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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

August Music Thread

442 replies

Wafflenose · 01/08/2018 12:33

Welcome to the new music thread for August - a place to discuss anything you like to do with learning instruments/ singing. We have child and adult learners on here, and all standards from toddlers experimenting with music to the very advanced.

It's coming up to 7 years since I started the first thread, and I have been flagging a bit lately due to a long illness. When I started the first one, my daughter Goo had just turned 6 and was about to take her Grade 1 recorder exam! She is now 12 (13 in two months), has done her Grade 8 Flute (result currently under appeal), is thinking about Grade 8 Recorder next year (having not played since Year 6) and is learning the piano. Piano hasn't gone well this term. Her teacher has been going on lots of last minute holidays and also has another job now, so Goo has only had two piano lessons since Easter. Teacher has now decided to retire from teaching, so we need to find a new one. Goo has never, ever performed on the piano and hasn't taken any exams either. She has been learning since she was 10, and was recently learning pieces by Bach and Chopin, although I have no idea what she is practising at the moment.

I also have Rara (10) who plays the cello, clarinet and recorder at a good Grade 4 level. It doesn't come naturally to her at all, but she's more inclined to work at things... when it suits her. She plays the clarinet most, but swears she's in love with the cello. Her bass clef reading definitely seems stronger. We have started and stopped theory three times. I think she is more than capable of doing it, but she's distractible, longwinded and feels the need to reinvent the wheel. I have decided to wait until she's ready to do the whole lot in one go... hopefully when she is a bit more mature and developmentally ready. Goo had it done and dusted at the same age and I find it hard not to worry about Rara at times, but in many ways she's just as able... but on her own timeline.

I usually have 80-90 woodwind pupils on my books - mostly recorder these days, although I'm a clarinettist really. I currently have a clutch of little clarinets, a couple of flutes and a good saxophone pupil, so plenty of variety.

OP posts:
SwayingInTime · 22/08/2018 19:48

The organ course is taught by DD's choir master (I've given up on remaining anonymous Grin)! Hope he has a great time and DD doesn't get too muddy!

TaggieOHara · 22/08/2018 18:13

raspberry I hope he has a good time! I’ve heard great things about that summer school. Will he get to work with any of the Chets teachers? Or is the summer school totally separate? Enjoy your quiet and calm week. You deserve it Flowers

double DS lost a tooth at NCO as well. There was so much gore that he had to go to the nurse. That’s so sweet about your DS and the tooth fairy patrick. Thanks to his hyper-logical older brother, I’m not sure DS2 ever believed, but he still demands his £2!

Interesting music bag discussion. We have one tiny music bag between the DSes, so mainly they use a sainsbury’s Bag. My boys are always under equipped though. I had to improvise a suit carrier out of a bin bag for Nco.

raspberryrippleicecream · 22/08/2018 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doubleup · 22/08/2018 00:38

No phone calls here, just messages - and photos of the tooth from all angles 🤢

PatricksViolin · 22/08/2018 00:31

I meant, The Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre... I like South Bank.

PatricksViolin · 22/08/2018 00:22

Does she still believe the tooth fairy? Mine does. So there would be a slight problem (he would wonder why the fairy didn't leave any money)...

News from DS today was that he was happy with the food and playing lots of footy (and possibly rolling down the hill...).

Going to see Lehman Brothers tomorrow evening. DS said no access to mobile after 4.30pm so I can enjoy the play without worrying about missing his phone calls.

Doubleup · 22/08/2018 00:02

News from DD2 today was that her tooth fell out in the middle of the night, but that she had managed not to swallow it! I asked if she had been talking to the boys in her section and she said 'Yeah. They keep rolling down the hill'. Doesn't understand boys Smile

SwayingInTime · 21/08/2018 23:20

Dd has a very lovely music bag but the music generally froths out of her cello case pocket in a cartoon fashion or is spread liberally over the floor of her oversized locker.

PatricksViolin · 21/08/2018 19:23

Thanks Taggie! DS has never owned a music bag. He just chucks all in his backpack and off he goes... He probably wants to carry a pen case, a notebook, spare strings, scissors and a nail clipper together with his music so I have ordered a book bag instead of a music bag for roomier storage (and hopefully stronger).

I have also ordered a bedside alarm clock, and I am going to sort out family photos with DS once he's back.

Great advice on the snack! DS loved the food there and as they serve meals and snacks 5 times a day DS was not hungry and didn't touch any snack brought from home during the trial stay. But I'll pack some healthy and filling snack just in case.

I am struggling to find a smart jumper which can be worn on top of collar shirt, ideally black. All I can find is school wear...

TaggieOHara · 21/08/2018 10:47

patrick boarding school veteran here... for food from home (tuck) a large biscuit tin is fine unless there is a problem with theft, in which case you can replace it with something lockable. By music case, I think they mean music bag, of the type your DS has probably been taking to jd.

Other essentials are a torch, clock, family photos, ornaments from home and posters, if he is allowed them. Bring as much of his own bedding as they allow (including pillows and duvet). All of that really helps with settling in. For tuck, give him a few filling and healthy-ish snacks, like cereal bars and savoury biscuits, in case he doesn’t like one of the meals.

Doubleup · 21/08/2018 09:57

That made me laugh Patrick!

PatricksViolin · 21/08/2018 09:54

Oh, music bag! I see. DS doesn't have one so I'll get one from Chimes maybe. Or anyone has any recommendation?

Just checked NCO facebook and found a familiar face in the photo! I can see he changed his clothes - great news. 🤣

TrumpetVoluntary · 21/08/2018 09:40

I am hoping there is some kind of recording we can get for U10s given that they wouldn’t let us record it (although I did notice a couple of audience members ignoring this rule).
I was panicking about DD not calling me at the beginning of the course - I was worried she might not be ok but couldn’t work the new (very cheap!) phone we had got for her to take or that the signal was too bad. But when she did contact me it turned out she was fine and having too much fun to spend much time contacting me...

LouieLouie0603 · 21/08/2018 09:08

Does anyone know if the U10’s U11’s NCO have a DVD recording of their concerts?
I know U12 + do.

LouieLouie0603 · 21/08/2018 09:06

Music type folder I guess/music bag 😀

Mendingfences · 21/08/2018 05:32

Sorry no idea about the school things patrick But i often feel i am muddling through when it comes to equipment!

PatricksViolin · 20/08/2018 21:22

Yep, my mobile didn't ring and I think it's now lights out! 🤣

I am supposed to prepare for the new school while DS is away. Just looked at the list of what to pack. It says a small tin for snack brought from home, padlock, music case... Is a cookie tin OK? I have a spare padlock for suitcase... And what is music case? A4 sized pocket holder or something??

LouieLouie0603 · 20/08/2018 20:29

He’ll be fine Patrick’s- if they don’t ring- that’s a good sign, shows he’s happy.
Mine hasn’t rang tonight either.... 🤣

folkmamma · 20/08/2018 20:10

Lol! What will you be like in September?? 🤪

Noo Just had a trial lesson with a new piano teacher- it went very well!

PatricksViolin · 20/08/2018 20:07

Now, assuming DS has access to his mobile this time of a day, I can't stop checking my phone non-stop! 😂

folkmamma · 20/08/2018 19:59

@PatricksViolin do t feel bad. I outright bribed Noo to ring me on her last residential 😂

TabbyTigger · 20/08/2018 19:14

Glad your DS is settling patrick! Hopefully you can settle a little too now...

PatricksViolin · 20/08/2018 19:06

Makes sense. That's how JD's orchestra works too.

Managed to speak to DS! He said he missed me but was also having fun so 'please don't worry too much, mum.'

Feel crap that I showed him my worries and was reassured by a 11 years old that everything was OK'. Which one is a child?!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 20/08/2018 18:22

In the older orchestras, they often play 1st on one course and 2nd on the next, or vice versa. They split the very best players between the two sections, and scatter them around.

OP posts:
folkmamma · 20/08/2018 15:37

Patrick - they will move them around throughout the week. Although 1sts will stay in 1sts and 2nds in 2nds, the seating order will be jiggled to give them experience at sitting front/back/inside/outside. They decide on final seating order and leader nearer the end of the week. As Cat said, they try to mix the abilities to get a balanced sound, not just 1sts/2nds, but also front/back. It's taken me ages to get my head around this, coming from a background where seating order was definitely pecking order!

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