Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Summer Term Music, Musicians and Music Exams thread

543 replies

Wafflenose · 13/04/2015 09:22

Hello again everyone! I know not everyone in the UK has gone back to school yet, and some of you are overseas, but term here starts today, so it's time for a new thread. Please post away about your children, your own musical studies or any questions about music exams/ learning an instrument generally. We have a helpful and experienced bunch of people here to answer queries or reassure you.

I have MiniWaffle, who is 9, and BabyWaffle who is 6. Mini has passed Grade 5 Recorder and Grade 4 Flute, and also plays some trumpet, piano and ukulele. Baby has passed Grade 1 Recorder and Initial Cello, and tinkers with the piano (when it's not in the repair shop...)

This term for exams, we have Grade 3 Theory (Mini) - as a warm-up for Grade 5 which will hopefully take place next year - and Grade 1 Cello (Baby). Both in June. I am doing Grade 2 Xylophone for the NCO Parents' Challenge! We have been challenged to learn an instrument unrelated to our proper ones, and I'm really a clarinettist.

OP posts:
drummersmum · 24/07/2015 15:01

Ishould that's really shocking and sad. I am speechless. I thought music was untouchable as a subject. Even more shocking is the private school!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 24/07/2015 16:10

That's awful Ishouldbe. Dcs school didn't have the numbers 2 years ago, but they facilitated a student doing it at a neighbouring school. They ran it this year with four and are doing so next year, (four being their minimum).

I hope you find a solution for your DS.

LooseAtTheSeams · 24/07/2015 16:10

IShould - I feel for you, a friend is having a similar battle over sixth form as the local sixth form does BTEC but not A level music and she's worried it will restrict options at degree level. The problem is that there other schools that offer it but their results aren't very good in music compared to their results in other subjects. Did your school give any reason why they'd dropped it?

Ishouldbeweaving · 24/07/2015 16:30

It's something to think about for those choosing schools for Y7, A levels seem such a very long way away but they come around so quickly. It wasn't anything that we gave any thought to at ten (which is partly why I'm beating myself up so much about it now) but I've convinced myself that if I could go back now and talk to the younger me we'd still choose the school that we did. There was a window where there was a consortium arrangement for music but we missed the couple of years where it was in operation.

I was surprised about the local private school but I went back and looked at their prospectus again and no, music at A level is not an option. I looked at the results for the big sixth form college, the last time I looked there were 12 entrants for A level music but last year it was down to 7. There are 1500 students there, that means that out of 750 in the year only 7 took music. I can see that it would not be a viable option for smaller sixth forms.

I'm sure that it will all work out fine in the end.

LilyBolero · 24/07/2015 17:37

Unfortunately schools will only offer subjects that are economically viable and 6th form funding has taken a massive hit under this Govt. it comes down to numbers - if not enough people want to do it, the course won't run.

RapidlyOscillating · 24/07/2015 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shakyisles · 25/07/2015 23:03

Seven weeks to go for miss 8's sax exam. She pretty much knows her scales but they aren't perfect yet. She's doing well with aurals but I want her to cram in as much practise as possible. She wants to get a higher mark than less time (142) but so far she isn't quite putting in the same amount of work on her scales - enough, but I suspect unless she raises her game she will lose a couple of marks in that area.

We have just started back after holidays. So all you over there enjoy your long summer holiday. I'm dreaming of spring.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/07/2015 23:39

Good luck to her, and I know she'll be fine. Even if she doesn't get the same mark this time, that's still remarkable. My pupils tend to take 2 years to bridge the gap to Grade 6, so I'm usually pleasantly surprised if it takes less, and she's done so well. I do try with them, but in the end it really comes down to practice doesn't it, and what else is going on. I guess for the ones that take it up at 10/11, they are hitting a busy patch education-wise by Grade 6. Good for her taking it now!

OP posts:
Noteventhebestdrummer · 26/07/2015 01:15

It's possible to take A level music outside school by attending classes on a Saturday at places like Birmingham Conservatoire and Blackheath (?) in London - I didn't find anywhere further north that offered it when I looked a while ago

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 27/07/2015 10:03

rapidly that seems really late. Am sure its not as bad as she thought. Is it for weeks until the Centre is open, because results have been coming through in ten days ?

More than a girl in my DCs youth band is going to your DDs school having just done Grade 8 sax. Shes been travelling some way for the sax lessons.

LooseAtTheSeams · 27/07/2015 10:30

Rapidly just saw your post and hope you get results earlier than that - maybe from the teacher? I really think it'll be fine from what you say and hope your DD can relax now and enjoy the holiday.
DS2 has gone off to tennis lessons today with a big grin as he's taught himself a jazz piece (a very easy one from the first Martha Miers book).
Ishouldbe best of luck with the sixth form visits. We have open evenings for DS2's secondary school choices in September but we're pretty sure he's following DS1 as at least the school has GCSE music and enthusiastic teachers.
Unrelated, but does anyone know if the performance requirements will get harder in the new style of GCSEs? DS1 would have grade 5/6 pieces by that stage so I'm assuming that's about right for a reasonable grade? He was asking me yesterday. I know the written exam will be harder but as he doesn't know any different I don't intend to worry him about that! He doesn't choose options until after Christmas but music is definitely on his list.

woolleybear · 27/07/2015 16:40

Just had the good news that dd got merit and 125 for grade 1 clarinet, so pleased as is her teacher.

She picked up the clarinet for the first time after a two week holiday yesterday and is working on some fun stuff, mainly lady Gaga during the holiday apparently!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 27/07/2015 19:13

Well done to miniwoolley!

The girls have gone to my mum's for 3 nights, with no instruments - they worked hard last week so are having a proper break. Then Mini is going to have to build up stamina ready for her course!

OP posts:
LooseAtTheSeams · 28/07/2015 11:57

Woolleybear You must be very proud of your DD - well done to her! I like to play Lady Gaga when I practise, before tackling the dreaded scales! Smile

woolleybear · 28/07/2015 15:58

Thanks, I bought her a book with pop stuff in and that's what she has picked out to learn, doesn't sound remotely like anything recognisable yet but I'm sure that will come!

Scaredofthepianoexaminer · 28/07/2015 16:06

142 for my NCO challenge Gr1 piano!!!!
And a bit of money raised along the way which was the whole point of the exercise, so all good.
Might even pluck up the courage to have a few lessons now.

morethanpotatoprints · 28/07/2015 16:13

Raspberry

Are you by any chance quite North?
Dh has a student going, just done grade 8 and she has travelled miles for lessons and also had some skype lessons.

DD got a distinction in her gr 5 sax. Grin

ealingwestmum · 28/07/2015 16:26

Good on you Scared...I was looking out for this result with anticipation Wink

ealingwestmum · 28/07/2015 16:30

and Sciencerocks...did I miss that result? If so, hope you managed to overcome your nerves!

drummersmum · 28/07/2015 19:28

morethan great news! But hardly a surprise, right? Wink

morethanpotatoprints · 28/07/2015 19:35

drummer

Total surprise, honestly. She did her gr5 singing a few weeks back and failed the aural dismally. This time she got nearly full marks for it.
I know they can be hit and miss, well dd especially that we were thinking merit if the examiner was nice Grin

morethanpotatoprints · 28/07/2015 19:39

Ishouldbe

Is it not worth getting a private teacher for the A level, they can find a centre in which your ds could take the exam?
Could you look at various boards to see if it's doable.
I know some who did GCSE like this, but don't know the A level syllabus.

Ishouldbeweaving · 28/07/2015 20:40

Morethan no, I don't want him taking another A level on top of his school work because with all the time he puts into his playing commitments it's not fair. I know it's not going to disadvantage him if he doesn't get it because universities do recognise that not everyone is able to take A level music, you can substitute G8/G5 theory if your sixth form doesn't offer it. He knows he wants a music degree and he wants to do the A level and it would be an easy subject for him. (Before anyone rips my ears off, I know it's not an easy subject in itself but it would be easier for him - he has a better knowledge base in music than in any other subject. He could waltz through the performance element tomorrow and have a good attempt at the composition too) With a short list of four sixth forms he should get a place somewhere even if it means I have to start doing the school run again (we're over three miles away so currently have a school bus).

I'm looking on it as a positive thing in that he gets to practise his decision making skills before it comes to choosing a university (did I say that already?)

Is it smiles all around now your DD will be starting her new school with the distinction? What's her first study out of all the things she does well? (don't answer if you don't want, I'm only being nosy)

scaredofthepianoexaminer is it time for a name change then as there was clearly nothing at all to be frightened of? DH mentioned a G1 challenge this week, I suggested he take recorder seeing as we have a shelf of them. Apparently he already has G4 recorder, that would be why we have a shelf of them then (d'oh!). He's narrowed it down to flute, my suggestions of bassoon and cello were rejected. What he hasn't considered is that the dog howls with higher notes and I can't see that a flute is going to go down well with the canine music critic.

Congratulations to Woolleybear cub too.

I am home alone this week, DH and DD are gone by 8am and don't get home until 10pm. They are both on a brass summer school and the house is strangely tidy, confirming my suspicion that it's not me that generates all the clutter around here.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 28/07/2015 21:58

Congratulations on all the fabulous results!

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 28/07/2015 22:04

Ishouldbe

I feel so sorry for him because it's what he wants. I totally agree though that the lack of A level won't hold him back.
I have heard stories of people being far from the desired profile and being offered a place immediately. One girl we know had hardly any academic or music grades, just grade 5 on its own.
When faced with talent it doesn't matter.