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Original poster

January Music Thread

634 replies

Wafflenose · 01/01/2018 00:21

Happy New Year!

This is the new thread for our continuing (6 year old) conversation about all things to do with music - lessons, exams, auditions, theory, scales, practice and whatever else you want to talk about.

I am Waffle, teacher of woodwind, amateur composer, and unpaid consultant watching and commenting on all sorts of woodwind videos that people send my way! I am mum to Goo 12, and Rara 9, who both play instruments, do South West Music School and NCO. Goo plays flute and piano, and has Grade 8 and Grade 5 pending for some time this year. Rara plays cello and clarinet - working within Grade 4 for both, but hasn't taken a clarinet exam since Grade 1, and wants to do Grade 3 this coming term. She's way behind with Theory, so it's theory boot camp again this week. We start back to school late (Jan 8th) so that's good.

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foundoutyet · 20/01/2018 11:23

well, we now have 3 Yamaha recorders in 3 different sizes.....new one sounds nice Smile

se22mother · 20/01/2018 09:35

Well done mini.

Waffle which pieces has Rara chosen for g3 Clarinet?

Kutik73 · 20/01/2018 09:21

I think London was available for only the age banded members last year. I don't know other instruments but violin was like that.

Doubleup · 20/01/2018 08:59

Well done mini and minimini! Who had hands 5 and 6?

With regard to instrument balance at regionals, they had 6 bassoons at south easterlies last year and only 2 at London juniors

Original poster
Wafflenose · 20/01/2018 08:56

Thanks for offering to help, Mini! That's wonderful. I will still leave the ozone for a few days, to try to make sure that everyone has seen the message, but I have heard from most participants already.

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folkmamma · 20/01/2018 08:19

Well done Mini and Minimini!!! Sounds like you had a lot of fun and what great marks!!

Still waiting to hear on BFF orchestra offer. Her mum is now as worried as I am! They have been best of friends since they were 4 and do EVERYTHING together. More like siblings than friends. While they are very accepting of one being in U11's and the other not, being in different Regional orchestras might just be a step too far... Not to mention we live 2 miles apart and our busy lives are such that we totally rely on one another for shared transport etc, both families having to travel to separate rehearsals will put a bit of a strain on. We are hoping that if BFF is put in SE we can appeal to them to change it so that both are in the same orchestra, whichever one that may be.

stringchild · 20/01/2018 08:10

Mini - well done! And yes last year there were hoodies for regional orchestras orchesteas - quite rightly!

stringchild · 20/01/2018 08:07

Think we had 10 clarinets In London Seniors last year! So yes I think the want to get some balance. Usually age-band members have got their 1st choice (which meant very few if any associate places in London esp for strings)?l) not sure if that will be so this year.

Kutik73 · 20/01/2018 08:03

Mini, fab news! And thank you for stepping up for the channel. That would be wonderful.

OK it sounds like DS may get Southeasterlies then. We applied late.

Trumpetboysmum · 20/01/2018 07:07

Oh what a shame about south easterlies folk . Hopefully her bff will get the same orchestra as you . Last year I think that you got the orchestra you applied for as long as you applied early . Speaking to the easterlies conductor in November I think they were going to look a bit more carefully at instrument balance before they decided who would play where ( within reason) I think for some like easterlies this will help as apparently many were choosing to go to London which meant lots of strings and a very limited wind and brass sections

Minimusiciansmama · 20/01/2018 07:04

Hi all. Lots of wonderful news for you all, congratulations!

Well festival fortnight started last night for us with a first for me.... we won our class together! We did a six hands and got a top mark distinction! This is nothing new to my girl of course, but a whole new experience to me Wink. More importantly, we had an absolute bucketload of fun. She’s got lots of piano entries today and then woodwind weekend next weekend.

Re: our YouTube channel.... I would be happy to set up and moderate a new one. I have no life of my own haha. I think it’s a lovely thing for us to have together and I know we all enjoyed it so I don’t mind making the time if it means we can carry that on.

Re NCO I had to speak to them yesterday about something else but they mentioned on the phone that my girl is definitely in Northerlies. And also said that associates definitely are entitled to hoodies! This is an important piece of information to my girl!! Regionals are so exciting for her but are going to be quite a slog for me as her JD department are wanting her to do her instrument lessons before she goes which means we’ll have to drive. It’s probsbly a 5 hour round trip, one id hoped I could spent sat on a train!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 19/01/2018 22:34

Aw, how lovely catkind. We just have one this term - Rara's Grade 3 clarinet. Having said that, Goo hasn't had a piano lesson for six weeks, so I don't know what her teacher will suggest. Other than Rara, I have entered a Grade 2 clarinet (her BFF), a Grade 1 recorder and 3x Initial Grade recorders.

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catkind · 19/01/2018 22:27

Our first two music exam entries in! Both piano, DD Initial and DS Grade 1. Wonder if they'll carry on down the years... DD certainly seems to have got the bug.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 19/01/2018 22:02

See some of you at SW... I never thought for a moment that we wouldn't get in... it's a bit under-subscribed.

Will see if I can zap the channel next weekend.

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drummersmum · 19/01/2018 21:37

loose I'm sure your DS has done very well and you can keep dry after parents evening - or maybe celebrate with some wet!!

Paulweller11 · 19/01/2018 21:29

We’ve not heard about NCO either

LooseAtTheSeams · 19/01/2018 20:37

drummersWineI'm sure he's done well and can now ignore mocks and focus on the music!
I have Y11 parents' evening on Thursday but I'm determined to stick to dry January whatever I'm told that evening!

Kutik73 · 19/01/2018 20:26

Now I know so many familiar faces are heading for SE, I am quite happy if we are given our 2nd choice! Will see... Otherwise, yes catch up at U11s. Wink

Doubleup · 19/01/2018 20:24

We have a Yamaha descant which was pretty inexpensive 2nd

2ndSopranos · 19/01/2018 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doubleup · 19/01/2018 19:30

We haven't heard about regionals either Kutik. Won't see you either if you get your first choice, but hopefully can catch up with you at U11s in the summer.

Kutik73 · 19/01/2018 18:51

Wine to drummers.
X

Kutik73 · 19/01/2018 18:50

Star to Alex's DS!

I haven't heard anything from NCO? I still don't know which regional DS is in.

AlexandraLeaving · 19/01/2018 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

disorganisedmummy · 19/01/2018 18:30

drummersmum I'm not sure if you're allowed to divulge the name but which JD is your ds at? Perhaps pm me?