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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:
Original poster
Wafflenose · 17/08/2018 14:10

Congratulations to miniraspberry. I hope she loves her course and all the musical opportunities as well.

OP posts:
raspberryrippleicecream · 17/08/2018 13:07

Can I just say thank you again for all the lovely messages. This is a lovely community x

Floottoot · 17/08/2018 11:10

Meant to add that there has been no further development with our neighbour and the piano...other than she appears to be ignoring us ( she turned her back on DH the other day when he saw her in the front garden.)

Initially, I was too terrified to play it at all unless she was out, but I have got over that and decided that it is not unreasonable to play with consideration, ie not loud and for no more than an hour at a time, totalling no more than a couple of hours maximum a day, and all before 8pm at the absolute latest.
I dug around the internet to find info/advice and it seems that it is entirely reasonable for a neighbour to hear noise, even if they don't like it - it only becomes a nuisance over a certain decibel, which a domestic upright is unlikely to exceed.
So, we will see what happens next, if anything I am reassured by the high court case that judged a music college student could practise 5 hours a day, and that playing was his right. 😀

Floottoot · 17/08/2018 11:01

Huge congrats to your DD, Raspberry - it definitely sounds as if she's found the silver lining to her initial disappointment.

Folk, there is a special sort of camaraderie in pit orchestras - you'll love it and I think you may be surprised by aspects of it too. 😉🤣

LouieLouie0603 · 17/08/2018 10:43

You’d be surprised how quick they become organised Patrick’s- he’ll be fine 😊

PatricksViolin · 17/08/2018 10:33

Multitasking and organising are super skills, more so now as our time is moving from specialising one narrow area to crossing and managing wider and broader areas. I suppose personality plays a lot to obtain such useful skills but good training helps a lot too.

DS is not designed to be well organised. He easily forgets what he was meaning to do by slightest disturbance, easily forgets how much time he has, easily forgets deadlines and priorities. I can tell those precious skills wouldn't come easily for him and I don't expect him to be one of those super kids even after lots of training, but I think after plenty experience at least he will be better than now or will find a way of juggling things that works best for him ( I hope)!

ealingwestmum · 17/08/2018 09:18

Trumpet; I think that the fact that children like your DS can multi task with all that he has on, stands him in very good stead for keeping organised and on top of stuff. Even if at times it's overwhelming.

And in total agreement on keeping the dialogue flowing. Especially with DC who worry about letting others down when there's lots on. That's the one I have to watch out for!

stringchild · 17/08/2018 09:00

Popping in to say well done to mini-Raspberry !

PatricksViolin · 17/08/2018 08:47

After 27 hours door to door journey, at last we are back our London home. DS is leaving for Dorset this Sunday and we are taking him away for a proper family holiday straight after NCO so it's a very much brief coming back home for him. Our summer is flying fast and soon it'll be September then we all face up to the new lifestyle. Needs to sort out lots things before the summer ends, but for now, I'm enjoying having morning coffee in the garden, avoiding all the workload I have to deal with today... Feel like we are in a peaceful pocket between our manic life.

Oh and, I have to find the extracts sent from NCO in July... Hopefully I can find them easily...

Trumpetboysmum · 17/08/2018 08:30

Ealing Grin I am dreading the years ahead and do sometimes have a quick look to see the general mood and how things are going !! Ds starts his GCSE courses in September ( in year 9) so far he has managed everything I think this coming term will be the first test !! I know wondering how to juggle it all does worry him but as long as he keeps sharing this with me I think he'll manage !!

ealingwestmum · 17/08/2018 08:08

Nothing to add music wise this month but popping on to congratulate Rasperry’s DD for coming through yesterday and out the end with an amazing result. And to great friendships Smile

Yes, I have been lurking on the exam threads to try mentally to prepare for years ahead!

Meltingwax · 17/08/2018 08:03

Fab news for raspberry's dd! Flowers Star

PatricksViolin · 17/08/2018 06:24

WineThanksCake to raspberry and dd.

TabbyTigger · 17/08/2018 02:36

Fab news raspberry!! So glad she’s found somewhere she’s happy with. Hopefully you can all relax and celebrate now Cake

AlexandraLeaving · 16/08/2018 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

raspberryrippleicecream · 16/08/2018 20:43

Classics folkmamma

Thanks again everyone.Smile

druidsong · 16/08/2018 20:24

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

folkmamma · 16/08/2018 20:08

@raspberry sometimes these things are a blessing in disguise. What will she be studying??

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/08/2018 20:08

Raspberry that sounds really positive in the end! Well done to your dd and all best wishes! ThanksStar

catkind · 16/08/2018 19:01

Phew raspberry, sounds like a great outcome in the end. Well done to your DD for persisting and presumably some pretty good grades even if not quite what she wanted.

I'm currently trying to negotiate after school timetables for September. DD is dropping one she's been doing for nearly 3 years in favour of orchestra so I really hope she's going to enjoy that. DS is "not sure" about carrying on his second instrument now - I'm thinking he should at least try till Christmas having had several trial lessons and decided to go for it. Hopefully once he's back to lessons he'll get back into it. He was asking long enough to do it and had several trial lessons before deciding.

Trumpetboysmum · 16/08/2018 18:53

Rasberry Smile and well done to your dd for holding her nerve today

TaggieOHara · 16/08/2018 18:49

Well done raspberry!

raspberryrippleicecream · 16/08/2018 18:40

Place accepted.

There are some positives to the new uni. Her firm had no music societies on offer, which nearly stopped her firming it. New uni has lots which has cheered her up no end.

Also as new uni is only 1.5 hours away from us, instead of 5, we can go and listen to them!

And DS2 can go to NYO Inspire day in September as we won't be taking DD to uni that weekend Smile.

Exhausted but relieved raspberry household

Trumpetboysmum · 16/08/2018 18:08

Hope that gets sorted soon mending
Your poor dd Rasberry Flowers but pleased things have now hopefully worked out .
That sounds exciting Folk I think Ds would love to play in the pit one day.
Off to meet dh tomorrow and then to pick up trumpetboy on Saturday after the NCO concert .

Mendingfences · 16/08/2018 17:44

Im very glad things are looking up raspberry
It's all systems go here, school started today and the youngest is already at drum group with a performance on saturday. A little more complex for for the oldest, jd starts next week and she still doesnt have a violin teacher because the local culture school is refusing to pay jd for å teacher but hasnt managed to find a functional alternative....