Summer term 2019 music

Mendingfences - in London, South London Youth Orchestra would take your strings, or Dulwich Youth Orchestra would take them all I think. CYM, which isn't running holiday courses this year, may well next - and that would have something for all of them. They are all quite 'south' though - don't know about the other side of the river.

Thanks horseymum and cocopops.

The wait continues then! What’s most annoying is that he left Yr 6 this year which his teacher knew - so he isn’t even going to be at the school come September. He does have a younger sibling there but hopefully the music teacher still will be!

Thats lovely minisnowballs
On the subject of summer schools, does anyone know of any that would take a 10 year old percussionist (mainly drum kit and world percussion but also plays piano and would love to try tuned percussion), a 12 year old on flute or double bass (grade 5 ish flute 4-5 db) and a 14 year old violinist (grade 8 ish at a guess). Either residential or in London. The eldest is definitely most interested in orchestra stuff but the other 2 are very much open to anything musical... im thinking of next year obviously

Feeling very relieved on day two of the music summer course I booked both my daughters onto. It's not residential, but is at a considerably posher school than the type that either of mine attend(not difficult!), where music is very much prized.

The bottom two orchestras are strings only - which means my just 10 year old has to take her second instrument because she's not over grade 6 in her first - she's really a woodwind player. Turned up yesterday to find huge numbers of very tiny children with violins and cellos - my 12 year old Grade 4 violinist was very intimidated - and felt like a giant among lilliputians. Even my tiny 10 year old looked big. Neither wanted to go in.

Picked them up last night to find them grinning like loonies. They've both found friends their own age, and declare the music 'easy' (I think they're both used to playing orchestral music at the same level of their solo stuff, so the lack of position changes makes it a breeze at this level). The food is apparently brilliant, and the conductor 'so fun'.

Not at all the reception I expected from them - thought I'd be dragging them to it every day this week - they normally fight to do six weeks of drama courses only, and I put my foot down to make them do something different.

Phew - I can get on with my work now!

Lovely to hear about your DS getting to sit in the pit for a show Comefromaway - DD1 was lucky enough to do that earlier this year too and had a wonderful evening. Her opportunity came about because we were buying an instrument from one of the deps and he asked the MD if she could sit in - I was impressed that someone would stick their neck out for an unknown 14-yr-old.

DD2 will be jealous of everyone at the Brass Academy residentials as she's done a couple of the Easter ones and had a whale of a time even though she was one of the youngest on both occasions (aged 8 and 9).

Wildrumpypumpus- my DD sat an ABRSM practical at the same time. We are in Scotland so school broke up end of June. Usually DD’s piano teacher would email results over the holidays but this was an oboe exam and she doesn’t get lessons at school - only sits the practicals there.

5 weeks later- no news from school. I phoned ABRSM and they were able to tell me when results had been sent to the school. I then phoned school and said where are the results- the head of music then appparently (!) had to come into school to get me them. I say apparently as I’m sure he could log on from home and check. The thing is if you need to appeal and have to wait until you go back to school for results, you are time barred.

I’ve told my DD from now on I’ll be entering her myself!

Good luck....

I didn't mean that to mean tough as in tough luck, but that it is hard for your child to wait, mine would hate that!

Hi, am guessing it's an English school so won't be back for a while. School teachers probably won't look at their work email all summer I'm afraid, think you might unfortunately have to wait. That's tough. Maybe you can investigate entering yourself so you can find out sooner in the future?

Just hopping on to ask if anyone else is yet to receive results from ABRSM summer practical exam round? He took it on June 24th.

DS has his lessons at school so I only have email contact for his teacher which I tentatively sent a couple of weeks ago but didn’t really expect her to reply to over the holidays - I’m sure normally he’d have had something back by now!

We have switched over to the blitz your theory books, the layout seems a bit more friendly than the abrsm ones. Currently just letting all 3 just work through them at their own speed ( which is quite slow!) Just need DD to do grade 5 in the spring I think so no rush. I think they have the answers online but DH and I can keep up at the moment so not tested that.

She’s 10 but has some learning diff so wanted a way to reinforce what she’s doing by playing.
She is practicing well and will take grade one in just over a year from starting so maybe I should just let her learn as she goes.

Hi, thanks for your comments, double and third. They will be doing them with instruments, but that web page looks really good. Thanks!

Great thanks- apps would be great as lessons wouldn’t fit unfortunately with other things she does. Will give that book a try if apps don’t work. Is there an app that is particularly fun/ aimed at younger children? Will have a look myself but would be grateful for recommendations. We are doing sightreading pieces as part of practice and she seems to be learning some notes through that. We’ve got plenty of time before exam so would love to make it fun. Sidetracking a bit but how long is average from beginner to Grade One?

Thistly it comes with practice. DD2 started on treble clef and then switched to bassoon which is mainly bass, but switches in and out of tenor clef. Repetition and practice!

Hi, as my dc progress they are needing to learn other clefs, having both started instruments on treble.
Anybody got any app recommendations or other techniques for building confidence with other clefs? Teachers have said just have faith, you will get there but I’m feeling like some practical support would help.
Thanks

Hi Ala Yes, there is a Grade 1 Theory book by the ABRSM and also useful apps. You may also want to investigate Theory lessons. Our local music service has group Theory lessons on Saturday mornings. The kids work through the books and a teacher helps them when they get stuck. The more experienced kids also support the beginners so it's a nice convivial atmosphere and a bit less dry than sitting at home on your own (obvs if that's the way you like to learn, some kids prefer to do it by themselves).

Ds had an amazing time tonight sitting with the band in the pit of a touring show. A huge thanks to those who facilitated it.

At the beginner end of the scale, I’m looking for advice on how best to support theory when working towards grade one clarinet. We have a sight reading practice book but could do with something else to provide a little extra- is there a book, app or video that would help or any ideas that help at the beginning to help them learn the basics?

DS only had three terms in his paper - all multiple choice. He knew two and guessed the third. I guess it varies a bit.

But, in any case, the online quiz should sort him out.

I thought only G5 had changed?? Sorry, thought you said G4. I'm sure my daughters paper only had about 4 marks for terms and they were really common ones, so maybe just cover the basics.

It was the new style paper. One 4 mark question and 1 6 mark question. The terms questions are now multiple choice. I told him to at least take a guess. He has asd and it never occired to him to take a guess at a question he didn't know.

Ago!