January Music Thread

Happy New Year. I mostly lurk on the threads, occasionally asking a question.
I have dd1 who currently seems to have given up the piano (grade 6 level) as she doesn't have time for it with her A-level work load
Dd2 who plays the trumpet. Passed grade 5 a year ago, and now needs to work at her theory, which she doesn't like. She plays in a local brass "orchestra" in the senior section and is delighted to be doing her first foreign tour this summer. Got a new trumpet coming shortly (thanks Trumpetboy for the recommendation)
Ds who plays the violin to about grade 1 standard. He's umming and arhing over continuing. EVery time I think we've reached a decision he changes his mind and wants to continue. he got the next size up violin (3/4) for Christmas, but only because a friend was selling it on.
He also plays the drums at about grade 2, but doesn't want to do exams. He's keener on playing pieces than the exercises he's meant to be working on at present!

Happy new year :).

I have dd1 age 12 who is a chorister and cello player, about grade 5/6 but a chronic exam refuser so genuinely not really sure. She started piano at Easter for fun and to help with theory but we manage a lesson a fortnight if that. She can play the whole grade 1 pieces book now and some lovely additional material that I got from following Goo starting piano the year before. I feel guilty that we can’t throw more time and money at this as she really enjoys it. And I am with you Taggie with the chorister time commitment stress! It is her great love though. 1 solitary festival class in February and probably some performances at school.

My other daughters and step daughter all showed promise at their instruments but wouldn’t practise and/ or bored of them...personality has such a big part to play! I would like to help my 10 year old audition for the very good children’s choir we are lucky enough to have close by and free but I find the idea of an audition that is not a ‘dead cert’ so stressful which is really not the point of an audition!

Congratulations to Truffle's boy!

Japanese, I have no experience in festivals so more knowledgeable people would give you first-handed advice. But I personally think grade 1-2 for 9-11 years old is not unusual - in fact it may be norm. Having said that DCs who consider festivals may tend to be those who are considerably doing well - not sure. HOWEVER, different ages have different approaches/understanding to what they play. And often a simpler piece played by maturer mind is enjoyable to listen to.

I know two boys at DS's age, one is preparing for grade 5 and another is grade 2-3 standard (he started a bit later than the grade 5 boy). Both boys often play at the same events. Although both performance are pure pleasure to listen to, I often enjoy the latter one's more. Obviously grade 5 one plays more complicated, challenging pieces. But somehow 10 years old playing grade 2-3 pieces sounds much nicer. Perhaps the maturity required for the music matches and he can convey the atmosphere better.

Of course we should consider the views of those who participate as young people often can't understand what really matters and seem to think playing advanced pieces equal a brilliant musician. So you will know what would work for your DCs - personality and how they would see things... But I really hope festivals and any other performance opportunities are not only for the early starters.

Good luck to DoubleUp DD2 with entrance exams! This will be me in a year :(.
I have three DS who all play different instruments as well as play sports. My DS1 (14) has made good progress in my bootcamp with his G8 horn scales. He plays at his school's orchestra as well as in a regional area band. DS2 (10) will be at the nationals on his cello for the first time this year; he is excited and hopes to make friends at the regionals. He did lots of piano over the Christmas break as it was lagging behind with not enough time to practice. DS3 (7) plays violin and piano.
I am after some advice. Our lovely piano teacher with be going on maternity leave in Feb and planning to start teaching again in May. What do we do to be productive in this period without her input? It is about 3 months and DS2 is planning to sit G6 in June/July. Is this feasible at all now without a teacher for so long? Or we should postpone it to Nov?

Good luck with the school entrance tests double. Japanese it might be worth phoning the organisers and asking re average ages but when ds last did a festival organised like this I'm sure that the grade 2 and 3 brass players were all about ds's age at the time - so 11. No festivals for us here but 2 music competitions - one of which will be organised by age ( but ds will probably still be the least advanced player there in his age group up to 15 and he'll be playing grade 8 stuff ) . The other one is the school music competition so he'll be competing against the 6 th formers !! - he's not entering either with any hope of winning it's just for the playing experience

Good luck with the school entrance tests double. Japanese it might be worth phoning the organisers and asking re average ages but when ds last did a festival organised like this I'm sure that the grade 2 and 3 brass players were all about ds's age at the time - so 11. No festivals for us here but 2 music competitions - one of which will be organised by age ( but ds will probably still be the least advanced player there in his age group up to 15 and he'll be playing grade 8 stuff ) . The other one is the school music competition so he'll be competing against the 6 th formers !! - he's not entering either with any hope of winning it's just for the playing experience

Happy New Year everyone! Just dipping in quickly..... DD1 (Y10) is due to do Grade 7 oboe this term as she is doing the overlap on the syllabus. Finally getting her to do some work on the scales. She did Grade 6 alto sax at the end of last term, so was concentrating more on that.

DD2 (Year 6) did Grade 7 bassoon last June, but will not be doing Grade 8 for a long time yet if I get my way! She will be doing NCO for the third year (U11) - she may know your DD Windmum? Other than that it is all about school entrance tests and auditions this term 🙁 We will all be very glad when that is over!

Happy New Year everyone & hope you all had good Christmases!

Many congrats to Truffle's DS! So exciting!

We are still away at the moment, back home tomorrow & then back to school (& work) from Thursday.

DS will be doing Grade 1 piano & theory in the Spring and DD will be doing Grade 2 theory & possibly Grade 2 piano in the Spring. Rue - DD will be going 'off-piste' altogether for her Grade 2 and is only playing pieces from the alternative list as we preferred those to the ABRSM official book. DD is also starting cello lessons this month.

I have been reading about all your DC's festival participation and have been thinking about entering the DCs so they get some experience at playing in front of others. I have been looking at the north London one in the Spring. The only thing that puts me off slightly is their ages. We would be looking at the graded classes. DD will be 11 and playing Grade 2 pieces and DS will be 9 and playing Grade 1. Basically, I was a bit worried that they would be by far the oldest in those classes and might come away feeling a bit demoralised. Am going to think about it, the deadline isn't until Mar 1st.

Morning everyone!! 2 days left before DD's go back to school and I must confess to being a little reluctant to get back on the treadmill of normality...

We de-christmassed yesterday, and Noo doesn't have any shows until Thursday so it's two days of bootcamp here to kick-start the New Year. Going for an hour of violin, an hour of theory, 30min of Piano for Noo, theory and 15 min each of cello and piano for Moll (which may not sound like much but trust me, that will be a challenge today!!)

Wish me luck....

Brilliant news Truffle!

Fab, thanks - I was a bit concerned that going off piste and offering a piece the examiner isn't as familiar with could cause problems. And @Minimusiciansmama yes, it's G3 clarinet she's working on! Glad it worked well for yours.

rue my girl enjoyed hedwigs theme at g2 piano and G3 clarinet! All of her last clarinet exam pieces came from the alternative material.

Thank you Waffle for the new thread!
I have DS1 (16) taking GCSEs this year but also trying to fit in marching band, concert band, percussion, drumkit and his favourite, bass guitar. He is working towards a music performance diploma.
DS2 (12) is working on grade 5 piano, cello and theory and may do the cello exam this term; otherwise it will be in May. He plays electric guitar for fun!
I'm also working on G5 piano but trying to avoid the exam for a bit longer!

Congratulations for DS1 Truffle, it's lovely for them to be sorted so early in the process and it takes the pressure off them for A levels as they are not waiting on their results.

Happy New Year everyone!!

We have DD1 (Noo), 10yr old violinist and second study pianist. Associate member of NCO and will take G5 theory, G6 violin and G3 piano sometime this year. Also loves musical theatre and currently in her second season of professional panto.

DD2 (Moll) 7yrs old, plays cello and piano. Complex character and after a panic 'freeze' in her G1 piano exam before Christmas, am now wondering if exams are not going to be her thing...

Love these threads and keeping up with everyone's news 😊

Truffle that's fantastic news

Happy New Year everyone!

Busy term coming up with lots of performances and GCSE and A2 stuff. This term also brings a grade 8 clarinet for DD and grade 8 sax for DS2.

Great news just before Christmas - DS1 got offers from all the music colleges he applied for, and a scholarship offer from RAM which was his favourite so off he goes this autumn! He will be studying organ and has worked so hard, it is well deserved.

Ah, but scales became devilish at G5 and DS did work hard on them prior to G5 exam. So probably scale boot camp may happen again at some point!

Happy New Year, everyone! A big thank you to Waffle for keeping this thread going (6 years)!

DS (10) plays piano and violin. He also loves making up his own tunes. He keeps a recorder by his bedside as tunes often come up night time. He sometimes writes them down next day, but usually just leave them on the recorder. I'm saving them just in case - it could be an idea bank once he starts formal study in composition.

DS is the same as some of DCs here who doesn't particularly get motivated by exams. So no exam for his first study (violin). But he will probably take one for piano this term. Anyway he has already known some of the pieces in the current syllabus (performed a couple of them at concerts in the last two terms) so there won't be much emphasis on the preparation but it'll rather be just a passing point. He has taken three piano exams in the past and all of them were taken when he was a well above the standard, so no panic luckily!

Rue - I'd say the alternative pieces are just the same as the pieces in the exam collection book - but obviously cheaper in a collection!!! The pieces are examined on their own merit against the marking criteria in the syllabus so I don't believe there is a safe or risky option and it should be down to what your DC enjoys playing (i.e. practising!) and which pieces suit them physically. We've had to avoid some pieces because DDs hands were too small to manage the piano chords/stretches when she was younger.

Happy New Year everyone!

I am mum to two DS's: DS1 (12) plays the piano to grade 6 standard, but we have decided not to do any exams for the moment. He has a huge amount on at school, and he just wants to play for pleasure.

DS2 (9) plays the violin and piano. He is also a chorister. He is preparing for his grade 2 piano. He hasn't done any violin exams yet, but will probably do grade 7 in the summer term - Trinity because of lack of grade 5 theory. We are thrilled that he got into the NCO regionals this year.

I spend a lot of time worrying that I am teaching him wrong (I teach him the violin myself, despite not being a professional teacher) and that he doesn't have enough time to practise because of his chorister commitments.

Good luck with the audition Icould. Ds should probably join a brass band at some point ( I know of one with lots of young players which would be good) it's just fitting it in ....

I have a 17 year old brass player, the main priorities here at the moment are driving lessons and A levels. Christmas is a busy time for brass bands, unless you live in a tourist area where the summer is busier then it's the time when they make the money that they need to cover their costs for the year ahead. The two weeks holiday between the last Christmas job and the start of rehearsals is lovely.

He still has an audition outstanding, I expect to be hearing more of his pieces once he has the date.

I've missed a few of these threads, we have 3 kids but only DD (10) plays an instrument at the moment, she got a merit in her grade 2 exam in the summer but changed teacher in September so last term was about playing for fun, showing what she could do etc. Which culminated in her playing a solo at the school carol service just before they broke up.

She's going back to grade 3 pieces this term, having convinced me to fork out for the separate book with the Hedwig's Theme music in which is an alternative piece on the syllabus - any views about picking the alternative pieces? Do they come as a blessed relief to the examiners or are they a risky option?