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Extra-curricular activities

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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.

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Fleurdelise · 19/03/2016 17:27

Misti your DD is fantastic! Music is obviously in her blood!

DD was messing up one of her pieces big time in the practice room, she was put off by how light the grand Yamaha piano was and I admit I was worried. She came out happy saying the grand in the exam was heavier, similar to hers at home and she didn't do the same mistake, she did have a couple of little ones in her Haydn piece but she wasn't put off by them so didn't re-start the piece, she played it through. The other two pieces all ok, aural she found easy and sight reading apparently went well (her weak element) unless she put her hands in the wrong place Grin. She is after a distinction again but I spent my time on the way back to explain it doesn't matter and I am proud of her no matter the result and she should be also.

She never shows competitiveness in real life but deep down she does care. Two weeks of relaxing now and just mess around on the piano playing what she likes.

Then her teacher wants to drill sight reading exercises, start some scales for grade 4 and do a lot of repertoire, she'll skip grade 4, will cover the syllabus without the exam but next exam will be grade 5, not in a year's time but whenever she's ready. I am happy with that, she'll be spared the 3 months or so of doing only 3 pieces.

LooseAtTheSeams · 19/03/2016 17:49

Well done to Minifleur! It sounds like it went well. I bet she will enjoy playing for fun over the next couple of weeks! Definitely think the teacher is on the right track with skipping the exam for grade 4 and broadening the repertoire, otherwise it is a treadmill. Most importantly of all, Fleur, I hope you are going to treat yourself to a large Wine and a Cake this evening!

Fleurdelise · 19/03/2016 18:42

Wine in the fridge ready for later and DD is at a sleepover so full relaxation mode today. Thank you Loose!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 19/03/2016 19:27

Well done to her! You can celebrate now, because she worked hard and got through it successfully. I hope she gets a really good result too, but it doesn't matter as much as the progress she's made. Cheers! Wine

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Shakyisles · 19/03/2016 19:36

Hi everyone. Has anyone got any recomendations for books to help with grade 8 theory. I only took to grade 5 and though I taught up to 'A' level, the requirements are slightly different.

Miss 11 is still trying to decide whether to go in for the local area competitions or not. Her violin eacher wants her to view it as prep for her gr8 exam at the end of the year. She is firmly undecided (aka 'no').

Miss 9 is still recovering from a virus. So practise time is way down. We are still hammering away at aurals. Man - those grade 8 sugar aurals are tough. Any advice - other than practise?

Shakyisles · 19/03/2016 19:38

Sugar? Where did that come from? I'm not feeling well!

woolleybear · 19/03/2016 20:52

Have just heard in a quick e mail that dd got a Merit in her exam, we are both very pleased!

se22mother · 19/03/2016 22:07

Does anyone have tips, especially coming up to the Easter holidays, for belong a youngish (7) dc correct the mistakes that ther teacher has advised they need to work on. Dd will dig in her heels and maintain (loudly enough to disturb our neighbours) that her practice points are correct ....

se22mother · 19/03/2016 22:08

Helping not belong

SuspendedinGaffa · 19/03/2016 22:55

Fingers crossed Fleur!

Congrats Woolleybear - a very well done to your DD!

Sorry SE22mother and ShakeyIsles, not able to help on either score.

Going back a number of pages (I haven't been able to browse as usual since work went a bit bonkers), a belated thanks to Icouldbe - looks like DS is heading down the Trinity route for G3 trumpet. Also, MusicMom1, yes, DS was at W. Smile Leamington Spa is a bit too far for us unfortunately but he is also entered at Cheltenham so will see how that goes.

woolleybear · 20/03/2016 07:09

Se22, with my daughter, 9 but has special needs, we do "competitions" so one day we might have a scales competition, she pretends to be a lot of different people, I am the judge. Somehow it is ok for me to comment on those "other people"! In the last little while she has got a lot better at recognising her own mistakes and appreciating what the teacher is asking her to achieve.

Mistigri · 20/03/2016 07:58

se22 how about recording with your phone and seeing if she can hear the error? Do you have a recording of the piece played correctly?

woolleybear · 20/03/2016 08:19

Yes, or listen to someone else play it on YouTube?

Just a q about skipping grades. Dd has done grade 2 only two terms after grade 1. Although she may slow down a bit I am wondering about skipping grade 3? She has had one lesson since her exam and already starting on one of the new scales needed for grade 3. As she is a weird one who likes her scales, would it be sensible to learn the scales but play a wider range of music before then heading to grade 4 in 18 months or so?

Our main focus for the holidays is still one of her exam pieces as she has a concert performance of it on the 26th April but we have sent off for a new book as well so we can look for some new stuff.

Shakyisles · 20/03/2016 08:42

My children have skipped grades and done lots of technicals in their place in a short time. Scales are great (if you can get your children to learn them early) as they are key to great playing.

Both my chidlren started their scales early for grades as to get full marks, they have to be properly known, at speed, even, fluent,etc. Why not get ahead, if your child is willing?

Fleurdelise · 20/03/2016 09:13

woolley as long as she is covering the requirements at that grade I don't see what difference does it make if you DD takes the exam or not? DD did grade 1 last year, skipped grade 2 and went into grade 3 this year but she did learn grade 2 scales and did pieces around grade 2 level on the way. Now she'll start grade 4 scales but not take the exam, she'll do grade 5 probably in 18 months- 2 years I would assume depending on her progress.

In my opinion exams slow you down, while I appreciate the benefit of the exams (including learning how to polish a piece to performance standard) I do think DCs progress faster without them or doing just a few. Luckily Dd's teacher saw something in her and feels pretty much the same, she wants to have time to introduce DD to wider repertoire and following all the exams to the letter wouldn't allow her to do this. Also progress stops, at least in our case, when exams are coming up, the last 3 months are spent on the three pieces, sight reading, aural.

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/03/2016 09:32

Big congrats Woolly!
SE22 My piano teacher says a lot of young pupils refuse to believe they are doing it wrong! Ds2 used to be like that - I had to record him in the end - when he heard the mistake he didn't actually admit it but he did correct it.
He skipped grade 2 cello - did the scales and pieces but not the exam and moved on to grade 3 after playing some other repertoire as well. It's been more beneficial to his playing, in my view and I am to have skipped an exam!

Greenleave · 20/03/2016 10:30

Woolly: a big congrats from me too, I am dreaming of a pass only so if she had a merit like yours then I would be on a cloud nine.
Fleur: so glad to hear she did well!

Icouldbeknitting · 20/03/2016 11:06

SuspendedInGaffa I looked at the syllabus for G3 and although it's 8 years since DS took it I can see two of the pieces he did then - James Bond and Danny Boy. I can't remember the third piece at all so for all I know that's still there too. The Trinity examiners leave the results with the centre organiser as they leave so you can get them very quickly after the exam.

se22mother · 20/03/2016 12:42

I will try recording her with my phone today, and see if that helps, thanks

Mistigri · 20/03/2016 14:16

SE22 I think some young (and not so young) pianists find it hard to focus on reading two staves of music while coordinating both hands AND listening to what they are doing. It's not really surprising as it's a lot to concentrate on at once! My 14 year old, but still relatively inexperienced, piano player still finds it hard to read the music while simultaneously focussing on playing, which is why she tends to rely more on her ear.

Anyway the upshot is that if you can separate out the listening part by making a recording, it may help!

NewLife4Me · 20/03/2016 14:59

Have just noticed that dd Piano exam is tomorrow, it's the first one we've had no input. Grin It feels strange not to be taking her to the music centre and listening to her practice.
I suppose I'll get a call tomorrow night telling me how it went.
It's only grade 2 though, as it has taken her until now to realise that if she gets on with it and passes grade 4 she can transfer from classical to Jazz and composition, which is what she wanted from the start.
I anticipate a lot more Piano practice over the next year. Grin
Concert was lovely, it certainly was a marathon and I think most of them played something. I love hearing the standard of these children it is truly amazing and obviously you are listening to finalists and sometimes winners of Young Musician.

Mistigri · 21/03/2016 07:26

Good luck to your dd newlife!

Greenleave · 21/03/2016 12:40

Newlife: best of luck with the exam today.

I checked the Abrsm account this morning and she passed with a Merit. We will have at least a month break so today lesson will be learning "river flows into you"( her most favourite).

Best of luck to everyone else waiting for the result

Fleurdelise · 21/03/2016 13:12

Good luck to your DD NewLife! Let us know how it all went!

Well done to miniGreen! That was really quick result. I am hoping to get Dd's around the 4th April but now my hopes are up. Smile

DD asked last night if there is no piano practice. I said she's on a break but of course she should practice something and she can start a piece of her choice tomorrow (as in today) but she can take a day off from practice.

She looked puzzled and decided she'll play her exam pieces just for fun. I asked her to play them the way she wants, ignore the previous dynamics if she wants, just play them as you would like them to sound. She played them so beautifully, respecting the dynamics but you could see she is putting her heart in them. It made me realise how much the exam prevents her of playing them emotionally (the way she'd feel about them) and I am happy her teacher is not doing every grade with her.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 21/03/2016 13:40

Well done to MiniGreen - that's wonderful!

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