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.

Thanks fleur .. That's really helpful. I hadn't thought about renting. We've got a good music shop in town.. I'll take a look

Loose the strings shop I use (in Scotland so no help for you) will let you part exchange your smaller student sizes when you upgrade. So this would be something worth checking on.

Agree with those saying a decent student model is a good option. My DD has a stentor conservatoire with dominant strings (£250ish). It has a shorter than average bow which I find helpful for teaching as it makes bow control easier for younger players and enforces whole bow geography. DD was playing my instrument but didn't like the responsibility of taking it to school etc, so that is another factor to consider.

Mind you she is now approaching grade 7 and if she were preparing for an exam I suspect my instrument would give her a few free marks.

DD2 played the cello to start with before switching to the viola. It is much easier practically and she likes that its range is close to her voice but I think the mellowness of the cello is lovely.

howabout - thanks, that does make a lot of sense. It would also spare me the problem of selling on the 3/4 privately later. I notice Stringers in London offers this option. Taking the cello to school is an issue as he starts secondary in September, and it's walking distance, but at least there is a cupboard there to lock it in.
I must admit I very much like the viola, too. There have been moments watching DS2 lugging a cello on his back when I wondered if he might switch at some point! Also there are hardly any viola players whereas in the training string orchestra he plays in there are around nine cellos!

Loose - we have done the stringers exchange scheme since DD was on an 1/8. We are def thinking of having a v cheap alternative once DD gets to senior school as no way could she manage a not-chest full size, bags, bus/train. Lots of cello kids we know do this. But do ask your teacher how long he is likely to be on 3/4.....DD finds the 4/4 easier to play as is less 'cramped' but her teacher did try her out with one first and then we 'borrowed' one from the shop for a few weeks so DD and teacher could check it out from all angles. But transition in size was v simple.

Happy shopping everyone.
DH and I bought our Yamaha upright many many moons ago. We had just got married, had set up a joint business and had just received our first paycheck: 1K. We were behind on the rent but landlord was lovely and never made a fuss. We were walking along a very narrow steet in a remote city and discovered a very hidden shop. A polish man worked there alone, he would import pianos from Japan and fix them before selling them. We fell in love with one, made in the fifites, Mad Men design with a Japanese touch, deep sound. We asked how much it would be and he said: "for you, 1K". It had to be fate! DH looked at the check, we shared a smile and rent had to wait Since then, many tuners have told us how special it is, all the mechanism inside wooden, as opposed to plastic, and a very unique look. I hope to keep it all my life. DS started banging it like a naughty rubber duck when he was 8 months old...

drummers what a lovely story!

Newlife: no idea to suggest I am afraid however do share what will be chosen eventually!
Loose: happy cello shopping
Drummer: its such a sweet story, its surely a very specially piano. It must be expensive at the time I guess. I bought my piano for £700 on ebay 4 years ago without knowing anything about piano(or ebay betting) so I am sure it isnt worth that much. When we started we were only having fun(mostly the tutor playing and singing with her-4.5 yrs old by then for a year) then we changed to our tutor now and on the first day he said: we wont be able to progress past grade 3 with this piano because many technical aspects cant be done on this one(its a very old digital, will have a look tonight what model). Then to make it worse the little baby sister who draws on all walls in the house pencilled/made holes on all the sponge where the sound came out. I am lucky in the sense that the 8yrs old hasnt got a concept of complaining yet so we have been carrying on with it. Till now, its time, grade 3 is passed, we need a new one and I am hoping to use it for life. Made an appointment with the piano shop this Saturday, I am very hopeful.

Green

I realised last night she hasn't performed Ave Maria in a concert before, so have printed off a free copy, not sure if it will suit or she'll like it, but running out of ideas.
Not sure how that will fit into the Into The Woods medley though

I also like "Once Upon A Time In The West", but she's not so keen. If you don't know it youtube the song, I love it, it's beautiful.

DD has passed her Grade 8 sax with Merit. Exactly the same score as DS1 yesterday!

I am proud of them both but very, very proud of DD for doing the Exam. She hates them and gets very nervous, this is a huge personal achievement for her!

Newlife DS2 sang that in a concert last year. I recorded him in rehearsal, trying to keep a little bit of a record as ro how he sounds as a treble, and sent it to various elderly relatives who don't get to hear him, and had than all in tears!

The Ave Maria, to clarify!

raspberry fantastic results. You must be delighted (and relieved it's all over).

green we still have a basic digital piano, which has its limitations (lack of dynamic range and only one pedal) but dd practices sometimes on the grand piano at the music school. Going to have to bite the bullet and fork out some money at some point (assuming she keeps it up).

raspberry

Well done to your dd, is that it now? Are they finished?
It is lovely for her and such an achievement if she finds exams hard going.
Some children and adults lap them up, but i'm sure they are the exception to the rule.
Will you miss the running about for them or have you still got plenty to do? I miss it so much, I didn't think I would being really ready for a break at the time.
Sorry, have just read how many questions I have asked you

Congratulations Raspberry, just timed nicely before revision season ramps up.

Drummer - what a lovely story!

Raspberry - wow well done to you and DCs alike, great achievement (ESP matching scores!)

Newlife - we love Ave Maria - DD plays it and it's one of her favourites

We break up tom but just found out DD has rehearsals Friday........

Thank you everybody.

Newlife no the running around hasn't finished yet, only DS1 goes off in Sept. And he has been driving so my running round will increase when hes not here to drive the other two. We still have final Spring concerts and he's going on school band trip in July.

They'll both carry on with their music lessons until summer. I don't know what DD will do next year (Y12). Her sax teacher is retiring anyway and she isn't sure what she wants to do. It wont be a diploma! Definitely feels like the end of an era though.

Problem might be if she stops school lessons as to whether we can still hire the school bari sax which she plays in all her bands. (She did exam on her own alto).

DS2 will finish his choristership in July so next year will be very different.

Absolutely Icouldbe, we frequent the same threads!

Congrats raspberry I guess that means you have been through 16 exams as a parent?

NewLife I'd love to hear your DD singing Ave Maria!

raspberry

I can recommend a good teacher who taught some of the leading conservatoire teachers
I'm glad it's not all stopping for you at once, our other two weren't musical and their sport was very local so no ferrying them about.
I miss it with dd, but coming to terms with it now.

Looks like Ave Maria then, thanks folks.
Hope she likes it. She's heard it and attempted it before, can't remember if she liked it or not.

Raspberry great news.

Fleur I've just counted, between the three its 22 practical Grades on 7 instruments, 1 theory plus DS2 3 RSCM singing levels.

I feel exhausted and penniless!

DS2 will have some more yet!

Newlife I'll bear it in mind!

Wow Raspberry.. That's amazing