Christmas and January Music Thread *Thread title edited by MNHQ*

It can vary hugely- also depends on what your budget is- I know kids who have 3/4 violins that cost between £400-£4500- and they all sound pretty good- bows is also a minefield....

Merry Christmas to you all! I expect this particular question has come up a lot but I'm after current advice! Anyone have any advice on what a good quality 'next level' violin should cost? DD is 10, G6 ish level and playing well but has been on bog standard instruments up until now. She needs a 3/4 size instrument. We've borrowed two violins and a nice bow from a shop and is currently trying them out. Any advice/suggestions gratefully received!

Or even within a week. Sorry can't remember exactly but it was quick.

I registered the exam myself this year and the online result was available within 10 days. The mark sheet and certificate were delivered much later.

Thanks all. We've had results from teachers during holidays before - I was more wondering when the online results are likely to be available to teachers. They tend to be pretty good at passing them on if they have them, even during holidays.

usedtobeboss I received DS's exam results on 17th Dec. He took exam on 8th Dec. I registered the exam myself so informed immediately when it's online.

That's a long time to wait! DS's piano teacher wasn't happy this year's ABRSM as the mark sheets arrived much later than usual (due to switching to outsourcing the printing process?). She felt it would be important to go through the comments with pupils while they still remembered how they played etc. By the time the mark sheets arrived discussing what happened/what to improve was ancient memory for many of the young DCs. Hope you hear the results soon...

Hi can anyone help with music tech please?! Dd had an ipad for Christmas and wants to compose music. She's using garageband at the moment. Is there any other apps compatible for ipad that she can use. She wants to be able to record voice aswell as violin etc. Any suggestions?

We’re waiting on the result of an exam taken at the end of November and DD won’t hear until she next sees her teacher for a lesson. With mocks, that could potentially be w/c 21 Jan!

We sometimes hear before school goes back but that relies on super-helpful music staff checking emails during the holiday and going beyond the call of duty but yes most likely 7th.

If the school entered him then you're unlikely to hear before school reopens. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.

Hope I'm in the right place. DS did two ABRSM exams at school on 11 December - does anyone have any idea when we might reasonably expect results? Hoping we don't have to wait until he goes back on the 7th...

I can’t imagine what the families must be going through Herts. Awful.

Awful news

Yes Purcell and then RAM. Yep sounds like drunk driver drove into them. Parent's worse nightmare.

So sad Herts- the boy was from Purcell right?
Both were from Lincolnshire- where we are from originally- very sad- and a drunk bloody driver too!!

Terrible news. Awful for family and such a waste.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/25/family-pay-tribute-extremely-talented-teenage-musicians-killed/

Merry Christmas everyone! We have had a fairly musical time. Dh's uncle came round with his horn and we had an imprompru carol concert for the assembled company, and the kids have been putting togetjer their program for a concert on saturday. Other than that ds got a cajon and a 2.5 octave xylophone so theres been a fair bit of trying out

I've just discovered this thread - finding it really interesting. I restarted piano lessons a year ago and just got g5. Got g8 flute 20 years ago. I've started some music teaching and am absolutely loving it. I'm brushing up on music theory (got g5 over 20 years ago). I'm wondering whether to do some more theory exams as an incentive to put the hours in. Do any of you have any advice on what to do - should I work my way through g6, 7 and 8 exams, or cover it all with practise papers etc and go straight for g8?

Merry Christmas to you all!

Sorry to hear about your attempted break-in Woolley. Glad they were thwarted as it's horrible if they do manage to get in.

Practice? I've forgotten what that is! Nothing happening here for the last week and a half.

Silent instruments seem a good way to go for practice although guess technology has a way to go for many. Piano works well for us. Of course great for drums. Somebody from Yamaha told me they now sell hardly any acoustic kits in the London area. It has all gone electronic due to sound issue.

We definitely prioritise instruments at times, dd wants to do a clarinet exam next term so that will get more practice though it generally does anyway. I've also let her bassoon teacher know that there will be less practice and no exam for that next term.

I'm not sure I want to test my neighbours tolerance that early in the morning, clarinet is very loud at times. They are very good neighbours, appreciate them all the more after an attempted break in to both our houses last night!

Thanks so much for the really helpful advice and feedback here. Great to read that monetary rewards are not uncommon, and lots of good advice on when to practice, and fluctuating between first and second instruments (feeling relieved at the thought that seems ok to prioritise one over the other!). And really useful to read the variety of approaches to practice. I find this a very supporting and encouraging thread, even for those of us starting out on musical journeys! A very merry xmas to all.

We are in a semi with astonishingly tolerant neighbours. I am forever apologising, but they claim not to hear (couldn’t possibly be true! But they are so lovely!). We do piano on a silent Yamaha with earphones 6.30-6.45. DS then practises violin 6.45-7.10 four days a week.

As a routine, it works well and actually we have no alternative, as DS is not back from evensong until 8pm or later. So in the evenings, it is supper + homework (usually simultaneously), bath and bed. He would be too tired for any music.

Minimising faffing and thought is key. I make sure all the music is in order and the practices are planned the night before. I also get the violin tuned and ready while he is having breakfast, and I do all the putting away.

Just sitting here at the moment, listening to The Nutcracker on a cd.

And feeling rather festive