Spring 21 virtual music thread

@Comefromaway absolutely. And how I feel
Most days.... 😆

Hi All, thanks for setting up a new thread, thirdfiddle. I've got a dd (12) that plays violin and more recently, singing. NCO experience here, Polar 81! She loved the residential, possibly her greatest experience yet, but didn't enjoy online and won't be doing it this spring, sadly. She's just got a place in NCC GB and heartbreakingly the summer residential clashes with NCO. With so little live music it hardly seems fair. But there we are! Guess there will always be clashes. This spring we will start looking at junior departments.

Hello! I'm a reasonably long-time poster on these threads (although a relative newbie compared to some!) with two musical DCs. DD1 plays violin, viola, piano and sings. She's at a specialist musician school and is also very committed to musical theatre. DD2 plays cello and piano, and is about to start at one of the conservatoire junior departments. She's also an MT enthusiast but is phobic of auditioning and getting progressively worse so I'm not sure how that will pan out. A shame as she's had some awesome performance opportunities this far.

Thanks for the new thread.

DD (16) is a violinist doing A level music and wishes to study this post A levels. We actually did our first online open day for a Conservatoire today and she really liked it so it’s going on the list. Got another one booked for the 21st so will be good to compare with. Sadly her county youth orchestra Christmas rehearsals got cancelled but her Young musicians group has continued online. She’s also been playing piano for 3 years and I’ve entered her for the grade 6 performance exam and her recording is due February. Just needs to perfect her pieces and then the dreaded recording to do!

DS (15) plays drums and guitar for fun. Sadly the guitar teachers recovering from COVID and drum lessons don’t teally work online.

I’m completely unmusical but full of enthusiasm and do lots of research to try and help.

No experience with those groups Polar but welcome to the thread.

Ds wants to audition as a musician for National Youth Music Theatre.

I’m so grateful that Ds did his Grade 5 theory November 2019 as he will need it for applications and the March sessions were cancelled (though I see ABRSM are doing grade 5 online now.

Some of the places he will be applying to give lower offers if you have higher theory or practical grades. I was hoping he’d get grade 6 or 7 theory but that’s looking unlikely and He was studying for Rockschool practical exams.

Please can I join? Fab to find other parents with kids who love music. I have DD (8) who plays euphonium (main instrument). She's been playing 18 months and is grade 4/5 standard. She is also G2 piano and a cathedral chorister. She is gutted that music opportunities in person continue to be limited, so I'm trying to get her into some virtual stuff to lift her spirits.

Back in lockdown one I registered my details with the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain and the National Children's Orchestra (she can double on Eb tuba) and they both emailed yesterday. The NCBBGB are holding virtual auditions in February and the NCO an online course in March. Does anyone have experience with either of these groups? Thanks!!

One of the most friendly bits of Mumsnet! Thanks for the new thread. We are preparing for a grade 6 piano performance exam and various classes for a virtual festival ( if the obscure and hard to source piece of music for one class arrives soon!)
Virtual ensembles and workshops, online lessons and the joy of homeschooling. At least the youngest will have plenty time for music theory as not much work from primary school.

Hello- I’ve been grateful for all the help I get here as am not a very musical parent!

I have dd1 (13) who plays violin and viola- both to grade 5 Ish standard. She isn’t the keenest practiser but today I heard her (online) working with the string quartet at her Saturday school who are all much more experienced than her and she sounded like she was getting it for the first time which was fab- she only joined in September and only picked the viola up last February so it’s been a steep curve.

Dd2 (11) just took grade 6 flute, and also has a bassoon - which is still quite a new thing, and cello. She really misses music in person, but Saturday school online gives her at least a little shot of what she needs- she was properly fizzy today after her first flute lesson since her exam. And we finally seem to have a full size bassoon that actually works, which has been an interesting lockdown journey...

Lovely to hear about the talented children on this thread.. and always so grateful for the knowledgeable parents

Bit of an intro from me

I have a dd (19) who is in her final year at musical theatre college. This year is all about agent showcases (more likely to be self taped showreels) & will she get enough face to face training to make her employable. She’s applying for postgrad too

Ds (16) in the first year of music Btec. Plays keyboard (started piano lessons 3 years ago) Struggled massively at school despite being very intelligent. He’s autistic, music obsessed and wants to play in musical theatre pit bands and programme keyboards. He hated school but is loving college. Can’t wait to get back. But he’s a late starter so who knows. Currently researching music degrees ready for next September applications.

Popping on to thank thirdfiddle for her advice re practical exam recording. I might do a trial run tomorrow.

DD(13) did her grade 5 flute and theory about a fortnight before the first lockdown (phew!) then did music lessons on Teams for the Summer term. I wasn't sufficiently on the ball to spot that she declined to enter grade 6 this Autumn so we are entered for a practical this month.

She's never been one for practising, which is a massive shame, but at least she is finally worried enough to be putting in about 30 minutes/day over the Christmas break.

She enjoys orchestras/ensemble playing (sadly none of which has been available), but would much rather be swimming or playing cricket or hockey (also not allowed).