November Music Thread

I'm feeling the tension with you can't - I've been waiting for decisions on things far too many times this year, so know exactly how you feel! We have another couple coming up soon too. Fingers crossed for NBB.

Yes, it's first choice. Given DS is anyway in the middle of a rehearse-and-perform November / December marathon plus multiple auditions, the whole 'could get the result any minute' stress is something we could have done without.

Thought things were moving earlier today - friend auditioning on 1 of DS's instruments got a rejection - but nothing. NBB could be lower in the alphabet, could be that he auditioned on 2 instruments (and thus confused everything), could be a different result from friend...could be that admissions person went home with flu.... who knows???

Eek cantkeep, that's just taunting you. Better they hadn't said a date. Is that the first choice? Everything crossed!

Am I allowed to grumble that 'audition results will be passed to admissions on 28th' should not mean that we're still hanging in there waiting to hear at close of play on 29th.....

No fingernails here. NBB is exhausted.

Thanks folk and horsey, will have a look at those.

Wifit good luck with everything, and especially the Cambridge interview.

DS2 was a Chorister, so singing obviously a huge part of his life. He is still singing at 16 but went through a stage of not singing as much and stopped singing lessons. He wants lessons again now and has opted for more singing. I was told that as boys' voices change they often back off for a bit, this was certainly true for DS.

DS1 was highly pleased in Juniors to have targeted lessons in something that meant he missed school singing!

Not sure what grade the micro jazz books are, might be worth a look. Music room website usually gives an indication what level they are and you can sometimes see a page or two on other websites to judge.

Mine have all refused to sing, and as they were all home educated, they never had to. But as they got older and joined ensembles, singing became somewhat mandatory in those so they learned. DS2 (my very very musical one) is now having some singing lessons to catch up a bit as the others in the ensembles are all much better than him.

Tomorrow starts crazy few days for us: ds3 has his audition for Junior Musician of the Year, the next day is ds2's grade 6 piano exam, and Monday is ds1's cambridge interviews (not musical, I know, but causing just as much stress for me!!)

The upgrade books are good Cat!

Also on Xmas presents, can anyone recommend a book of music for fun playing, about grade 2ish violin or piano? Could be christmassy but doesn't have to be. Bonus points for jazzy/pop type violin for contrast with Suzuki pieces.

I got DD a mini wooden violin from Amazon. It came with a stand but I thought we could hang it on a ribbon on the Christmas tree. Can't find a good piano or horn alternative for DS at the moment...

Musical stocking fillers: ocarina, stickers for music cases, themed stationery (my percussionist DS has a growing collection of pens and pencils with snare drum stick ends which he loves). Have a Google - there's loads of stuff out there at a good price.

Ooh, excited to receive parcel today of lovely moeck treble recorder from eBay for dd2, hope she will like it! Ukulele for dd3 purchased yesterday. DS teaching himself guitar so he is just getting mini guitar chord book! Any ideas for stocking fillers gratefully accepted!

Littleladsdad- do they have a boys choir at his school?
Ours has junior/lower school/ girl/boys I think in 6th form x

DS has always refused to sing unless it's been a residential course where everyone sang, no exceptions. This means that he's on a steep learning curve as choir is a compulsory element for the first year of his course.

As soon as singing was identified as a girl's activity he was out of it, so age eight maybe. The music centre choir is about thirty girls and two boys so the sight of them on stage doesn't encourage boys to join. It's a weight of numbers thing I think.

Sadly neither of my dcs will sing even though DS2 used to love to sing when he was little. The nearest we get is DS1 accompanying the choir on bass guitar! His new school has a reasonable number of boys in the choir although yes, I did notice more girls.
It's a leafy comp with lots of music and he's very happy there - especially as he's been invited to join the jazz band.

Regarding singing boys, DS has always loved to sing and did Grade 5 earlier this year. Now that he's started at specialist school and changed JD's it's all stopped. The mention of it here has made me think about it again and I'm not sure whether to be concerned or not?

Thank you, Littlelad, raspberry and Alexandra.

That sounds fantastic cantkeep. Ds’s school is similar classical music and jazz is very much on the agenda as well as pop . The serious musicians get to take it in turns to perform solos at the Christmas concerts etc and all music is celebrated . Love the description of “ musical whirlwind” teachers it makes all the difference

(Oh, and they have been blessed by the kind of 'musical whirlwind' staff who just want the world to play / participate in music, of whatever sort, whenever possible. NBB and I owe them a LOT.)

I'd say classical is a slightly 'niche sport', as it is amongst teenagers in general, but they do have a few students in each of the senior county ensembles (from youth orchestra through wind band and choir to jazz), as well as county and similar weekend music schools, which keeps the school orchestra alive and kicking.

That sounds fantastic, cant, especially for a state school, leafy or otherwise. Our local, "excellent" comp.only really offers popular music - so lots of themed concerts (think Abba night/Michael Jackson night etc) and annual musicals. Classical (with a small c) doesn't really feature at all.