Autumn 22 music thread

Hello @OneLovelySister my son plays flute too but yet to sit for an exam. What grade did ur DC do?

HNY everyone, and that's very exciting @Siriusmuggle . @OneLovelySister I have a child who plays both - my observation is that flute is easy to start with - up to about grade 6, and cello is harder up to about grade 4. Then they diverge - cello you've kind of learned a lot of it, and flute you've got many more techniques to learn and it is suddenly very high and often quite unpleasant.

So overall it evens out a bit. Or maybe that's just dd..who also frequently informs me that bassoon is 'incredibly easy' even though I think it looks very hard, so perhaps it just depends on the child. Hope the exam result is swift and fabulous.

Can I share a vague boast? My child (first year conservatoire) recorded several parts (all on the same instrument) for something that has had 4.5 million views on YouTube in the last 3 days.
He won’t be credited on it as such but it’ll be on his cv.

Happy new year! @OneLovelySister. We have a cello in the house too and yes it does seem tricky after another instrument. DD's first instrument is piano and she finds the cello really hard even at g5 level now. Frustrating is how she describes it as an instrument.

When it's good it's so beautiful though - it's worth the dodgy intonation and the scratchy bowing to get there!

Is it nearly spring yet? I mean, I know it’s still (post-Christmas) January, but a spring music thread - like the first glimpse of an early daffodil - might put an, um, spring in the step

Still mostly lurking here (because it’s such a pleasant thread upon which to lurk) while also awaiting the result of an early December flute exam. Nothing yet from the school - hopefully no news is good news, or at least not bad news.

Also, is it just me, or is helping a DC take first steps with cello much harder than same for flute? It feels like there’s so much more happening all at once with a stringed instrument. Of course, this may be partly an issue of perception, because I’ve become more musically aware since 2018 and no longer benefit from the same blissful ignorance…

Happy new year, all!

I’d like to add some (anonymous) testimonials to my campaign. If anyones young person would like to write something about what being able to access music lessons meant to them, especially if they had to overcome struggles or were fortunate enough to receive funding in any way could you please contact me.

In the words of the feminist board, if anyone feels they can help do some gardening, please PM me.

That is such a wonderful idea @Comefromaway. Music can truly transform children’s lives. I know it did mine.

I’ve set up a Go Fund me to try and raise enough for a 2nd child. I obviously am not allowed to post the link here.

@Comefromaway that is such a kind idea and I’m sure that it will have a wonderful, positive impact on a child’s life ❤️

Merry Christmas to all. In lieu of cards this year I have a donation to the Children’s Society to give the gift of music to a child in need.

I want to go one further. Music has been life changing for my son. Looking at some of his friends it’s had a massively positive effect on them, kept them in education, out of trouble, helped with their mental health.

at college there were several who struggled to afford lessons. I am going to contact ds’s old school and offer to anonymously pay for a child to have music lessons. No questions asked, no income forms for their parents to fill in. It might be a child whose family has money but whose parents don’t give as*, it might be a single parent low income family, it might be a high achiever or a low achiever, a well behaved child or one who is getting into trouble. I don’t care. As long as the music teacher thinks that child will benefit I will pay.

I will then look into raising funds to take my idea further. Watch this space.

I bumped into DS's viola teacher (he's being doing it one term) and she said how well he's doing, agreeing that being a singer is an advantage in learning a string instrument, tuning, ear etc. She asked me how much practice he does, and to be honest. So I admitted he did about 10 mins the evening before a lesson. She rather sweetly said 'well he's doing REALLY well then'!

He has always sailed through his grades, concerts etc without that much effort. But now he has a sterner piano teacher, who luckily DS thinks is wonderful and really respects, who is cracking the whip. He's entered him into a piano competition for Feb half term, and Grade 8 by Easter. ERK.

@thirdfiddle - DD's music teachers can always tell she's practised really hard...even when she hasn't!

She's been practising this morning though and it's lovely to work from home and hear the piano notes drifting up from the living room.

Merry Christmas all.

@Didiplanthis it's irritating, but you're right, might be less annoying if at school as there is not much time for practice over christmas. Does she play both (dd1 is viola and violin and I just make her do the other one if she forgets it)? Secondary is a lot to take in with music as well - so many children just give up at this point that she's doing well to keep going.

Flute is a lovely easy start, especially at 10, so great your son is getting on well with it. DD2 got away with staggeringly little practice for a very long time, but now, at 13 is really having to put in the effort on tone etc - so you might find the need to work comes later.

She also often gets comments on her other instruments saying 'I can tell you've really practised' when she really hasn't - it usually comes back to bite her later though, so maybe he should just enjoy the smugness!

My dd who is yr 8 and has somewhat fallen out if love with music since starting secondary and being a bit overwhelmed, has managed to leave her viola at school over the holidays...by the time she got home on the last day without it school was closed till January... however it may as well sit untouched at school as at home as that's mildly less frustrating for me ! DS 10 started flute about 8 months ago... actually appears to be surprisingly good at it for staggeringly little effort, is currently smug as his flute report arrived today saying he was making above expected progress and his practice between lessons was good.... am tempted to send it back with 'really ???' And 'bollocks' next to those 2 points....
Can you tell I am frustrated by them ????

Oooh @herbaceous that does sounds hectic. 🤞🏻 for continued good health!

@Mendingfences - sorry your dc's asthma is bad. My dh has asthma and it's also much worse this winter.

Fingers crossed your ds stays lurgyfree @herbaceous

Im rather glad dd2 has been playing more double bass concerts than flute or baritone as the cold weather together with social events and concets with close proximity to people who have cats /dogs has set her asthma off dramatically.

Well done all! Feeling offended on behalf of all fellow bassoonists out there. Honestly.

It's a crazy time of year isn't it. DS is singing in 17 carol services and concerts this year. SEVENTEEN. Many of which include Once in Royal solos, In The Bleak solos, and often some Walking in the Air action. He's on the radio tomorrow, and doing a recording on Friday as well. And I can hear him coughing next door. My. fingers are frantically crossed he doesn't get this lurgy everyone else seems to be coming down with...

well done mini horsey! Double reed identification a good start- and well done to @QueenMabby 's dd as well. That's so brave!

Glad dd did the solo @horseymum

My dd got the "Once in Royal" solo for our Carol service. She sang beautifully and (more importantly!) bang on in tune! Nothing else now til Christmas Eve when she's volunteering at midnight service.

She's already got things lined up for concerts next term but will be glad of the break.

Yes, dd did her bassoon solo. It was touch and go till the last minute but she was glad to do it. A couple of people have congratulated her on her oboe playing!! At least oboe is closer than clarinet I suppose. She then found recording for a small competition really easy after doing that! I'm glad other folks have had nice but busy end of term periods. Thankfully we've stayed bug free but it must be super hard when at conservatoire when there is no let up.

@minisnowballs dd2 doesnt sing but does play 3 instruments, i cant imagine how complicated it would be if she sang as well