Autumn Term Music and Musicians Thread

[Wafflenose]

Hello everyone!

I know not everyone is in the UK, but my children went back to school today, and I have found that having a new thread every few months works well. The school terms sort-of coincide with music exam sessions here - I will shortly start preparing the pupils that I plan to enter for November/ December.

As there are quite a few people reading/ posting on these threads, I would find it really helpful if people could remind us what children they have, how old they are, and what they play. If you don't mind, of course! Please feel free to ask questions and talk about your own learning too!

I'm Waffle and I'm a teacher of woodwind - mostly recorders these days. I have Mini who is 9 and plays the recorder and flute properly, and a bit of piano, trumpet and ukulele for fun. She is a member of South West Music School and NCO. I also have Baby who is 7 and plays the recorder and cello, and would like to play the piano.

For exams this term, Mini is doing Grade 6 Recorder with Trinity, and Baby is doing Grade 2. Next term, they are doing Theory exams - Grades 5 and 1 respectively. I know Grade 1 is utterly unnecessary, but Mini found it helpful to have a practice run by doing her Grade 3, and I can think of worse ideas than sending Baby in for the first time with her big sister. The next Flute and Cello exams will be Grades 5 and 2, but not yet.

I need to change their names at some point - Mini is not mini any more. She is 4'8" and up to my top lip. Baby is clearly 7, so I need to think again.

Well Mini really, REALLY needed something big and positive to get her out of her massive slump... and I do believe this morning was it!

Not suggesting for a moment that I think she will get back in, as that's unlikely, but she was amazing, and is now a different child. People in the waiting room were asking who the flautist in the audition room was, and saying that her tone and sight reading sounded stunning. Her tone is her weakness usually, but she sorted it out somewhat, and the acoustics helped. Everyone was complimenting her when she came out, and the atmosphere was lovely - I preferred it to last year's audition, although that was partly because it was local this time! I don't mind if she doesn't get in again, but her performance today has made a huge difference to her confidence, and that's more important. From saying she is never performing or competing again (for the past few weeks) she has asked to play solo in the festival in the new year, which is a huge step forward.

I'm so happy. Mini is back!

Well done Mini! sounds like she may very well get a place - but I know what you mean, the very positive experience and feeling good are far more important. You can relax too :)

I have also finally been able to medicate my dislocated ribs! Dislocated ribs are normal for me, and I have a high pain threshold, but OW! I can't take much when teaching, and certainly can't take all the medications I have for this kind of thing if I need to drive, or focus. So am now a bit blissed out. They still hurt, but not very much.

Well done Mini! She sounds amazing! I hope she'll get a place!

Hi Waffle your DD's performance sounds amazing.

What sort of level do you need to be to audition? My DD is 8 and just about to do Grade 3 violin. She has been learning since she was 6. I wonder if it's the sort of thing I could put her in for next year or if the level is very high.

The NCO publishes a list here of the grades of children who applied last year, but as they point out, the audition process doesn't pay any attention to this. It's all about how well they perform on the day, and they like strong sight reading. My daughter was doing two Grade 5 pieces (not current syllabus) but 48 hours ago, she dropped one in favour of something easier which she could play better. That decision paid off - as well as giving her some control, it took the pressure off a bit. She might not get in of course - but she did so well, taking into account some very difficult circumstances that I can't go into online.

I would definitely give it a go next year, AllTheToast.

I see so if she applied next year when she was 9 would she be applying for the under tens orchestra? I imagine she would be at at grade 4 level by then.

I take it you have been happy with the course and the safeguarding, pastoral care etc? Obviously you must be if you are doing it again.

Thanks for your advice. I hope your DD gets a place. It sounds like she had a lovely time anyway.

Waffle - I'm so glad that the audition has given Mini something to feel positive about, performance is based on confidence and it sounds as if her confidence took a bit of a ding. Hopefully you've both turned the page now and have left this unsettling time behind you. It doesn't matter what the letter says, you've already had the positive result.

Today in the Shouldbe household we will be looking at a packing list and making sure that his favourite clothes are clean, dry and ironed for his course next week. When I was his age I'd been away without my parents twice with school, he trots off three times a year. I'd like to say that we've got it off to a fine art now but it's not unknown to make an emergency toothbrush stop at the motorway services. When it's your child's first time away with band please take the time to make a packing list and then email it to yourself so that next time you're not starting from scratch.

Waffle I just wanted to say I'm so glad it went well for Mini and that her confidence and enthusiasm returned with such a positive experience. I bet she got some brilliant feedback. I imagine this has been a very difficult few weeks for you, though.
I feel a bit better about DS1 giving up flute after Christmas - the music centre said they were pleased he was continuing with his other music activities. On the other hand, he is now playing guitar as well as bass, and the evidence is all over my front room!
I am paying close attention to icould as Ds1 has his first band trip abroad next year and I know who will be doing the packing!

AllTheToast You don't need to apply for a particular orchestra. If a 9 year old string player applies, they might be put into Training, or Under 10s. And we have an 11 year old in our Regionals who plays in Main (Under 14s). You just apply, and they decide on the right orchestra for your child.

They are run really well, with lots of music staff and lots of social staff. My DD was in need of extra support during her course, and this was organised swiftly. She won't be happy if she doesn't get in! But like I said yesterday, the difference in her confidence is amazing, and I'm glad she did it for this reason.

Waffle well done to mini! Sometimes a bit of stress helps to make the performance better!

I shall be clinging to this theory tonight when DD plays her gig :-/

She has at least played through every song in her set once ... It will have to be enough as she has gone out with a friend today! Sound check at 7pm so I need to go and make an early dinner...

Well done miniwaffle. Sadly my DD has never really got past her confidence crisis when she was 12. She enjoys playing in groups though.

Currently chaperoning a choir rehearsal, before their pre-tour lunchtime concert. Very excited choristers handing in passports!

Echo the advice about lists and involving your DC. My older DS sorts himself out after years of band/scout trips

I'm happy to report that Mini is on fine form. We haven't finished the Grade 5 Theory book yet, but I bought her some past papers at the weekend and she wanted to do one, just to gauge where she's at. She hadn't covered composing a melody, or identifying and selecting chords, so I explained those to her as she went along. But she is a clever little girl and picks things up so fast, and on her first ever Grade 5 paper, she scored... 90%! I now wish I'd entered her for this term, but she still has a few topics to cover and lots of foreign words to learn, so I'm fine with her doing it in March. She is aiming for a distinction, will be happy with a merit and knows she only needs to pass!

We also had a trial lesson with a possible new teacher, who thoroughly assessed her and really pushed her to see how far she could go. Which turned out to be sight reading Grade 6 pieces (faints). She hasn't done Grade 5 yet. I don't know if we'll bother!

Recorder has been picked up for the first time in about a month (because of the whole flute fiasco) and is not too bad. Mini did her first bit of Grade 6 Aural, and would have passed it. She is always surprising me.

And not to leave out Baby... she has a very different sort of brain - very creative, forgetful and not at all precise. But she is working hard towards her Grade 2 Recorder exam and should do well. She has just finished her first Grade 1 Theory paper and scored 83%, so not bad! I am going to enter her next term just for the experience of sitting a written exam. I have no idea if she'll ever need to take the Grade 5, but it won't hurt her to learn as much as she can.

I'm so glad to hear it Waffle. Do you have a real choice of teachers or is it down to A, B or a waiting list?

DS swanned off on a residential on Sunday and I haven't heard from him at all. I saw a photo of him today so I know that he is still there, he looked to have taken a comb and shoes so that's good. It's surprising how much laundry I haven't done this week, I'll be catching up when he gets back and throws everything in the washing basket, including the neatly folded things that he didn't wear.

Her mentor and I have come up with two possible teachers, so it's A or B! We have had a trial lesson with A, but not B yet.

It sounds like your DS is doing just fine!

Well done mini and waffle , you must be relieved! Great to have a choice of good teachers.

DD somehow managed to put in a flawless performance at her gig on Friday. For the encore she decided to play a cover version of a song she hasn't played since July ... so much for rehearsing. Unfortunately I set the gain too high on my recording device :( - I was hoping to get a recording of her new material. I might have a go at sorting it out with Audacity (sound editing programme) but I suspect it is beyond repair.

She's done a fair bit of piano over the hols. She has been working on Ibert's Serenade sur l'eau, which is very pretty and she has found rather easy, and Mussourgsky's Une Larme which is also lovely but which she finds a bit harder due to some long left hand reaches. Sax is getting a bit neglected but she did get it out for a bit today!

Good news Waffle.So pleased for you.

Glad your DDs gig went well Misti.

DS2 apparently got presented with a bouquet for his solo earlier this week!

I've just got back from the first rehearsal with the accompanist, if it goes as well in the exam I'll be happy. This is the first time DS has heard what goes in the spaces where he is resting, one piece in particular has been transformed by the addition of the piano part. He is pleased and so am I.

Wine and cake all round.

We are looking at buying miss 11 her full size violin. Argggh! What a minefield. Any advice? This one needs to see her through grade 8 next year and at least her first set of letters. We don't want new.
How did you help your child choose their full-sized violin?

Icouldbe that must have been a great experience for you and DS!
If anyone has advice on buying cellos as well as violins would be interested as currently renting a half-size and DS2 insists on growing. We might have to buy the next one.
I am playing in a music school concert on Friday (adult learners only) and it's 50-50 at the moment as to whether I will hit all the right notes with the right fingers. Piano teacher advises a hearty meal 2 hours before a performance to deal with nerves!

Don't envy you Shakyisles, we went to a replacement full size a 18 months ago to get her through from G5. Did lots of testing (can you do that in NZ where you can hand back after a couple of weeks?)

In the end we opted for an old Berlin school one, I think circa 1880s. Restored by a local violin maker/restorer (one of the few trained to restore real stradivarus') who said when we needed an upgrade, he'd buy back for the same value (£800). Any issues, we knew where to go. Apparently a lot of the violin retailers selling good 2nd violins strip the parts(bridge, scroll, pegs etc) and replace with lower quality ones, including cheap strings. I would have no idea of all of this!

The separate cost was the bow - I had no idea this was as expensive! We went for a £400 (cannot remember the make right now), trialling 5 to find the elusive Harry Potter wand. Needed a new mortgage after this...

However, both have been worth it. I know investments vary, but don't think my DD will take up violin beyond HE level so this was our budget range to get her through her senior years.

Didn't really give any advice, sorry. My tip would be, if buying 2nd hand retail, take one that has trial loan option...and take it to your teacher to assess, or another expert. Replacing the parts can end up as expensive if these are not quality in the first instance.

Final consideration - lots of instruments are up for sale in the school classifieds, some are decent quality. If your school produces trade sales mags (especially at xmas time or each term), may be worth checking out ads from those parents giving up their children's instruments...

loose, all the 2nd hand retailers we visited (in London & Birmingham regions) sold cellos as well as violins.

We got some on trial but they don't quite have the timbre she wants. A moderately decent bow over here costs between $1000-1500. So you can guess what the violins cost! A nice one is $5000 and a very nice one you pay 12,000 upwards.