November Music Thread

Hi Waffle and Stringchild,
I'm probably being unduly negative about the NCO thing. It's just that it feels like the other applicants I've heard about have all been much more advanced, and while I know NCO doesn't base their selection on grades, children who have been playing longer naturally have more experience and knowledge than children that have only been playing a couple of years; DS is good for his ability IYKWIM, but obviously hasn't had tons of performing experience. He was happy with his audition, although he was panicking and flapping about sightreading in the week leading up to it, so who knows how that went!! I tread the fine line between mum and musician; I think he's got loads of potential and natural musicality, but that could be the rose-tinted mummy spectacles...
It's a funny position to be, being a musician myself, as I was saying in reply to Drummer on the other thread. I am trying hard not to be a tiger mum about things, while still encouraging him to do something he's good at...a VERY fine line!

Hello all, can't believe its Nov already.

I have dd 13 at specialist music school.
She doesn't really do exams as they seem to put them to the back whilst concentrating on other things. There may be a couple this year but not sure yet.
She plays Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bari and now bass saxes, and owns clari and flute Piano and Voice.
She enjoys Jazz/Classical and is working towards conservatoire entrance when older.
Most concerts are at school but next month is "An evening with John Rutter" which she is really looking forward to.

I love hearing about what other peoples children are up to as I hardly have any input or influence in my dd music making since she started the school. I/We were quite involved in her music making prior to this and it was a bit of a shock to begin with.

Floor - Waffle is right; my dd didn’t take many exams as her teachers really didn’t care for them (went from g 5 to g 8) so was be hard to judge where she was by paper; is still g5!clarinet technically but doesn’t mean much. Many NCO. Holder. Are the same and don’t do many exams, somenone at all. Sounds like your boy is v talented and with a NCO tutor as his teacher they would have been a v good judge of whether he should audition.

Hi all! Since the start of the last thread, my monkey has turned 8. We have G3 piano this term. She's working at G4 clarinet stuff but not sitting it, with her G5 being the plan for summer term. We've had a change of teachers as shes joined our version of JD this term. It's also brought a change of exam board so we're working on her aural etc. She's on a bit of a mission this half term with her theory. December will bring lots of concerts, plus her exam (on the same day as one of her concerts, she'll have to leave the concert midway through for it). She's also a busy dancer so there's a lot of juggling between the two. This term especially with ballet exams, showcase and masterclasses all bringing clashes with music. It would help if she sucked at one of them, but she doesn't!

Morning.

DD is in Y5 and plays violin and piano. G5 theory next week and G5 violin in Dec. Waiting for NCO results and county ensemble results. Must get back to piano after the theory exam!

Younger DD is in Y2 and playing violin at home for now, no formal lessons, as she is a little temperamental. We are on Violin Star Two and working towards g1 pieces by Christmas, and not having a mini meltdown each home session. The melt down is not because she doesn't want to play, but because it has to be perfect. She has been playing a whole month now, and doesn't understand why she doesn't sound like her sister. I have pointed out that she is on a 1/4 size standard violin and her sister is playing a 3/4 antique instrument so there is going to be a difference.

Newby here.
We have DD, just turned 14, who has just started singing lessons to go with her interest in drama. She has ADHD with associated SEN, so we felt learning an instrument may be a stepping too far for now.
DS is 11 and has been playing cello for almost 3 years. He's just started piano lessons and is a music scholar at a cathedral school. He's had a break from exams, due to a change of teacher and some technique issues as a result of hypermobility, but will be taking grade 5 cello and theory next term. He auditioned for NCO last week, but we know he hasn't got a chance of getting a place; it was more for experience, really.

DH and I are both professional orchestral musicians and teachers - I'm a flautist and he's a percussionist, and we met while both working for an opera company.

Thank you Waffle for the new thread!

DS (10) plays violin and piano. NO exam experience with violin though he regards it's his most important instrument and chose to study violin at jd while happy to keep studying piano outside. Both were similar standard before but piano has been hugely neglected these days, hence violin seems to be progressing more.

We've just sorted state secondary school by going through selective entries, and now are thinking whether he should still try private schools (registered at two schools). The exams/auditions are in January so we still have time to think. Regulars on this thread may have already noticed that I am a slow thinker...

Thank you waffle! Dd is yr 7 and plays cello (passed g8’in summer term) and taking g7!clairnet in spring. Just auditioned for much hoped for 5th yr in NCO. Music scholar and choirester, and v torn between music and maths/science. No rush to decide thankfully.

Thanks waffle... I always try and keep track of these threads but sometimes miss a few days and they move on so fast! A great way to support fellow music parents...

I have DD(10) who plays violin and DS(12) who play the cello - despite being very different in character (and musicianship) they are both musically achieving to a similar standard - both working towards Grade 8 on their instruments, both auditioned last month for NCO for the 4th time (although less hopeful this time round - the 3rd year they got associate membership but both also got places as full members when others dropped out before the residentials) and they both all auditioned for NCCO for the first time.

October was pretty exciting for them as Nicola Benedetti and Leonard Elsenbroich came to their music group and did workshops with them, and my son played with the Chineke! junior orchestra, accompanying Guy Johnston & Sheku Kanneh-Mason.... so November will be a bit more mundane with G5 theory (DS) and G4 piano (DD)..... very difficult to motivate them to prepare, I just hope we don't have to do the theory paper again!!

Hi thanks for the new thread. I have a ds 12 who plays trumpet ( sort of working towards grade 8 but unlikely to do any exams anytime soon) and piano which he started just over a year ago . He also sings and I was quite shocked when he started practicing as he has a full on tenor voice !! But that's going well. He has recently re auditioned for NCO and is a member of Aldeburgh Young Muscucians and plays in far too many bands and orchestras really - I'm not sure how he ( we) fits it all in!! I also have a dd 10 who sings and plays a bit of piano . She also chose to continue with the cornet this year ( at first she said that she didn't want to learn and follow in her brothers footsteps) and it's going really well now she's decided to do a bit of practice!! She also got a ukelele for her birthday and is enjoying singing as she plays

Thank you waffle.

I have DD16 who plays piano and is in the third cycle (post grade 8) of the French conservatoire system. She also plays guitar and sings. Unfortunately she is also preparing for her French baccalauréat and higher ed admissions, so she doesn't have as much time this year!

DS14 started playing guitar in August and is still progressing very fast, as you do if you play almost every waking hour that you are not at school. He has lessons with a jazz guitarist but he is mainly interested in playing rock music. Unlikely to do any exams but I've downloaded him some Rock school grade 5 materials for him to take a look at.

I have not been here for ages, I shall try my come back :)

I have dd9 who is playing violin grade 6ish, and piano grade 4ish - all exams are put on hold even though she has her grade 5 theory done.

Ds6 is also playing violin (working towards grade 2) and piano (no exams yet).

It is nice to have both of them playing, but I struggle with managing all the practicing.... This is not to mention other activities they have :(

Both children take part in music festival this month.