January Music Thread

Pretty sure i don't know any of you being exiled in the frosen north.... but you are all huge mine of useful information and support.

No concerts atm, there is a festival type thing for dd1 and dd2 in february and after that we will see. Dd2 was been suggesting she might like to play the double bass in the festival..... she's had 3 lessons thats confidence for you i suppose

Loose - dd was in a concert last night too. Sometimes I wonder if we all know each other without realising it!

sorry - no idea why that posted twice!

DS1 was playing in a concert last night and had a good time with his friends. He was amusingly surprised when people praised the drumming because there were MISTAKES! It's so complicated to listen to, I suppose ordinary mortals can't tell!

DS1 was playing in a concert last night and had a good time with his friends. He was amusingly surprised when people praised the drumming because there were MISTAKES! It's so complicated to listen to, I suppose ordinary mortals can't tell!

Thanks string. Seriously, you guys are all awesome 😚

Folk - it’s very usual to have some trial lessons before or after the audition; it’s best to do it soon though as timetables get fixed over the summer and it dan be hard to change slots later without chasing with ensembles etc in our experience

Thanks Mini. The consolidation of everything into one day is the main driver if I'm honest (something has to change!) and I like the holistic approach and the fact she will be surrounded by like minded kids. So on balance, I think it will be a good move (assuming she gets in!!!!). And I must confess to being a teensy bit proud that we are even considering it!!!

folkmamma we have had issues with the move to music school. She’s joint first study. On one instrument it’s been amazing, on the other we are really quite disappointed and concerned. However, as others say positives include the consolidation of it all into one day, the addition of dalcroze, theory lessons and loads of performing opportunities that have given her a lot of confidence. My overall opinion is it’s been worth the risk but I say that slightly hesitantly as we haven’t yet broached the subject of our uncertainty at the teacher!

double congratulations to mini!

youtube channel I’m hoping to get the new one set up next week now the email and previously channel have been disabled.

In other news, little one has had a great run at the first festival of the year. She entered 7 classes, worked so hard and had a brilliant time. She’s learnt some important performance lessons- like that invaluable one about confidently picking up when you stumble in a performance dThe fact she placed in them all is nice but of less consequence to me. Though she’s very pleased to have three shiny new trophies of course.

Actually, there could have been any number of explanations. Maybe she was fresh out of plaster or something! I broke my arm twice as a kid and it can take a while to fully get your mojo back...

Bite learning!? NOTE learning 😂

That's a good point Mending I hadn't considered that. It could also have been that the child stiffened up because she was nervous of having us in there... Noo sometimes stiffens when she's nervous or concentrating really hard (they were bite learning, always a tricky time!). Perhaps I should relax and give it the benefit of doubt.

Technique can be tricky i think. Dd1 has previously had issues with bow hold, primarily as a result of hypermobile hands and fingers. As she has got bigger and stronger then it has all become 'fixable' and consequently is no longer an issue but i could imagine that there was a period where to an observer it could have looked liked poor teaching

In our case it was more a personality clash which I consider character building to just get on with

It must be wonderful to be able to spot things like that folkmamma. Dd has only ever had the one outside assessment really (one solitary festival class last year!) as she won’t take exams and the judge mentioned ‘evidence of good teaching’ and I always wondered what that meant. You were very on the ball to get the other teacher’s name.

kutik don't discount school bursaries - even if your income is relatively high. Schools can be flexible, if they really want your DC. This is our experience.

You may be surprised by what they count as disposable income. Jd fees may be taken into account. I'd strongly advise a chat with the head, if you feel that one of the fee-paying schools is right for your family.

That would be amazing!! Thanks Floot. Will DM tomorrow when I can get to computer... 😊

folk, my husband went to RWCMD, used to teach there and has worked for one of the orchestras here in Cardiff for 25 years...he'll probably be able to give you the low down on the JD and teachers etc, if you want to DM me.

Yay! Well done MiniDouble and well done to Kutik for staying cool! It's a stressful time but sounds like a good outcome.

You guessed it Kutik, I am indeed a string player 😘

Techniques are funny things though. DS's previous teacher was forever complaining about DS's bow hold yet his new teacher says no problem. His elbow was pointed by someone else also but again the current teacher says she is happy with it.

I chose to trust the teacher 100% so once checked her opinion never questioned afterwards. But supposed it would have been a different story if I had played the instrument therefore had knowledge of it (suppose you are a string player, folk?).

As you said you could always say 'thanks but no thanks'. So you can go ahead and see what happens?

Erm interesting.....

She'd been there for 4 years and with the teacher for much of that time...

Folkmamma- just an idea....maybe the student having the lesson started in Sept with bad technical habits, she/he could be doing gr8 stuff, but still need things correcting? I’m guessing technique is harder to correct the older you are, and so maybe teacher is working on better technique with the student?
Of course, if they’ve been there a long time- well that’s a different story...

However we later saw a little girl in the finals of the concerto competition who had beautiful technique- I caught her after and got the name of her teacher, if we could get in with her I'd be very happy!