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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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NewLife4Me · 07/04/2016 22:32

My dd is 12 and still not done hers, it would have bothered me but it's not something school have wanted to push this year.
So much has improved though and where she used to be a high merit on aural sight reading/ singing she is now a clear distinction.
So much has improved and I don't recognise her playing sometimes now Sad
I'm buying music to make me feel like I do still have a little control of what she plays, but I'm kidding myself Grin

Greenleave · 07/04/2016 22:46

Had I done it differently then I would have theory is learning in parallel to practical, I just never heard of theory at all until January this year from this forum. I think for each child there is a different approach and depends whats your plan for them. My daughter is a fast learner(but not deep) and has little patience. I am always worried she might drop music if she isnt being challenged, she loves being stretched and challenged, she is excited in learning new things. I do also have a plan for her to go back and focus on academic from year 5 as she will have to take 11+ route so I will have to drop music a little. Also my standard for music is low and I only want a pass for theory so hopefully that could be achievable, lets see. The worst case scenario then we would have the exam as a trial (expensive) test and if we fail we will retake in Dec.

Fleur: theory tests are only twice a year.

My lesson learnt from this first one to the baby: do not start piano too early, its waste of time and money and they might give it up for good. Do not start violin too late. Learn theory in parallel.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/04/2016 23:12

We generally did try to keep Theory at the same level as her 2nd instrument, and she ended up doing Grade 5 on both within a week of each other.

Theory exams in the UK are in March, June and December.

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Greenleave · 07/04/2016 23:17

Waffle: completely forgot about the March one just past(I was only checking for this year earlier and it showed only Jun and Dec, silly me)

motherwithheadache · 08/04/2016 08:39

ha wafflenose. But only the superdc on mumsnet are doing all this so fast. My dd1 has just done grade 4 in 1 instrument and about to do grade 3 coming term (was planned to do together but ) She has only just been told to start thinking about theory. Luckily her (secondary) school teaches it, so think she will start attending theory lessons in Sept, and I have been told it takes them 1 year to get through it.
But then she isn''t very motivated like your dcs. She practised her 2nd instrument twice during these holidays and only slightly more frequently on her first instrument. after a lot of nagging...
ds, hm, not sure he has practised at all...

LooseAtTheSeams · 08/04/2016 08:49

We're not going fast at all! In fact, although ds2 has the workbook for grade 3 theory, he seems to be going through it very, very slowly! Ds1 is doing practice papers for grade 4 but there are gaps that need to be filled in before he can do grade 5 and I think December makes more sense. The main difference between them is that ds1 really enjoys theory and ds2 doesn't!

LooseAtTheSeams · 08/04/2016 08:56

Musicmom1 just saw your post - many thanks! I hadn't heard of London Cello Day but it sounds fantastic! Not sure about this year but I will definitely make a note for next year. I love the idea of all those cellos turning up!

raspberryrippleicecream · 08/04/2016 11:33

I'm enjoying the last day of the holidays. It all starts back tomorrow, piano lessons am, the DS2 is doing jazz workshop both afternoons.

NewLife4Me · 08/04/2016 11:43

Only got tomorrow with dd left too. Her and dh have gone to Yorkshire trying out new instruments, buying and selling etc.
Trouble is they will sell 2 or 3 and come back with 2 others Grin
She has her eye on a baritone, Tenor and a new upgrade soprano. I'd be saying no but her, dh and finger wrapping, I'll say no more.

Icouldbeknitting · 08/04/2016 11:49

School starts again on Monday, DS has a workshop this Sunday, his second bassoon lesson on Wednesday, music centre Saturday and another workshop on Sunday. Business as usual then, plenty of petrol in the car and cash in my purse.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/04/2016 15:35

I like her style, NewLife!

Goo is on a County Wind Band taster course today and Sunday. 60 mile round trip to get her there earlier, and DH has just left to do the same, to pick her up. I have had a nice time with Rara, and have two particularly keen clarinettists round for lessons today.

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NewLife4Me · 08/04/2016 16:03

Waffle

sounds like you teach some from home too.
It drives me mad sometimes, not the pupils though it's dh practising.
I don't mind nice tunes or even scales and long notes but some of the exercises he does are downright nasty on the ears Grin
I complained so much that we put the house up for sale so he could have a garage or workshop type of thing sound proofed.
He went off the idea of moving, sign came down and we're back to square one.

I so want to practice regularly I'm not very good as don't get the chance, but dh bought me my dream clarinet for Christmas, I've hardly touched it Sad

drummersmum · 08/04/2016 17:19

Icould
your letter to Mr Bassoon should be a classic of epistolar literature up there with the exchanges between Anais Nin and Henry Miller.
Can't wait for Bassoon's answer.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/04/2016 19:33

Yes NewLife - I teach around 80 recorder pupils between the two schools, but really trained in clarinet and saxophone. I have no saxophonists at the moment, but about half a dozen clarinettists, a young man doing Theory, two flutes and a pianist. Unusually for me, I have three adults on my books currently, and they are all so different! Young man is about to turn 20 (has been coming since he was 8), lady in her 40s and a beginner in his mid 90s.

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NewLife4Me · 08/04/2016 21:50

Waffle

That's amazing, I've never known anyone have so many.
I know dh gains great satisfaction from teaching the few he has, but he isn't really a conventional teacher.
They don't have to be great, but the attitude has to be right.

They came home with a soprano with straight and curved necks, a tenor and a baritone. They traded in several mouthpieces and a tenor, I think.
There are more cases than before. Oh, my ears. Sad
I don't mind bari though because the low notes are beautiful.

raspberryrippleicecream · 08/04/2016 22:12

Newlife It is a lovely sound. DD's bari is only borrowed through school, she plays it in all her ensembles, school, music service and community. She has her own alto.

Every year at the Music Festival the adjudicator comments on the gorgeous bari sound in the school sax ensemble. There are two of them, both slight girls, surrounded by tall boys on altos and tenors!

NewLife4Me · 08/04/2016 22:32

Ha Ha it reminds me of the goon sketch with the little man sitting on a high stool playing contrabass.
She thinks they're hers but she can't take them to school and her teacher would have a fit, so they stay at home or dh work Grin
Apparently, there is extensive research that shows

"girls shouldn't play anything bigger than an alto until fully grown" Shock
I don't think a bit of a blow will harm, but can see why teacher wouldn't allow intensive practice, which is required at school, iyswim.

raspberryrippleicecream · 08/04/2016 23:19

That has always worried me a bit, tbh. She does use a good harness rather than neck strap. She rarely practises on it as her alto is her exam instrument. The bari lives at school mostly, except for concerts. However she is 16 this month and I would think now fully grown.

Mistigri · 09/04/2016 10:17

I have a good friend who plays bari sax in a professional jazz ensemble, so DD got to try it when we were in the UK last year. She's fully grown but there is no way she
could play bari - too short/ petite and hands too small (she does have very small hands!). She's 14 and she is definitely not going to grow any more!

NewLife4Me · 09/04/2016 14:16

Misti

I don't think I could either, I'm only 4ft 10.5 and the .5 is very important to me Grin

raspberry I'm sure your dd will be fine and i expect if not fully grown yet, very close.
I also think at dd school they have to go by the research and what they know because they could be in so much trouble if a child was injured.
Plus, on another point completely, my dd is only 12 and I suspect they want her to concentrate on Alto for now and soprano and clarinet as extras. This on top of Piano and singing is surely enough.
I think at some time she has to pick up flute too.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 09/04/2016 15:44

I now feel enormous - I'm 5'2"! Grin 10 year old Goo is now 4'10.5" (same as NewLife) and I think she is going to overtake me by the time she's 12. I think her predicted adult height is around 5'7", so that will be nice for her, won't it?! Rara is rather short!

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Musicmom1 · 09/04/2016 15:55

Waffle - dd's predicted height is exactly the same, and braces go on next week. Our two continue to have twin like tendencies. Will you sign up for County? Our County options will gave wait until spring 17 I think.

New - interesting. DD is happy with Alto for now but she tried a bass (with low c) clarinet recently - I loved the sound and she does have the reach for it, but it still looks a bit too much for her physically. Think I will agree to an A clarinet for now. (And am still resisting e bassoon.....)

Original poster
Wafflenose · 09/04/2016 16:09

Auditions for County are in October, and they have told her they really want her. Trouble is, there would be a LOT of clashes next year with NCO Under 12s, should she get in (unlikely). I think we will audition for both and take it from there.

Is your DD getting train tracks or the dreaded blocks? Goo has to have both... blocks until Christmas and then train tracks for around 2 years after that. Should be over and done with by the time she's about 13.

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Mistigri · 09/04/2016 16:40

waffle DD is 5'2 (and a half, probably) - just marginally taller than me. Her dad is tall and she was quite a tall child but she stopped growing at 12. Her hands and feet have been the same size since before she left primary school (she's a 36 shoe - UK4 I think). I remember her first guitar teacher telling her that her guitar was just the right size "for now" - she has grown no more than an inch since then and her hands not at all! Her brother will be the tall one.

What do string players do if they never grow out of a 3/4 size instrument? Do they have to move up to a full-size anyway? DD can play larger guitar sizes but depending on the shape they are not necessarily very comfortable. And reach is an issue on piano (an octave is a stretch).

Original poster
Wafflenose · 09/04/2016 16:48

My husband used to be 6'2" but might have lost half an inch or so. We have a tall child and a short one! With girls, their adult height seems to depend largely on when they go through puberty and stop growing - Goo hasn't hit puberty yet, but I'm sure she's not far off some sort of development happening, at getting on for five foot, and having filled out lately to weigh nearly six stone.

Rara's cello teacher is my sort of height, and has a 'ladies' cello' - a 7/8 I think. I don't know any adults who play on a 3/4 - I guess the sound is compromised a bit? I had a piano teacher once who struggled to reach an octave, but was still fantastic. Weirdly, I have quite large hands and feet for my size - well average hands with long fingers and stretchy skin (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) and size 5.5 feet.

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