Autumn 22 music thread

@herbaceous just saw your update! How exciting! We will be watching though of course we don't know which chorister we are rooting for!

DD has bloomin' left her instruments locked in school over half term. She has two exams looming. Not really the time to miss out on a week's practice! Hoping I can get into the school next week and looking at hire options. Gaarrrr!

@herbaceous I'm so glad it's been good, whatever the outcome that's a good outcome!

@minisnowballs I like a girl who knows what works for her. There's so many fabulous options around for our kids, they have to be able to pick and choose (or overload massively) and that's a really adult skill to develop.

DD got the singing opportunity she auditioned for last week. She's very excited! Just for a change, I seem to have paused on spending all my money on lessons for her and I'm spending it all on tickets to see her perform instead.

Great news @herbaceous - knew he'd pull it out of the bag for you.

We have (deep breath) turned down the NCO for dd2. Which is a tiny bit sad - but telling myself she can basically have every other holiday orchestra and choir she does (including an NYCGB residential and a wind band tour) for the same price as just doing that. And it's what she wanted due to clashes, so there we go.

Also turned down the place we've just been offered in year 9 at the more musical local state girls school (which has scholarships for music that she refused to take back in year 7 because she didn't like the school). Again, her choice - she prefers where she is, and poss other options on the horizon.

Slightly wondering what she's planning to turn down next!

Glad it was a good experience for him.

Hi all!

Back from YCOY. It was altogether an amazing experience. Such talent on show! Obvs I can't say any outcomes, but DS was amazing, despite being quite obviously terrified by the lights, judges, audience, etc. He never used to get nervous in his chorister role, but this was a whole different ball game. You could tell which contestants were used to performing, recording, etc.

Anyway, it will all be on the box. 27 November for the boys' semi finals!

Glad it went ok @minisnowballs and great news that your dd got a flute solo!

I got some eyeballs and a 'fine - but she's still too fast' from DD1 on the whole string group experience. So I think that's better than expected.

DD2 cares not - she was more interested in the flute solo she'd done afterwards (which is the first time her music teacher has ever heard her play so she was terrified)

When I've tried to get my two playing together DS who quit the trumpet a year or so ago used to play at his own uneven speed oblivious to DD who would keep moderating her speed to try and stay in time with him. It was quite stressful to listen to!

I've had several attempts to get my two to play piano duets and have totally failed. I bought a book called 'duets for fun' but the fun was in italics, so DS pointed out that italics generally infer 'not really' so refused to play it. I bought another duet book and they'll both play duets with me (DD more willingly than DS) but not with each other.

I did suggest this week that DD learn DS's grade 6 flute piano accompaniments and she viewed me suspiciously and asked if i was just trying to get them to do a duet without them noticing. I said i thought it would be helpful 'cos I'm not always around to accompany and she seemed to go for that. Truthfully, I suspect she'll do a better job than me because I don't ever learn it - just think i can sight read it, and the truth is I really can't now, "getting by" is the kindest way of describing my approach!

Nothing happening this week, they've both gone away for a few days to visit grandparents and the only instrument that has gone with them is the ukulele!

My two have just started playing and singing together on the rare occasion they are in the same place at the same time.

But it helps that dd is a musical theatre singer and ds is trying to get work as an MT player/accompanist

Not a duet, thank god! DD1 is in the 'string ensemble', which is run by the violin teacher, and consists entirely of violins (DD is actually more of a viola player but doesn't play that in it).

DD2 plays the cello as a third instrument, and violin teacher suddenly decided she needed a cellist - DD2 was what was available.

DD1, as first violin and leader of the ensemble, is used to being able to set her own speed without anyone else arguing back - but of course, her sister isn't so easily told! Poor violin teacher...

oh goodness no indeed! in theory DS and DD would make a great duet pairing on cello and violin but i daren't suggest it, would be a bloodbath. hats off to those able to pull off a Kanneh-Mason/Von-Trapp family ensemble...

That's brave doing a sibling duet! I've floated the idea of dd accompanying her sister for a competition. It wasn't met with great enthusiasm!

Yes, thinking of @herbaceous today! Fingers crossed.

Less glamorously. Both DDs are playing in an informal school concert this evening (that we don't get to go to). They NEVER play together, so I'm not sure how it will go.

DD1 already complaining that DD2 plays too fast. Hope they're still on speaking terms when they get home this evening.

@herbaceous hope it all goes well today! Whatever the outcome it is an amazing experience.

Good to hear that others are also trying to navigate full on schedules. We reluctantly let go of taekwondo before the summer, but DD is still very busy with lots of music and dance. She has struggled a lot with tiredness after a nasty bout of covid and is going through a growth spurt so needs her rest and downtime. It is hard to know what to cut as things seem to ramp up as they get older. She would like to continue with her second instrument (bassoon) but in a low key way. She loves her ensemble group but just can't put in the frequent practices and ends up feeling stressed about it. She enjoys tap but her real love is ballet and contemporary. Every time I float maybe losing the tap, she is adamant she doesn't want to.

We’ll know tomorrow lunchtime whether he’s through to the final!

Best of luck for your ds @herbaceous - sending all the positive vibes! When will you hear about the final??

Great, I'd imagined something much more intense, thanks for explaining!

Yes, Inspire is just an application. We got an email asking if DD would play her second instrument as her first is so competitive.... but I think everyone gets at least a day thing. They did hint that if she did bassoon she might get a residential though...

Thanks @Pollyanna8844 I hadn't even realised that the application didn't include an audition!

Hi, you don't audition for Inspire, it's just an application

@Chilligrin fingers crossed for your DC waiting for u13 and projects! We heard in October half term last year about the u13 result, but not sure if that one is always later than main.

@heherbaceous hope he has a great time. I actually had tapes of Aled Jones when I was a young teen! Bet the choristers now have never seen a tape!!