November Music Thread

I was meaning to suggest play back also. It's probably the best way for reluctant singers.

Re, sight reading, DS didn't get any training for sight reading, as in practising purposely by using text books. Both piano and violin teachers were not big on it. Yet it's been regarded as one of his strength. However, I am not sure if it came more natural to him than others. It may be because of the way he was introduced to sight-reading discipline.

As soon as he started learning piano, he was given new pieces to learn almost every week by the piano teacher. I was wondering if the teaching was alright because at some points I felt it was more quantity than quality. But looking back, I am certain that helped his sight reading tremendously. He was basically forced to read new pieces all the time. And because the lesson started this way from the day 1, DS didn't question for the amount of new pieces he was receiving.

I am not sure if that was the teacher's conscious tactic (suppose yes). Anyway she's never ever used those sight reading practice books in a lesson, nor asked us to buy for home practice, even prior to an exam. It'd been done by the weekly homework given by her.

So I would say the key to improve sight-reading is to play lots of different pieces, lots and lots of them. Like you read newspaper rather than a novel.

Thankfully, it slowed down and he gets longer pieces to study for a longer period now, as if the teaching has shifted from quantity to quality.

He has no problem with violin's sight reading thanks to the piano teacher. I suppose any pianist will find single lined sight reading much less frightening.

Yes, but, how much a dreamy 15-16 years old would know what they want now would make them happy in future? If a child is absolutely certain and so determined, he/she should be given a chance to pursue their dream no matter how risky it is. When they realise it was not what they thought, or things didn't go well, they can still be adjusted, yes. But, it's still very scary for the parents. Especially if the child shows other talent which would offer more stable career and income.

I think that is right Loose. If the child/young adult wants to pursue music it will be completely obvious and if there is significant doubt probably means they shouldn't. My DS at the moment can't imagine doing anything else. He just lives and breathes music. If that every changes it will be time for a plan B. My DDs on the other hand love music and are very accomplished but it doesn't consume them in the same way.

Kutik it’s hard but in the end I think it’s a decision that has to come from the child. They will know what they want to do. I remember a girl at school who was really talented at music. Her parents thought it was a waste of time to study as a degree. She applied for law as they wanted and switched to Music as soon as she got there!

Well done to Green and mini for your great effort! It must have been a long day for you, but also for your DD.

I know it's not a great advice, but since miniGreen is suffering so much on learning scales, if she really really hates it with passion, then you should know that you can still pass, quite comfortably, as long as the pieces are done well. I know someone who managed to pass G8 by totally focusing on the pieces (so crappy marks for the rest, but pass is pass!). If she enjoys playing the pieces, you may let her focus on polishing them? Then, at least preparing for exam is not a total torture for her so won't remove all the joy of playing.

As I said it's not a great advice and no way I am encouraging but just another way to tackle the situation.

Fedup: have you started theory, some kids might like it. Mine said its really interesting and logical. We were crap with sight reading and really stuck with it until we studied theory back in year 3. She said the theory really made her to understand and be able to read the music. She only did G5 theory by then, we would do G8 theory one day in secondary.

Thanks Taggie, I had read the requirements since last time we nearly failed scales because she was asked to play hands separately and she didnt know that when she practised. Another “small” problem however makes us always at the border of fail and pass aural is the singing bit. She just refuses to sing point blank and the mark was lost(however it must be little).

The problem for us with scales is she finds them truly boring and if it is boring/non-challenging then she doesnt put her mind in it and the hours wasted because she sits when she was asked but not (really) learns anything. Anyway, we did an hour solid tonight. I got home at 6.30 and put the todler to bed at 7.30 and sat down with her for a solid 1 hour. I must say I yawned endlessly as she was just playing couple of passages over and over again. I am completely non-musical and it has been a long day for me. Through this exam I just realised one thing that it has been a great decision to get a silent piano, I dont think anyone on our street would tolerate our scale practice.

Back from the weekly rehearsal of the youth orchestra DS belongs to. I was chatting with other parents while DCs were rehearsing. I have mentioned about the fabulous concert master on this thread a couple of times. I didn't know about her other than she was a great violinist, but apparently she got grade 8 in piano and violin before entering secondary school, and now has a few more grade 8s and goes to JD (the firm information from parent detectives ). She is Year 11. Naturally the conversation moved to sixth form. Then one parent claimed she believed the concert master wouldn't stay at the current school. The reason was someone like her should drop everything for music so no point staying the mainstream education any further. All other parents agreed that she would go to a specialist school.

None of them know the girl nor family in person, so it's all just a gossip. But after reading drummers heart-aching posts, I found it's so surprising that people outside assume a child who achieves so much in a particular area would head for the profession, full stop.

Maybe they are right, and she may head for a specialist school. Or academic always comes first so no intention to take her music into profession. Or, it may not be so straight forward for her and family, like some of you on this thread are experiencing, and may be making the hardest decision.

I definitely think some find sight reading easier than others. Ds was hopeless a couple of years ago we spent a lot of time practicing it before exams. I found breaking it down into the things that he needed to remember to do - key signature, time signature speed and subdividing notes before he even attempted to play really helped otherwise he launched in and easily lost his way . Playing by ear is a great thing to be able to do though - especially for jazz . Oh and use anything for practice the excerpts for exams are sometimes really random and it helps ( I think) to sight read other easy stuff that is a bit more " musical"

fedup is your DS dyslexic/ might he have eyesight problems?

My DD is OK at sightreading a single line of notes eg for sax, but has always struggled to sightread for piano. She has got better at it this year because her teacher now makes her accompany young strings players at her music school - so DD has had to read a lot of different (but easy) music and can't simply memorise everything.

I think there is something inherent about how easy kids find it to read music though - DS as a beginner pianist seems to find sight reading easier than his sister and it's not a question of practice.

could I just pop my head in to get the benefit of your collective musical brain....
DS13 is doing grade 5 trombone soon. We have come to the realisation that he is absolutely rubbish at reading music and sight reading in particular. His teacher says he is "unique" and "hilarious"( which DS took as a compliment but I'm not sure it is...) in that he has great musicality and can play from ear really well/improvise but struggles with even really basic sightreading. He does trinity and exercises rather than scales which I'm not sure helps. DS currently plays in a jazz band..... but would like to play in an orchestra or similar but the lack of sightreading is really holding him back. Any ideas for apps or work books that may help?

green I do empathise. The teacher's comments seem a bit vague, to be honest. If you look through the marking criteria us.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/information-and-regulations/graded-music-exam-marking-criteria/ you can see that they do not demand perfection!

Perhaps try listening to some recordings? I find that helps DS!

Keep us posted!

Haha drummers honestly no idea whether DS has a musical "gift" or not, but he does have very good fine motor skills and he likes a challenge. He's also naturally interested in the theory side, much more so than DD.

No idea whether it will go anywhere, but if he approaches piano with anything like the determination he has shown with guitar he'll improve very quickly. He doesn't know yet if he wants lessons, but my teacher is good and ridiculously cheap so that's an option.

I’m not sure under preparation is a wise strategy for the king of careless mistake (DS...), but certainly the formula of more nerves = better focused has been in his case too!

mistigiri grade 6 is not perfect for a beginner. It's only perfect for a beginner as naturally gifted as your DS!

Misti, don’t chop his fingers! I would kiss and stroke instead. Golden fingers!

Only here we could receive such a huge support and love from all directions! Xx

She loves the pieces to be honest, she could play the notes, just not to the musical quality needed as you all have pointed out and unfortunately that bit needs time and loads of repertoire to build up, we might never have it.

Green never say never, your DD strikes me as the sort of kid who might pull it off. I sometimes think my DD plays better if slightly underprepared, as more nerves = better focus in her case! Good luck.

Drummers good luck with A level choice, it sounds like a real headache and it is really very very young to be narrowing down choices (at least for all-rounders). We are two years ahead of you and DD is now making her post-18 choices and it's really very difficult - and that is with a number of "liberal arts" type possibilities that let her delay narrowing her options for another two years!

On the subject of music, DS is now diligently applying himself to the piano and is halfway through the Scarlatti sonata that I have been struggling with for a few weeks. It's been set for ABRSM grade 6 in the past so is obviously a perfect choice for a beginner. I might have to chop his hands off before he's better than me on two instruments.

I'll echo that! MiniGreen has a history of pulling it out of the bag on the day and I'm sure MiniWoolley will too!

GO MINI GREEN & WOOLLEY!!

If anyone's going to pull it off, it's minigreen! I know it's not much time, but unless she prefers long practises, then dot the available time with 20/30 mins focusing on different elements? Good luck!

green don't let the teacher's comment bring you down. One week left to go, treat it as a marathon, lots of playing the pieces, support, showing your faith in her and good spirits will do it.

I'm sure she will be fine green. DS won't even let me video him as then he watches them and pulls his playing apart. he's fine performing live and goes into performance mode for this I'm sure mini will do this in her exam

green I know certainly that my DD has "performance mode" and "plodding along practise" mode and even if you say "pretend Im the examiner so I can video it", the exam or performance situation gives her that extra lift that makes the piece shine. Doing mock exams helps her focus on working her best, running it from start to finish, no second chances etc. I agree with the others that I think minigreen will pull it off xx