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.

Goo sounds like she's more than ready now! And good luck to Minifleur - that date sounds ideal, just long enough but not so far off that she gets bored of the preparation. I am so impressed with Waffle's 94 year old student.
Oddly, mention of the guitar reminded me that bil bought a tiny guitar for DS1 when he was about 3. He just played around on it, no lessons, no clue what he was doing, and didn't do any music lessons until taking up drums age 9, I think. That led to tuned percussion, which he loves. However, last year he started learning bass guitar at age 13 and is planning to take grade 6 some time this year. He also now picks up electric guitar and works out the chords. So who knows, maybe that little guitar started something - it just took a long time to come to fruition!

Mine learnt their first few notes (including reading music) at 3.5 and late 4s respectively, but I didn't enforce practice and they lost interest after a while. They both decided to take it up properly at 5.5 and flew with it. They both play the recorder, and have since taken up the flute and piccolo (Goo) and cello (Rara). I think the earliest age for guitar tends to be about 5, but 3's not to soon to join a parent and child music group, or just play around with a tiny guitar. How about the ukulele? Again, mine didn't manage much at all until 5, but still have them, just for fun.

Hello everyone, I just thought I would share miniprada's second music festival success this week. Although the festival was far too spread out over four days and a little haphazard in scheduling (it has taken up the whole half term which I didn't realise would be the case when I entered her) she did really well in the instrumental classes - a lovely cup for winning a junior recital class, a second and a third in her other two for Violin. They were mainly Large classes so maybe 20+ in some 10-16 in others Piano less successful in terms of silverware but great feedback and she scored 85+ in all of them. She now 6 beautiful certificates for the wall plus medals and the cup. Shamelessly V proud mummy! Best of all was the fact that she enjoyed it and her confidence has grown massively since the last (and her first) competition in November. I am very grateful to her teachers for encouraging the applications as it really helps children develop a passion for performance and inspire them to try new pieces. I also think after hard work to get grade pieces up to standard, it's a shame to consign them to the drawer and not let the children show their talents outside of the examiners room or the teachers studio! Onwards now to the grade 5 theory, another lesson last night so think she'll get a pass, maybe a merit if she concentrates on the day.

Shef88 I'd be dubious about whether you would find a decent student guitar small enough for a 3 year old (and cheap or poorly made guitars are really not nice to play). Look at getting a ukulele instead, you'll get a decent one for not much money, and they are a much more sensible size for a young child :)

DD started recorder before she was 5, and didn't have any trouble learning to read music. We got her a classical guitar at 8 (at her request), but her interest in it was very short-lived. She did eventually take it up seriously at 12 but she mostly plays acoustic now, and I recent refurbished her old guitar to give to a friend's son.

prada well done to miniprada!

Well done to MiniPrada - she did so well. I'm glad she's encouraged.

Goo did another Theory paper today - she forgot to finish a question! I gave her the chance to finish it, but she said, "No, I wouldn't have that chance on the day - just mark what I've done" and she got 92%. If she'd remembered to put dynamics etc in her composition that would have been 95%. So consistent distinctions with 11 days to go. She lost nearly all of the other 5 marks on terms and signs, so will be looking at those. I can't believe we weren't going to have a go at Grade 5 Theory until next term, and am glad she's doing it this term! I think we only have one most past paper left, and she needn't bother unless she feels that she needs the practice. I've let her off Recorder practice since the Festival, and until this is done. Once it is, I'll also broach the subject of taking up the piano - it would be useful to her, and she can read the music and play a bit, just hasn't had any lessons yet. I think she did her Prep Test (with me) when she was 6.

Well done Waffle and Goo! Good luck for the 2nd!

Fantastic Miniprada - I bet the cup is particularly lovely to have! She did well to last over the four days as well!
Good luck to Goo for the 2nd and I do hope she takes up piano after her exam. I think she would love it! DS1 is some way off grade 5. He has done what he can of his first past paper for grade 4 and will get the teacher to explain the bits he can't do next lesson. However, he is very keen. He wants to take GCSE music and is sure the theory will help him and his music teacher says they insist on it for A level at his school so it will keep some options open for now.
DS2 has been ducking and diving where cello practice is concerned this half term but he did go through everything last night and the scales and arpeggios sounded very good. Piano scales need some polishing, though!

Glad your DS is getting on well with the theory too. We stared when Goo was 7, just in the summer holidays at first, and for the past year a page a day during all school holidays, so it's been a long haul. Our local sixth form college likes them to have the Grade 5 Theory too, if they want to do A level music. I've no idea if Goo will, but I know she'll be so pleased to have it out of the way early, when her friends start grappling with it in a few years. I hope she does piano too - she knows it makes sense, but has never had the patience. If she can't learn it in half an hour, she doesn't want to know... but now realises that's a terrible attitude, especially for piano.

Fantastic news with Miniprada and Goo theory practise results!!!

We have a date for grade 3 piano and its 12nd March, much earlier than our expected date. We havent had any practice done the last 3 weeks as there was a long holiday. Feeling under prepared now!!!

Green we are exactly a week after which now seems too long and I have to admit I am totally bored of what were initially beautiful pieces.

Practising in the evenings is annoying now even though I am sure the pieces can be improved but I am losing interest, DD seems to be fine though and that is what matters.

I am sure minigreen will be fine by the 12th to pick the pieces back up and probably they will sound fresh.

DD passed her grade 1 ice skating last weekend also so she is a happy bunny. Now roll on piano exam and dancing exam in April.

Hi, I'm looking for parents who have musically gifted children for some advice. This is our situation.
Ds is 9,10 in June. He has Aspergers and possible Dyspraxia. He plays violin and has so for 4 years. He is about grade 4 standard but we've just been told that he has perfect pitch amongst other things. Now I'm not suggesting that he is gifted/talented purely based on that but I'm told it is quite rare. His Autism has obv given him an edge musically. It's not so much his playing ability as you can see by his standard but his ability to read,reproduce and other similar things. If I'm honest,I'm not really sure. He plays in 2 county orchestras as well as council run Saturday music school. He has 2 lessons a week plus a theory lesson. We're very happy as is he with this arrangement. Our issue is the future.
He is at an Indy school which goes upto 16 which he adores and we are v happy with. We've been told to consider specialist music schools (we're in the South East) and definitely to consider Saturday music Conservatoires at the music colleges in London. Ds's passion is music. It is all he thinks of and it has changed him in ways you can. It believe. He wants to go the RCM/RAM for Uni.
Does anyone have experience of putting their kids through this sort of thing? Sorry for the essay!!

We were advised to consider Junior Conservatoire when DS was 11. We didn't because although he was talented he wasn't showing much sign of the passion he'd need to sacrifice a day from his weekend. He looked at it again recently (15) but decided against it (I think because the time involved would cut too heavily into what he sees as his free time). I think it was the right choice for us at 11 but I would have liked him to do it now when the travel would have been easier because he could have taken himself on the train.

If you're thinking of applying for September entry then you need to be moving now because there's not much time left. The RNCM open day was at the beginning of this month and auditions are in the next couple of months and I assume the other conservatoires will have similar timetables.

Welcome, disorganisedmummy. I know that specialist schools suit some, but your son's current school and setup sound fantastic, and I wouldn't move him if he's happy. Maybe supplementing his learning at a Junior Dept on Saturdays would be better than changing schools, and would also mean he still gets a very broad education, rather than specialising at a very young age. Other things to consider are travelling distance, or whether you would be happy for him to go to boarding school. He sounds very good and committed, but do bear in mind that some children applying will be quite a lot further on - I know one who had a performance diploma at the same age, although these are few and far between!

Hi all,thanks so much for your messages. wafflenose you have hit the nail on the head about many kids at specialist schools will further in at his age. We wouldn't be looking for him to move until year 7 at the earliest so we have 18 months at least. He has recently come round to the idea of weekly boarding. But it's monumental financial commitment. His current school are not well set up for music but he loves the 2 county orchestras he plays in. Dh and I would be very happy for him to carry on as he is and consider the Saturday music schools in London once he is at the required standard but I'm worried that we're stopping him fulfilling his potential this way.
Please keep it coming with your advice everyone.

I am a violinist and your DS does sound talented and showing the necessary commitment from your description. I agree with others about not specialising too early though. I was wondering if he also plays another instrument as this would be very helpful if he does decide to specialise later.

The BBC did a programme looking at Nigel Kennedy from childhood to now and it may give you some insight - I think it is still on youtube. My favourite comment was when he pointed out that part of the reason he is so good is because he practises at least 5 hours a day - I will never be that good.

We were also advised to consider music school. DS has however gone a chorister route at a local Cathedral, and is receiving a wonderful, free, musical training there. We will rethink other options later, if it is what he wants. I think at the moment he can't see beyond singing services most Sundays.

As I said on your other thread DS also has perfect pitch, its great for pitching choir, they use him to give the note. I'm not convinced it means anything much more than that. And we certainly have been told it can work against him in other ways.

Sixth form is also an option for music school.

Pradaqueen well done to your DD.

We are gearing up for ours next month.

can I sneak in to ask a music exam related question....... ?
DS1 is starting to work towards grade 3 trombone. His music teacher is arranged through school so apart from sending off a cheque I've not had any contact with him. He is year 7 and has been with this teacher since the start of the year.
DS had a lesson today and tells me for the next exam he wont need to do any scales or arpeggios at all. This to me seems unlikely but its a long time since I sat a music exam. Google is not helping....... is there a board which would do an exam like that?
( I suspect DS1 is just fed up with me shouting "I haven't heard your scales yet" as he prefers to practice pieces and jazz stuff more)
Thanks in advance and frankly I'm in awe of how talented all your children seem to be!!

If he's taking Trinity exams there is an option for exercises rather than scales. I know this because I have a scale-avoider who went with the exercises all the way through. The advantage (from my son's viewpoint) is that you don't have to learn anything because you have the music in front of you.

The link to the Trinity syllabus is here:

www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=1044

If you look for the G3 trombone pieces and recognise some of them then you'll know that you are on the right track.

Or it could be a LCM recital grade, there are no scales in those either. That's four pieces plus either sight reading, viva voce or a fifth piece. Again, there's a repertoire list so if you know what your son is intending to play you can work out which board it is.

It would have been so useful if I'd actually put a link in as Mumsnet has not yet enabled the mind reading function (good job too). LCM syllabus page is here:

www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/lcm-exams/download-syllabus

Hello disorganised

I think I was on your other thread too, but if not I'm happy to answer any questions or help in any way I can.
It was the best move for dd and she is thriving both musically and academically.
The teaching really is second to none bcause they don't just have one teacher.
DD has 3 just for her woodwind instruments, then harmony teacher, singing teacher, etc

thank you both so much for your replies.

Having a look I think it's probably the Trinity one.... I know the James Bond Theme is in there as I've heard it enough flipping times :) Who knew scales weren't compulsory!

He is very pleased about the lack of scales but I'm rather going to miss shouting through "I haven't heard you practicing your arpeggios yet" whilst I'm cooking dinner.

Thanks again

DS did James Bond at G3 too - the syllabus can't have changed that much in the last 8 years.

They can do scales - it's just that they have the option of doing the exercises instead.

DS1 did James Bond for trumpet Grade 3 10 years ago. Can't remember what DS2 did for trombone grade 3 4 years ago!

Interestingly, DS1 is doing Grade 8 tuba next month. Having a scales avoider he is doing scales this time, ((didn't for trombone grade 8 last year). His teacher reckons the studies are getting harder and seem to be pushing people towards scales