New Year Music and Musicians Thread

[Wafflenose]

Morning all, and Happy New Year. I decided it was time for a new music thread too. I really enjoy hearing about what everyone (and their DCs) are up to each term, and it's great to hear from new posters too.

I have two DDs. Goo (10) - the child previously known as MiniWaffle. She's not very mini any more... she's 4'10" and catching up with me. Anyway, she plays the recorder, flute, piccolo and a bit of piano when it occurs to her. She is doing Grade 5 Theory and possibly Grade 5 Flute (if the new teacher deems her ready) this term. Next recorder exam will be Grade 7, but possibly not for about 18 months! Am hoping the new flute teacher will also do a bit of piano with her... we'll see.

And Rara (7) - previously known as BabyWaffle - plays the recorder and cello. I was thinking of putting her in for Grade 1 Theory, but she's not keen, so we'll wait. She is in the blissfully calm position of no exams this term - yay!

We all have the local music festival next month. I think Goo is doing 11 Classes, and Rara about 7 (plus possibly helping with some percussion parts). I have 27 groups, pairs and individuals entered, so am going to be busy for the next month or so.

Read previous posts too fast last night and missed on Mistigri news: thats an amazing news!

Wow Mistigri, you must be very proud of your DD! I think that is how musical children shine, if music is in their heart they pick up an instrument and do it. Lovely story and I am looking forward to read more of her music achievements.

Goo is doing great with her theory preparation.

DD is stil doing theory now and then with her piano teacher and I know the plan is once the grade 3 exam is out of the way they'll start bringing theory to a similar level. No rush to do grade 5 theory just yet as I assume it will be a couple of years before she sits her grade 5 piano so plenty of time.

DD has s recorder already so I'll let her mess about with it and maybe add a wind instrument (we both love clarinet) closer to secondary school in a couple of years' time.

Hello all, please can I join?

I've been loitering for a while but my dd1 (8) is doing two ABRSM exams this term - Grade 1 theory and Grade 1 violin.

My heart sank when she came home with the violin in September 2014 as I thought it would sound awful but really it sounds rather good! Her intonation isn't bad and scales are relatively secure too. Practises three/four times a week which probably isn't enough but she does it properly if that makes sense. Also plays in a county junior string group for 1.5 hours weekly.

I've a question, well two:

1. She's still using a sponge/rubber band combo. Will this be something she's marked down on? I'm a cellist (and singer as per my username!) and I really don't know. Somehow I feel a bit daft asking her teacher.

1. Her bow is in desperate need of rehairing - it's only got about half its hairs. I know she's a beginner n all but surely she deserves a bow with a little more hair?

Instrument hire is included in the cost of the lessons or I'd have got it sorted by now!

If she manages to read the question properly in the theory exam she should definitely pass...

Back to exams here as well. Pieces are fairly secure and they will get played at a couple of festivals between now and exam at end of March to make sure. Just somehow need to find DD some more practice time to build up stamina otherwise lip will not last for duration of exam! Not enough hours in the day at the moment.

Hello 2nd. She won't be marked down due to equipment of any description! The only thing they mark is the performance. Can you ask for the bow to be swapped or re-haired?

You could probably still get the bow re-haired yourself; it doesn't cost that much for a full-sized violin bow, so I bet a smaller one would be even less. Maybe they even expect you to do it as part of upkeep, like you'd change strings?

Sponge/rubber band combo is fine - I know professionals who use a who a whole variety of shoulder rests to try to get something comfortable, from the weirdest looking home-made things to fancy high-tech ones. Most important thing is to get it so that it's comfortable and ergonomic (and stays on properly, which can be a real problem with the Kun-style rests).

I'll see her teacher at strings tomorrow morning so I'll ask - I do know of a few places that rehair that string-playing friends have recommended but they'd be tricky to get to.

I've supplied rosin.

I'm so proud of how my dd's doing. I know it's only grade 1 but nonetheless!

Hi 2nd. Violinist here and sponge is fine as pp say.
My violin man charges £45 for a rehair but he also sells student violin outfits (instrument, case and bow) for about £100 and will buy them back when you resize / upgrade. For me this is much less hassle than negotiating through the instrument hire service and more cost effective too.

Recommend buying the best strings you can afford.

Hello Rapidly

That sounds really great for dd, and what an experience.
mine is home for long weekend and listening to a pianist atm, which has to be a first for her.
She said something about having an audition for Chamber choir, but they usually have to be y11 so not sure she has it right

It sounds like your dd is settling into it just fine, and sounds as though she loves it as much as mine
Dd said she's seen your dd about and they usually manage a hi. She said that a couple turned up from x choir at the open day last week, so they may be auditioning.

Ours does certainly. They can have 16 girl and 16 boy choristers, currently there are 9 boys and slightly more girls. Plus probationers obviously.

We aren't connected to a school, which gives a wider intake in some ways, but restricts the opportunity to those who are able to get there after school.

Rapidly

We didn't go for it with dd as we felt that even though only an hour a way it was too much.
As they don't board too, it would just not have been practical.
I think you'd need to be pretty local and of course enjoy the music they sing.
Even though dd likes to join in occasionally, or help out if older x choristers aren't free, it's not something she'd like to have given up other instruments for.
I suppose it's a very niche type of thing.

Rapidly

Do you know that choristers are encouraged to continue into the school with their instruments after y8.
So from y9 until they leave after y13, they can study up to 3 instruments, including voice.
Although voice can't be a first instrument until 6th form, unless special circs which I don't know about yet.
Would be happy to tell you about funding etc if you want to pm.

Rapidly DS gets pocket money. It's based on length of service, Voice for Life level achieved, being side leader or head chorister etc. They also get paid for Special non-Cathedral events, weddings and broadcasts. He was paid a tiny bit last year for a brief appearance on Songs of Praise.

He also gets free 1-1 singing lessons and a grant towards the cost of one instrumental lesson. Additionally parents get a bursary each year for help with expenses.

He's there 4-7 after school twice a week, and 9-4 roughly 2 Sundays out of three. (Services shared with girls and Youth Choir).

Our church, different domination, has been very supportive of DS2, and put things in their newsletter occasionally about him.

Singing lessons take a chunk out of another evening. They aren't compulsory so not everyone does them, which I think is totally mad, they are really good lessons with a sought after teacher.

NewLife, I know another Y7 slightly, who local to us and has an older sister already at school. Their Mum tried to persuade me to consider it for DS2. Piano teacher is also keen to take DS2 to the open day next autumn, but that's a way off yet!

Hi, can anyone please reassure me that the process of changing music teacher can help a child grow in the long term. After several years of accepting outbursts from did violin teacher we are taking the plunge into looking for a new teacher as this term the teacher's behaviour has escalated. Teacher spent a lesson screaming at me rather than teaching did and this week's lesson and lady both dd and I felt the teacher wasn't really bothered about perfecting her tricky passages. Can a new teacher bring the enjoyment back? Dd does not want to give up the instrument

I'm surprised that you're even asking. Anyone screaming at me would find it difficult to find a second opportunity to do so (toddlers excepted but then you aren't paying them). Unless you live in the back of beyond you will have a choice of violin teacher although some may have a waiting list. Do you really want to continue this relationship? I'm pushed to think of anything you could do as a parent that called for screaming but wasn't serious enough to have the lessons immediately terminated.

We changed music teacher after seven years, it was not such a big deal. DS was not the player he was when he started and he needed a specialist to progress. The current teacher (I think) would have been too scary for DS at 7 but was just what he needed later on. Not the same scenario as you are in because we left with the first teacher's blessing but there is nothing to say that you have to have the same teacher for life.

We recently changed teacher because the other one didn't seem interested any more, didn't want to know about NCO audition and had generally disengaged. Turns out she prefers teaching the earlier stages and/ or special needs children, and wasn't sure what to do with DD next. DD started with her new teacher a month ago, and the difference in her playing and attitude is profound. She now wants to study Flute at music college.

Wow Waffle - that's amazing, glad you found someone who fits so well. Good luck with the festival!

Re choiresters - DD (yr 5) got an unexpected invite to try out for a place for sept but it would mean boarding and that's not our plan right now. But I guess that they approached us means they are short of applicants.