Spring 23 music thread

We changed cello teacher last year. Just emailed and gave the required notice and said that dd had been feeling a bit conflicted about her instrument and we were going to try a teacher with a different style to see if that helped her as she didn't want to give it up (spoiler - it did help! We've had to put grades on hold while her new teacher goes back over some basics but she's a much better player and has more confidence now!)

Good luck!

Has anyone got experience of changing instrument teachers when you feel the time has come to move on? It's a long story, and nothing big has happened, but DD feels like teacher doesn't understand her so much these days and can be quite regimented in a way that doesn't sit right e.g. you must do every grade in order etc rather than play around. The teacher was great for getting her going at the start but seems a bit at a loss with her at times now, and it's affecting DD's confidence a bit.

Any thoughts on how to phrase it? I appreciate I just need to put my big girl pants on, but I don't want to cause any ill feelings.

I wonder if it would help to film her playing piano so you can see if she's tensing up. My DD went through a phase of raising her shoulders and that builds tension if it's repeated over and over. Maybe the seat position could change slightly and help too? One of the teachers at the local music school she goes to teaches piano and Alexander technique- might be worth looking to see if there is anyone like that locally. Think that someone specialising in musicians would be good!

Yes, her piano teacher has recommended rest at the moment, oboe teacher has always said she has great posture and not found anything in particular to worry about. Physio friend ( not music specific) has said drop shoulder to reduce any tension. Think it is more just volume, which she can't drop significantly. Also coupled with lots of writing for school prelims. I guess it's like if you 'only ' run 5 k a week it seems a lot to run 50 k, but also plenty people do and want to remain injury free. It's just how to keep up the volume without making things worse. I think rest is good just now but that's not a long term strategy.

Dd gets a sore shoulder/scapula if she does a lot of cello but that's mainly because she tenses up if it's tricky or very technical.

She doesn't do as much practice as your dd though @horseymum - that sounds pretty intense! Hope you find a decent physio. Have her music teachers assessed her posture/hand positions to make sure she's not causing it that way?

Anyone's DC had RSI from practice? Going to see a physio as rest and ibuprofen not helping massively. She plays oboe and piano and I don't think she does crazy amounts of practice - about an hour each per day, a lot more on a Saturday. Plenty of kids would do more ( I appreciate if your child has just started this sounds crazy but it's what she wants to do).

I’ve had a look and I’m not sure whether each student counts as an application or whether each application counts. My son applied for about 5 so does he count as 5 or 1? Not that it matters but if 20% of applications are successful that’s different to 20% of people.

Thank you so much, @cantkeepawayforever I'll have a look at that now!

That's really interesting. I'm not great with statistics but I think around 22percent of woodwind applicants seem to get in. Numbers seem to be only half the strings when I thought it would be fewer. The one thing the data doesn't show is percentage of state schooled pupils getting in.

(Sorry, quoted wrong post, @flowflex but I hope that the link may be of some use. It won’t include Guildhall, who have their own application process)

The end-of-cycle UCAS Conservatoires statistical reports may be useful from 2021

It’s a while since I looked at these, but I seem to remember that there was a report at instrument level that gave some information for the Conservatoires that use the UCAS Conservatoires process.

Well, the up and down of competitions roller coaster continues. DD got a surprise commendation at one recently ( some really lovely playing from everyone so this was a nice bonus) and a top three for another (we hoped for this one!) One of which included the same player who was placed above her previously. Just goes to show on a different day, with different adjudicators, the result is always different! All good playing experience. Youngest DD also played her bassoon really well and actually enjoyed it this time, which counts as a win.
I'd love a local festival where they get to play for fun, maybe with a positive comment afterwards. I did mention it to the head of music service so we'll see if anything happens.

I don't know how to find those figures, although an FOI request would work as they are public bodies I assume? I think it will be in line with proportions for the orchestra, so maybe only two of each woodwind but more strings? When I see pictures of the senior students at RCS doing workshops etc, it is quite low numbers for wind.

@flowflex I’m not sure how to find that information. Obviously they take more of some instruments than others, for orchestral balance and to have the right amount across the college. For example my son is at a conservatoire, in his year group there’s him and one other on his instrument, about 14 or 15 across the whole conservatoire including post grad. But on say cello or violin there are loads more.

Hi All, my dd plays violin and working towards her diploma at present as she has always found exams motivating (though not as much as a cash prize!!). Still a few years off but looking forward and wondering about conservatoire. Google won’t reveal roughly how many applicants are accepted onto the first year of a BMus, let alone how many violin first studies, though I expect it varies. Does any know ballpark figures?

Hello all! Yes indeed - Yorchestra has three levels, primo, mezzo and maestro. Maestro doesn't run at Easter, as the kids tend to be older and thus fretting about GCSEs. Mezzo is pretty good though! (We live in York.)

Re grades, I think some kids find them motivating. Having an external 'expert' telling you you're good means more than your parents or teacher! DS flew through all his exams without trying too hard, getting all distinctions. Until grade 7, when he just got a decent pass. Because he didn't put in the effort! So that's a lesson for grade 8.

His singing concert was amazing. As usual, pulled it out of the bag. Particularly lovely rendition of Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square. 😢

Just saw on fb that 'yorkestra' is running during the Easter holidays. Seems to be a beginner orchestra for up to grade 5 in York in case useful for anyone?

@minisnowballs i only have experience of specialist school for 6th form but it was brilliant. He loved it and wished he’d been there earlier. If she wants to go then I’d go for it, if she really hates it then she can move back. The opportunities will be great and she’s meet lots of like minded children.

Coming in to say hello on this thread. Ds (5) is learning drums and piano. We’re working towards Grade 1 on drums and grade 2 on piano (though he is some way off that). We won’t do all the grades but will do a few a long way. Need grade 5 for secondary school applications.

He loves drums and it all seems very easy for him. Piano is more challenging at the moment. The early days are a lot less rewarding. With drums he is drumming along to the Beatles. With piano he’s still on nursery rhyme pieces.

Hi @yodaforpresident - i always hear about the national youth jazz collective but I think she's too young? For clarinet, London youth wind band has a tour, but I think it's 12 and above and again don't know how old she is...Kent Music has a summer residential, as does Wells Cathedral for woodwind I think.

On grades - DD1 hates them and doesn't do them - DD2 does. Very much a matter of personal preference. Though DD2 has just been told she needs a (and breathe) £2000 flute to do justice to grade 8 - she's on a Yamaha 211 at the moment. Her teacher has written in her book 'most people have open holes but you have small hands... they sound the same' (and has underlined 'they sound the same' twice). She's suggesting an Altus... any expertise welcome.

And, as we grapple with the funeral arrangements for my mum, we've finally had the confirmation of DD2s government MDS funding for specialist school in September. We'd kind of talked ourselves out of the whole thing because funding decision took so long for her - so now we've got to make the decision over whether she goes all over again!

They've said they'll give us some time - but how on earth do you compare a familiar and happy life in a large London comp with an unknown and rarified rural boarding school? No idea how you get your head round that at the age of 13 - i can 't do it at 45.

RCS in Glasgow do a national wind ensemble, I don't think it's auditioned and you don't have to be Scottish. Two levels grade 3-5 and 6+. Non residential but it's not hard to find accommodation if you book early.

Good morning everyone. We are starting to look at summer courses now and wondered if anyone had any recommendations for a clarinet or jazz course? DD plays at grade 5 level currently. Any information would be gratefully placed.

@Comefromaway ha they certainly will!! Dd can do the household appliances too!
it has helped dd to do the grades but now she is Grade 5 ish they seem less important as she has parts in orchestras and other things to learn that are equally challenging and (shhh!) more fun!

Mine did do all the grades and it helped him. He’d got used to getting high grades and thought he was pretty good. Until grade 7. He passed, possibly merit, I can’t remember but it gave him the kick up the bum needed. He knew he needed grade 8 distinction (or equivalent, but easier to have the bit of paper) and he worked much harder and got it. It probably helped him get into the 6th form of his choice (specialist music school) which then helped him get into conservatoire. He hasn’t shown any signs of doing any sort of diploma although I’m sure he might at some point, he plays as well as his peers who have done it.