Spring /Summer 24 - Music thread

@londonmummy1966 yes, much worse for a little one, agreed!

Thanks mini - I agree doesn't matter how old they are but the examiner knew she was in a primary school which makes it even worse...

@londonmummy1966 that's awful - she should definitely say something -that would throw a much older child no matter someone of ten taking their first grade. Ridiculous ... the examiner really had one job there and didn't do it!

That is very true here too -

That makes a lot of sense actually northerngoldilocks.

Gutting all round as this girl is very musical so DD thought she might get a distinction if she kept her nerve.

Thank you - I didn't know about the recording - I'll definitely get her to ask for the board to look into it. I haven't put any DC into an exam since the days of paper mark sheets where it would be obvious there was a big gap where the third piece should be -perhaps it is less straightforward when its on screen.

Definitely complain. DD's school put in a complaint when the examiner put a comment on DD's mark sheet about sounding her consonants in the German when she was actually singing in Norwegian so if that merits a complaint then what happened to your DD's pupil definitely should. Sounds very upsetting.

I think that's dreadful to be honest and a formal complaint should be put in.

Can I ask for some opinions please? DD has a 10 year old piano student who took her first ever exam (Grade 1) last week at school. She was quite upset and a bit thrown as the examiner didn't ask for her third piece. After the aural tests her pupil told the examiner she hadn't been asked for her third piece and the examiner was apparently quite cross and told her off when she played it (which meant that the piece didn't go well...). DD thinks she should tell the mother to raise this with the head of music at the school and suggest that this is referred back to the ABRSM as this isn't a great way to behave with young and nervous candidates (pupil is very tall for her age but it was a primary school so they should know how young they are and it was a Grade 1).

What do you all think?

@minisnowballs that's totally understandable. It just created a bit of an awkward atmosphere for DD, not helped by the fact that she wasn't allowed to play cello for her music scholarship as they had a two instrument limit and clarinet was chosen because she has made such amazing progress on it.

@northerngoldilocks it is a big form of ~ 180 children and five of them are from DD's old school which I think is okay. She has already met some of the other new joiners at various events and has made some brand new friendships, which she seems very pleased about. There were definitely some clique issues in her old school so I think we are all looking forward to a fresh start where she can focus on her music and new subjects.

That seems very unreasonable from your Saturday centre - they know that children are waiting on those results and they can't spare a half hour to login and send them out? That's really positive about your DD - schools do seem to make such ridiculous rules for themselves sometimes. It's good to see they are so keen on music - DD's old school became very sport focused while we were there.

@yodaforpresident the conflicting instrument thing is tricky. The bassoon holds all the trump cards for DD2 as the money she receives from the UK government that allows her to be at music school is all predicated on her performance on that one instrument. No-one ever judges her on her flute performance or singing at all. At least it makes everything very clear.

@minisnowballs thank you - I think she is going to find it strange, especially for the singing as they got on so well, but hopefully she settles in quickly.

I feel your pain about conflicting instruments, we had this with cello and clarinet. The cello teacher was not happy about clarinet being taken up and made that very clear to DD. It was a very fine balancing act!

Lovely to hear exam results, every level is an achievement. Full steam ahead here with preparation for summer courses. And of course another trip to the repairer. I really just need to start a direct debit I think! I did ask if a full service would be cheaper than a pad or a screw here and there but he said definitely not. I think he can cope with a bassoon a small part at a time but couldn't face doing everything!

Oh and if we have any horn players here- Chet's are offering two fully funded horn places at their summer school.

I've dropped mine off for his final county youth orchestra residential today-he's 20 so will be too old next time. He's been in the county ensembles since year 6 so it's been a long time.

@yodaforpresident congrats to her for finishing - that must feel odd after so long.

No music was done here for the first week. DD2 has now taken the flute out of its case at least - I think she's worried by the slightly menacing comment on her school report "with more time on her hands over the summer I have no doubt DD2 will be able to complete all the studies, pieces and ARSM repertoire that I have set".

Flute teacher not that keen on playing 'second fiddle' to the bassoon in term time I think ... certainly there's some very detailed summer practice notes for her, while the bassoon is much more 'have a nice rest'...!

Thankyou northern that's really helpful 😊.

Congrats to your DD on her exam result @GeneralMusings - that's a fantastic achievement. Congratulations too to @NimbleFox's DD - a merit is still a merit! Fingers crossed to @northerngoldilocks's DS.

It has been a hectic few weeks including an emotional Leaver's Day at DD's school where she sang a very beautiful Laudate Dominum. She seems ready to move on to senior school but I do wonder how she will get on, given she has been with the same music teachers for six years in one case and five in another. We have had a week off since school finished - I love all the music but everyone was exhausted. Starting to ramp up again as we have a weekend of rehearsals for youth opera this week and a self-tape for BYMT to do.

Worth asking if Benslow have anything they could lend you. http://benslowmusic.org/index.asp?pageid=2989

We haven't done any exams this term but will do one piano grade 2 in September on a private visit and one grade 5 violin possibly Nov/Dec term. He has recently changed violin teacher. He changed to the one he was temporarily with his first teacher was off sick. But unfortunately now his first teacher has moved away and can't teach him at all. It seemed a natural move to this teacher. DS has responded very well with the totally different teaching method so far. Hopefully it's a good move. Second teacher is a much more qualified professional but very strict for DS who is only 7 but he's happy to take up the challenge so I guess it might be alright. His techniques have improved dramatically over just a few weeks but I hope he doesn't lose the confidence or style of his play. But I haven't got a choice as in the little town we live in there are not many violin teachers. He was just awarded the most improved senior strings at our musical centre's annual award. Everyone was shocked to see a 7yo receiving a senior but it was based on the level not the age .

Wahooo well done!! My daughter hadn't taken any grades at 7. That's really impressive 😍.

I've looked at the flute recommendations.. And it's likely she'll have to stay with her flute for a few more years and save up herself for uni. There's some reconditioned ones but I don't think it's in the budget right now!