Summer Term Music and Music Exams Thread

[Wafflenose]

A new thread for a new term!

If you're a music parent, or music teacher, please introduce yourselves here. It was getting hard to keep track on the old thread.

I am a music teacher (woodwind, 90% recorders these days) and I have:

DD1 (aged 8) who is taking Grade 5 Recorder this term, currently working towards Grade 4 Flute, and also sings, plays the piano and one tune on the ukulele (no lessons on these three). She has completed a video audition for the South West Music School, but we won't hear yet, and quite honestly, I don't think she'll get in this year.

DD2 (aged 5) who is taking Initial Grade Recorder this term, started the cello a month ago, and can play a few tiny, baby tunes on the piano and ukulele (again, no lessons on these).

I only have one pupil doing an exam this term, other than my girls - a Grade 2 Recorder player. I'm doing 11 Music Medals though.

Ishouldbeweaving thanks for looking, I think you will be even more confused when your DS's time comes as A levels are 'all change' again in a years time. Going back to 2 year courses, though believe there will still be a separate AS qualification. I'm sure those with current yr10 DC will know more, as they are the first year it will affect.

I think you may have me muddled with someone else, as DD2 only 11, sings but takes no grades and doesn't read music. More than capable, but too bloody-minded grin
DD1 is taking grade 8 on her main instrument soon (recorder), has grade 5 piano, and is grade 5/6 level on violin (none taken) - so will possibly take 2 grade 6's next year. Appreciate well behind some that are applying, but a late starter.

Tortoiseturtle DD1 won't be starting diploma straight after grade 8. concentrating on audition stuff and general playing for 1st term of yr13, The rest of the year will be depending on where/whether she is going in 2015. She does know a yr10, just turned 15, has 3 grade 8's and has already started working towards diploma on 1st study - not singing though.

JimBob - I don't think you appreciate quite how far we live from the guildhall! DD1 is doing a residential there next week, and I'm more than a little concerned despite the fact that my London office (I say 'my', I mean the London office of my firm, my designated office is the brussels one) is round the corner and I've managed to organise to be there most of the time she will.

Herc - Its NOT The Guildhall. Its Gloucester Academy of Music.
Appreciate may still be some distance from you, it's 2+ hours from us, but DD1 was quite a bit older. But as JimBob says, lots of young ones there returning year on year.

More than potato - minimum age 14? For diploma? Which board is that? ABRSM doesn't have a minimum age that I can find and Dd is currently working towards grade 8.
Other daughter is heading down trinity route until she gets her grade 5 theory.

Circular - I'm not confused, I'm just idle! I knew you'd got two DD but I couldn't work out whether it was the older one taking the G8 by reading up a few posts. I could have read further up the page but I just hedged my bets and waffled. There's a few more points there for her with G6 on the horizon so that's good news too.

I'm not looking as far ahead as A levels, we're riding the waves of all-change GCSE at the moment. One step at a time is enough for me.

I was trying to remember how I chose a university, way back when, and I was struggling to remember. I was lucky in that the well regarded one that was ranked highly in my subject liked me and made me a EE offer. I didn't have a difficult choice and somehow I don't think my son will have it that easy.

Shaky

I'm sure it was ABRSM, I know that's what my friends dc have done.
Am I not correct? They seem to be under the impression they can't go any further now.
Maybe I heard wrong and she meant she didn't want them to do it until this age, but sure I have heard this before. Happy to be proved wrong though and may help us in the future

I'm pretty sure that there is no minimum age requirement to do an ABRSM performance diploma - have just checked the syllabus and can find no mention of age. I think you do have to be 18 to do a teaching diploma.
Maybe Morethan's friends think that their children won't be mature enough or academically advanced enough to do a diploma until they're 14. At the end of the day, they will need to write a 1000 word essay on the music they are performing, and do a viva voce, as well as performing.
I've heard of people taking the diploma at age 12. Chinese children sometimes take it very early.

DD1 had her Grade 4 singing on Friday. She said it went okay, even the sight singing, but the main thing is IT'S OVER! Roll on the summer!

DD's G6 violin result came in today. Disappointed with her 127 until her teacher provided lovely feedback re her effort made to learn in a term. This may have been a drop from her usual (and sometimes too high bar) but I am pleased with her growing maturity, even if mixed with the hormonal tantrum here and there?!

Lots learned this year to reflect on for both violin and piano - focus for Autumn Y6 on improving technical/musicality skills, no exams (yes!) and most of all, enjoy non-exam pieces!

Have a great summer everyone!

just to add....I was not disappointed, she was! I could not get anywhere near these marks when I was younger, maybe why I gave up at G2 in 1979!

DD(13) got 108 in her G4 piano...

she was pleased, I was pleased - especially since one piece totally unravelled the week before the exam... she is learning for pleasure, not exam results, I should not think it will matter one jot in 10 years time that she "just" got a pass at G4 piano....

Ealingwestmum - glad you added that! I was a bit , as I read it as if you were disappointed. I know all about setting that bar high. We're waiting for ds2's gr7 result. He'll not be happy unless he gets a distinction.

Exams completed yesterday, one grade three is worried, apparently he went to pieces in the exam but hopefully my other entries did OK. Lovely comments for my little one who did her prep test. I did have a sixteen year old come out in tears though, she is a real perfectionist and has had so much on, grade 5 balle and modern plus GCSEs, I think grade 1 piano may have been a little much. She was a distinction level candidate though, so I'm sure she will have passed.

I know - it's our kids' expectations that are difficult to manage...hope he gets it schilke!

The result gave us a chance to reflect on why she does music, and hopefully she may put behind her the trophy collecting and focus on the enjoying the journey more, and that improvement does not stop at the 'exam'.

Quick learners do not make always best musicians, and to hear her now play in relaxed mode is great as she has really taken the feedback on board and ready to go back to some technique basics. I've told her she's still only 10...3 years into playing, what a great start to something (if she wants to) play for the rest of her life!

That's amazing progress ealingwestmum. I am amazed at young children who have got so far. Ds2 started playing the violin when he was 9 and having just turned 14 he has done grade 7. So 5 years to get to grade 7. He is very hard on himself in all aspects of life - particularly in music and academic work. Dh(musician) has tried to slow him down and get him to just enjoy playing, but it has been difficult!

We bought him an electric violin for his birthday and he is loving it. It has become the instrument to pick up and have fun with.

DD is a quick learner and loves playing music with others, but would progress a lot faster if she put in more practice! Are your DCs just naturally self-motivated? Would they rather practise their instruments than play on their skateboards with friends, or watch TV, or whatever? Or were you able to encourage them in that direction?

is DD1 last night.

When she started seriously at age 5.5, she was utterly self motivated and driven, and was putting in about 5 hours a week. These days, it's about 10 minutes! She does love it, but would rather be doing other things. She grumbles about practising, but does do it eventually when we tell her to. She enjoys the attention she gets for her performances though.

Wow, that's amazing at her age. And that level of practice at 5 I find pretty extraordinary.
If only there were some like that at our primary. Their annual "concert" is a form of torture. In fact this year I am boycotting it and DC2 can manage without my support.

Lovely waffle. Well done to you dd. Children performing always brings a tear to my eye! She looks so confident. Love the camera work

Unfortunately ds2 will not play solo, as he thinks he's not good enough. He has refused for school concerts, which is such a shame. He enjoys playing in groups. The girls have played in school assemblies and I'm amazed they're brave enough to stand up. I remember sobbing through a recorder piece, as I was placed on the edge of a semi circle and people could see me

DH has been told off for his 'cinematography'!

That's lovely Wafflenose and she looks absolutely gorgeous. Im very wistful remembering my DD in blue gingham and ankle socks.

Tortoise, no practice is not always their first choice, or even their second or third! Sometimes it is, especially if there is a performance, exam looming (or a lesson next day!). But they love playing in bands, DS2 also especially enjoys performing.

I'm sure they could have made faster, quicker progress, but they are enjoying their journey, the older 2 definitely won't be career musicians but will always have something they can enjoy.

The cinematography was unique so don't tell him off Waffle :) Lovely lovely performance.

schilike - such a shame your DS2 does not like playing solo - he really does impose tough high standards on himself!

We have been really lucky as DD's school really does excel in music and instilling confidence in the girls from day 1. Yes, it's independent which we bit the bullet on from reception year and make the sacrifices accordingly, but she absolutely loves school.

Re motivation Tortoise - probably being a single child with no siblings for her to benchmark herself against, she is relatively self motivated, though practice times do not always equal quality. I make it clear that all her extra curricula choices are hers, and that she does them to the 'best of her ability'. This is not the same as 'to be the best'. At times, the clash between violin, piano, county club swimming and ballet and of course, school work is immense, but SHE has to make the choice of what to cull, not hide behind me. This may appear harsh, I provide support, but not to the point of micro management. I also do not want to hear when she is grown up, I only did these things because you wanted me to...

She is a good all-rounder who loves what she does, but has zero time management skills :) We've been fortunate so far that her academic work has not suffered but this may all change when she enters senior school.

I am sending her to residential music school tomorrow and will be interested to see when she comes back how her motivation is, having been amongst talented young musicians for 6 days. Being a deeply competitive girl, I think she will come back inspired!!

Have just realised she looks just like me here.

And that the accompanist made a mistake and got a beat behind her towards the end. DD1 compensated and added a beat of her own so that they would finish together. All I heard last night was a mistake. Now that I've watched it back, I'm fascinated and astounded. I think that's unusual for an 8 year old - especially in a piece which changes time signature in nearly every bar.

DD is doing some music courses this summer too, and will have a great time and hopefully improve a fair bit. That's the side of music she's most keen on, plus the performing side. But let's face it, good musicians do tend to do a fair bit of practice on their own...

Lovely Waffle - thank you. My usual question when my husband is recounting a tale of so and so missing a bar out/ coming in late (whatever) is always "did you finish together?" If the answer is yes then the chance is that the audience didn't spot it but a raggy ending is always a dead giveaway.

Tortoiseturtle - We are a teen slacker household, left to his own devices he'd spend every waking minute online with his mates. I did experiment one weekend and left him to see whether he'd emerge for food - nope. Practice comes under the same heading as homework - later, tomorrow, after dinner - and he seems to put just enough work in to get by and no more (again, very like homework). Fortunately he gets a lot of ensemble playing and I tell myself that makes up for the lack of practice. The only time I've seen him push himself is when someone else could play something he couldn't but he doesn't get enough exposure to really good players of a similar age to make that happen regularly.

The school holiday rules will be coming into force soon - daily practice because why not?