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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
LooseAtTheSeams · 22/05/2015 16:19

Well, DS1 has done his drum exam and even smiled when he came out! Very glad to have got it out of the way, ready to enjoy the half term holiday! Oh, and apparently the chemistry exam was good, too! Smile

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 22/05/2015 21:11

Half term is here! Piano and singing lessons tomorrow and we are done for a week!

Many congratulations to notanotherinstruments DD. That's wonderful.

Glad the drumming and the chemistry went well Loose.

DS2 heard tonight he got Highly Commended for his RSCM Silver award with 97/100. Very proud of him! The examiner put some lovely comments on his sheet too.

LilyBolero, one of his fellow choristers had to pull out of the awards last week as his voice changed which is such a shame after putting in the work.

With regards to progress of changing instruments.

Dd changed to violin to cello after Grade 2 and it took about six months to be a similar level, which included learning the bass clef as she didn't play the piano then.

She started sax 1 year after violin, but took Grade 4 less than 2 years later taking Grade 2 violin at the same time.

DS2(then only just 10) took Grade 3 trombone just over a year after starting, but it was his third instrument.

DS1 played trumpet to Grade 5, then almost seamlessly switched to trombone and took Grade 5 9 months later

drummersmum · 24/05/2015 19:08

Someone recently said something about a similarity between notes and the periodic table...

Shakyisles · 25/05/2015 19:58

Miss has started learning her grade 8 scales.wow! They're hard to get fabulous. It's going to be a long job.

Other miss is flying through her grade 6 scales. Pieces are sounding great. Still got plenty of work to master her scales and that last aurals question us tricky.

Congratulations on the results - esoecially the diploma. Miss 11 has her eye on DipABRSM after grade 8.

1needaholiday · 26/05/2015 12:59

Hello and good luck to all in their upcoming exams!

I have DD preparing for cello grade 5 in the next few weeks, going well. She wants to start piano lessons, which we can do at school and would help with the aural/sight reading part of the cello exams so I think this is a good idea. She is also keen on starting a woodwind instrument but I am concerned that this is just too much?

Have you any summer plans yet? We tried oxford cello school last year, DD really enjoyed it and it helped her being with others. I was wondering if there is something similar suitable for DS who is grade 1 violin? It would need to be a course for younger children and I wouldn't be able to leave him on his own there. DD struggled last year and wanted us visiting every evening.

Musicmom1 · 26/05/2015 16:07

Ineedaholiday - have a look at Cellofest; amazing for cellists but also caters very very well for sibling violins plus there is lots of singing, percussion, etc sessions for all. So would suit oth your children. You stay too (older kids can go alone) and it is very sociable for kids and parents alike. We would be doing it again this year but clashes with another commitment. Will def return in the future.

Ishouldbeweaving · 26/05/2015 18:11

Following on from another thread, when you're working out whether your DS practises "enough" (whatever that is) do you take account of any ensemble playing they do in the week? I don't know whether I'm being mean because I don't, practice is playing those pieces/exercises that have been set, repeating those bars that are tricky as many times as needed.

I'm not going to change now but I would like to know whether I'm out of step with the majority viewpoint.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 26/05/2015 19:03

We don't count it as such but it does depends here on whether there are approaching exams or not and what needs prioritising in available practice time. Obviously piano always needs its own time.

Mistigri · 26/05/2015 19:53

I don't really keep track of practice but if I did I would definitely count ensemble playing, since the main hurdle for DD right now is playing stamina so any practice is good! I guess it depends whether the ensemble music is "easy" or not (for DD, as an inexperienced sax player in a senior wind ensemble, the ensemble music is quite hard).

She has her sax exam in 10 days, and her long performance piece is sounding really good. She has rehearsals with the accompanist this weekend and one day next week. She'll need to change reeds before the exam, anyone have any thoughts on the timing of this? If it was guitar strings we'd just do it the day before!

Piano is going really well at the moment, she is playing a Scott Joplin waltz that sounds amazing. I love listening to her play!

woolleybear · 27/05/2015 09:50

Hi, was just wondering if anyone could let me know when we should expect to hear about an exam date, dd is doing her grade 1 clarinet and it would help her enormously to know when the exam will be.

Dd is already very particular about her reeds, we are going to have a couple that she has used and liked ready for her exam should she need to swap one on the day.

Musicdoc · 27/05/2015 21:58

Hi All,
Am amazed to hear how well all your DCs are doing - particularly the multi-instrumental ones who practice 2-5 hours per day!

My DS(10) is taking his G5 cello this term - he is a very reluctant practicer and lucky to get 20-30 mins out of him daily; he gave up piano in Autumn term (G2/3) as I refused to continue to pay for lessons after he didn't practice for a term.

My DD(7) is enjoying lots of fun violin repetoire having got her G5 last year, but is working towards G2 Theory, G2 Piano and G1 Singing all in the same week as DS's G5 cello exam...

Despite not enjoying practice, DS loves his cello and DD will practice when prompted and they both love their various ensembles and are looking forward to their first NCO courses in the summer.

Good luck to all!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 27/05/2015 23:16

DD always has three good reeds she rotates for both her saxes. DS2 does similar for her clarinet.

wooleybear assume its ABRSM? We are waiting to hear to. DS2 goes on bandtrip through the session so we are hoping it fits

Shakyisles · 28/05/2015 05:04

Mistigri - my daughter tries out reeds about three weeks beforehand. She then uses her exam reed about 5 or 6 times before the exam, so she knows how it will play. She also has her spare exam reed - that she has used many times.

We are waiting for the date for her exam. She then sorts out all her potential reeds and orders them. Usually she tries to find a brand new one- but some times they just aren't much good.

Mistigri · 30/05/2015 09:12

Thank you for the reed advice. Unfortunately it is probably too late as she broke her current reed at her lesson last night :-/

She has her rehearsal with her accompanist today and her teacher asked her last night to present another shorter piece alongside her main long piece (it's not like a UK exam - it's a performance in front of a jury). So it's all a bit last minute and she will need to do some work this morning if only to make sure the new reed is OK.

Theory exam on Wednesday about which she is alarming casual - but she's the same about school exams and she always does well so I suppose I should just let her get on with it.

Festival performance on 20th June (guitar/singing but she is considering playing piano too) and end-of-year guitar concert on the 27th. She is also singing with a jazz clarinet group at some point but she doesn't seem to know when or where. Just have to hope no clashes. Teens eh?

Shakyisles · 30/05/2015 09:32

Neither of my children has hit those teenage years yet. I buy them a diary and make them use it, ready for when they are super-busy. I remember having had 22 Christmas concerts one year! That was the year I started carrying a diary and writing in it at the time!
Which theory exam is it mistigri?

Mistigri · 30/05/2015 10:41

It's a French conservatoire exam shakyisles but (that teen communication again!) I actually have no idea what level. For theory she is in the "brevet" class which is the end of the second cycle (7-8 years of study), but what the actual exam involves I couldn't say. She was outside the formal conservatoire system until this year so it's the first time for us.

Shakyisles · 30/05/2015 10:56

I'm in NZ now,but taught French in the UK (and music as my main). I went to France countless times and it's one of the places I miss. Everywhere is so far away from New Zealand!

Mistigri · 30/05/2015 12:17

New Zealand! Looks like a very beautiful place :) As a long-time Lord of the Rings fan DD would love to visit (but it's too far so she is making do with a tour of "Westeros" ie Northern Ireland this summer).

I still don't understand the French music education system after 17 years here ;) I just asked DD and it is indeed her theory "brevet" that she is taking (I think this is probably equivalent to around grade 5 theory).

She still doesn't know what her sax exam is though. That would be too much to ask!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 30/05/2015 16:02

We got DS2s Grade 6 date and it is 2 hours before he leaves on school band trip to Italy! His teachet had put on the entry form he was available up to the previous day. She has managed to change it to an alternative exam centre forty minutes away the previous week

woolleybear · 30/05/2015 16:58

Hopefully we will find out an exam date once dd is back at school next week, I am waiting til I have heard before booking my holiday!

Shakyisles · 30/05/2015 21:33

New Zealand is stunning. The weather is great. Even in winter where we live we have cold nights but sunny, warm days with clear blue skies. I don't miss much from the UK, but the ability to hop over to the RNCM or attend world class concerts , I do miss occasionally!

When we emigrated we did consider France as we both speak French and have a number of French friends there.

PinkiPhone · 31/05/2015 09:58

Hi,

Can anyone advise how the trinity board arranges their exams? I posted the form and cheque at the end of April for my DS to sit the guitar exam in July. Not heard a peep since and have only ever done abrsm exams (submissions online). Do I just need to keep waiting?

Thanks!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 31/05/2015 15:06

Trinity exams are arranged locally. So I'd ring or email the person you wrote the cheque to, and ask him or her.

OP posts:
woolleybear · 31/05/2015 16:01

Ahhh!!

Dd was playing all pieces beautifully last weekend and having come home after a week of no practice has apparently lost all ability to make a nice noise from her clarinet yet alone play tunes.

She starts crying every time we try and I am struggling to keep my cool because she then won't try! Anyone got any advice, she can't get a g or f at all at the moment, which have both been sounding good for at least six months....

This is when I really wish I knew more myself as I feel so unable to help her.

Mistigri · 31/05/2015 19:29

Could it be a reed issue woolleybear? When is her next lesson? It may be best to leave this to her teacher to resolve, if it's more a loss of confidence

DD has been furiously revising her theory all day Wink. And breaking in a couple of reeds! Good thing we didn't have too much on this weekend (her younger brother and dad away for the weekend for a bike race so no distractions!)