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November Music Thread

688 replies

Wafflenose · 30/10/2018 22:09

Welcome to all musicians/ parents of musicians, young and 'mature', beginners and advanced, plus everything in between. This is one of the nicest corners of Mumsnet and the music threads were started for my older daughter towards the beginning of her musical journey, 7 years ago. Everybody on the thread was a beginner once!

I have recently seen "we're not a musical family", "I'm not musical" on here quite a lot, and would like to gently challenge that... perhaps you may not have found the right instrument/ teacher yet, or have no desire to play, but I think that everyone is musical. It's not a special something that is limited to certain individuals, although of course everyone's aptitude and natural ceiling varies. I have had the pleasure of teaching almost 1000 people to read and play music now, ranging in age from 3 to 96 and incorporating a range of additional needs, and I think they all got something positive from their lessons! What our young musicians most need from us - whether we play ourselves or not - is lots of encouragement, time and space to practise, and of course the constant taxi service and financial support we give to their lessons and ensembles!

I have two DDs, Goo The Energy Conserver (flute and piano, lapsed recorder and picc player) who is pretty lazy and complacent at the moment and just wants to enjoy her life, and Rara The Awkward (clarinet, cello, recorder) who tries hard... when it suits her! We have nothing special lined up this term, but possibly piano and clarinet exams for next term. Goo claims she wants to dust off her recorders and theory books to get another couple of Grade 8s before she leaves school. I'll believe that when it happens.

Over to you.

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Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/11/2018 18:49

Good luck to miniCatkind!

Mendingfences · 15/11/2018 18:17

I have audio recorded a few concerts, which is easier to do sureptisiously than filming, so maybe thats an option?

catkind · 15/11/2018 17:14

Not too fussed about Elton John, but I do think it being someone people recognise will resonate for people. And yes the little boy teared me up too. I'm so soft when it comes to little kids performing.

Two possible calls on the tissue box comng up here!

DS is auditioning tomorrow to play a solo in the school end of term concert - on horn! Even if he doesn't get it, I'm so pleased he's giving it a go - he's only been playing since Easter and is not usually the volunteering type.

And DD is excited about going to a string orchestra day at the weekend. Cleverly leapfrogging so I will see her first mini "concert" after all, I'm missing her proper end of term concert with the weekly string group because I have my own concert Sad Hoping DH is allowed to take a pic. Or perhaps I need to train him in this recording in handbag technique you guys mention...

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/11/2018 14:27

funds, not finds.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/11/2018 14:27

Elton John studied at the RAM for 6 years, Littlelad. I believe he finds a scholarship there too.

hapsburg · 15/11/2018 14:16

Druid I think Iceland's advertising people knew exactly what they were doing - that ad has had far more attention because it is banned.

littleladsdad · 15/11/2018 14:04

I like the ad. I've always liked Elton but admire him even more having seen this, and the gift in question, recently.

November Music Thread
druidsong · 15/11/2018 12:54

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hapsburg · 15/11/2018 12:47

Hmmm, I think Iceland have won the Christmas ad this year. Maybe John Lewis/Elton John should have slanted more towards music having to be given by families as it is no longer a gift provided by our education sysytem - and got that banned for being political.........

druidsong · 15/11/2018 11:10

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druidsong · 15/11/2018 11:10

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Wafflenose · 15/11/2018 10:43

5 million! Shock

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Crazygirlmama · 15/11/2018 10:19

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Wafflenose · 15/11/2018 09:13

I have never seen a John Lewis advert before, so had to Google it! I liked it, but I like anything musical really.

Current situation is nothing to do with the grade 8. We got the final result in September and Goo is happy with it. She has almost finished learning big pieces by Bizet and Chaminade, is doing lots of extended range scales and starting the Enesco.

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raspberryrippleicecream · 15/11/2018 08:57

It's the sentiment I like.

MeltingWax · 15/11/2018 08:41

Agree with piccolo

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/11/2018 08:36

I think the JL ad would have been better had the main character been fictitious. Using Elton John didn't do it for me, although the sentiment behind it is lovely.

Doubleup · 15/11/2018 08:28

Hmm - not sure about the JL advert. Maybe more of a promotion of the upcoming biopic?

WindMum · 15/11/2018 08:19

Sorry to hear things are tough Waffle. Did you get an outcome from the ABRSM appeal? Is this part of the issue?
Difficult age - thinking of how I was.

MeltingWax · 15/11/2018 07:30

Ooo - I saw a teaser on Twitter this morning - something to do with a piano?

raspberryrippleicecream · 15/11/2018 07:29

You all need to see the new John Lewis ad!

hapsburg · 14/11/2018 07:46

Wine waffle

PancakeMum6 · 14/11/2018 02:09

Don’t know the situation in as much depth as many on here do but Flowers for waffle. It sounds like a hard time. Hopefully something good will come of it and your DD (Goo?) will work things out her own way.

Crazygirlmama · 13/11/2018 21:38

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