November Music Thread

DD may need later on - I think she is about to annoy the swimming coach massively. She has piano lesson that finishes at 3pm, swimming gala that starts at 3pm (and from experience these always go on forever), rehearsal at 4.15pm (swimming will not be finished) and Italian oral lesson at 5.15pm (so rehearsal can't run late). She has asked, but rehearsals and lessons can't be moved. The only way for this to work is if she doesn't do the gala - which is the least important for her anyway. But - teamwork, blah blah, not letting others down etc etc.... all very important, but she simply can't be in two places at once.

Just putting this here as a distraction from the hectic schedules, practice battles etc etc! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZdXoER96is
Fascinating to see these guys working together.

Raspberry that’s a crazy schedule good luck with the letter !! I’m sure I’ve got a few more of those to write while ds is at school !! At the moment things seem to be very busy but under control here , let’s see how long that lasts

I'm late to the thread this month! I mainly have DS2, about to be 16, piano, trombone, organ, singer. Welcome to all the new people.

Grade 8 piano is in 4 weeks, in the middle of 18 GCSE mock exams at school. I am currently drafting the letter in my head telling school he will be missing his mock Chemistry exam.

The Christmas gig madness has already started, DS2 is playing/singing twice a week at a local residential leisure centre as part of their winter programme.

I can thoroughly recommend Knittings t-shirt recommendations, I followed her advice a couple of years ago and it went down very well.

DS is sitting his grade 3 piano exam soon, but already thinking ahead and is asking how much harder grade 4 piano is? The step up from grade 3 to 4 in violin was not huge, but piano seems a bit harder to learn. Is skipping grade 4 exam and going straight for grade 5 piano a bad idea? He skipped grade 2 piano (he learnt all pieces and scales needed in a few months and moved to grade 3).

Well ds3 has come in from ensemble tonight saying his teacher has asked him to do a solo when they perform on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in March (not as impressive as it sounds - the ensemble is part of the Triborough in London which has RAH as part of its area and therefore some sort of deal with them to us it). There is some major concert for all the ensembles and groups there in March (Convo? I think! I don't pay that much attention!). Anyhow, ds3 is over the moon. Ds2 (my real musician in the family) has also been asked to play a solo but is actually considering whether he can be bothered to take his main instrument (not the one he plays in this ensemble but the one they want him to play the solo on) to the concert!!

I do like that my kids are in boroughs that have major venues in them as it does have its bonuses! The borough we live in has Wembly in it so when they do the Young Musician of the Year competition, the winner plays on stage there!

if you have the pad or it's half hanging out or split.
You need a bit of oil for the slit, but only little to soften.
Blu tac and tweezers, obviously making sure the tac is under the pad not oozing out on top.

Best I could do, but an advanced player.
Student said obviously get fixed after the concert.
Has also had to do this during a concert, student recommends a basic repair kit for Christmas.

Woolley

Can't promise but I'll see if dd friend about, they have to do repairs themselves.
Keep eye on thread will post if I find out.

Having a bit of a mare here today, pad on bassoon has gone the day before a concert. I'm now going to try and fashion one from God knows what...

Darn, one week after teacher assuring me she has no intention of starting exam music with DS... he comes home learning exam music. Someone has misunderstood someone there. Really don't think he's ready or prepared to put in the work to get ready in any reasonable time frame.

here's another blame.

It's my fault dd is only just doing grade 5 Piano as how could she be expected to learn without a Steinway grand like she has at school

I also hope it went well for the mini theory exam-takers! DS2 has only just started the G5 book so not facing that challenge quite yet!

I'd forgotten that the theory exams were this week. Hope it went well for all the minis.

Ds said theory was fine !! Here’s hoping 3 days of the school show now followed by his NCO concert on Sunday !! So he’s happy as just doing music is what he lives for and I’ll be pleased when this week is over !!

Hope today went well for the theory candidates.

For example he is not good enough violinist because his parents are not a ballerina and a lawyer like David Garrett’s parents.
Bwahahaha, kids really are the gift that keeps on giving. I'm LOL at various of the reasons us parents are to blame but this one particularly takes the biscuit!

Good luck to the theory-ers!

Yes, fingers crossed for everyone sitting the theory paper today! We have two extremely tired DCs after taking part in the music for youth prom at the Albert Hall yesterday celebrating 125 years of the BSO. There are some lovely photos on the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Facebook page if any other Southerly posters had children there and want to have a look 🙂