Autumn term 2019 music thread

DS enjoyed the choir, thank you for asking, but he lowered the average age by about 40 years! He did know it would be like that, so we'll see. He has already been told just to come when he can!

I also enjoy reading the thread and occasionally posting. My DS (10) is back to his piano lessons having taken G3 last term. He's also really getting into composing and likes to try things out using noteflight when he gets inspired by something (currently it's his topic at school). He hasn't picked up the cello much over the holidays but will definitely be carrying on as he loves the ensemble opportunities that come with it, and he has done some arranging for his cello over the holidays (I've got no idea if it's accurate but he enjoyed doing it!). He'll be doing SWMS this year & he's really looking forward to this.

I got a Distinction in my grade 5 theory but it was 30 years ago!!

Two of mine are working through grade four theory, can just about keep up with that, five will be more challenging!

Dh has been busy this week so I started to mark some alto clef transcribing ds had done. Gosh, I am out of practice!

They are all so different aren't they, my ds is definitely not a perfectionist when piano is concerned! DD will need to relax a bit at wind and I think. I hadn't really thought about the stamina bit, she will be knackered!

Wow, Christmas carols already! Mind you, I did just hand back to piano teacher the Chester's easiest carols as pretty sure my 3 are all past playing/ torturing the tunes in it, be good to get a new Christmas piano book I think. Littlest has just agreed to try out wind band on her mini bassoon, she is a but of a perfectionist so trying to get over the idea that you don't have to play every note correctly to begin with. ( Or ever if you are me, a very amateur double bassist who does not practice what I preach/ insist in terms of personal practice!!)
Well done with exam results, a long wait! I'm going to enter DD on oboe this session so I can get results quicker!

@Lotsofmilkonesugar great news
@raspberryrippleicecream how was the new choir?

Great news Lots!

DS2 has gone off to try a new choir tonight. They are starting on carols ready for Christmas!

Sixth form starts tomorrow.

Yay, great news Lots. Well worth waiting for!

Phew just had a phone call from school about DSs horn exam result... from 6th July!! He did really well, 127, I was starting to think he’d failed as the school had contacted other people we know over the holidays but not us. Thank goodness for that! 🙂

We're already back in the swing of things as Scottish schools go back earlier. DD trying to find time for her practice as now she's in secondary it's harder to do one before school. Dd8 is enjoying her mini bassoon, it makes a surprisingly nice sound ( and the occasional parp!). Probably one oboe exam and audition this term, no piano ones this term I hope! Nice to see another Scot, Coco, hope your DD enjoys RCS.

I enjoy reading this thread and occasionally post. My DS starts secondary next week and will be doing trumpet lessons in school. Fingers crossed he can figure out where he has to go and when. Looks like there is lots on offer in terms of orchestra, jazz bands, ensembles. DD plays the clarinet and going in to Y5. Her instrument is currently being repaired so not much practice over the last couple of weeks. She had a fab teacher through the local music service last year, but no guarantees who she'll get this time round.

@thirdfiddle Music Camp is ace, he absolutely loves it. He's made so many like-minded friends (none of his school friends really play an instrument and often don't understand why he bothers) and his playing has definitely improved a lot. Since he went last year, he's upped his game massively and started taking practising so much more seriously, because he'd seen what the older kids can do with determination and perseverance. His confidence has grown too. It's an expensive week but it's amazing how much impact it seems to have had on his playing.

Ha, yes Noodlingalong, we are looking at the same things then! After looking at Thirdfiddle's link, I I have just found the youronline piano website and there they are all available to listen to!! Dc wants to do one (of her 3 exam pieces) on her tenor instrument so that narrows it down.

Thanks for starting the new thread Third.

I have DD who is 12 and plays piano, cello & recorder and DS 10 who plays piano & viola.

This term’s exams will be Grade 4 piano for DS and Grade 6 recorder for DD.

On the exam music choice question. For piano I buy the book which comes with the CD. We listen to the CD without looking at the music and they choose which pieces they want to learn - at least initially - DS especially changes his mind a lot.

For cello the teacher mainly chooses I think - although she does consult with DD. For the last syllabus ABRSM did produce a cello CD so we bought that for the grade to have a listen too.

There is no CD for recorder as far as am aware. Some of the pieces are on YouTube. But mainly I go to Chimes with the exam lists and rummage through the recorder boxes. Some of the music isn’t stocked there so those options get discounted. Then I look at the others and make an assessment which ones DD would like (and which ones I would like to listen to for the next couple of months ).

Hi everyone, can I join?

DS1 is 9 and is on for taking Grade 2 violin in December. He's done National Youth Music Camp (the Junior one) this summer for the second time and loved every minute We're on the cusp of deciding whether he should take up a second instrument, but it's so expensive. I'm taking up more work soon so that might mean we can do it.

DS2 is only 4 but enjoys mashing his keyboard with his hands... not sure he counts yet, but give him time!

Thank you all for replying suggestions. Problem is that we don't have the books yet, and most books only have 1 or at most 2 pieces from the whole exam lists.
Dc likes to choose her pieces herself...

Ds has spent the summer creating a 2nd keyboard part and click track for his school musical.

It’s GCSE year. We have no idea how he is going to do. His autism means he has trouble focusing (except on music where he is hyper-focused). Trying to get him to knuckle down to Grade 5 theory to support uni applications in a few years time. He’s pretty good at theory, just not the sitting and doing a paper bit!