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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Autumn Term Music and Music Exams Thread

388 replies

Wafflenose · 01/09/2014 11:03

Hello everyone. My children went back to school today, so I decided it was time for an Autumn Term thread. Please jump right in!

I have DD1 (MiniWaffle) aged 8, who loves music but knows her own mind!! She is currently playing Grade 6 and 7 Recorder pieces and trying to get her Treble up to scratch. Her second instrument is Flute and she's been hovering around Grade 4 for a while. I have no idea when her next exams will be, or what grade, but none this term that I'm aware of. She is auditioning for the NCO in October though. DD1 also sings, tinkers with piano and ukulele, and has just started the Grade 3 Theory book. I tend to find this one the biggest jump, and if you can do this one, you can manage Grade 4 and 5 easily. Usually. I hope.

DD2 (BabyWaffle) is 6, enjoys music and is going at a completely average pace. I can say this with some confidence, as I have about 120 pupils of my own. She's been playing the recorder for about 18 months and the cello since March. She wants to do Grade 1 Recorder and Initial Grade Cello this term.

Looking forward to hearing about how everyone else is getting on.

OP posts:
firework72 · 28/11/2014 12:35

So pleased for My daughter a good Merit in her grade 3 abrsm Oboe and teacher is skipping grade 4 and working towards grade 5 for the summer term great result al round :-)) Grade 5 theory in feb and grade 5 violin and 4 singing in March its going to be a busy term :-)) Good luck to everybody waiting to take them and waiting for results xx

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 28/11/2014 13:32

Thank you to everyone for the advice about the cello string. I was a bit panicky, could you tell Grin

It's a rental cello. I honestly expected the shop just to fix the string but DH brought home a whole new rental cello. Their call I guess. The shop specialises in string instruments so I guess they know what they are doing. DD2 is disappointed because the new one isn't as shiny as the old one...

If DD2 gets serious about this and especially if we buy her a cello, I will learn how to change a string! YouTube is a great tip.

Her exam was this morning. Can't wait to hear how it went.

ealingwestmum · 28/11/2014 13:54

Congratulations to your DD firework, busy Spring term for you!!

Hope exam went well Hearts, nothing like string drama to derail you temporarily, glad it all got sorted!

janet41 · 28/11/2014 14:32

Well done on the great results so far.

Hearts - I would never attempt to change a cello string but then I have a deep fear of messing up dd's cello (I dropped on of her earlier ones on a stone floor once....in front of a large group of teachers and children.....I still cringe)!

G5 in 10 days; scales much improved, pieces going off boil, and the dreaded aural still a sticky point (singling back even though she does choirs, is working towards G3 singing...)

Shakyisles · 29/11/2014 07:51

Best of luck, guys!
Big push on for grade 5 theory for my saxophone player now.

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/11/2014 10:15

Good luck to everyone! Two weeks till DS2's first cello exam and after the stories on here I hope we don't have any broken strings! Although fantastic teacher will rescue us if it happens so am not going to stress about that.
I am looking forward to the school Christmas concert. Lots of children play something, everyone claps madly whatever happens, and it'll be the first outing for the new school orchestra!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 29/11/2014 10:22

1 week to go until DD2's Initial Cello and Grade 1 Recorder exams. She's not working overly hard, but then I'm so busy at the moment that I might have taken my eye off the ball. We will both be happy with passes - she's only little, and it doesn't come naturally to her.

OP posts:
chauffeurmummy · 29/11/2014 11:18

Despite my dd being unwell and off school she's somehow managed a distinction in her Grade 1 singing. Very pleased for her although it doesn't bode well for future exams as she did absolutely zero practise - I don't even know what pieces she did and certainly never heard them. Oh and she's known for 4 days and 'forgot' to tell me.....

Original poster
Wafflenose · 29/11/2014 12:15

Very well done to her!

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chauffeurmummy · 30/11/2014 00:42

Thank you! x Didn't mean to sound so negative - very happy for her!!

earlychristmas · 02/12/2014 10:17

well, dd (8) did her grade 1 piano and came out with a smile. Luckily I couldn't hear her play because that would have been too nerve wracking. Now waiting for the results...

Shedding · 02/12/2014 12:28

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/12/2014 14:20

Associated Board - usually 2 weeks, but anything from 6 days to just under a month. They have got better in recent weeks.

Trinity - 1 day to 1 week.

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/12/2014 14:21

I meant in recent years - they publish a timetable on their web site, explaining when results will be issued.

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Shedding · 02/12/2014 18:40

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janet41 · 02/12/2014 19:06

Shedding I feel your pain - we are awaiting nco results and then go straight into waiting for g5 cello results (exam on Monday). Never again will we do a Dec exam - too many concerts, parties etc etc to do it justice!

Shedding · 02/12/2014 19:21

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Theas18 · 02/12/2014 22:44

Hahaha... You don't know you're born you youngsters lol

Dd2 in midst of many concerts/services ( we had 1st concert tonight for her) and for some bonkers reason is doing grade 7 clarinet thurs and gcse mocks for the next 2 weeks with a school trip to the jersey boys and a family trip to see Maddy prior as well lol.

Not to mention the uni concerts that I'm popping up the motorway to see- lovely one on Saturday in the Albert hall ( nottingham lol) and more next weekend...

And funniest of all my " biggest boy" has a prep school concert and school service. An acquaintance accosted me at a concert a couple of years ago and said " well ... Which is your boy then?"

I said " he's the one at the front in the DJ waving his arms" lol!

Seriously why do schools ( and teachers) do this to themselves and the kids? I suppose January music exams would " spoil the holidays" or something...

Original poster
Wafflenose · 03/12/2014 11:21

No, it won't be after Christmas! Have a look at their timetable - they are aiming for 2 weeks, and do get everything out before Christmas. I've just had some results after 9 days.

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Shedding · 03/12/2014 12:14

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ealingwestmum · 03/12/2014 12:49

The waiting for AB results is absolutely horrible Shedding but often the result comes in quicker than you expect, even ahead of the schedule most of the time.

We all say we're not cut out for it, but this is just the start and you'll be here, hopefully for the long haul! Grin

Theas18 · 03/12/2014 17:32

Argh! Dd2 got a cold and crap scales tonight. I do not think its cause and effect, rather insufficient practice. She is feeling sorry for herself. I am torn between " told you so, have paracetamol and try harder " and " aw poor you" . I'm not big on sympathy for self inflicted scale issues though lol

Shakyisles · 03/12/2014 17:46

I always got a cold before an exam - may parents eventually put it down to stress as I took A LOT of music exams. It became a family joke.

The nice things about being over here is that exams results come through really quickly. Usually we find out within 2-4 days. Back in my day it was more like 6-8 weeks.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 03/12/2014 18:47

Ah, if it's a special visit, Shedding it might be down to the school/ centre involved... hope they don't take too long.

My Grade 1 Flute candidate got a Merit - unconfident child, only started in January, so really good for her.

My Grade 5 Theory failed, inexplicably. Could have got 80-90%, so we are really just waiting for the breakdown to find out why, but his parents and I have already agreed to enter him again next time. I think he probably rushed, and maybe didn't read the question properly. He certainly knows his stuff.

I have 12 doing Initial/ Grade 1/ Grade 2 Recorders next week. BabyWaffle (the 6 year old) is doing Initial on Cello, and Grade 1 Recorder, on the same day. She is more laid back and dreamy than her sister (ie lives on another planet) and we will all be happy with a couple of passes. She has the potential to get merits but I don't mind, and of course she has no idea.

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Theas18 · 03/12/2014 22:20

Waffle thats a good number of candidates for the starter level exams !

Sorry about yout grade 5 theory. Hope the child isn't too upset. Builds resilience though I guess.

The speed of results now is brilliant isn't it compared to when I was a kid.