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Original poster

October Music Thread

486 replies

Wafflenose · 01/10/2017 01:18

Hello, I just fell asleep in front of a very long film that DH wanted to watch, and woke up in October! I couldn't resist starting the new thread before going to sleep properly.

The monthly music threads are welcome to ALL, and we really like hearing from new contributors and beginner musicians. We have all levels on here. It's a good place to discuss instruments, lessons, practice, exams, auditions and anything else that you want to.

I am a teacher of recorder, clarinet, saxophone and flute, and have two daughters. Goo is 11 and plays the flute and piano. She is planning to do exams on both next year, but none just now because she's just started at the secondary school 2 miles down the road, which has a great reputation for music and sport, and is extremely academic. They study four languages in Year 7 - Goo has just finished her unit on German (by the end of three weeks, they could write three substantial paragraphs - I couldn't believe it!) and is now embarking on Mandarin.
She's thrown herself into choir, orchestra, steel band, flute group and the gym. Rara is 9 and has been playing the cello since the age of 5, and clarinet for a year. She enjoys both, but is happiest when she's reading or cutting up paper/ making things out of paper! Rara has plenty of free time because she attends the village school five minutes away, and hardly gets any homework.

Goo attends South West Music School, which is the nearest thing we have to a JD in the south west. Rara is just about to join! Not too much on musically this term (and not a lot of practice taking place, quite honestly) apart from auditioning for the NCO. Goo has been in it for the past three years, and is hoping for Under 12s. After a wobble about even auditioning, she seems quietly confident now.

OP posts:
Kutik73 · 30/10/2017 22:27

A big yay to drummer's boy! What's a great experience. And, his fan club seems to keep growing! Grin

raspberry, a great tactic! That's what I should've done! I told DS to take time, but as I expected he came out very early. He said he finished at first, but then quickly confessed he actually wanted to go to the loo. A kind attendant let him go to the loo and return to the exam room. I reminded him to work slowly as he went back. But he came out in 5 mins...

raspberryrippleicecream · 30/10/2017 21:52

Callme for Grade 5, his teacher was very insistent he wasn't allowed to leave early, even if he had finished. He was told my husband wouldn't be there to pick him up until the end so no point in rushing. This worked for him, he slowed down in the exam. Good luck .

Thanks for the good wishes everyone.

drummersmum · 30/10/2017 21:19

Hi all, the drumming competition was amazing. DS didn't win it but played beautifully and a couple of audience members went up to him and told him he should've won. They said he had the most musicality. But the young man who won, older than DS was really good and lovely and I was very happy for him and he had awesome technique. DS loved the experience!
We're doing Grade 6 in June, preparing at jd. I just bought the book and two sets of past papers...
Good luck raspberry and callme!

callmeadoctor · 30/10/2017 19:56

I am not musical at all, the grade 5 is just like a foreign language to me! Grin

Minimusiciansmama · 30/10/2017 19:36

My little lady is nowhere near ready for G5 theory.... she's storming through parts of g2 and 3 but is having a massive mental block with grouping. Her little brain can play them without a thought but can't reorder what's in front of her.....

callmeadoctor · 30/10/2017 18:33

My DD that is (not me) Grin

callmeadoctor · 30/10/2017 18:32

Grade 5 theory next week, any tips? Doing lots of past papers but very quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!

AlexandraLeaving · 30/10/2017 08:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kutik73 · 30/10/2017 07:54

Double, it's similar to your length so not too short but my hair was quite long before. All the highlights are gone too so I look very dark! Perfect for Halloween. Grin

Green, sounds like your girls had a great holiday. DS loves having people visiting & staying with us. He gets really excited and suddenly becomes a great host, making sure everyone is happy. But being a typical 'only child', he also appreciates the calmness after all are gone and do his own things at his own pace.

raspberry, good luck to the theory test. 85% on a mock paper is very promising! DS has just joined post grade 5 class at jd, but the focus doesn't seem to be for grade 6, just theory in general, so not sure when his turn will come.

raspberryrippleicecream · 30/10/2017 00:06

I loved Matilda too.

Congratulations to everyone who auditioned for NCO, I think they are all amazing.

Anyone else gearing up for a Theory exam? DS2 is doing Grade 6. He got 85% on a 'mock paper last week, marked by his teacher so am hopeful he will pass.

Greenleave · 29/10/2017 21:34

Best of luck to all auditions everyone!

I have been so busy with my very closed friends staying the last nearly 10 days, they have a 3 yrs old and a 6 years old so it has been a total chaos. My 3 yrs old also had 6 painful days with gland viral infection(it could be because the prolonged coughing). The good thing is they did bring the 9 yrs old out everyday so we didnt have to go anywhere and still had a proper "holiday". Anyway, they are going home on Tuesday and I am having Weds off with a plan to do a full cleaning/washing day too(or get someone to give me a hand with the deep cleaning).

There hasnt been much music happening as the kids have been up from 6am till 9pm constantly laughing/crying/screaming and I am worried about the piano exam in 3 weeks. There are so much refinement needed for the A and B pieces. The C piece has only learnt half way. Scales are learnt however fingerings were wrong with incorrect tempo. Aural hasnt been touched and my teacher said this grade's aural is a beast. Sight reading is being self learnt and I have no idea how she is doing because I cant understand a dot.

Doubleup · 29/10/2017 16:35

Is it really short Kutik? Will I be able to recognise you if I see you at the Regional concert next week? Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/10/2017 16:09

Kutik i am sure they’ll love it! How much shorter did you go?
I’m practising pieces in between cleaning DS2’s room while he’s away, definitely a more fragrant room without socks stashed everywhere! It feels a bit odd not sitting there listening to him doing piano and cello practice - I have to chivvy myself instead!

Kutik73 · 29/10/2017 15:22

Thank you, Loose! We laughed and laughed over lovely meal and wine, and a couple of naughty cocktails. Just what I needed. Smile

My boys are coming back from their adventure this evening. I'm therefore enjoying the last few hours of 'me time' now! I had my hair cut and coloured yesterday. DH and DS both love me with long hair and they would tell me to keep it long every time when I asked their opinion. Too bad they were not here yesterday! Hopefully they won't be too horrified by my new look!

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/10/2017 11:17

Kutik sounds very much deserved! Smile

Kutik73 · 29/10/2017 00:09

Hello Paulweller, nice to hear from you again! I’m back from my lovely night out. Charged 100%. Life is lovely!! Smile

Paulweller11 · 28/10/2017 19:26

Congrats on all the auditions, triumphs and grade exams- just about managed to read through most of the pages. Smile

Kutik73 · 28/10/2017 15:12

Thanks Double! GrinWineGrin

Doubleup · 28/10/2017 14:26

Kutik , as well as the storyline and the songs, the whole staging of Matilda is amazing. Something for everyone. Do it! Enjoy your night out too Wine

Kutik73 · 28/10/2017 13:53

Thank you, Trumpet! I'll organise a family day out to see Matilda! I'm half way through the laundry. Doing tones of laundry in an empty house is somehow peaceful and relaxing...

Trumpetboysmum · 28/10/2017 13:23

Yes kutik they will love Matilda enjoy your night out !!

Kutik73 · 28/10/2017 12:58

Trumpet, sounds amazing! And yes, I too think I should see Matilda. Do you think boys will also enjoy it?

DS is off to Warwickshire with his dad for a sport mad weekend (golf, swimming, cross country, etc...). I'll be all my own till tomorrow evening. I've just received a new washer dryer as the old one had been broken. So I will spend half a day on doing all the laundry and cleaning (our home is in a horrible state after one week of off school). Then I'm off to have my hair done and have a meal & drink with my friends at a lovely Italian.

I don't normally go out for a drink in the evening these days. But after going through all the secondary school entry process (and finally it's over!) and also fighting against the horrible cold for so long, I feel I deserve a bit of treat while boys are doing boys' stuff!

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/10/2017 10:56

Trumpet that sounds like a brilliant week - no wonder DS enjoyed it!
It’ll be a bit quieter this weekend. DS2 is on a school history trip to Normandy and not back until Monday night.
I’ve always wanted to see Matilda. I must organise a treat for myself!
Good luck to everyone waiting for audition news!

stringchild · 28/10/2017 09:13

Trumpet - they sounds amazing!

Double - so sorry, hope Matilda brought a bit of relief to the week

Waffle - big round of applause to Rara for talent and resilience

Trumpetboysmum · 28/10/2017 08:26

I'm sorry to hear your news double.
We all also love Matilda and need to go and see it again soon I think.
Went to Ds' end of AYM course open session at snape yesterday . The amount of work ( and quality of playing) that they had produced in 5 days was amazing - they spent the week looking at world music- lots of Latin rhythms and jazz so ds was in his element !! I now know why he is always so keen to go and give up his holidays and weekends he's a very lucky boy to have access to such amazing musical experiences ( and as they sort of self cater for some of the week he even learnt to make his own pizza 😀)