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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
Nigglenotes · 19/10/2017 12:04

Also, can't have run their course. I just got here!

Helenluvsrob · 19/10/2017 11:47

Good luck respberry junior!

Helenluvsrob · 19/10/2017 11:46

Happy birthday goo and well done mini drummers !

Nigglenotes · 19/10/2017 11:43

Half term next week, so busy tired week, I think. We are counting the days to county orchestra auditions on Saturday and NCO next week. And grade 5 theory the week after. Just trying to keep it all going and make sure the pieces are ready. DD having a wobble over Bohm's Sarabande.

LooseAtTheSeams · 19/10/2017 10:36

Not sure why so quiet - maybe no one has exams or the NCO thread is the hot topic?
I did just want to mention our school PTA has come to the rescue as far as GCSE composing is concerned - they agreed to pay for much-needed software. Our secondary school like many others is facing some tough choices. Even though we’re in one of the boroughs in London that actually stands to gain from the funding formula change, there have been so many unfounded changes the school will just about manage to maintain staff levels.

Wafflenose · 19/10/2017 10:14

It's gone very quiet in here... have these threads run their course?

OP posts:
Xennialish · 18/10/2017 21:37

Ah, the wind department is brilliant, and the whole school is a really friendly place.

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/10/2017 20:55

Xennialish we didn't. DS2 got totally caught up in the open jazz rehearsals and was more interested in that. And DS1 came with us, and we had to get him back to uni for his own Big Band concert that evening, so we ran out of time.

We did spend a good bit of time in the academic department talking to the departments of the A levels DS2 thinks he would like to do, very impressed with those too.

Xennialish · 18/10/2017 08:22

And well done to drummerson...hope the practice doesn’t drive you bonkers before the big day!

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/10/2017 07:54

Misti that’s very funny - most families I know talk about switching the WiFi off because of their teens. Looks like you have a slightly different problem!Smile

Greenleave · 18/10/2017 07:52

Wow Drummers, fantastic news, fingers crossed for the next round!!!

Mistigri: hahaha, he doesnt stop now does he?

Doubleup · 18/10/2017 07:42

Well done to the drummer Drummers!

Xennialish · 18/10/2017 07:42

Stringchild, I have a y7 cellist (2nd study) if you’d like to ask anything about that.

Raspberry, did you pop over to see the organ?

stringchild · 18/10/2017 06:58

Drummers- fantastic!

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/10/2017 23:26

Stringchild we were very impressed. Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

Drummersmum brilliant news.

Mistigri · 17/10/2017 22:05

Who are the pianists on here? My piano teacher lent me a pile of books last week with the suggestion to look through and decide what I fancy playing next. I have book 1 of the Well Tempered Clavier, among other stuff. Which of the preludes are approachable? (apart from no 1 obviously)

Icouldbeknitting · 17/10/2017 21:32

Congratulations drummersmum. I'm sure you can play it cool and unconcerned after two weeks intensive practice.

Mistigri · 17/10/2017 21:15

Splendid news drummers, well done to your DS :)

We've had about 3 hours of guitar this evening, I might have to start hiding the power supply to the amp.

Kutik73 · 17/10/2017 21:05

Fantastic, drummers!!! I'm waiving a massive flag of the fan club!!! StarStarStar

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/10/2017 20:50

Brilliant news drummers - I’m sure he’s going to do well! Star remember his MN fan club is backing you both! WineSmile

TheSecondOfHerName · 17/10/2017 20:27

Well done to drummer!

drummersmum · 17/10/2017 19:59

Aj almost forgot our happy news. DS is through to the regional finals of a national drumming competition. He has less than two weeks to prepare and I have that same time to practice my cool-it-mum heartbeat control.

drummersmum · 17/10/2017 19:53

Happy Day-after-Bday goo and Misti Cake

Misti what your DS is having is what's commonly known as teenage guitar fever. And it's fabulous.

Kutik73 · 17/10/2017 10:55

We've already bought 6 books since DS started with his new teacher. We really needed to buy 3 more books but managed to get a copy for each section needed. DS's first lesson was 23rd September.... I'm glad no music purchase is required for orchestra...

Doubleup · 16/10/2017 23:49

Hope Goo and Misti enjoyed their days.

Second, I share your pain. Constantly seem to be asked to get new music and it is all in separate books.

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