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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
zeemama · 30/01/2019 18:29

Don’t worry Neleus. RCM i couldn’t get a visit space for but then again only really considering Guildhall with his teacher (still) there and quicker commute. Maybe this special link (not gotten it yet) is a sign to leave it another year..

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 18:08

Or, I might be having a terrible memory loss... Shock I'm pretty sure I didn't need a special link just because of DS being only 9... But now I am not so confident. Sorry for my useless brain (age, I assume...).

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 17:43

Not sure if they changed the requirement. It wasn't a case for us.

zeemama · 30/01/2019 17:41

When we sat in on piano workshop there were 2 under 10 and maybe 2 10-11yr olds. Ds’ teacher (who’s been teaching at junior G for a long time) seemed to think it starts at 11/12 for pianists but the piano coordinator also confirmed that ds was not too young. Yet when I tried to apply online it wouldn’t accept his birthday and was told we’ll be sent a special link... 🤔

busyspinning · 30/01/2019 17:26

I think they were all a bit older than your ds - maybe year 8 or 9

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 17:19

DoS at Guildhall indicated there were plenty of DS's age when we were considering whether to take up the offer. So I guess there are quite a few young kids like RCMJD and RAM. At least I know one who is a year younger than DS at Guildhall. A brilliant violinist.

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 17:13

DS auditioned for Guildhall and RCMJD. He didn't like RAM Primary.

zeemama · 30/01/2019 17:05

Neleus, ah ok thanks. Maybe it varies then as RAM have a special under 12 division (primary academy) but Guildhall officially starts at 10 though they make exceptions we were told.

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 16:57

DS was 9 at the auditions and 10 when he started. There were plenty young kids, some joined a couple of years earlier and some at the same year as DS. DS quickly made a bunch of good friends both girls and boys and had lots of fun. But he was lucky perhaps. I know someone who joined a few years earlier at the same age as DS, and there weren't many kids at his age in the year. So it took a while for him to find his people. He was a pianist, so that may also made a bit difficult for him to blend in quickly. He didn't mind though!

I'm not talking about Guildhall as DS didn't go there but I guess it'll be similar? If you want to stay the area, you can go to The Barbican Centre. They have great cafes. Lots seem to bring laptop and work while waiting.

zeemama · 30/01/2019 16:44

@busyspinning, haha yes. What year did they start if you don’t mind me asking?

busyspinning · 30/01/2019 16:31

It’s not a looker is it !! The concert venue that they use is great though .
No you don’t have to stay - lots of ds’s friends who live fairly close just take themselves there ( and to other jds) now they are in year 9

zeemama · 30/01/2019 16:27

Don’t worry Neleus, may I ask how old your dc was when joining? Mini Zee would be 2 months shy of 11 in September, when visiting they assured us he’s not too young but in reality most were teenagers. I have to admit I wasn’t that charmed with the actual building (Guildhall, sorry, just looks a bit like a train station? 😂) but don’t necessarily have to stay there all day anyway with him, right?

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 16:02

Aw posted on the wrong thread! Please ignore....

NeleusTheStatue · 30/01/2019 16:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catkind · 30/01/2019 15:44

DS chose piano because we had one and second instrument because of liking the look/sound of it when we had proms on when he was quite little. Brass so we waited a few years more, then we found a teacher to give him a a trial lesson, teacher would have also let him try other brass instruments if he wanted.

I was thinking some excerpts of BBCYM might be a good thing to show kids so they can see different instruments shown off to best advantage and by young people too. Our music service have a trial day like boykeepsswinging describes too. Also how old is child? Some instruments are easier to tackle when they're a bit bigger.

I suspect in London they'd have no problem finding good teachers (and bad and indifferent!) for anything he takes a fancy to, so easier than most places.

Boyskeepswinging · 30/01/2019 13:44

No worries, Cru Smile

Original poster
CruCru · 30/01/2019 13:42

Sorry, when I said “see what they like the look of” I meant what he likes the feel of / what she thinks she can face supervising practise of / what the shop recommends / what they can find a teacher for. I should think the shops will let the children try a few things out - I took my daughter to Hobgoblin to try out a violin before I asked about lessons.

OP posts:
Original poster
CruCru · 30/01/2019 13:13

That’s a good idea Boyskeepswinging. I’ll suggest it.

OP posts:
zeemama · 30/01/2019 12:57

Littleladsdad, yes, I remember your nice messages, his school is mini zee’s dream but as only year 5/ 10yrs old want him to hold off. Actually I just took ds to a senior concert there recently on a Wednesday evening (Rush hour) and though we live in north London it took almost an hour and I kept thinking he shouldn’t audition just in case he gets in and would then want to board :) but I know your ds is a bit older and thriving there. Will keep an ear out for him!

Boyskeepswinging · 30/01/2019 12:48

Another suggestion would be to do a Google to see if any music services are running open events for kids to try out different instruments. Or I know some orchestras run events specifically to introduce kids to the different orchestral instruments. Just wonder if it would be helpful to hear the instrument played by a professional in context before deciding, rather than just what looks nice? I took my DS to hear the NCO play when he was little and he loved seeing kids not that much older than him making amazing music.

Original poster
CruCru · 30/01/2019 12:37

Hi all

I have a bit of a random question. A friend is thinking about having her son learn to play an instrument but isn’t sure what. I’ve suggested they have a wander round a few of the musical instrument shops in Charing Cross Road / Marylebone and see what they like the look of. Is it possible that the people who work in the shops will know of teachers? We live in Islington so reasonably central. It would be a pity if he falls in love with the oboe (say) but it ends up really hard to find a teacher.

OP posts:
littleladsdad · 30/01/2019 11:50

Zeemama just to confirm what others have said, my ds attends JD but doesn't have lessons there, as he also attends one of the aforementioned specialist schools. You are right about the social aspect - ds love's attending and has made lots of friends there.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 30/01/2019 09:24

Thank you zeemama 🙂

zeemama · 30/01/2019 08:28

Thank you Lotsofmilk, I think so too. Best wishes to you and your dd! 💕

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 29/01/2019 15:56

It sounds like he would really enjoy JD zeemama ! Finding friends that relate is important

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