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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.

OP posts:
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teacherwith2kids · 06/01/2016 21:59

(I do know we have no dance exams this term... the full round of three Intermediate levels - vocational exams, equivalent to Grade 7sih - are the next set and I think [fingers crossed] we may have at least a year before they happen)

Greenleave · 06/01/2016 22:00

Deo: thank you, regarding to grade 5 theory, can I do it before I have any grade 5 practise test passed?

teacherwith2kids · 06/01/2016 22:03

(Sorry, I know dance is derailing the thread! However, this prompted me to look up the minimum age limit for DD's next exams. She is literally only days over the minimum age limit at the moment, so I think we've got AAAAAAGGGEEES! Wheeee!)

raspberryrippleicecream · 06/01/2016 23:29

Green yes. The only link is for Grade 6 practical ABRSM exams onwards, where you need Grade 5 theory, jazz or practical musicianship.

And my older two studied some theory but didn't want to do exams, and as they have stayed with Trinity so havent needed Grade 5 theory. DD especially hates ABRSMs aural (she did Grade 1 and 2 violin).

DeoGratias · 07/01/2016 06:42

Yes you can do any of grades 1 - 8 music theory without doing any practical exams as raspberry says. We know one boy however who had some learning difficulties at school but loved music and he despite a good few attempts could not pass grade 5 theory so could not do grades 6 - 8 (which by the way count for UCAS entrance points which are used for university entrance and some employers as are speech and drama higher eams) ABRSM exams so he moved to Trinity board for his higher practical grades. I am certainly not saying everyone has to do music theory exams. And plenty of children learn instruments without doing exams although I do feel for some children like mine it acts as an incentive.

Greenleave · 07/01/2016 07:28

Teacher: I wish anyone in our family can dance, we all move like monkeys, everytime I see people dance then my jaw drop!

Deo, Rasp: will research it and think about it and speak to her tonight to see if she is ok with it. I think she is though, she loves quizzes, tests, games and doesnt mind to learn anything new, its nice to have some hard to challenge her

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/01/2016 09:12

You can also get theory work books and past papers from musicroom.com or Amazon.

As for how long... it depends on the child. A lot of my students have covered about one grade a year (doing a bit in their instrumental lesson and a bit at home) but Grades 1 and 2 can be quicker. You really do need to work through all of the books, even though you don't have to do all of the exams. Grade 5 Theory tests everything in Grades 1-5! It has taken Goo about 2.5 years to get there from scratch, just doing a bit every day in the school holidays, and some weekends.

I am amazed at how often strangers ring me up (as a music teacher) and ask how many lessons it will take to get their child (with no previous theory) through Grade 5. Some of them seem to think I am going to tell them 4, or 6, or 10. The reality is, it can be a long haul and I think it's best to start long before it becomes necessary.

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Fleurdelise · 07/01/2016 13:17

Thank you Waffle!

I have found the past papers on Amazon and I'll order grade 1 to see how she's doing. She does do theory a bit in lessons and mostly as homework, so explain the notion in lesson and then she uses the Lina Ng books. I have no idea though how would she do if she would take a theory exam tomorrow.

So I'll start with grade 1 past papers and go from there.

Greenleave · 07/01/2016 13:33

Waffle: thanks so much for your info and your sharings, I had no idea about theory exam before so I am very glad its not too late to find out now. I will have to do my own research more maybe starting with grade 1 theory book then move upward. She now has only plan for March g3 so we are still very far from needing it as much. Couple of years sound more likely. We are not very musical family. I learnt violin for few years but my music theory is near Zero and I could hardly play violin without some practise now. So for my daughter it might even take longer. Thank you

Greenleave · 07/01/2016 13:34

Fleur: will mirror and follow your steps too. Thanks so much for mentioning about it yeaterday

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/01/2016 13:42

If a child is older, or further on in their musical studies, I sometimes use the papers as a short cut to assessing where to start with them. They complete a paper from each grade until their marks drop to the 80s or lower, then we start the work books for that grade. With primary school children, I tend to start on the Grade 1 book. With tiny ones, I use the series which takes four books to reach grade 1. That might be Lina Ng's younger series, but I can't remember off the top of my head.

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SuspendedinGaffa · 07/01/2016 21:39

Hello hello! Didn't realise you'd got the new thread going Waffle - thanks again for keeping it all moving forward.

Have posted on the autumn thread, DS got 128 / merit for G2 trumpet - very pleased for him.

I asked there as well: has anyone here any experience of the Worcester Festival? Think DS will be dipping his toes in the water but don't want him to be overawed by a big busy festival. Cheltenham is closer for us but I get the sense it's a big manic?

A-Mx

SuspendedinGaffa · 07/01/2016 21:45

Substitute "bit" for "big".

Oh - and I don't believe any exams for DS this term - hurrah!

Musicmom1 · 07/01/2016 21:47

Suspended. - DD has done both a few years ago, and I am just finishing the Worcs form tonight as she wants to do it this year. Yes Cheltenham is probably bigger but depends what instrument really. Chelt is v spread out and a lot is on weekdays which our school is less keen on DD doing. Worcster is over two sats. I would say both are lovely and just depends on which day you prefer. Or do bothsince one is March and one May.....😉

teacherwith2kids · 07/01/2016 21:52

The thing that makes the Chelt festival manic - or at least for the classes held in the Town hall - seems to me to be the fact that music, dance and drama are all going on at the same time. I've attended for dance for years, and feel rather sorry for the odd musician who gets swept aside by a large bevy of girls in tutus sprinting down from a quick change in a group class. I know that some classes for non-dance are held in other venues, and I expect those are much more controlled.

SuspendedinGaffa · 07/01/2016 22:44

MusicMom1 and teacherwith2kids thanks for that. DS plays trumpet and cello but I think would only be sufficiently confident with the former. One of the attractions of Worcester is definitely that the brass classes take place on a Saturday when DS doesn't have school so no need of consent for absenting himself to participate. His school does participate in the Cheltenham festival for choir and recorder but nothing else to my knowledge, and I imagine there will be reluctance to allow him to participate during the school day, particularly since he is still in the lower grades. However, it's comforting to hear the positive experience of Cheltenham and I will pursue things with the music head at school to see what can be agreed. Teacher, faced with a bevy of tutus I suspect many 9 year old boys would be quite bewildered!

raspberryrippleicecream · 07/01/2016 23:23

My DCs schools, both Junior and Secondary have never had any issue with DC participating in our local Festival. DC are entered by school for some classes (though we pay fee), but for others all that is required is a phone message on day saying DC is at Festival. I think secondary don't always know whether it's a private or school entry.
I do always get the DC to let their teachers know in lesson before, and make sure they get homework.

School have scheduled Y8 internal exams for festival week, which might stretch this policy! DS2 missed 2.5 days last year, and I think it will be 2 this year.

I've also just obtained permission for DS2 to have 3 days authorised absence in April for a national music event

teacherwith2kids · 08/01/2016 07:56

DD (dancer) has been absent from school for 2-3 days for every Chelt festival for years. It's an absence that doesn't count as an absence (there's a special code for it) so it doesn't count in the statistics - she got her 100% attendance last year despite festival absence.

Unfortunately there isn't any such dispensation for the teacher parents of festival participants, so it is an annual logistical headache!

ealingwestmum · 08/01/2016 09:03

Happy new year all - well done to those with results from last term!

DD (12 yrs) is well settled into Y7 of new school, working towards G6 piano, and G8 new syllabus violin. Sitting G4 singing this term after starting lessons in senior school in Sept...no idea what this involves!

Can anyone here in the violin know, recommend where I can get a bow re-haired in the London area please? It's a nickel & ebony pernambuco (by Erwin Mahler) now 2 years old and think it may need doing soon...thanks for any suggestions.

Musicmom1 · 08/01/2016 09:10

Suspended - the other Chelt venues are def calmer but do lack a bit of buzz of the festival. Both festivals have classes for all grades/ages. Judges great and supportive at both. DD will do cello and clarinet at worcs, not sure about Chelt yet as we are doing two other weekend ones locally.

Musicmom1 · 08/01/2016 09:11

ealingwest - stringers is good.

Icouldbeknitting · 08/01/2016 09:57

Whatever happened to JulieMichelleRobinson - anyone know?

ealingwestmum · 08/01/2016 10:25

Brilliant, thanks Musicmom1

drummersmum · 08/01/2016 10:33

ealingwest this little strings shop and repair is in Acton Lane corner with Evelyn Road W4. It's supposed to be one of the best in London according to my musician friends:
www.matthewcoltman.com/contact.html

ealingwestmum · 08/01/2016 11:52

Ah, I bought my daughter's first violin from there but didn't know about the expertise in bow re-hairing! Thank you drummersmum, he would be perfect re location and convenience