Spring 23 music thread

As an alternative perspective from a clueless mum. I thought we'd never go down the exam route and the teacher was very relaxed about it but until DD had the idea of an exam in her mind progress was extremely slow. Now she's absolutely flying through the pieces of increasing difficulty and all because of the idea of the exam, that's she's really keen to do.

She might be an aberration but for her the exam system seems to be very motivating.

The grades are up to you and your teacher. I think it's sad seeing kids slog through three pieces, do the exam then start the next three exam pieces. They should play a wide range of pieces, perform to family and friends where possible, do festivals if they want to, play on their own and with others. If doing exams fits in, then do some. Mine have only done some and usually when comfortably above the grade ie already been playing pieces of that standard for a while. They are too expensive to do them all and actually take time away from progressing. It's useful to do grade 5 theory as that opens up the higher grades in the future. DD 2 is resolutely refusing to, thereby putting any further grades off the table just now!! Most orchestras etc just say a certain grade or equivalent standard and may ask for teacher reference. That's only my thoughts though, others do it differently and it will suit some kids to have them to aim for.

Ds has never done a graded exam. But he found Grade 5 theory useful for uni applications.

Oh dear, like that is it?! 😂

On a different note (!), when does it become important to have done grade exams?
DS's teacher doesn't teach to the grades, but lets them take them whenever they're ready, so no pressure there. He was given some music for the initial grade way back in the summer, and although he easily did it by himself straight away, it was never mentioned again... He's enjoying the lessons and clearly making lots of progress (eg recently played a grade 3 piece he'd decided he liked the look of with no problems) so I'm not really bothered at the moment, I just was wondering if there are things he would need a grade exam for in the future?

How do you know someone has perfect pitch?

don’t worry, they will tell you!

Dd has perfect pitch- can name any notes eg from radio etc. she can also hear a tune she hasn’t heard before and replicate it exactly immediately on her clarinet. However she struggles with reading music, probably doesn’t see the point!! I’ve never asked her about general notes from household objects…

My secondary school music teacher had perfect pitch. School orchestra must have been torment!

I'm sure I've heard somewhere that perfect pitch is quite common in young children, but lack of musical exposure means it's often lost.

DS has another singing gig in London tomorrow! And, naturally he has a) got a sore throat and cough, and b) has done little to no practice.

This is exactly the scenario for his similar gig before Christmas, and he a) recovered and b) pulled it out of the bag. Let's hope the same thing happens! He's getting paid quite a lot!

Ds has perfect pitch. It can be a double edged sword. And yes, he tells us exactly what note various household objects produce!

@SweetforOrchestra that's interesting, I think I'd need years of practise too - I just played a quick game with him where I'd hold a random key on the piano down, with him looking away, and he was able to correctly say which I was playing, before looking to see if he'd got it right. He thought it was brilliant fun but then tried to do it back to me, I didn't have any idea though! Guess he might have it, I'll have to see if he starts telling me what lawnmowers and doors are playing...!

No, he doesn’t need to be able to sing them - it’s about being able to identify what he’s heard.

Most musicians end up with good relative pitch - where you can work out a note once you know what another one is, and after years of playing in orchestras I’m pretty good at identifying an A when I hear it and can then usually work out what else is going on. But my friends with perfect pitch can tell you what note a lawnmower or a creaking door is sounding, which I couldn’t do in a million years.

Thanks @SweetforOrchestra , I was wondering because my DS can name notes after hearing them and reproduce things he's heard by ear - my mum said she suspects perfect pitch but then also said something about him needing to be able to sing the notes (I take everything she tells me with a big pinch of salt though). He hates singing so I don't think he'd do that even if he could...!

@Teapotkitten we think DS has it because he always sings in the original key. I do not have perfect pitch so took a while to spot that. He also sang perfectly in tune from as soon as he started singing as a baby. We didn’t even realise this was unusual until we had DD (who is 2, and sings like most 2 year olds!).

I’m sure there are ways of testing for it before the note names are learned, but we haven’t bothered trying to find out. Once the child knows the notes it’s just a matter of playing to them and asking them what you’ve played.

@SweetforOrchestra I love that your child won't let actual conservatoire professor dad teach him! Mine is also an older one- studying a brass instrument at conservatoire and loving it. He's hoping to make a career of it.

I have to agree it's really great to hear about how older children are doing, I've been learning so much just by lurking about on here!

@SweetforOrchestra quick question for you, is there a way you can tell if a child has perfect pitch?

Hello, long time lurker here. I have a 4yo DS in reception who is on the Guildhall kindergarten course and just started learning piano.

He’s extremely musical (we think has perfect pitch) and desperate to play the violin but Guildhall don’t want them to start until year 2 so we’ve started him on the piano instead. DH is actually a pianist and prof of piano at one of the London conservatoires but DS flat out refuses to learn from him! So I’ve been teaching him (with my grade 6 piano…🤣) using the piano adventures books and he’s really enjoying it so far. I saw them recommended on here and think they are excellent for the youngest learners.

We’re so keen for DS to play and get as much enjoyment from music as we did (I play a brass instrument and met DH at conservatoire though am not a musician now) but also conscious of not putting pressure on him. DH and I both came from non-musical families, started “late” (9/10) and music was our thing that we loved independently and had to fight to do. We clearly can’t recreate that for DS but also conscious that he has and will have so many more opportunities than we did.

It’s been lovely to read how people’s older kids are getting on. I was in the NYO and honestly feel like those musical experiences were some of the best of my life. Made friends for life there too.

Thank you @thirdfiddle this is all encouraging I'll definitely ask the piano teacher to see if there could be a plan for Easter then. 🤞

Thank you. I always say she plays the flute. Flutist would be easier!

This is it, she can't quite sort it for herself and it's too complex for me to guide her. Hopefully she'll be further along by Easter and we can work on something simple but longish together.

Mine has their lessons in school time rather than privately so probably not worth asking, do you think?

Also how do I pronounce flautist?

Thank you I'll definitely check out this choir, maybe it'll be something for year 6.

She's off on a residential with the county
Music trust but it's in school time. I'm going to
Ask them if they'll be doing anything in the holidays. Thank you.

Ah thank you, I should have said which instruments. All my DC join in a choir on a Saturday morning, they really enjoy it, it's term time only though.

I'll look out for more easy piano music on Amazon. I think I just need a plan for Easter!

@mumoffourminimes

We don't worry about holiday gaps either -though one teacher likes to teach through the holidays, and there's usually a holiday orchestra or two to attend. To be honest we're usually glad of a rest!

Lots of lovely summer holiday choir courses - at ten she could audition for Girls Choir at www.nycgb.org.uk - which my DD loves - but auditions are in autumn I think and then spring and summer courses. She hadn't had singing lessons when she auditioned, so it's doable (also a flautist - maybe it does help with the voice). But if you google there are others around.

Wells Cathedral School does summer courses, residential, and depending on where you are in the country, local music hubs probably do too (Kent definitely?)- not sure they'll teach a new instrument unless it's related, but she could certainly do a flute one and they might let her try out some other instruments too? Check your local council hub or any specialist schools/Conservatoires near to you (we're in London but I'm not sure where you are to help).