November Music Thread

Sorry pancake I’m afraid we’re in the south too but I’m sure someone on the thread will know

Thank you to waffle for the new thread, it’s great to chat to other people with musical families!
I have DD(13) who is an increasingly keen flautist and also plays the piano. We’re aiming to get grade 8 done this academic year so she can audition for the county youth orchestra ( very competitive for flutes! ). She’s doing grade 5 piano this term as well. DS1 (11) is just about to take grade 4 French horn. I’m impressed with him as he only switched from cornet in January and has worked really hard. He plays piano too, working on grade 2 pieces. DS2(9) has dyspraxia and a few other difficulties but is making a go of the clarinet... a lot of chewed reeds! Thanks to the advice on this thread we now have a very sturdy clarinet stand so the poor instrument stands a fighting chance of survival. And finally DS3(8) is doing his piano prep test this term and started the violin 6 mths ago and is loving it.
It’s quite noisy at our house 😂 I sing at the local chorus which keeps me sane. We are supposed to have singing lessons as a condition of membership of the chorus which I’m actually really enjoying... and the kids get to nag me to practise for a change!

Sorry Pancake, we are down south so no advice I'm afraid.

Hi - I did ask on the October thread but I think it got quickly lost under a lot of other messages so I just want to check once more if anybody has any input on the City of Leeds Youth Orchestra?

Ooo, shiny new thread a bit early - thank you waffle.

I have DD (Year 7) who plays piano, cello and recorder and DS (Year 5) who plays piano and viola.

It has worked out that DD has a bit of a mammoth exam session this time around. She is sitting Grade 5 theory next week as well as Grade 4 piano, Grade 4 descant recorder and Grade 3 treble. She also plays in a school ensemble and 2 borough orchestras.

DS is sitting Grade 4 theory next week and Grade 3 piano. He has been playing the viola for about 6 months.

I did a music degree (well half of one - jointly with another subject!) many moons ago and still mess about a bit on the piano and oboe.

Hi, I have DD 12, finally starting to settle into secondary school after a rocky start.

She plays clarinet, no exams for now after a traumatic grade 4 but playing about grade 5 level. New teacher has already helped her regain the love of it, she also plays it in our area wind and and has been asked to join a quartet. She's already done one solo in a school concert.

Bassoon as second instrument, heading towards grade 3, though concert next week so practice is for that currently. Plays this in the junior orchestra at school.

We are also attempting to work through to grade 5 theory in the next couple of terms but it's hard work!

Did Goo do her NCO audition in the end, Waffle?

I have DD, just turned 15, and DS, 12.

DD doesn't consider herself musical, as she can't read music, but she has singing lessons and is in the senior school choir. She has ADHD with related difficulties, so is struggling her way through year 10 - all very stressful.

DS plays cello and piano, as a music scholar at a cathedral school. He is taking grade 5 theory next week, grade 2 piano in a few weeks, and is working towards grade 7 cello next term.
He plays in a range of school ensembles, county youth orchestra and has just auditioned for NCO. He isn't all that fond of practising sometimes ( a lot of the time!) but loves tinkering about on the drums, guitar and ukulele.

DH and I are both pro musicians, having met playing for the same opera orchestra.

I'm also grateful to Waffle for these threads but particularly this time as it's just reminded me today is a deadline!!
Anyway, I also was non-musical but now play around grade 5 standard on piano thanks to lots of encouragement on here! DS1 is 17 this weekend and plays bass guitar and drums. He is currently loving A level music and drowning in homework.
DS2 plays cello and piano. He is nudging his way into grade 5 theory. Both dcs play electric guitar - for a 'fun' instrument they seem to be putting a lot of hours in!

Whistles Ava??? Whistles AND sing 🙄

Lol Crazy!!! Grass piano sounds..... interesting!!

Family folk consists of Noo, 11, violin and viola at JD, piano and singing not at JD. Taking a break from NCO / County ensembles this year to concentrate on settling in to Y7 and JD. After a flying start she is struggling a bit emotionally.

Moll, 8, cello and piano. Much like 'Rara the Awkward' she's quite brilliant when she chooses to be. Currently trying to coax her into the practice room in a non-confrontational-don't-light-the-touch-paper kind of way, which about sums up our life. Sigh.

I play violin, whistles Ava sing in a folk band for fun.

Happy November all! Xx