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.

Hi SE22, I have previously posted about my DD's change of music teachers from 15min school lessons and v slow progress despite her practising religiously. I was also inspired by the successes on this thread of v young children. As waffle also said, we too have had a profound change going from Grade 1 violin and not even grade 1 piano last June to her taking grade 5 violin and theory this term and 5 piano planned for the summer term. We've also had encouragement from both teachers to audition for the NCO (she didn't get in but enjoyed the experience) and also enter music festivals. I woukd definitely say move teachers, the right one makes such a difference!

Hello! Can I join?

We're right at the beginning of the music journey: DD is 5 so still very small. She started cello and piano this term - I was a bit worried as to whether two instruments would be too much, but she adores both. We're lucky in that she has two excellent teachers who are really encouraging. No exams for a good while yet; I'm happy that she's having fun and starting to play real tunes :)

It is nice that she proclaims the lessons to be 'awesome' each week - long may it last :)

Sounds like a fabulous start viadthedisorganised, and yes to those considering change, inspired teaching makes such a difference...good ones strive to work with you, not scream at you!

vlad welcome!

se22 your teacher sounds awful, I wouldn't stand for that. Find a new one pronto!

There are lots of reasons why one might change teacher ... DD simply grew out of her first (recorder) teacher, though she ended up dropping the instrument rather than changing teacher. We changed piano teacher this year, for practical reasons rather than because of dissatisfaction, but the new teacher is also a step up in terms of teaching and DD finds her inspiring.

Sometimes it isn't even about finding a "better" teacher. I've changed guitar teacher this year (due to timetabling issues) and although I rate my old teacher very highly, the new one suits my learning style better.

We are STILL waiting to hear exactly what DD will be playing for her end of year piano exam . I was relaxed about it, on the grounds that the exam in question is for entry into the "second cycle" of the French music school programme (approx grade 4/5) - until DD told me on Friday that one of the pieces will be a Chopin Nocturne!!!! (exact one still to be decided, she will get to choose between two or three proposed by her teacher).

Thanks everyone, we are looking hard for a new teacher before the half term notice period.

Mistigri hopefully you will hear very soon about the piece - Chopin Nocturne sounds challenging - though very lovely and I am sure she's going to do brilliantly in the exam! Is there a panel of judges or just one examiner like here?
SE22 I think I would give the notice anyway! I can't identify the planet on which a teacher should scream at a parent - or child. But it is an interesting question about changing teacher. DS2 has had the same cello and piano teachers and they are very good so we would only change them if they forced us to! I seriously can hear improvement after each lesson. DS1 on the other hand has had teachers leave the music centre so the change wasn't out of choice but even then, in each case I think it's been good to have new ideas. The time it went wrong was the disappearing drum teacher (it would be the drum teacher!) but that got sorted out and he has a great drum teacher now!

We changed two teachers because they couldn't take DS through the upper grades. It was therefore agreed. He loves all his teachers (four now...:O) but also liked the old ones I must say. Teacher that screams is OUT!
MISTIGIRI Chopin nocturne sounds fab. DS is learning one of his waltzes and I never get tired of it.

I don't understand, why would a teacher scream at a parent? There is no situation that comes to mind to excuse this kind of behaviour.

Dd's teacher doesn't even shout at DD even in situations when it could be excused maybe, if she would be disrespectful to me there would be no coming back.

Loose it will be a panel. She will have to present three pieces, the Chopin will be the main one, the second will certainly be Mussourgsky's Une Larme which she already plays beautifully (is not really difficult or technical) and she'll need a third, hopefully easier, classical or baroque piece...

I'm interested to see which nocturnes she gets to choose from. AFAIK there aren't many that are accessible at grade 6/7!

She has a concert on Wed, she is playing a duet with another student - it's a new piece by a contemporary composer who has links with the local conservatoire. Still haven't heard her radio slot as I forgot to listen on Saturday (bad mother!!!).

Mitigiri,
As far as I know, there are no grade 6 Nocturnes but these are the ones graded 7 difficulty:
n.02 in Eb Op.9 n.2
n.06 in Gm Op. 15 n.3
n.11 in Gm Op.37 n.1
n.15 in Fm Op.55 n.1
n.19 in Em Op. posth 72 n.1
n.20 in C#m
n.11 in Gm Op.37 n.1

Time to start Spotifying :)!

All Chopin I forgot to add!

Hello, dd is now doing grade 2 clarinet this term as opposed to next which is when I was expecting it. The pieces came together within a matter of a few weeks but we are still struggling a little with scales, does anyone have any tips. She is happy and confident with the notes but is just struggling to save enough breath to do 15 clear notes in a row. Many thanks for any advice!

We are also having second instrument discussions in this house at the moment. Dd is favouring the marimba (can't afford to have one at home) or the trumpet (clarinet teacher very against this) whilst I am trying to encourage piano or another wind instrument! We are in no rush to start although the school considers we should be in order to consider music scholarships (prep school, so scholarships look good for them!)

I have had a marimba in my car together with the marimba player. I think she said that it cost around £16k, considerably more than the car it was in. You can practise without the base, the bars all roll up and you can put them directly on the floor. It's quieter that way. You need different beaters because some of the bars are very fragile and if you use the wrong beater it gets expensive. That is the sum total of my knowledge other than you can get one in the back of a Picasso.

Piano is a good start for tuned percussion - many notes together and two clefs so maybe they all start on piano?

Thanks Icouldbeknitting, the cost of having one at home is as much a factor as the space and while it does sound like a fun instrument to play I would rather she did at least a little practice outside of her lesson!

If it helps, DS2 plays trombone and clarinet and has no problem with embouchure for either. He was playing clarinet first. (He tried trumpet before trombone, but was better with trombone).

drummersmum thanks for that, she may have her work cut out ;)

Great day at the festival today! I don't take Junior pupils from my main work school (private) as there are sooo many of them, and they get loads of performance opportunities anyway. I took my Seniors though - one won a beginner class and came second in the Descant Recorder 12 & Under, and the other came second in the 14 & Under. I concentrate on the kids from our village school. This year, our year 6 group ended a 15 year reign by another school and won their ensemble class, with Year 5 joint runners up. Rara and her friend won their 8 & Under duet (a year young!!) for her first medal and trophy at a festival - yay! Rara was also 2nd in the 8 & Under Descant Solo. Goo and her friend flattened all opposition to win theirs easily, playing a fast, modern piece and a beautiful Sheep May Safely Graze. Goo and I won our open duet, by being the only entrants. Goo also won three of her four solo recorder classes (Descant 12 & Under, Treble 10 & Under, Treble 12 & Under) one to three years young for the groups, and (the icing on the cake) also won her the Woodwind 10 & Under class, which was massive, on the Flute! She was also the youngest - the others are all Year 6, so she can have another go at all of this next year. It's been her best festival by far, and mine too - most classes were well attended, and our lowest finish all day was 2nd!

Tomorrow, I'm at work, and on Thursday, Rara has two strings classes and both girls will be among the 42 I'm taking on a coach to compete in Group Tuition classes - all kinds of silliness lined up. Then on Friday the four of us are in the Family Music class, and Rara and I are doing a non-competitive Parent and Child Duet. I'm so happy... and Goo can't get over her 6 titles, 6 medals and 6 trophies!

As I know some of you in real life anyway, I don't think it can hurt... here is Goo trying to carry it all.

Wow Waffle, thats amazing!!! I wish we will have one of what Goo is holding

LOL we live in a tiny cottage and the girls share a tiny room! Will have to clear the mantlepiece and put them there, until Goo gets her own room in the summer (we are going to sort out the spare room/ office for her, which is even smaller but will be all hers) and she can have a special shelf in there.

Well done Waffle, Goo and Rara!!!!

So pleased for all of you, and lovely Rara has a trophy too!

You have so many recorder classes! We have, 2, beginner and advanced.

P

You've reminded me I need to return DS2s two trophies ready for our festival next month.

Good luck on Thursday