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.

DD1 finished her theory book today! I have some past papers for her to have a go at, just to check her understanding... and then we're ready to move on to the next one!

DD2 finished hers too, although it was a very easy one. It was easier to get DD1 to knuckle down if her sister had to do it too!

Pourme, great news.

Wafflenose, she is over her tonsilitis then? Sounds like she has been working hard for the holidays.

DS2 has done the theory set by his teacher. She is using 4 and 5 simultaneously for some reason. He has also practised a bit of piano most days and done some clarinet/recorder. He has been back to choir today and last night, the daughter of the Master of Music was married today.

Yes thanks Raspberry. She had to take REALLY vile antibiotics for 10 days, but was so good about it. I've given both girls the weekend off (although they've had recorders out), and DD1 will do the theory papers next week. We've spent a lot of time pottering at home, going for bike rides, gardening etc, so it's been both a fun and productive summer.

DD1 has just completed her first Grade 2 Theory Paper, without looking anything up, and scored 97%

She lost 2 marks for neatness, and one for leaving out a rest she was supposed to copy. She took a guess at what 'Presto' meant, and got it right!

I'm so pleased - she hasn't exactly enjoyed it, but has knuckled down and is seeing the benefits. We have three more papers which she might as well have a go at, and I'll buy the next book this week!

She is also really enjoying her recorder and is playing lots of pieces at around Grade 6 (and one Grade 7 piece for 'fun'), starting to pick up the treble a bit more, and playing duets with her sister. We have also had a lot of her old books out lately, and been treated to little 'concerts'.

Still no news about DD1s Grade 4 singing result. She took it at the secondary school she'll be starting at in Sept, and I have emailed the music admin lady to ask with no joy. I am sitting on my hands to stop myself emailing the head of music - really don't want to become "that sort of parent" before she's even started!!

Bramshott what's that, five weeks now? Do you think that school have the results but with it being the holidays aren't getting them out?

I'm pleased and surprised because daily practice is now a thing here. A tutor on one of the courses DS went to said that he'd missed three days practice in the last 25 years and they were days when he was on long haul flights and couldn't get to his instrument. Someone else told him that when he lived in student accommodation with BigNamePlayer, BNP practised for an hour in the morning and if he wasn't banding that night, a further two hours in the evening. I don't know which story struck home but one of them did.

I'm enjoying it while it lasts (today it was a lovely accompaniment to my bathroom cleaning) but I won't really believe it until I've seen him keep it up after school starts.

wafflenose poor miniwaffle, and always seems worse to be ill in holidays. Great that she has cracked on with her theory after.

We have GCSE results today, DS1 has done very well and it includes A* for music, (with full marks for performance) so is very happy.

Well done to your DS1, Raspberry! I'm so glad he is happy with his results, and his performance must have been amazing!

Miniwaffle did another theory paper, and got 98% for this one! I thought of telling her she needn't bother with the other two I got her, but had a flick through and saw that there's something she hasn't attempted for over a year in one of them (transposing a melody to a different clef) so she might as well finish them.

Yes, I suspect that's exactly it Ishouldbe. Hoping that next week they might be in and we might hear...

Well done to your DS Raspberry. Is he going on to A level music?

Thanks Wafflenose and Bramshott.

He isn't doing A level music, heading towards science and Maths with some philosophy thrown in!

He will keep playing his instruments of course, and the bands he plays in.

Our piano teacher has just texted to ask me round for a catch-up next week to see how DS2 is doing with his theory, so its a good job he has done all his homework!

Well done to your ds Raspberry! That's really good.

Dd (11) is doing her music summer school this week. Performance this evening ... I'm really looking forward to it. She has been tired but buzzing!... Played 9-4 every day.... Had a sore mouth on Monday and Tuesday

She is debating having keyboard lessons when she starts secondary school in September . Her clarinet teacher has said it could help her theory too? (she's just done her grade 5 practical so if she wants to carry on with exams this might help??) I am not musical ... So was wondering if someone could explain please? I imagine it is because you can see all the notes... Or (lol )is that a stupid thing to say?
Dd has been keen to play something else for a bit and someone has leant her a big keyboard. We cannot afford piano (plus have no room)
We also have an acoustic guitar... That's about all that is available .
She will have to choose.

Piano helps you with certain aspects of theory, like:

• reading bass clef
• thinking about intervals and chords as combinations of tones and semitones.
• knowing the notes in scales (can help for string players who often learn scales as fingering patterns) and again thinking about tone and semitone patterns.

• hearing harmonies and cadences (chord sequences at the end of a phrase).

For music college and for most university music degrees you need at least grade 6 on piano. It's why I started learning it at around the same age.

We're so happy over here today! DD1 did her last Grade 2 Theory paper... and scored 100%!

I'm giving her a few days off, but will definitely buy the next book and get it started before she goes back to school.

I feel like a bit of a meanie, but sooner or later she's going to have to do it anyway, and it would have been meaner to have left it. We haven't managed on the daily practice of both instruments front, but she has been playing the recorder LOADS - the most she has since she was about 5.5 actually. Mostly Grade 6 level descant stuff, one Grade 7 piece, some treble and lots of fun things. Flute hasn't been out so much, but I think we can say the regime has worked and inspired her. The theory is already helping with her flute scales.

DD2 isn't a reluctant practiser at all, and has got on with it when asked. I've made it clear exams aren't the be all and end all (I'm happy not to have to pay for every single one!) but she has had a think, and decided she wants to do Initial Grade Cello and Grade 1 Recorder next term, even if they're on the same day.

I'll have to start a new thread for the new term soon. I can't believe how well-used they've been.

well done to all on the late session results!

All good here, new (ok, old german c 1890's) violin purchased here, new bow selection still to be done (CF or wood...minefield!) and raring to go on new term. Well, nearly...

Looking forward to the new thread waffle. It's only taken me 2 terms to work out how to create bold text

Congratulations to miniPavlova on the GCSE and miniWaffle with the continuing theory work. We have two weeks left in the holiday, theory lessons have started up again and he has an instrument lesson next week. My pocket had hoped that he wouldn't bother with exams on the second instrument until G6 (when there are UCAS points to be had) but he wants to take them. My mother said she'd buy him a new trombone when he reached grade 4, I suspect he'll be starting with either that or G5 so she may be paying out earlier than she thought.

I should be gardening, weaving would be nice but the garden won't wait.

Well done Waffle DD - 100% in theory, wow!

Julie Not seen any courses asking for G6 piano, and been looking through many with DD1. Quite a few say G5 piano.

DD1 busy gathering personal statement info for CUKAS and UCAS, and trying to decide on audition pieces. Expecting a busy term, no practical exams, may take G8 theory but depends on school workload.

Circular,

It may have changed since my day (I graduated in 2005) - I think there were some requiring grade 5 and others grade 6 back when I applied. A friend did earn a place somewhere with only grade 4 piano, but she had reached grade 4 in a year (last minute decision to apply for music degree!).

Julie, I had a look at entry requirements recently, DS is 14 so there's still time to hit G5 piano from a standing start. I doubt he'll be applying to the RAM where G5 piano is not a requirement but is "desirable to enable you to improve your general musicianship" or Aberdeen (again not a requirement but "desirable"). I had a good look around and we decided that he isn't slamming any doors shut by starting the instrument he wants to do (trombone) rather than the instrument that would be most useful to him (piano). If he wants to teach then he's going to need piano, we see the need for it but he doesn't. Yet. My campaign of brainwashing will continue...

I suspect that his anti-piano stance comes because his father plays piano and DS doesn't want to compete if he can't win.

Ishouldbe If he's going into yr10 then 3 years to applications. Although most want grades/level on starting course, always a plus to have the grade on application. DD was reluctant about starting piano at 13 or 14 as a means to an end then started to enjoy it, but still took over 3 years to get from grade zero to 5. Familiar with bass clef, but progress slowed down beyond grade 3.
Maybe if he doesn't want to follow his father, keyboards would be a better option - IIRC requirements say piano/keyboard skills. Or jazz piano if he is a brass player?

I started piano at 15, interviewed at 17 (while working for Grade 4) and was told that as long as I had Grade 5 by the time I got there, it would be fine. I got offers from all of them, but struggled with the piano sight reading at Exeter - it was hard!

Waffle Just checked Exeter as not on DD's radar, they don't do music now, so guess that's why. Many Unis also don't seem to be auditioning and/or interviewing for music. Which is a shame for her as she interviews better than she looks on paper.

Busy preparing dd2 for grade 5 practical and grade 5 theory. Miss 10 has been working on technique, lots of double stopping studies and repertoire. She's also had a grow, so saving up for the next violin and bow. I never knew the bow was so expensive! She's doing brilliantly with her harmony book on the long haul up to grade 8 theory.

(faints with shock at the Grade 5 theory) What is your secret to getting it done, preferably painlessly? We managed Grade 2 theory in four weeks, but it was her third attempt, and involved waiting a year to let her grow up! I am expecting Grade 3 theory to take until the spring, once she's back at school and doing a chapter a week. I'd hope she sits her Grade 5 in or before June 2016, but am not holding my breath. Sigh.

No secret. She just used to do 30 minutes workbook three times a week. Now she's finished the workbook she's practising past papers. Fortunately she finds exactly the same questions hard and easy as her sister. She finds chord recognition easy. Ditto writing scales. She doesn't like SATB short score question and she gets frustrated with the transposition. She just does a couple of questions at a time. Soon she has to learn a load more Italian, French and German. I helped my 10 year old by making up lots of rhymes and actions. It worked well as she passed first time round when she'd just turned 9.

So miss 7 will probably go in for it session 1 2015. I do believe in them understanding in depth and not just to pass the exam. The only thing miss 10 has forgotten is some of the Italian and German terms - and even I have to look up the German as they tend to be more obscure. She's finding the grade 6 stuff is fine - so she is just using the ABRSM 'harmony in practise' book to work through. A bit daunting initially, she is finding it fun now. It's done wonders for her composition.

I keep telling miss 7 that if she wants to get her higher grades and letters she HAS to pass the grade 5 theory. There is no getting round it ( I haven't explained that she could do trinity) and we expect that if she works hard, she will pass. So that's what she's doing. She is hoping to grade 8 before she turns ten.