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Extra-curricular activities

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

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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:
KaputKiss · 23/04/2015 21:35

Hi Much - my Ds (7) plays violin, but started guitar at school in September. He is doing trinity grade 1 this summer (deciding on Tuesday if he's ready) or at Christmas. Which pieces is your Ds doing?

Ishouldbeweaving · 24/04/2015 08:10

Muchtoomuchtodo as a non-musical mum my advice would be to read the syllabus of the exam board you're using so that you know the structure of the exam and what else they need to know other than the three pieces. For my son's grade one we turned up to find that he was expected to produce a lip slur exercise that he said he'd never seen before. If he had seen it the importance of it had passed him by. Fortunately the previous candidates had been equally baffled so the clerk was checking as people came in that they knew what they should be doing. Never was a warm up period so well used.

His teacher will do all the exam prep, he needs to carry on playing through any mistakes rather than starting over because it's a performance he's doing. If he's not used to that then it's helpful if he can perform to an audience - my mother was the audience for years. It's the standard stuff - do you have to take him to the exam or is it at school? If it's out of school do you need to to a dummy run to check where it is, the timing, what the car parking is like?

I found the first exam to be the hardest for me because I didn't really know what was going to happen and I wasn't altogether sold on the idea of exams for small children. The small child didn't have a care in the world and enjoyed it. It meant time off school and the ice cream van that was parked right outside the exam centre when we came out made his day. Sadly we never again met up with an ice cream van at an exam centre but there was always the possibility that there might be.

Shakyisles · 24/04/2015 09:00

My children usually enjoy exams. We always arrive in plenty of time and we always do something special afterwards - their choice. It's ranged from hot choc and cake, to McDonald's and everything in between. We celebrate taking the exam - never the result.

Scales are a gift mark because you know they are going to be asked. Sight read frequently. Practise aurals - the rubric for what the examiner says helps tremendously these days for putting candidates at ease.

LooseAtTheSeams · 24/04/2015 12:24

I've sat outside quite a few grade 1s now! I agree wholeheartedly with celebrating the exam rather than the result and I also think it's worth saying that the examiner is looking forward to hearing what DC can do - just in case DC worries that they are only there to criticize!
I would say the one area that might get slightly neglected in lessons is the aurals - just ask the teacher to make sure your DC understands what they are looking for. I have one DS who almost never loses a mark in the aural section and another who loses 3 because he doesn't quite get what they're asking him to do with the singing, but it is starting to sink in now!

Worriedandlost · 24/04/2015 18:46

KaputKiss, congratulations to your ds! Flowers
Hi is a Star!
My 7yo is doing grade 3 violin at summer and I will be ecstatic if she has a distinction as last time she got a borderline result which made me wonder if she is that good after all or just a quick learner.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/04/2015 08:45

Thanks all.

He's playing In The Hall of the Mountain King, Marrakech and The Moon's a Balloon. Then the technical suite exercises.

I will have a dry run the the exam centre - I know where it is but have no idea about parking and the one way systems!

Re: the supporting tests - I have no idea! Off to have a look now!

Cooroo · 25/04/2015 09:11

I've lurked here a bit but decided to jump in! DD has started her last term of violin - 18 with A2s this summer and I doubt she'll take violin to university. No exams since grade 4 fiasco a few years ago but her group class just enjoy playing and have worked on amazing things such as Bach Double, so great experience and I hope she'll come back to it later in life.
I'm taking piano grade 6 in a couple of weeks - would love to hear from anyone in same position! I learnt as a child, got to grade 7, then had 35 years off (well I bashed through things occasionally but no serious work). Been learning again 2 years and I love it!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 25/04/2015 10:10

Muchtoomuch

Lots of good advice there.

Don't worry too much. DS1's first Grade 1 exam I knew nothing, we just turned up at the exam centre at the time given clutching trumpet and music and it was fine, DS1 got Merit, just missing a Distinction and we were all really pleased.

However, given a subsequent experience of an exercise being missed by the teacher, I second the advice to check through the syllabus yourself. And, again from experience, the dry run is also a good plan.

lavendersun · 25/04/2015 10:36

Cooroo - I did three gr 8s as a teenager and then had almost 30 years off before starting again last year - I do find it a bit like riding a bike, the trouble is that my mind is often still faster than my fingers, but I really really enjoy it - so much that I have started a Blüthner grand fund for my 50th birthday in 2 years Smile, DH, bless him is on board (sort of).

Cooroo · 25/04/2015 10:52

Wow a grand! How lovely. My break through was putting my beloved but past it piano in Freecycle and buying a digital piano. DD and I play much more now we can do it with headphones and not disturb neighbours.

RunAwayHome · 25/04/2015 13:21

I'm also learning a new instrument as a beginner! I took a couple of exams a year or two ago, but have gone back to get the technique better now - I sort of ran away with myself because I could read the music from other instruments, but actually needed to go back and do things really slowly. So no exams for a bit now. Besides, I'm completely rubbish at the aural tests - well the singback ones at least. No memory whatsoever for it. But I keep working towards them, because I want to do one again.

I took lessons on a couple of instruments as a child as well; piano I've never had the chance to go back to as I haven't got one, nor room for one. And I've never had lessons on either of them since leaving school. But I do still play my orchestral instrument - I actually started playing more often when I went away to university, because it was a really good way to meet people. I'd definitely encourage people to take their instruments along. My university had hundreds of ensembles, at all sorts of levels, beginner standard to almost professional. And they rehearsed on various schedules, some once a week as a regular thing, others as random one-off performances with just a couple of rehearsals, so you could fit something in even if you were on a busy course. There was usually social stuff - pub visits afterwards, break time for a drink and chat, organised dinners or events - and that was what made it worthwhile, for people who were often a bit shy or not good at meeting others. I didn't really go for the music or playing, but because it was a ready-made way to meet people, non-threatening, familiar, etc, but lots of really interesting people from different courses. And even now I still play it once a week in a local amateur group.

Ishouldbeweaving · 25/04/2015 13:54

Cooroo my husband returned to piano after a thirty odd year break. He left school with G2, somewhat hampered by not having a piano at home (it was his third instrument). He was 48? 49? when he decided that he'd like to learn, bought himself a digital piano and found a local teacher. He took his G6 and G7 over the next couple of years but seems to have stalled now. He's enjoying himself (mostly, some nights there seems to be a lot of grumbling and shouting) and that's what matters.

I have a secret longing for a bassoon, I can't read music, don't have any reason to play one but they make such a lovely sound (probably because I only get to listen to the good players)

Shakyisles · 25/04/2015 21:10

I have a digital piano and LOVE it - having traded in a beautiful upright many years ago. The problem with regular pianos is they need tuning. Obvious - but I would get mine tuned at least four times a year as I found some of the notes had wandered - I have perfect pitch.

I find my digital is great as it saves me a fortune in tuning costs. Plus it saves me having to transpose at sight for singers when they need a different key for their vocal range. A headache I can do without.

Looking forward to the new strings syllabus coming out. Daughter is doing grade 8 soon - but we want to pick from the new lists. Fingers crossed for some fabulous music.

lavendersun · 25/04/2015 22:01

Shaky - I really like my piano tuner! He is quite a big recorder player and does quite a lot of arranging/teaching so I always bake a cake and look forward to his visit ... he is usually here all afternoon Blush. Just a lovely, interesting old man, it is almost a social engagement!

Fleurdelise · 26/04/2015 10:53

Hello all! I found dd's grade 1 exam overwhelming as I didn't know what to expect and how she will react to it. Now that is over I know I worried for nothing. She came out beaming and can't wait to take the next exam.

We are now looking at purchasing an upright piano, we are having a house extension done and as soon as that is over we'll start piano shopping. Dd is so excited about it!

Yesterday dd's piano teacher told us she'll skip grade 2 exam and move on to grade 3 as she feels grade 2 will hold her back. Obviously the scales and so on will be taught. She isn't starting exam pieces just yet, just working on grade 2-3 pieces outside the syllabus.

I now wonder when she'll be ready as dd is pestering me to take a new exam.

Good luck with your projects and exams!

KaputKiss · 26/04/2015 14:32

Shakyisles - keep us posted on which pieces she chooses. My dd is doing grade 7 violin in the summer and will probably start looking at grade 8 options after that.

KaputKiss · 26/04/2015 14:33

Shaky - for some reason I assumed violin, but obviously your dd could be on a different instrument!

Shakyisles · 26/04/2015 23:58

Dd (11) on violin. DD (8) is on sax- she is all set for her grade 6 (apart from the scales)

mom17 · 27/04/2015 06:51

Fleurdelise , I wish all piano teachers are like your DD's teacher. My DS has almost finished lesson book 3(AP) and teacher has started giving him pieces from level-2 book of other method which are really easy and DS is not ready to try them enough. He just does it for sake of showing teacher. Ds's teacher objected to me giving him new pieces and books suggested by me and now he is trying to slow him down so much that I am afraid DS will loose all interest. But because of lack of Piano teachers in this side of world, I am just supposed to sit back and tolerate all this. Just hoping teacher realizes this and make him use his full potential.

Musicmom1 · 27/04/2015 07:16

Hi Shaky - interested to know if your dd is using a full size sax? Dd (9) tried one but found it heavy and also quite challenging hand stretch- she is quite tall. So would be note rested to know as dd even to experiment over the summer (she plays clarinet)

Fleurdelise · 27/04/2015 08:48

mom17 I don't know your Ds teacher so it would be hard for me to comment if his/her approach is the right one.

Dd's teacher is ideal for us because she adjusts to the rhythm my dd is capable of. She also said to me from the beginning that it can take 2 years to get to grade 1 sometimes more but it depends on the child a lot. How much practice they do and so on. When she was entered for grade 1 one year after starting piano lessons she explained to me that was an exception because she is so committed to piano.

I guess it depends a lot what the teacher is looking for when teaching new pieces.

Even though my dd's teacher said she'll do grade 3 with her next she is still teaching grade 2 level pieces or easier ones to ensure tehnique is covered.

Also I don't really question her decisions because she did say she doesn't want to put her off piano by asking too much of her even though she may be capable of doing it.

I guess it is hard as a teacher to find the right balance between pushing a child to his abilities and also making it fun.

Shakyisles · 27/04/2015 09:50

Hi music mum. Yes - she plays on a full size alto and has done since she was seven. She is eight now. She started on a Trevor James alphasax when she just turned five. She has always been very tall for her age.

She couldn't reach the right hand when she first started and the wonderful teacher just gave her music which contained only the notes she could play. Now, at eight she has no issue with stretch or weight. She does use a full harness - and I am careful that it fits her properly. It hasn't held her back. She got 140 in her grade 5 practical!

Musicmom1 · 27/04/2015 12:30

Thanks Shaky - that's really helpful. Your dd must be pretty amazing to get that far with that score is young!

Soveryupset · 27/04/2015 13:15

Hi there,
we are doing exams this term too:
DD1 might be doing G3 piano, DS1 is doing G3 violin and they are both doing their theory (G2 and G1) as DD1 has started working towards G5 violin and we are trying to catch up on theory before it's too late!!!!!

JulieMichelleRobinson · 27/04/2015 13:19

Cooroo,

My youngest student ever was 2yo on piano, but I currently have two adult violin/fiddle beginners (approx. grade 1 and the other has just had one lesson) and two adult violin returners (formerly scraped-through-grade-4 and was-about-grade-7-but-no-exam). I have an adult pianist starting from scratch this week.

I self-taught flute at 17yo as I wanted something to muck around on. I then didn't play it for about ten years and have recently picked it up again (repertoire grade 6+ but not fast pieces!!!). I am vaguely self-teaching cello, lever harp and wire-strung harp (different techniques), and jazz piano (I play 'regular' piano fine), at the moment - by which I mean I dabble on all of them but don't really practise. I took grade 6 theory last year and managed a merit having passed grade 5 when I was 10... I have a music degree but it was mainly history and I was hopeless at analysis and composition. It was the first exam I'd taken in years and was kind of scary... and I was in a room with all the kids doing grades 1-5.