Autumn 23 Music chat

Another one coming on to say an hour a day is loads for G1. Both of mine managed about 10 mins per instrument at that time - also not sure they'd have done it every day, but most days. DD now working on G8 piano - does about 20 - 30 mins a day before school, sometimes a bit longer on the weekend but only if i'm sitting with her getting her to focus on specific bits. Its probably only 30 mins 'cos she's obsessed with playing Christmas music at the moment, without that its probably shorter. She's doing G5 violin in a few weeks and probably does around 20-30 mins violin a day too - usually does that after school.

DS does about 20 mins flute (working on G7) and honestly about 10-15 mins on piano (G6 - though probably explains why he's had the pieces for soooo long!).

If he's happy doing an hour a day then thats great - but also, if its hard to fit in, cut it back or alternate instruments?

@Nbobun that's loads of practice for a younger one! Amazing focus. DD1 (16) does twenty minutes a day, if that, for g6 viola and makes correspondingly slow progress!

Practice for DD2 when she was at home for the hols was about an hour on the main two a day - preparing for ARSM diploma on her flute and really no idea what's going on with bassoon - just a lot of very difficult repertoire and breathing exercises.

Before September, when she moved to specialist music school, to fit hers in at home she used to do half an hour on flute in the morning (to take grade 8) and half an hour on bassoon in the pm. Singing - well she does very little- but sings constantly and is in choirs so I guess that helps! Nowadays she gets timetabled practice periods so she probably is doing over two hours a day plus ensembles in total. But that's a completely different kettle of fish to her previous world and she managed pretty well.

I reckon the mantra of 'practise smarter, not longer' will take them a long way.

My 10 years old DD only practices 45 minutes every another day of each instrument, piano and violin. She is going to sit grade 5 exams for both in 2 and 4 weeks time. Then, she only practices no more than 2 hours a weeks for singing lesson( grade 5). She is also a full chorister at cathedral too.
I agree her timetable is overloaded, plus 11+ exam is coming up shortly, plus school clubs.....
We didn't intend to be that busy when she first started. I am hoping she will be able to cut down these activities next year.
Now, she is very into musicals, (phantom of the opera is her favourite!)and would like to try musical theatre in year 7. I told her she would need to cut or slow down other things.....
Does anyone have any experience of a kids' musical theatre course? My DD is already 5' and a bit overweight( because she is taking long-term high dose of asthma medication). Do you think it is too late to start dancing lessons?

Mine does an hour a day minimum but that’s post grade 8, second year degree! Some days he “only” does rehearsals and timetabled ensembles which leaves no time for additional practice.

Hi @Nbobun and welcome to this amazing tbread!
I don't have any wiser words than other much more experienced musical mums. Just going to say I totally get what you're feeling because we'r in a similar boat. DS just turned 7 and he practiced at least half hour on the violin (G4/5) and a bit less on the piano (G1) each day. I found it hard to fit it all in the daily routine too! In the end I went part time! This is not the only reason I went part time and was a a big influencer about the timing of it. Not saying you should do part time 🤣 just show that I understand how much impact their music activities can have on your lives!
Anyway what I found useful was focusing on seeing some improvements rather than the time. Some days he focuses really well and improves a lot of things then we'll just do 15 mins or so.

Nbobun, hi! Like the others I was going to say that an hour a day is loads, about what DD does at g6ish&7ish on her instruments. DS at 6&6ish even less but I wouldn't recommend his approach, he takes forever to learn pieces. You can get a long way on an instrument with half an hour's practice most days. If your DS keeps up this commitment he will get on very nicely. And if he wants to become more serious down the line, other things will probably have changed by then anyway.

An hour a day is a LOT.

DS (14) just got his g8 piano, and now working on diploma, actually practices his pieces for maybe half an hour a day, if that?

G5 french horn - an hour a week, max!

g6 singing - almost never. But was a chorister, so lots of inbuilt technical work.

@horseymum thank you. He does enjoy it, much more than I did when I was his age!
We have a fairly consistent practice routine from day 1. 99% of the time he practices daily. It's just with 2 instruments, his practice time is now about 1 hour at least, and it's pretty efficient - I monitor what he does and we focus on areas we need to work on. That's with him being a total beginner in cello, so much shorter practice time.

I'm interested to see how other more advanced kids fit their practice into daily routine. We both work full time and DS is in clubs until 5pm every day. I find it harder and harder to fit homework, practice and dinner in the evening and still aim for a reasonable bed time...

I have only just discovered this thread!

DS (8) plays piano (recently got G1 distinction) and cello (only been playing for a few months). He struggles with rhythm in general, although slowly making improvements. The first year of learning was full of ups and downs. But now he's done G1, he's mentally better prepared for the challenges.
I played the piano to G8 but hadn't touched it for 22 years. With DS learning, I picked it up slowly, but still very rusty and generally speaking I don't have time to practice! DS practices way more than me.
Cello is something DS wanted to learn himself. I didn't know anything about string instruments until DS started. Must admit I watch a lot of "TwoSet Violin" which taught me so much.
I have always concerned about how much time it could take to practice two instruments, which is why we delayed DS's cello lesson by a year. I already noticed the increasing amount of time he spends practising. I wonder how other children cope when they are on more advanced levels, on top of school work and other hobbies? Personally I always struggled to find time to practise enough when I was learning.

Interesting. DS is working towards what I assume is his performance piano diploma - four pieces back to back? No scales or anything?

In the meantime, it's Show Time! Technical rehearsal night, dress tonight, then a run of five shows. All gone a bit wrong, with the stage manager designing and building a set far too complex for the stage and number of stage hands, so they only got through one act last night. Still. Sure it will be alright on the night!

He's going go be so exhausted. 6-10 every night. Plus school. Plus exams. next week!

Thank you all for the insights.

We appear to be having to make a decision based on practicalities rather than the chosen exam, which really is a shame.

Ive spoken to DD and asked her to have a chat with her teacher. She’s so ambitious and wanted the more challenging exam!

I expect ARSM is going to be the overall outcome on this one.

Don't DipABRSM and ARSM have the same repertoire pools? If that's still the case worst case you fail Dip you can always bring the same or similar repertoire for ARSM later.

From what I've heard cello teacher is right, Dip is higher regarded (and also easier to fail), but I imagine people will lose interest in it somewhat if it stops existing. Back in the day I did the old advanced certificate, which was a previous attempt at bridging between Grade 8 and LRSM, bit easier to pass than Dip but same sort of repertoire and still had extra components and a viva.

Angelkid, looking at website it looks like the new versions of L and F are going to be logistically easier being recorded rather than having to go to a centre with all the impracticality mbell is discovering. Makes a lot of sense as it can still be examined by experts without causing headaches to the non London based.

Regarding to the Abrsm diploma, my DD has done that almost 10 years ago. She always wants to achieve LRSM. Because of she has been doing other career path, so she hadn't really got the time to do it in the past few years. I am wondering if the LRSM will still around for next couple of years. My DD would like to do just for personal ambition/goal.

I think that the risk in terms of taking the DipABRSM at this point is that if she fails any part of it there will be no chance of a resit as its being withdrawn at the end of December. My understanding is that the results take months rather than weeks too so there really is no chance of fitting in additional takes on any part not passed.

In terms of whether ARSM is as highly regarded - maybe not but it is what is available and going forward no one will have access to taking DipABRSM anyway. My understanding of the ARSM is that its a performance of 30mins of minimum grade 8 standard repertoire and that LRSM or FRSM are later options.

Could she look at Trinity options if she's not happy with ABRSM?

@Comefromaway yes I am aware. I guess it comes down to how highly regarded the new Diploma is. Very important to DD and to some extent her teacher.

To me the logistics say ARSM but DD has set her sights on DipABRSM

The ABRSM diploma is being withdrawn at the end of this year

Can I ask if anyone has advice on ABRSM Diploma vs. ARSM performance Diploma?

DD is preparing for the first but will only find out exam date 2 weeks before the exam. She’s just been let down by her usual piano accompanist and we’re struggling to find someone who will commit with such vague timelines.

School can book an ARSM Diploma and piano accompanist and have even offered to pay for both 😮which is amazing.

Our cello teacher feels that the present exam is much more rigorous and highly regarded. Also DD very keen on the “tougher” exam.

I would value any wisdom from this forum and apologies that I am a very infrequent poster!

@Comefromaway I'm very touched by his noble choice of honouring his commitment instead of snatching the best opportunity available. This shows the quality of him as a person, besides as a musician. I hope more and better opportunities will come to reward him in the future 👍.

@Comefromaway I;m so sad to hear that- may he receive many more even better opportunities in the future!

He’s had to turn it down. He’s gutted but has had to accept it.

yesterday brought home to me the importance of keeping our local music shops open. This can only happen if we buy from them online.

Twice now my son’s band has been bailed out on the day of a gig by our local shop. Several months ago a keyboard stand was stuck in another city on the day of a gig and yesterday someone’s cello string snapped during the rehearsal.

That sounds like a hard choice @Comefromaway - hope he's found a solution he's happy with.

We're just finishing up half term so not much music here. We did take a trip to stringers though for a new violin case and chin rest and found them really helpful -especially the fact that when DD tried shoulder rests they had suggestions of ones that might work, but then said she was still too small to swap and should come back when she had grown. Made me feel like they weren't just trying to sell- instead giving advice on the right option for her now. She's delighted with her new hard shell case though - it's much lighter and has backpack straps so she can carry it much more easily.