of homework over the year and told me he got set over 200 pieces ( plus revision for tests his school are big on tests) ds however managed well still always did his music practice and played in 2 bands and saw friends went to youth club etc. He didn't fit in after school sport as he said he would rather do music and the matches always clashed as his school is so rural all sports and music clubs run at lunch times which helps. His trick was to make sure that he started each Monday with a clean slate and all his homework done so it is doable but you have to be organised. His form tutor is also really understanding and when I told him what ds fits in out of school he says that ds should say if he was struggling with the homework and they would help.

I have just looked at my dd stream, they have a live timetable that's unique to them and their own programme of study and wednesday is music (academic) KS3, practice, music lesson, ensemble, and theory.
There are no academic lessons at all.
It looks really weird as now she has dropped Humanities it looks quite bare and more tailored.
Lots of French, German and Art, bit of Maths, English, Science, Drama and P.E.
I've never seen such a weird time table

Hope everybody's dc are settling into their new school years well

Kutik I wouldn't go by what a school states 100%. Also an hour of homework isn't a huge amount for year 7 and it is measured on average abilities. DS's school stated they'll get lots of homework at the beginning of every year. I was actually sick of hearing the same statement made each new year. He didn't seem to have any and his teachers confirmed his homework was of a good quality and handed in on time (mostly, over the 5 years there have been some delays).

On talking with somebody else who's child goes to the same school they asked me how do I feel about the huge amount of homework they get. It was like our kids were going to a different school.

DS's trick was starting and doing a lot of assignments and homework in form at the beginning of the day, midday and on the bus on the way to school and back. Therefore if you are organised it is doable. (Not that DS is organised, just that he didn't like to do homework in his spare time).

Sorry, I'm having a questioning day! This question is again quite directed to Waffle, but anyone who can answer would be greatly appreciated!

My friend is hunting flute for her 11 years old DD. She is proficient in piano and wants to pick up flute for fun (no lesson planned). Is there any good recommendation which model/make to buy for her? It's for fun so the mother doesn't want to spend too much, but as DD is already a good musician she may need a reasonably good one as she probably progress quickly.

Welcome, craddock. I am not an adult learner but have great admiration towards those like you. I don't know much about exams but you are on the right thread as there are plenty of experienced people here who could give you knowledgeable advice whenever needed!

To those who have secondary school age DCs, hopefully any of you could answer my question which keeps coming up and go since I started secondary school hunting.

So far, there are two state schools we visited and liked. One is quite famous for the strict disciplines and Year 7 will receive an hour homework daily which will increase to an hour and half in Year 8 and up to 3 hours by Year 10-11. Another one is more relaxed and they didn't state amount of homework at the open day but the pupils told me they don't get much and quite free.

Well, I like some sort of discipline, and lots of freedom for that age don't sound good to me. But on the other hand, if you receive so much homework daily, and do some after school activities at healthy level, how can they fit their daily music practice which would also increase as they get older? They also come back from school later than when they are at primary school. How many hours do they have at home? Those who play multiple instruments at high standard, how do they maintain the progress? Or, if we are sure DS wants to spend lots time on music, we shouldn't consider such school in the first place?

I remember Goo is starting the school with lots of academic emphasis from day one. Waffle, do you have any day schedule where to fit homework, music, other activities? Or anyone...?

Kutik on your DS's enthusiasm! Loved the clips Raspberry & Drummers, thank you for sharing.

And welcome craddock! I am not an adult learner but if you feel there is value from the process of exams and your teacher recommends you are ready, then go for it! The work-stress to me is relative to how prepared you are on the exam elements. Hopefully this will be out-weighed by the huge sense of achievement you should get from rising to the challenge! Good luck.

Hi all, I'm a lurker on this thread, but never posted. Please tell me if its not OK to post here. I am adult learner- violin. Have been learning for two years, and teacher wants me to do trinity music certificate intermediate in December. The music certificates do seem more appropriate for adults than grades. Does anyone have any experience? I think it with shape my practice. Most of you have put DC through grades- is it a huge amount of work- stress? Do you think it's a valuable process for an adult? Good luck this term everyone. I'm a bit odd, but I do love mumsnet!!

Kutik I know the feeling I've been through this with DS, back then the potential schools (without the admission test) were even worse than now, at least now they have been rebuilt and a lot of money chucked at them to improve them so the facilities are amazing.

Not long to go till the process is over (for us as we're not considering private) and then we can relax and focus on what dd likes.

I am so envious that at least you know your DD won't end up at a horrid one. We are applying for a couple of private schools as a backup. DS has visited only one private school so far and loved and still talks about it so I guess it's his first choice. But, if he managed to get in a good state school, unless he absolutely hates it, that's where he is going. Sending him to a private school is the last resource for us.

Kutik same here with the schools in the area. There are 8 schools requiring taking an academic exam and music test, besides those 8 schools the other ones aren't that great. The 8 schools are also spread quite out therefore we can't consider all of them as the travel time can be huge.

To get into these schools without the exams you need to live on their door step so no chance for us.

Dd will therefore go to DS's school, one of the 8 schools that select on academic and music ability, which is a very good school but not the best out of all of them, as she can get in on sibling rule. If she does well in the music test (not much chance on academic as we didn't prepare her except a test every 2/3 months) then she has a chance to go to the two schools that are held in higher regards than DS's school.

We have 6 schools to visit this months - two privates and four states and two states are re-visiting. Three out of four states require entry tests as we don't live close enough to all of them. The selection process starts late September. We really need to know which one to apply very soon so DS can do some preps before then...

Fleur, thank you for the kind explanation. DS is also a daydreamer. He easily slips into his own world even during conversation and he is so good at appearing as if he is listening as his eyes are set on the person who is talking but his mind is elsewhere. I sometimes clap my hands to get his attention back (yes, he is that bad). So I will do another one, but perhaps after the open day as he doesn't need to go through the test if we decide not to apply.

I am so hoping we like the school as we don't have many good choices, but two schools with great reputation were erased from our list after visiting so we never know how we feel about the school until we actually see it.

However, if we like it, then we will encounter another problem - we have very little chance to get in. Music test is only hope for DS but it's also very competitive and we don't live close enough to feel secured even if he gets a good mark. Headache continues....

Kutik well done to your DS, do another one in a couple of weeks time, we had a similar experience, good marks first hearing and that gave us a sense of safety for a while, next one done after the holiday was really bad and that's when I panicked. Luckly that was a one off, she was distracted and wanted to go out and play with her friends so I am putting it down to dd being such a dreamer.

We don't pause the test either but the exam states it takes 45/50 min because it has an explanation and an example question at the beginning of each category.

By the way, going back to the talk of Alma Deutscher, I remember one interview in which she was answering to the question of her strength and weakness. She said her strength was melody and weakness was rhythm. I'm sure her level of 'weakness' is still 'goodness-me' level for most of us, but thought it's nice to hear even someone like her can still acknowledge such things in her.

Niggle he absolutely loved the first course . It's very different to the jds with an emphasis on creativity and composition ( I think ) which ds enjoys. You can go from age 8 and it seems that most of the apprentices are younger aged 9 to about 14 I think which is less of a time commitment. They are expected to be quite grown up in that they stay away during the course , but are supervised . If you are considering it they have taster days in the spring usually. I'll let you know if anything gets planned. Last year I emailed them to find out.

Fleur, DS tried the material today and he got nearly full mark. I don't know the pass mark for the school but thought that would be good enough, so relieved no more test needed. But having seen the gap of your DD's scores, I understand the result varies time to time, which means just getting a good mark one time doesn't mean he will do well in the actual test. It's multiple choice so it must have some factors of 'luck' too. I'll let DS try again another time. Hopefully he won't go down too much.

Another thing I'm wondering is how many sets you do for one go. It took no more than 20 mins by just following the recording. But your DD does it for 50 mins? You mean you stop the recording between? Or do you do more than one set? Sorry so many questions...

I am losing track of all the posts so please bear with me till I get my life into a routine again. It should be done by next Tuesday.

Nothing new to report except a lot of music exam testing (just to calm my nerves as I am sure there isn't any improvement to be done now) we the last five tests have been a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 55. Considering there are more tests where she got over 46 (which was the "call for audition" mark in previous years) and that there is a lego set to be had if she concentrates and stops being a dreamer for 50 min, I am becoming hopeful she may get through.

NCO - One piece is learnt note perfect and she can play it in rhythm, the other only half way, I am hoping that when she starts lessons not this Saturday but next one her teacher will be happy to support polishing them.

Hello everyone, you certainly don't stand still! I miss a few weeks and I have to run to catch up.

DD is 9 and G4 violin and G2ish piano.

The Last Supper has been held for the children who all go back tomorrow (fish and chips from shop and strawberries and cream). We are 15 miles away from all three schools and they were our choice so no school transport and I dread the 3 hours of travel I need to do a day. Still, my fault!

Trumpet, very interested to see what your DS makes of AYM as I am thinking of this for DD at some stage. I know she is only 9 but the London JDs are so far away. We have G5 in Dec and G5 theory in Nov (almost there - only composition to do!). If your DS is 12, I guess she is too young still, so will wait, but it would be nice to hear what your DS thought of it.

Lovely videos

Lovely videos drummers and raspberry thank you for sharing them!

kutik you make me laugh