Summer term 2019 music

Hi MargiaStevens. I think we are pretty desperate to have more and more newbies as many old posters kind of disappeared! So, welcome!

My DS plays only two instruments so can't really give you first-hand advice. But I know a few multi-instrumentalists and the most impressive one was a girl who I met at jd - she played five instruments to a high standard. Her older sister was the same and their mum traveled a lot for work (their dad didn't get involved in their music study at all).

The mum would moan their choice to continue all the instruments to jd standard was 'absolutely crazy'. I noticed though, the mum was incredibly organized and the girls were highly self-declined. The mum supervised the girls' weekly timetable even when she was away for work. She had written down their homework and practice plan and would call them to check whether things had been done. The girls seemed to follow the schedule happily and would often report back to the mum what they were doing next.

I'm sure this is pretty unusual, especially for their age (The older one was preteen and the younger one was still at primary school). Amazing...

I should have added that practise generally happens around the same time each day so the routine helps.

I'm breathing again now I've sorted DS's application and pressed send - gulp!

Welcome Margia. I'm not very musical myself but I did play a little bit as a teenager and I watch most of the lessons so I've got enough of a clue to supervise music practise (& much more of a clue than DH who isn't musical at all and hates noise!). Suffice to say that practise rarely happens if I'm not in the house although DH will now remind DS and a token effort will be made. Better than nothing (probably...).

Hi all, hope there’s room for a newbie?

My only DD, 8, takes after me for multi-instrumentalism (if that’s not a word it damn well should be). She’s just passed Grade 1 singing with merit and is prep test/ early Grade 1 stage on harp, violin and piano.

Getting a practice regime is interesting, I’m the main instigator as the only other pianist in the family and DH, despite being a brass player, doesn’t enforce practice if I’m working away. Any tips to keep momentum going when I’m not in the same house?

So.... DS decided last weekend that he was keen on applying for SWMS. Form all done plus reference and I'm now sat here trying to be calm about the fact that his audition videos aren't uploading to YouTube 😬. Is it meant to take ages to publish a one minute video?

thirdfiddle She’s playing piano. The odd thing is she had a great sense of rhythm when she was little and she does in general, but I think perhaps she is so focused on the mechanics of playing that it just goes out of the window on the piano.
I wonder if breaking the music down in to all its sections and going much more slowly would be helpful?

Yes, i am beyond nervous, but also much calmer in a way then I ever was for exams as a child. I have entered myself, nothing will change if I fail, i have been able to use all the practice apps they have now for aural etc and have been focusing on technique, scales and sight reading all year, so feel much more secure there. Saying that, I might still go to pieces in the exam itself.

Good thoughts, thanks. No, she’s not obliged re school- though there is something in her contract from her centre about la opportunities and ensuring you take part when you can, I think it only applies to her first instrument anyway. There’s always something to learn, of course, it’s just she’s a bit discouraged - and there’s nowhere to go with school music from here really, except for playing solos. Grateful her centre lets her go to an ensemble with cello- it’s made a huge difference.

Re exams- good luck! we are waiting for a date for dd2s g4 flute. She feels quite ready now though- so not too stressed if we get an early date

That does sound tricky about balancing the cello parts in the orchestra, ut surely that is part of the job of running a school orchestra? Finding appropriate music at the right level for each child?

Anyone else doing summer term exams? I’m waiting full of trepidation for my exam date to come through. I submitted my entry on the last possible day, as I was so unsure about it, but very much encouraged by my partner (violinist) that it would be fine. At the same time I finally booked a lesson. Which I had recently. The teacher seems to think I should only do the grade I entered if my confidence needs boosting, as apparently I could do a higher one. So that was really nice. Going back for another lesson next week!

Anyone have any tips for getting the importance of the rhythm across to a seven year old? Dsis isn’t really getting it. If we practice together with the metronome it is fine but then it all falls apart a bit when she is asked to play/ina lesson.

It's frustrating if they are not being challenged at the right level, it should be possible. She could be the ' real' cello part ( which is more of a tenor role), and the beginner s could be more like the ' bass'. I play double bass and the bass parts are normally much much easier. Obviously they can't just play the double bass part as it is too low, but that style of part. Maybe he thinks she doesn't want to have to play independently which can be tricky but sounds like she is up to it. Is she obliged to take part as a condition of her lessons? Or as part of the conditions of the Saturday school? My DD had just started on the Nyos pathway and they stipulate that you must still take part in local/ regional groups. If all the good players leave these, the standard drops, someone will always be the best player and find it a bit too easy. She could concentrate on quality bowing and tuning to challenge herself. My friends ds was in this position as last year she felt he was really ' too good' for junior strings but when you watched them play he still didn't do all the correct bowing etc.

Tell me, wise people, am I being precious about school string ensemble? Dd2 plays cello- it’s her second instrument and she’s no Jacqueline de pre- she’s nine years old and her teacher (at primary) says she is now grade 3 level- recently passed two.

She’s in the school string ensemble, run by the violin teacher. He has some violins at about the same standard- and they are his first violins, and he also has seconds and thirds. Dd is nominally first cello, but most of the others have left and there are two who can’t really read music, and dd.
She’s v miserable because he’s stopped giving her interesting cello parts - she just has to do the same as the other two- and I have seen them, and they are v dull. She has another good ensemble at her Saturday centre - and has asked me to complain to the leader of the school one that she isn’t being challenged like the violinists of her standard (who are his pupils, whereas she isn’t).
Do cello players just have to suck it up? She can drop it as far as we are concerned- it is making her sad- but I don’t want her to be too precious about it- or to drop out of school music altogether.

With advance notice it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. DD1 had to transpose a flute part down an octave for oboe herself for band when she was 9, but an octave is easier.

horsey as far as I know they just play the bassoon part, but transposed. I guess they are used to doing it here as there are often one or two mini bassoons in the entry level band.

Thanks double, I'll remind the conductor. We're really pleased with the instrument, it's lovely. Would the mini bassoon part typically just play another part, ie does another instrument transpose the same amount. I don't want the teacher conducting to have a hassle. Mitsouko, the double bass thing sounds amazing, I have been on a couple of shorter courses, you learn so much in a short time. Fab to be with other basses too. My DD is looking forward to playing with other young oboes in the summer on a course she is attending. Nice to play a rare instrument but nice to meet others too!

Hi thirdfiddle!

My children learn their instruments at school. There are string ensembles and orchestras at school but I think they are only for children from year 3 and upwards.

Hello - am so grateful for this thread. I am mum of 3 DCs who all play cello and percussion. My littlest has also been playing recorder with a recorder group at school and is now preparing for her Grade 5 exam next month.

I've been listening to her scales at home, but as a violinist myself, I'm stuck on where she should be breathing. For slurred scales, should she be doing the entire scale in one breath? Would be grateful for any advice from other recorder mums / teachers.

Haven’t been on here in quite a while....

horsey, glad to hear you finally got your hands on a mini bassoon and that your DD is due to join a band. You might need to remind them in advance that they would have to transpose the bassoon part as the mini is a fifth above the bassoon.

Minisnowballs that sounds fantastic.
After years of bringing the kids to music it's really only now that we are seeing it pay off and reaping the benefits.

Hi there. Pretty well finished music wise for the summer as they have both had their end of year concerts. Excited to be accompanying DS1 to a week long double bass masterclass in Bavaria this August. I'll be free during the day so will have time for walks/coffees etc. I'm hoping he will make the most of it.

horsey mum, so glad your dd has recovered. What a nasty thing to have.

I can probably only share this one here - but I am so super proud of my dd2 today. She started at her Saturday centre in London last September, and found the step up fairly terrifying. Yesterday she played in the centre's junior concert, both as part of her string ensemble, and as a duettist with another flute player. Concentrated throughout and didn't fall asleep on my lap the second it was over (massive improvement from the last concert she did!)

I could suddenly see the change in her music and confidence over eight short months. Unbelievable really. Makes all of those long, long Saturdays seem worthwhile.

My 5 yrs old loves practising music. Completely different from her sister who never practises if not reminded or having an exam or audition. For this one I am hoping for never having to do exam...

My son will be setting music aptutude test in one of the senior schools. He prepares aural as part of his grade 4 instrumental exam.

Also i thought for him to take either singing grade 1 or practical musicianship grade 3 abrsm exam Practical Musicianship Abrsm exam. Which of these 2 would be more beneficial if he sets music aptitude? I though singing might help him with pitching melodic responces, use of voice etc. Please what do you think. Thank you.

Hi all!

I dip in and out of these threads. I am mum to a son (aged 7) who plays piano and trumpet and a daughter (aged 5) who plays piano and violin. Both also sing in a choir. As my children are so small, I don’t always have a lot to report. They are getting better about practising though. And my daughter told her violin teacher how much she’d missed her over our incredibly long Easter holidays.