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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:
Original poster
Wafflenose · 14/10/2014 13:46

Most of my littlies have taken 2.5 years to get to Grade 1 piano, and some slightly longer. A couple of teenagers have done it in under a year. It's not a beginners' exam by a long way, and how long to get there depends on age, practice and previous experience.

Practice has slipped a bit here. I'm looking forward to half term now, and will be getting back on the case.

Theas, please don't go, we'd miss you!

OP posts:
RaspberryLemonPavlova · 14/10/2014 14:04

No exams in the Pavlova household this term either Theas although next term will be very busy to make up, I think.

DS2 has had a horrendously busy start to term with Choir, but that's settled now so he will have time to get some practise done and also some theory. He is also tired from starting secondary school, but has been thrilled to have been invited into two of the 'higher' groups as the only Y7. I have also agreed to let him go on school band trip abroad next July.

Ishouldbeweaving · 14/10/2014 14:30

No exams here either Theas and I can't say that I'm missing them at all. At some point they'll start with the second instrument but with any luck that will be summer term (or even better - not at all). DS is entering a contest next month but there's not the same pressure with that, entering is as good an excuse as any to turn up and see some people he knows.

Shakyisles · 14/10/2014 18:54

One exam here this term, now counting down weeks. The plan is for a theory exam after Christmas. It's interesting to hear how everyone else is doing and that we're not the only house where 'scales' is a dirty word.

troutsprout · 15/10/2014 15:22

Hi Theas
Dd picked the Hanson T5 in aged grenadilla with a french bore.
The intention was to go for the intermediate range of their clarinets.(SE range).. But unfortunately Wink they put out a range including the T5 (from their professional range)...which she of course tried and fell in love with instantly! >
It sounds beautiful though ...lol I tried not to flinch as she sauntered off down the street with it and instead just repeated the mantra "we have insurance... We have insurance"

Hanson were brill for the record Smile

Ishouldbeweaving · 15/10/2014 17:49

I had to go look at the photos as I've never heard of grenadilla - how pretty is that? I know it's all about the sound but they are a thing of beauty.

Mistigri · 15/10/2014 20:43

I love quality wooden instruments. DD fell in love with a guitar made of koa at the guitar shop, beautiful but out of the question having just bought a saxophone.

oslomum · 15/10/2014 22:10

Ha, just got the date for dd2 piano exam today. Will have to take dd to the exam centre myself so will be fun...
Slightly nervous now because I suggested dd to leave her pieces for a bit and play something else (but keep practising her scales). But as it was 3 weeks till her next lesson I suspected she would get bored just playing same 3 pieces day in day out.

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/10/2014 09:14

Good luck to your DD! We have two exams (dS1 flute, Ds2 cello) at our centre in December, I'm hoping they are on the same day as I got lucky last year and had consecutive slots for them. All this mention of scales reminds me I keep avoiding my own scales practice! They are hard!

JulieMichelleRobinson · 16/10/2014 11:38

Well, ABRSM confirmed my marking again (phew!) so S has passed her bronze medal with excellence. It helps that she's playing a pretty decent Stentor II with upgraded strings, compared to her contemporary's hideous Skylark thingy (inherited from a cousin and she loves it... sigh....). I need to buy me a stock of violins to lend, or something!

Grade 3 piano for N coming up late November. Was hoping for a few more weeks... and he's now away for half term too. 2 pieces are reasonable, third is getting there and would probably pass even with wrong bits if he doesn't stop, aural was pretty good but not perfect yesterday (teenaged boys + singing is either wonderful or a nightmare, but he hummed and got rhythm and general shape, and aced the other bits after a bit of discussion about how 6/8 is 2 time and 9/8 is three time). Scales are dodgy, arpeggios aren't yet known. He was supposed to do this exam last term... I can't make them practise, though. Panicking about the sightreading.

SpringHeeledJack · 16/10/2014 13:03

just over scholarship auditions at secondary school (last weekend)

DD 'joked' that now she can 'just leave the harp for a couple of weeks, to get covered in dust'

Hmm

are there any harp parents/teachers on this thread, I wonder?

I told D she could have a new lever harp (pedal is beyond us- in cost and space) after her grade 1. It wasn't so much that I was going to see if she passed- more that I wanted to see her reaction if she didn't- ie losing interest, getting frustrated etc etc. I've also made it clear that it's her birthday and Christmas present, and she has to save her pocket money (from Sept-Dec).

(I know this might sound harsh, but I feel we have to make sure she's serious, as she's only been playing just over a year)

we're looking at this (camac Korrigan) or something very similar. She fell in love with the Hermine at the Early Music Shop, when we took her twangy little starter harp in for a repair and so did IWe've been told that you can get to grade 8 on a 34/8 string lever harp, but D's teacher is doubtful

grateful for any info on this. Harp is pretty alien to me, so we're feeling our way a bit

Ishouldbeweaving · 16/10/2014 15:40

SpringHeeledJack - there was a harp thread on here recently, it's still on the front page of extra-curricular and titled (not surprisingly) "does anyone here play the HARP". I'd link it if I had a minute to work out how but the school bus just went past the window so I'm on standby.

SpringHeeledJack · 16/10/2014 17:50

thanks weaving

will have a look

hope it wasn't me Grin

RunAwayHome · 16/10/2014 19:26

You can get to grade 8 now on a 34-string lever harp. The AB exams have pieces marked that are suitable for pedal, lever, or both (though there are fewer choices for lever at the upper grades), and the Trinity exams split into totally separate exams for pedal and non-pedal after grade 3 with a wide choice on each list. The specifics in the syllabus say that lever harps must have minimum 34 strings. The lever harp syllabus tends to include slightly more choices of pieces that have a folk feel to them.

SpringHeeledJack · 16/10/2014 20:14

That's very helpful Runaway, thank you

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/10/2014 13:15

This is a bit of a long shot, but I am heartened by the fact there are harp experts out there! Can anyone recommend a not too expensive xylophone suitable for grade 3 and above? At the moment DS1 has a hired glockenspiel so we're not desperate but thinking in terms of a joint birthday and Christmas present. I will ask his teacher for advice but if anyone has personal experience of a good outlet and/or student brands that won't break the bank, it's always good to know! (Secondhand would be fine.)

Theas18 · 17/10/2014 18:57

Ok..... Bad mother of the year award goes to me lol
Just mentioned to youngest that I was feeling a bit chilled that we have no exams this term. ........

Muuuuummm ...... I am doing grade 7 clarinet in December you know!

Ooopsy!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 17/10/2014 19:47

I laughed out loud at that Theas.

We definitely have no exams this term, but my list for next term has just increased as DS2 has today informed me he is doing Grade 4 clarinet next term. I had hoped he would be happy just to 'learn' clarinet and just do piano and trombone exams!

celtiethree · 18/10/2014 23:27

Hi SpringHeeledJack my DS2 plays the harp and will be sitting his G3 next month. He has the Hermine lever harp and it is a great option. I commented on the other thread re harps that we purchased through school to save the vat which is a great saving. We are following the Scottish trad exams which currently only go to G5 but they are in the process of extending to G8, the Hermine would be ok up to the G8 exam. That said DS2 would love a new Telor harp that he has his eye on.

Outside the harp, I have:
DS1 cello/piano/guitar
DS2 cello/piano/harp
DS 3 cello/piano/chanter

All at fairly early grades but they all enjoy their instruments. DS1 is sitting G2 guitar in a few weeks,

JulieMichelleRobinson · 19/10/2014 13:38

Oh wow, Celtie, well done on following the Scottish exams! I've been using the repertoire with some of the violin students (espec. adult beginners) and have the harp books for my use (playing around grade 3, can't play the grade 5 stuff... because I don't practise!). However, can't take them without flying to Scotland :p

Mistigri · 20/10/2014 16:11

Quick question for the pianists/ teachers out there. Small hands - how do you manage once your child/ student starts to move up to the sort of repertoire where bigger stretches are required? DD is petite and has titchy hands (can just, barely, reach an octave) and they are unlikely to grow much more if at all. She started working on Débussy's Reverie at her last lesson and has the first page done except one bar where she is finding one of the chords a stretch (it's hurting her). Not sure what to advise her to do? On the one hand it's not for an exam so she can cheat, but on the other I kind of feel that she needs to stretch her hands a bit (but I don't want her to pick up a hand injury).

Theas18 · 20/10/2014 19:47

Misti dunno. Dd1 didn't do grade 8 piano as she couldn't reach !

LooseAtTheSeams · 21/10/2014 13:20

Not the solution to the chord problem but a related tip for playing Chopin: when you have a long stretch from one note to playing one/two others straight after (happens quite a bit with Chopin, my teacher says), you can use the sustain pedal on the first note and move your hands up the keyboard at the same time. I'm interested if there are any remedies to impossible chord stretches as I also have small hands and so does DS2!

SpringHeeledJack · 21/10/2014 14:34

thank you celtie, that's good to know

and I'll look into buying through the school if poss (though as school doesn't have a big music dept, might not be a goer)

JulieMichelleRobinson · 21/10/2014 14:47

For hands... You cheat. Depending on the repertoire, you can either rearrange the chord so it fits, omit one note, or spread the chord.