Autumn 2020 music thread

Weeping at the the thought of 730 am lessons, Mabby. My dd2 had her first IN PERSON lesson since lockdown yesterday in her new school (Y7)with a new teacher today (cello). She was so happy, but so tired by the end of it. She was only supposed to have 20 minutes but i think she got about an hour due to selfisolation of other pupils (sigh). And she completely failed to remember which books all her music was in because I've had to sit in on her Zoom lessons for so long. Had completely failed to realise that she'd not been managing that bit for a while.

Also thrilled with her results (merit) for that weird G5 theory pilot done by ABRSM in August. So glad that's over. Hopefully they'll improve the technology for the next ones.

third yes an hour is a long time but she loved it! It should allow for her to get through her theory too this term for the exam in November. school really only allow a 30 min lesson (if on class rotation) or to 45 mins if it’s before or after school. Technically her lesson is timetabled for 7.45-8.30 but her teacher is wonderful so comes in even earlier to have a 7.30 start for a full hour.
Cello and singing are both 30 mins. Singing she has on lesson rotation (misses a different lesson each week) and cello is during assembly (currently just form time) on the same day each week.
School have also started up a year group choir one morning too so music is looking up. Still no ensemble or chamber groups though.

Honestly, being a musical parent doesn't always help. I'm vaguely musical and back in the day did a lot of effective practice so I do know a bit but will they listen when I make a suggestion? No, it has to come from the teacher obviously, even if I said the exact same thing, eg do it slower, do just that bar, use the right fingerings. You just need to be encouraging and take an interest I think. I have friends who are totally unmusical but their kids are very musical. Maybe you could listen together. Sheku kaneh mason is a fantastic young cellist who had a couple of albums out, you might enjoy them. He had also played in some proms, you would find stuff online.

Hello! I posted a couple of times in the old thread but v new to everything music! My dd has been playing for a year now. She scraped in with her initial grade cello exam in March and is now working towards grade 2... not that she’s done much over the summer! Virtual lessons worked to a point and she covered lots of lovely new pieces but we are hampered by the fact that I’m hideously unmusical and wouldn’t know a flat note If it hit me in the face! Glad to be back to in person school lessons and shes also joined a couple of school ensembles which sound great fun!

Glad people are getting back to in person lessons now. DD’s piano teacher has offered her an hour long lesson every week which dd was very excited about - 7.30 in the morning though! 😱 It’s at school which is fortunately only 10 mins up the road but think of me tomorrow.... 🤣🤣

Oh, if he likes game music Scala radio had a programme called the console which is all game music. Sounds like he has done well to keep himself motivated without lessons, that is more than many have done.
Enb, I used to play classical guitar and loved playing in ensembles, I find it too much hard work to keep up playing now. The national ensemble sounds great. My DD is working on her video audition for national youth orchestra of Scotland soon.

Thank you horseymum. Yes, he has been playing pieces from exam all this time. He loves repetition. Also due to his teacher's circumstances, we didn't have lessons through lock down, so we had no input and guidance for what he should be doing.
But he plays the songs on different scales, etc, and make it fun himself somehow. Also his main interest is game music so he spend more time learning to play them than piano songs.

Exams are too expensive to do them all. Also, hopefully your dc has not been playing the same pieces for that long! It's great to play loads of repertoire on the way, not just exam pieces ( my friend is a piano teacher and one student only wanted to do the exam pieces and started the new book the week after each exam. She doesn't teach that child any more!) Doing exams can actually slow progress. My DD has only done one in her main instrument ( grade 5) but is working around 7/8 now. I think her teacher will leave the grade 8 a couple of years till she can do really well as there is no rush. Plenty of great music to play on the way.

Great to know that it's ok to skip. Also good to know no hurry for the theory.
Thank you for the helpful advice, everyone.

Mine is a classical guitar and piano player. Was meant to be sitting G5 in Spring but...

All guitar and piano lessons went online and have worked really well though she is looking forward to getting back to proper lessons. She has now moved to a full size guitar and auditioned and joined the National Youth Guitar Ensemble. Everything online!

Yes skipping is fine. You can even skip all the grades and just take grade 8 as long as you've done grade 5 theory or jazz piano or musicianship exam. DS did only grade8 for his first study. No problem at all. x

I would say it it definitely fine to skip.

Thank you, QueenMabby.

Hi past! I think skipping grades is fine. My dd plays piano and has done 1-3 (took 3 in July 2019), has not done 4 but is intending to do the grade 5 performance exam online next month. She has her four pieces ready “but not quite distinction ready” according to her (perfectionist) teacher!
She also does cello and did grade 1 but not grade 2, was supposed to do g3 in March but it got cancelled and will now probably just skip to g4.
Your DC’s teacher will advise. As to theory - my DD’s done bits as she’s gone along but not much formally. Her teacher’s confident though that with a bit of a push she’ll be ready for g5 theory in November so it must be doable.
Maybe have a chat with her teacher? Here’s the latest guidance from abrsm if that’s helpful?
gb.abrsm.org/en/latestupdates/

Hello. I'm new here, just wondering what's going on with ABRSM. Anyone know?

My dc's piano teacher said she isn't sure either, and suggested skipping grade 4(being practicing for over a year, meant to have done the exam in March but cancelled) and start practicing grade 5 instead now. (We just started normal 1-1 lesson this week.)

Is there a big jump from grade 4 to 5? Is it ok to skip grades? What about theory? Dc(12) never done this before. Any suggestion/tips very much appreciated, I have no music back ground.

Hi
Squintsoftheworldunite is it their first year at primary or did they attend last year? Do you know if you have to keep re auditioning each year?
We are going down on Sat for an introduction but parents can’t go in, which is a shame as you can’t really ask any questions.
I’m just finding it hard this year as you don’t know what to do for the best.

Mickey we are joining when they start in person fully

Ds started his BTEC music course yesterday. After years of schoo l hell he is finally happy. He loves college and his coursemates. He's been put into an ensemble and they had a great time yesterday devising and performing their own baroque rock arrangement of Stand By Me ! (It involved giving it a 3/4 time signature and the use of a harpsichord introduction apparently.

So lovely to hear of some groups getting back together. In Scotland so thinking it will be even longer here. DD does extra music at school and I know how frustrated the teachers feel about no ensembles or wind or singing. Virtual just doesn't compare.

Hi everyone I use to be on the spring board and I thought I will join the Autumn one now.
Does anyone have any children who are going to attend primary academy at RAM? I had an update a couple of weeks ago to say it’s still going ahead in September blended learning. They said we would receive a timetable and fees and more info at the beginning of September. I haven’t received anything as of yet and just wondering if anyone else has received info. I don’t want to bother them as I know they will be very busy but just wanting to get more info on what’s happening and finding it so fustrating as you can’t ring them. I’m just hoping it is still going ahead.

Knotaknitter I've been a bit teary already, especially when I put it into my practically empty Google Calendar!