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

Yes, that's the one in the States. It's tiny but has to be as all get a full scholarship therefore incredibly selective. It's the toughest and hardest music college to get in in the world, isn't it?

There is a very interesting article of Ray Chen talking about his experience at Curtis - feeling out of his depth and learning to bounce back. He was only 16 when he got in.

I have tried to reign in the grunge Shakira look slightly!

I love the American confidence of the Curtis info video. It doesn't really get across what it's actually like to go there as a child though (I assume vanishingly rare?). Do they do online high school maybe?

I wouldn’t worry too much Swaying- obviously opt for appropriate but comfortable. Like you say- they see her everyday anyway - they already know her.
Hope audition goes well- although I’m sure it will x

Wow- Curtis- sounds pretty amazing!!!

Just googled it, it's so tiny, especially considering that they have no age boundaries.

We had the audition outfit discussion here tonight. I advised DD to play it safe (black culottes and plainish top) but maybe I should have said wear what you like. She prioritises comfort above all when playing! Especially daft to worry I suppose as she's playing to people who see her every day.

Thank you, Neleus, that kind of information (which you can get through word of mouth) is often more useful than that you can get on their website etc.

Curtis is the one in the States? that's amazing!

Thank you, Mitsouko67. Good luck to your DS2 too!

Well, happy news came in. Someone we know got an offer from Curtis. Simply amazing but not totally surprising. Just wow.

Good luck with the audition. We are waiting to hear about DS2 but I am not very hopeful.

DS1 played in a concert this weekend, we really enjoyed it. Two orchestras performed.The other orchestra composed and performed some of their own music, and som5ee children sang, played electric guitar etc with the orchestra. It was great.

His bow got damaged, the horse hair has completely come away from its socket. Looks like we'll need a new one. He also needs a new ,full size, bass!

He is getting so much more positive about his music after years of enforced lessons.

Actually we only learnt that at least grade 5 standard was required for second study to have lessons there from the other parent. The mum told me she wanted her dc to have all the lessons under one roof but couldn't as it wasn't advanced enough. But I never discussed this with jd directly so I don't really know the truth and how flexible they are.

Hi, Neleus, thank you very much for all your advice. I feel so much better now!!

It is very useful to know about second study, too. I did not know that they offer lessons only for higher levels.

Just prepare as usual for any performance she does then that'll be enough for them to see what they want to see.

This is very nice to hear.... Yes, mine is quite young - 9 years old. I will tell her to enjoy her audition!!

Thank you very much!

Someone asked me much to prepare = Someone asked me HOW much to prepare....

bunny, I don't think it'll be particularly advantageous to play different pieces. The people in the audition room aren't the same from 1st to 2nd round anyway (though one of them could be). They look through beyond what a child plays so I really don't think it matters much whether you play different pieces, what pieces, etc.

I know plenty DCs who got in without second study so again, no, I don't think it'll be disadvantageous. Most of them are encouraged to take up piano or viola or something once they are in (but be aware they don't normally offer lessons below grade 5 standard so you have to arrange the lessons outside then you can apply to study the second or third instruments once you reach the required standard).

Someone asked me much to prepare. In case you were also wondering about it, I can reassure you that they don't expect anything overly prepared, especially at younger age which I assume your's is. They know exactly what they are looking for so a bit of mistakes here and there from nerves really don't matter. Just prepare as usual for any performance she does then that'll be enough for them to see what they want to see.

Thank you, Neleus, it is really helpful!!

Re the humidifier, my DD's violin case is also quite compact, so I will try the same one for her too. It is quite expensive (at least more than I thought...) isn't it? but I am sure it does a great job. I have just bought Guillaume Rosin online (still waiting for its delivery). It is much more expensive than her current rosin. See if it's worth the money!!

Re auditions, thank you for your advice on the pieces and dress code. I was so relieved to hear that the same pieces will be OK for the second round. But do you think it will sound better if she plays different pieces? I mean, playing different pieces from the first round would be more advantageous?

DD also plays the piano but started only 6 months ago and her level is still very low (the main aim of her learning the piano is to pass Grade 5 theory). So she has no second study to present. I think this is quite disadvantageous already... (although RCM website says it is not!)

Sorry I keep asking!

TIP: make a phone call when DCs are not around. 😂

neleus glad someone else asks silly questions!! Not helped by my now teenage DD who says how embarrassing I am 😂

Hi, bunny. If your DD's case isn't as compact as my DS's, there are more choices. Initially I got the one that can be stuck on the inside wall so no physical contact with the violin unlike the one I have now.

In regard to the RCMJD auditions, you can play the same pieces, and yes smart casual is good enough (DS wore a shirt, jeans and trainers). If you like to make sure you can call them. They will be happy to answer to any question. Nothing is stupid. I alway rang and asked directly when I had a (silly)question!

Hello, all. I have a quick question about JD auditions.

My DD is having an audition (RCMJD) soon. If she goes through the first round, there will be the second one (she is a violinist). I just wonder if she could still play the same two contrasting pieces at the second round, or they require her to play different pieces?

Also... I wonder what she should wear for her audition. Smart casual is good enough?

Sorry, these may be very stupid questions, but I am a total beginner to this kind of world... I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

PS: Neleus, thank you for sharing the information about a humidifier. It is very helpful, as I also wanted to get one.

I talked about getting a humidifier for DS's violin case a while ago. It's arrived so thought I would show you what I got in case anyone is interested.

I don't think they really mark by penalising like that. Depending on exam board, the marks for each piece would be split between different aspects of playing, and of the small number of marks that are to do with intonation, she will still get some credit if she's playing in tune on the other strings. It could cause more of a problem if the tuning issues put her off from other aspects of performing like producing her best tone or playing musically. Sounds like she kept going though? Perhaps you might both find it reassuring to look up the marking criteria for the exam board and see all the other aspects of her playing they will have been considering.

Thank you! That’s at least a little reassuring. So,they won’t necessarily mark her down as it was out of her control (grade 2, so she's not expected to be able to tune), but won’t be able to award marks for that aspect? That’s somewhat reassuring.

Oh no thunderstorms! I think they will not have been able to mark her on some aspects of intonation, not in the sense of blaming her, but in the same way as they couldn't mark her for scales if she had a mechanical malfunction which meant she couldn't play them. But that's only a small part of her playing. And sounds like just one string had a problem too? As long as she kept going and wasn't too thrown by it I wouldn't expect it to have a big impact. Particularly on a lower grade which it sounds like it might have been? (And talking about music on a music thread isn't butting in. Welcome! Please do let us know how she gets on.)

Big well done 4strings junior! And lovely etiquette too. My two would be far too shy to actually say something.

Sorry to butt in. Dd had her violin exam yesterday, but one of her strings kept slipping - how much do you think that might go against her? She’s really upset about it. The piano player accompanying her was a local university student gaining experience and was lovely - she said she had to retune the same string after each piece (she doesn’t need to tune herself yet). Dd's teacher is not saying much. I would have liked some reassurance. I’m so worried it’s going to go against her because if the string had slipped during the piece, her tuning might have been off, but surely the examiner would see it was the string, not her?

And that is also absolutely lovely

She was very quick to congratulate the winner as soon as she was able, which I thought was so very nice of her.

Thats lovely news 4strings

Excellent news 4strings