Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Flip

1 2 ··· 22 23 24 ··· 39 40

Original poster

New Year Music and Musicians Thread

991 replies

Wafflenose · 04/01/2016 13:46

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.

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Icouldbeknitting · 17/03/2016 19:57

Local comp here where the lunchtime music group folded due to lack of players. There are two concerts a year, one is recorded for the GCSE performance element. Fortunately there are plenty of performance opportunities out of school.

DS had three years in a national ensemble and because private schools break up earlier I have had to ask for a week off school every time. Music lessons are expensive and unless you have one parent with some experience it is hard to support them right at the beginning when they need it most.

I do occasionally have a rant about the effect of the national curriculum on arts subjects but that might well just be our school's attitude. They are very keen on league tables and music is very definitely seen as an extra curricular activity, even if you are sitting it as a GCSE.

NewLife4Me · 17/03/2016 20:06

I think it will be interesting to see what happens when state become academies, it will be hard for children and teachers/ LA music service.
The county orchestra and senior bands don't finish until 8.45 anyway and as they'll be starting the earlier groups later, to allow for travel, some dc will only be able to make one group and some teachers will lose vital teaching hours, just from the way they have to manage provision.
It's very rare for music to be treated as curriculum in any school but perhaps more opportunities in private schools.
However, i met a parent whose dc had attended Wells for the music and compared to the specialist music schools where the subject is core, they were paying lip service according to him.

Mistigri · 17/03/2016 20:12

There's not much music in state schools here but there are a lot of musical opportunities outside school which don't require massive resources or committed parents. Almost every town has its own (subsidised) music school, which often exists primarily to provide musicians for local brass and wind bands. Last year DD did sax lessons in one of these music schools for the grand total of about £30 a term (and that also paid for weekly theory and orchestra classes).

Orchestral instruments are still only played by a small minority of teenagers though, and most of those are girls. In DD's sixth form college I would think guitar players outnumber other musicians by 10 to 1!

NewLife4Me · 17/03/2016 20:27

That's like here Mistigirl

There are no schools in the borough that have ensembles beyond beginner and that's only one school.
Children have lessons from the LA music service, these are either at their own school or if this isn't possible after school at a high school that acts as a centre for the music service ensembles. They have groups, bands, ensembles for most instruments and a county orchestra.
One of the bands wins national music competitions quite often.
So it's fair to say there are musical children in schools but not enough in each school to do anything with them.

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/03/2016 21:39

I've just returned from my DCs state school Festival celebration concert. As you know from previous posts all the school ensembles did well and were first or second. Where they were second other state schools were first. The local private school does better at Primary but not so greatcat secondary.

The school employs their own music teachers and offers quality 25 min lessons. The condition is you must play in an appropriate ensemble. Lessons this year are £7.50. One DC is going on to conservatoire this year from this. I think we are very lucky.

In our case it's been the schools the DC have gone to, not our previous experience.

I know a couple of state DC at regional NCO. Our County Youth Orchestra though currently takes all comers Grade 5 and above to try and get numbers up. And the City Youth Orchestra has dwindled to a chamber orchestra which is a shame.

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/03/2016 21:43

Schilke that's a lovely story.

MirandaWest · 18/03/2016 08:30

Got an email from DDs flute teacher at 6:50 this morning and she passed with distinction . As DS put it "its only grade 1" but still a very nice email to get

Quillered · 18/03/2016 08:40

The county music provision where we are is almost non-existent - they simply got rid of all county run groups a few years ago, overnight, to save costs. All that remains is a few extremely expensive once a month groups - costing approx. £400 a year each - which are run privately. Many of the comprehensives have almost no music provision. And by the way it is perfectly possible to run a small orchestra or wind group with a handful of instrumental players, I've seen it done, but they don't want to put in the time/cost. Music is on its last legs in the state system where we are. Private school children have a huge advantage.

Fleurdelise · 18/03/2016 08:57

Congratulations Miranda great result!

Icouldbeknitting · 18/03/2016 11:27

Congratulations Miranda, it must be a lovely way to start the day.

ealingwestmum · 18/03/2016 12:03

Good to hear everyone's exam and festival results. And so pleased for your son Schilke to overcome his stage nerves at last with a stunning performance!

howabout · 18/03/2016 13:20

Quillard I just wanted to endorse what you are saying about continuing to run small groups. Our council provision is better than some of the examples here but there was a reorganisation a few years back and dwindling numbers which are only now recovering. The school strings teacher is running a quartet at the moment which will hopefully provide the necessary backbone to integrate the dozen or so pupils she has coming into the school next year.

Mistigri · 18/03/2016 20:09

Congratulations miranda

And good luck fleur for this weekend (it is tomorrow isn't it?).

We're being treated to very loud vocal exercices tonight - DD doesn't do formal singing lessons but she occasionally takes it on herself to "practice" (rather than just singing, which she does all the time). One of the songs she sings in her jazz class goes above her comfort zone so I think she is trying to extend her range a bit ... I have no idea if this is a good thing to do or not. It's gone 9pm here so maybe I need to go and shut her up for the sake of the neighbours ...

NewLife4Me · 18/03/2016 20:48

Miranda

What a brilliant result and tell ds it's not where you start it's where you finish.

troutsprout · 18/03/2016 20:58

Congrats to your Dd Miranda. That is a great result

NewLife4Me · 18/03/2016 21:27

A last minute concert invite has come for me tonight for tomorrow.
My dd has actually asked me to attend a concert, I'm not usually allowed to.
I wouldn't usually pander to her but I wouldn't want to put her off a performance iyswim, so don't usually go. I'm quite chuffed.
If she ever performs in a church and I have to go/ have no choice, she makes me sit at the back, behind a pillar.

Fleurdelise · 18/03/2016 21:43

Thank you Mistigri, it is indeed tomorrow, had a mock exam today and Dd's teacher was happy with how it went.

Is there a way to hear your DD playing guitar/singing Misti? Sorry if I am too intruding but I am so fascinated by self taught people that have a natural interest and talent.

DD practises her singing in the back of my car most of the time, no lessons but she loves pretending to be a professional singer.

NewLife that sounds good, you must feel so proud!

NewLife4Me · 18/03/2016 21:56

Fleur

Good luck for tomorrow, and maybe not everybody's advice but I'd recommend doing no reading but playing by ear.
Let her choose a song she likes and work it out for herself.
Does wonder for aural practice and is such fun.
You could request something she knows.

I am pleased about the concert, I'm funny about proud It seems wrong sometimes to be proud of a talent. I always tell her well done, if it was well done. I don't tell her it was bad or anything, like I know some do.

I know this parent who has put the fear of something into their dd. If she makes a mistake she looks straight at him and cries, she's 14 now. I feel so sorry for her and try to intercept him when I can, but he is horrible. Not a parent at dd school btw, they are lovely.

Fleurdelise · 18/03/2016 22:06

Thank you NewLife, she was "composing" last night just for fun, I can't say I discovered Mozart but it was nice.

I know what you mean by being proud of a "talent", I feel the same when somebody says my DD is talented. However I know how much work she puts in so I always praise her hard work rather than her "talent" (not sure I believe in talent as such, more an natural inclination).

We actually talked about it tonight, I did remind her that it doesn't matter the result, what matters is how she made an effort, worked hard, practised, which is more important than a piece o paper.

Mistigri · 18/03/2016 23:14

Fleur she has a FB music page and a channel on YouTube, I can PM you a link if you like. (It's just pop music ... Defo no Mozart in this house ).

Fleurdelise · 19/03/2016 09:11

Misti yes please, pop music is great, i don't think Mozart lives in this house either, DD is only torturing his music from time to time

Greenleave · 19/03/2016 09:43

Miranda: many congrats on the great result, to me grade 1 is the most special one as we overcame the giving up barrier and enter into music world(just in my opinion). I remembered sitting with my daughter almost every other night when she practised violin after 11-12 hours stressful at work and sometimes my brain hurt so much with the violin screeching "noise" and we both didnt say however wanted to give up. We didnt, she had a merit, she is now progressing very fast and the violin sound gets better(still very screeching loads of time) and we are so glad we didnt give up. Grade 2 is coming this summer term however our teacher said she could progresses to grade 3 this summer.

Misti: I wish my daughter could be like yours one day(might be not singing part, our whole household has terrible voice including the baby hahaha)

Fleur: thinking about you and your daughter today, best of luck!

Musicmom1 · 19/03/2016 13:35

Miranda - well done to DD!

Fleur - good luck and enjoy :)

Misti - I love your dd's attitude (and obvious talent); music to entertain, explore and enjoy.

Newlife - enjoy the concert

Good luck to everyone else for end of term music and results

Fleurdelise · 19/03/2016 14:23

Done, now the waiting game begins.

Mistigri · 19/03/2016 16:05

Fleur quietly confident? (I've sent you a PM).

Flip

1 2 ··· 22 23 24 ··· 39 40