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Original poster

January to March 2019 music thread (Title edited by MNHQ)

712 replies

CruCru · 14/01/2019 09:46

Hi all

Here is the new music thread for January - I hope no one minds me starting it.

I am mum to a son (7) who is learning the piano and trumpet and a daughter (5) who is learning the piano and violin. I am having piano lessons and played the trumpet as a child.

Some of the people on these threads (and their children) are fantastic musicians. Some are more like me. All are welcome.

Thank you to Wafflenose for all the time she has spent managing these threads.

OP posts:
woolleybear · 14/02/2019 13:48

Having gone through listening to beginner stages of dd playing clarinet and bassoon I can say it is a lot easier on the ear. Even now, she is more advanced on the clarinet but it can still be painful to listen to at times (new piece in the house currently, not going overly well...). The bassoon never sounds that bad, it doesn't squeak if you play a note badly in quite the same way, it really is very gentle and easy to listen to.

NeleusTheStatue · 14/02/2019 01:06

It does sound rather mild, doesn't it? I spotted a comment describing his bassoon sound as 'mildly musical farts'. Er..., pardon me.

catkind · 14/02/2019 00:07

Lol. I have a suspicion that guy is just a bit too musical to plumb the depths of what a young beginner can do to an instrument. Either that or bassoon is mild compared with say oboe.

NeleusTheStatue · 13/02/2019 23:50

Like this.

catkind · 13/02/2019 23:35

What do beginner bassoonists sound like? DS did clarinet at school one year, no idea what he sounded like individually but 30 beginner clarinets in unison was pretty bad.

Original poster
CruCru · 13/02/2019 23:00

I checked out some bassoons (out of nosiness, our school have asked that more children consider taking it up) and found a load for £20k. Then backed away slowly.

OP posts:
NeleusTheStatue · 13/02/2019 22:36

Lotsofmilk, yes, but I'm trying very badly! Grin
cat, why don't you add bassoon too? Wink

catkind · 13/02/2019 22:18

Lol, got some baby elephant going on here too. Gargly baby elephant. And people complain about beginner violin sound!

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 13/02/2019 21:52

That’s great you’re trying piano again neleus! cru I’m sure it will improve. When DS was first starting (on cornet) his teacher said it’s better if they overblow to start with to get the breath support sorted and then rein it in later....

Original poster
CruCru · 13/02/2019 21:20

Baby elephant is about right. I have suggested that he just doesn’t blow as hard on the higher notes but perhaps that is unrealistic for a child of this age.

OP posts:
NeleusTheStatue · 13/02/2019 20:48

And I am pre grade 1. I’m using the music DS was using when he was 6 or so. 😂

NeleusTheStatue · 13/02/2019 20:45

You encouraged me to be back on the piano. I tried to learn using DS’s old music last autumn then abandoned it (again). But I did a tiny pit of practice today. I don’t have much spare time so it’ll be a short session each time but hopefully I won’t abandon it again...

LooseAtTheSeams · 13/02/2019 16:56

Yes, piano here too.
Sounds like it's just as well I didn't take up a brass instrument - we're in a terrace!

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 13/02/2019 15:07

Sounds good cru, loose are you studying piano as well? I’m getting ready for a singing exam this term, it’s good to be reminded what the kids go through.. especially not wanting to practise that 3rd piece that you don’t really like! Sympathies on the brass practise, we have a French horn in the house which really carries. Thankfully now he’s working on grade 5 stuff it sounds more like a horn and less like a baby elephant 🐘 🙂

Original poster
CruCru · 13/02/2019 10:20

It isn’t all that good, I have to admit.

OP posts:
LooseAtTheSeams · 13/02/2019 08:13

Cru that sounds brilliant - well done on the composing.
I decided not to do the grade 5 exam and was very happy switching to some Bach etc. Now my teacher is mentioning looking at the (newer) grade 5 book. I am going to resist this unless there's anything especially nice in it!

Original poster
CruCru · 12/02/2019 19:38

Hello

Not a lot has happened here. My piano teacher was pleased with me yesterday and has given me a bit of composing to have a go at.

I sat in on my children’s trumpet and violin lessons - turns out I’ve been a bit too ambitious about practice for the younger child. My son’s trumpet teacher told me that the higher notes will get quieter soon (I was a bit relieved - I’d forgotten how loud a trumpet can be and we live in a terraced house).

OP posts:
Mendingfences · 10/02/2019 18:36

That is a huge saving!

WindMum · 10/02/2019 15:59

Thanks for the advice on ear plugs- pair of ACS Pacato 16s arrived yesterday! Bargain at £13.95 compare to £180 for moulded custom fit ones! They fit well and DD isn’t anxious about losing one as there weren’t £££££ a pair! Might have to get a spare pair in!

Mendingfences · 10/02/2019 09:00

My band has 1 over 80 and 1 who will be 80 soon. Im the only one under 50. It means there are a lot of pairs of glasses with various strengths to aid note reading (which are often shared round when things are forgotten 🤣)

catkind · 09/02/2019 14:00

Random qn - in Trinity exams they have a limited range of tempo markings for sight reading. DC seems to get either allegretto or moderato. Does anyone know which is supposed to be faster? And/or how fast DC should be aiming for to not get points deducted? In my mind they're both a middling sort of speed.

Boyskeepswinging · 09/02/2019 10:13

Lots Absolutely - I see they are still open for some instruments, including oboe and horn Confused Must say I was surprised that percussion filled up so quickly, it's usually one of the endangered species. So hopefully that is an encouraging sign!

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 09/02/2019 08:58

That’s great stringchild we should try and meet at the concert. Hope to see you another time raspberry. Boys we did apply during the day but also DD was previously unsuccessful in applying for the residential so I’m not sure if that was taken into account. I think a lot of it depends on how popular your instrument is

Boyskeepswinging · 08/02/2019 22:58

Thank you Raspberry. As DS applied quite early I guess there's a chance he's quite high up the reserve list. But thinking about it the July date actually works better for us so I'm not stressing about it.

raspberryrippleicecream · 08/02/2019 22:58

Oh and congratulations to Lotsofmilk and Stringchild. They are fab days.