October Music Thread

Good luck to minihapsburg - exciting news!
Well, I’m impressed with DS1. I left him a note reminding him of his bass and drum lessons and put completely the wrong time on it. He managed to get there on time despite my efforts! Of course, there’s the strong possibility he didn’t read the note...
He’s being encouraged to think about doing a music performance diploma for bass guitar so he’s looking into it. I think it would be great as long as he doesn’t get too sidetracked from GCSEs!

Ohhh good luck minihapsburg

No raspberry you didn't miss anything - I don't get around to looking at the thread very often these days, much less actually post anything!

Ooh Hapsburg good luck. Sorry if I missed that on the thread.

Xennialish we are coming to the school's open day later this month, DS2 wants to learn about sixth form there. I think he would have to up his game a bit, but no harm in looking.

raspberry DD has also recently auditioned for NYO and is through to 2nd round which is during half term
Inspire days do sound really good, unfortunately they have always clashed with something else for DD so she has never managed to do one.
She has rather a lot on her plate at the moment, getting to grips with new school, pushing herself really hard practice-wise for auditions and this week has her third school performance of the term. Somehow she seems to be keeping on top of academics and also doing lots of her favourite sport - I'm not sure how!

Thank you Raspberry, I think we've decided it's probably not for DD, but at the moment she thinks it would be a dream come true to be a chorister for ever. The choir is so small that for BBC etc they always drag in back up so I don't think she'll be cast out on the scrap heap for ever even if she leaves on the normal schedule. She has pretty much decided to step off the pathway to transferring to a first study instrumental place (no guarantees but her teacher was preparing her and teaching her in such a way as to give her a very good chance, foot now very much off the gas) after year 8 though, so it is choir and school that she will probably be leaving but, again, perhaps no bad thing! This thread is great for that, makes you realise that specialist school isn't the be all and end all (but it is lovely for her at the moment ).

Good luck to all those with auditions for NCO this term, plus all the 11+ stuff going on.

In real life I know 2 people who have auditioned recently for NYO. We don't seem to have that age group on this thread yet!

I have DS2, Y10, learning organ, piano and trombone. He also sings in the Cathedral Choir and reluctantly is still playing clarinet in a school group. He plays trombone in a variety of school and music service groups, plus a jazz group. Grade 6 theory this term. Grade 8 piano next summer, alongside, I think, Grade 5 organ. I've not told his piano teacher. He doesn't do trombone exams but is around Grade 7.

He has just had a brilliant day with NYO Inspire.

I also have DD, Y13, who plays alto and bari sax in various groups and DS1 at uni who plays brass in a variety of uni groups .

I've posted on your thread Xennialish

Woolley have you considered taking your DD to the Big Double Reed Day at the Guildhall on 19th Nov? Both my DDs have done this and got a lot out of it.

So having said we would avoid exams this term we are now doing two...

Bassoon is providing a little light relief tbh and the prep involved is minimal.

Clarinet, dd is struggling with a few of her scales, mainly because she is not getting to practice until late due to school work/exam preparation.

Listening to practice and struggle with the same things over and over is killing me more than her but it is sucking all the joy out of it at a time when I would like music to be a bit more fun...do I just say, hope you don't get those in the exam, tighten up your pieces and make sure you know the rest really well? Any advice?

Her clarinet teacher has also mentioned the possibility of a new clarinet soon, dd is dead against it, as is my purse, any chance we would just get away with a new mouthpiece instead?

It's an inspiring article and I definitely agree music helps in all kinds of ways - I was glad it included some drama as well. Loved the little girl learning drums and her dad who is buying her a kit and soundproofing the walls! It doesn't surprise me at all that it's boosted the school's performance.

Hello....chorister cellist aged 12 here, just started piano and also a little one age 6 just started cello, middle DD has been lured to the stage .

Has anyone read this article today? Really inspirational.

www.theguardian.com/education/2017/oct/03/school-results-music-bradford?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Also, I have a chorister question in a separate thread - in case anyone uses 'Threads I'm On' exclusively...@Helenluvsrob @raspberryrippleicecream would very much appreciate a look if you have time

Gilly yes, I'm putting ear plugs on my Christmas list! I love the thought of your little dd with the bass sax - it's an amazing instrument.

Hello Loose

It's dh, been offered shows December to March, good work but won't see much of him and the second one is touring.

There's nothing like a Jazz band rehearsal to pick you up.
dd has asked for a bass sax, you don't usually buy them as work on them is limited, so she is borrowing one. it's bigger than her in fact is massive.

It sounds like your dh will be making lots of noise with an effects pedal, if I'm on the right track.
We should all compare strengths of ear plugs soon.

Hello all!

DD went to a strings workshop in Cambridge yesterday, which she loved. DD is 9 and plays violin/piano.
Busy month ahead; county orchestra audition, NCO audition, grade 5 theory (Nov) and grade 5 violin.

Must keep an eye on the music hubs, as these random workshops come along and they are hard to find!

Younger DD (7) is going through Violin Star 1. It is an uphill battle. I will persevere. If only because I know how much music has added to older DD's life and the younger one can't be expected to understand that yet!

Gilly that sounds very busy! DH has asked for a multi tool for his birthday so he can do something with effects pedals for guitars, apparently!
DS1 is much recovered and back at school. Jazz band rehearsal yesterday went very well so he's perked up a lot.

Thanks Prada and String!

Musicdoc: all the best with the 11+ results!

Happy October everyone.... 44 posts on this thread already!

I have DS(12) who is a cellist - starting G8 (trinity) preparation, auditioning for NCO u13s this month, and G5 Theory in November. He had a brilliant day yesterday, playing with the Chineke! junior orchestra and meeting Guy Johnston and Sheku Kanneh-Mason.... very proud
And DD(10) is a violinist - she is waiting for 11+ results, starting G8 violin work, G4 piano this term and auditioning for NCO U11s.

Prada your DD sounds like she is doing brilliantly - so great to be in a school that sounds so right for her
Lurker my DD started with the suzuki books - the Paul Harris Improve your Sight reading books (and basically lots of sight reading practice where she would have a couple of goes on her own and then I would play along) really helped.

Hello all.

A lot of instruments have arrived, set of Saxes, bit short of full family now. Lots of very low notes, they sound beautiful.
Some more Clarinets of various size and pitch, and a Piccolo.

Winter season means different instruments and they take some hammering used repeatedly with no break, so all have been serviced, overhauled or operated on by dh and dd. Oh the joys of the smell of brasso and/or paint stripper/ lighter fluid.

Note to self: Next house move, must have a workshop.

Green - I think it varies from school to school. Miniprada's scholarship status and commitments are clearly listed in a handbook so we all know what is expected of her. Coming from such a sport orientated prep school with nothing much available to the non-sporty types, it is very refreshing to see so much choice in her area of passion.

Greenleave - re your question to Prada; i would talk to the school. It has been made v clear to DD by her school that there are some things that she must do/be part of, and others she can choose - like MiniPrada she has a large number of requests for her time already, and actually has v quickly learnt to handle it and negotiate guest spots in some ensembles etc when she can't commit to all rehearsals. But yes music is assumed to come first (after academics). The same sort of thing but slightly less is being asked of the Award holders. But i do know of one of the other schools she got a scholarship, that really don't ask much commitment of their music scholars at all. So check with the school for sure.

Poor little brave Mini! Hope the sore leg will be completely ok tomorrow!

Can a music scholar not go with the school's music requirement Prada, that was my biggest concern that a music scholar to school's music commitment could be permanent and no negotiation.

Thanks all for the concern - she's fine. It's a bit sore but she stood on it for her lesson and duet practise and was walking on it alright. Wonderdrug calpol was all. She's made no talk of missing her dance classes tomorrow, it can't be that bad!

Definitely English/Baroque. Tenor can be got into tune with a warm instrument and careful fingering, but descant still can't, so will experiment further. Beginning to think I need a few lessons as I have no idea what to do with my mouth!