Summer 21 music thread

Ah, dd’s state primary was very music oriented - though lots of group lessons so slower than the private schools. Her centre for advanced training is not quite a JD so is a bit more state oriented (still plenty of private school parents though) so I hadn’t noticed the discrepancy much. It’s beginning to show more at her level now- the orchestra for her summer school requires children to have passed grade six and their own assessments and looks a lot more private school ish than the others she’s done.

Quite @Mendingfences. We could have afforded lessons from early on but it just didn’t occur to us to investigate it as it’s not out there in the neighbourhood - unlike swimming lessons/football/dance etc.

It wasn’t until we got to our local indie and with the “welcome pack” sort of stuff was a form with all the instruments they provided lessons for with a box to tick if you wanted lessons and another box to tick if you wanted or needed to hire an instrument. We picked piano as dd was keen as I got dh to “give” me one for my 40th a year previously (ideally for me to learn but I haven’t but it’s been such a blessing for dd!).

Then in year 4 everyone in the year chose an instrument (from a list of six - two string, two woodwind, two brass - well one brass and the fabulous plastic p-bone!) and once a week there were group lessons just part of the curriculum. Dd picked the cello and after two terms was hooked enough for private lessons too.

We would not have got this at our local state primary school but really there should be funding for this type of thing. Some state schools do it I know but it’s not consistent and it’s such a shame.

I think the point about even knowing financial suport is available is very important queenmabby. Where i am lessons are subsidised, and depending on what you wsnt to learn some instruments are availavle for loan.

The nearest city has even more instruments availsble for loan - all good 🙂. that city offers 'mini' lessons for string instruments from 3 years old, its their own home grown program and oarents learn/play alongside their child. Great! BUT parents have to provide their own instrument.... so if you dont have that possibility (no culture os instrument rental here....)either your child waits til they are 6 and can start 'normal' lessons or you have to stick your neck out, apply for your kid anyway and then tell then you cant afford to buy a cello and need to loan one like my friend did! Now fair play they did loan her an instrument BUT most people are going to be put off from even trying so the upshot is that kids with 'resource rich' parents get a 3 year head start....

It is all very interesting. My two are both at an indie but my background is very definitely not that and I do sometimes feel like an outsider looking in in that world, even now!

Yesterday I dropped dd off at her music residential. I was fascinated by the number of children who had both parents there - dd just had me as it was a week day and it would not have occurred to either dh or me to have dh take time off work for something like that!

Also, although this residential offered financial support if needed I wonder if those that would need it would even know about it. I’m not sure it’s advertised very widely outside of those musical circles that we’ve been discussing.

I know that at the state primary that my dc attended music was very low on the priority list - there was the odd group lesson (ds did guitar for a year) but very little information about what was available. I think if I hadn’t moved dd to her current school she might not have got into music at all.

I agree horseymum as the kids progress we've ended up in circles where the parents are not neccessarily more engaged but certainly more invested in the whole music thing.
Disclaimer- when you live in the middle of nowhere parents have to be engaged enough to drive your kid to music lessons etc so even though its heavily subsidised financially there is effort required.

I feel like we will be changing musical worlds shortly as dd is going to a JD in a few weeks, which will be over whelmed by private school pupils, whose parents might be more engaged. Currently, most of the parents in the music service who I chat to aren't particularly musical so I'm so glad the fees have been abolished in Scotland as hopefully more of them will continue. Music was always one of the first things people gave up if pressed for money. It will be nice for dd to be seen as more normal for wanting to practice and listen to classical music etc but I think it will also be a lot more pressured. I laughed at the piccolo statement, as if people just have these lying around! I mean, you might be able to get a 'cheap' ( relatively speaking) one from china on eBay but I doubt it would be worth it. It's not like a recorder or something. The related instrument dd might get to play is a cor anglais and they are thousands of pounds, we will not be buying one, maybe she will get a go at some point though.

That would have given the hoodie-wearing crew something to think about mending 🤣

wrinkly the anthropology thing is fascinating. My kids have done some summer music things in the uk (before covid...) and although i am british the kids are very definitely 'foreign' not least in their experiences. This gives an interesting observation point, whilst being a bit of an enigma. One of the kids apparrently said in their 'introduction to the group' that we owned Mountain and forest and dad goes hunting - totally standard rural scandinavia but looks a bit different from a british perspective 🤣

Mini - I find the whole social/anthropological side of the musical world fascinating. I expect it’s the same with sport or other activities which tend to take up a lot of time or commitment from young participants and their parents.

Earlier in the holidays I went to a concert where DD was playing. This was held on a Saturday afternoon 2 weeks after the state schools had broken up for summer, so probably 3 weeks or so since private schools had finished. The audience was mainly made up of family members of the DCs playing - parents, grandparents, siblings.

Every sibling in the audience was wearing a hoodie from their independent school. This was 3 weeks into the school summer holidays. I was on my own at the concert and was curious about so many kids wearing their school hoodies in the middle of the holidays so I started googling some of the schools on my phone. All prestigious private schools in different parts of the country - I counted at least 6. I wonder how many of them were told by their parents to wear those hoodies or how many of them thought, I know, it’s a Saturday in the middle of the holidays, I’ll just put my school jumper on to go and watch my brother/sister play in a concert.

When my eldest started taking part in music activities in our nearest city (rather than pur very rural area) there was deffinitely a feeling that everyone in the strings community knew each other. Now we are part of it I see it is not quite that simple but there are clearly alot of people who now each other though music activities, the private school networks and quite possibly other links that I am unaware of. Most importantly, once we entered the 'scene' (eldest started in the talent program) people have been very welcoming and yes alot of them are musicians 😁 but far from all. I guess i count as a very very amateur musician, i play in a small brass band but that doesnt count for much when it comes to strings 😁

Wrinklyeyes- lots of chat and queuing beforehand (I’m naturally nosy)- also they all knew each other! Wish they had been singing

Last time I sat in the audience I appeared to be the only parent who wasn't a musician.

Just out of interest - how could you tell? I know sometimes it’s just an instinct. But am also wondering if there was anything obvious? E.g. singing along in four-part harmonies or something?

No piccolo here either minisnowballs. I can often be found with a bag full of extra music stands and the occasional white shirt (and clothes pegs for pinning down errant music when playing outdoors but no piccolos 😉
Most music stuff we've been involved in is fairly low key - one particularly memorable morning was monday morning drop off for a strings supper course where it soon became apparent that at least 2/3rds of the juniormost orchestra had no idea how to open their music stands and neither did their parents so whilst the conductor tuned and roisined many small instruments i was on music stand duty. At least i could be usefull for something 😁

Thanks Wrinklyeyes. I have told them we do not have one.

I am not sure they care a lot about inclusivity on this particular course, at the local private school. All of the advertising is about 'excellence' and 'talent'.

Last time I sat in the audience I appeared to be the only parent who wasn't a musician. Never mind...dd2 likes it and that is what matters.

minisnowballs - do not get me started on the inclusivity (or lack of) in music education & training. I can be on my soap box for hours 😬

I would really not give a second thought to the piccolo requirement. Do you know how many flautists there are going to be in total? I should imagine they would only need one or two piccolo players among them.

If your DD is desperate to take one then you might be able to hire one from a music shop which does hire. But I wouldn’t go out of your way just for the course. They will not be expecting all flautists to take a piccolo.

Trying not to cry, not sure whether with laughter or hysteria, about the email I've just received for DD2s holiday music course (non-residential).

Casually appended to all the usual gumpf about nut-free lunches, 2b pencils and string players bringing their own rosin, is the killer phrase

'flautists to bring a piccolo (if possible)'. Particularly loving the brackets round 'if possible' as if it obviously is if you only try. We do NOT have a piccolo.... Sometimes I feel that they go out of their way to deliberately alienate non-musical parents.

Also, Where the hell do I get a piccolo?

The end of the holidays for us, school starts again on monday. Timetables are beginning to tick in an so far no crashes 👍

That's super brave Mabby - hope she has a ball. My two both did a PGL residential this summer (each went alone) and came back buzzing. Sure she will too! I'm off to take dd2 to her holiday music lesson - not sure how delighted she is by this news...

@raspberryrippleicecream - brilliant news! Well done your ds.

Taking my dd to a music residential today. She’s so nervous bless her - doesn’t know anyone else going and I’m very proud of her as this is way outside her comfort zone!

Jolly well done, raspberry’s DS

Congratulations to your DS @raspberryrippleicecream. What an achievement!

Brilliant news for your DS raspberry! Well done to him

Also not clarinet, trombone, DS had train tracks fitted on March, a month before his Grade 8 exam. Didn't dare postpone either, the braces should have been fitted a week after the first lockdown started. He has been fine mostly, some loss of tone but able to play

Not posted much recently, but some folk may remember me from the original thread.

Youngest DS got A level results today including an A* in music, very proud of him!
He and his friends are organising a concert in a couple of weeks which will be amazing!

Thanks both, well I guess that's both sides of the coin right there!