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.

@newlife: hahaha, I think for boys its much harder especially the not so exceptional one.

I think its a very long game, its important they play alittle later on too rather than get to g8 then never play again.

We started going to few concert, near Xmas we went to couple one is very big and one is only a church(but paid). I will start doing more: making going to museum and concerts and theatre now as a scheduled plan. If anyone knows anything good for kids this year in London pls shout.

Fleur: follow your step, just bought the g1 abrsm theory books with couple of past papers, will let you know how it goes

DD2 got a merit for her grade 6 recorder (and also for her grade 4 ballet) so that's a relief. We were somewhat concerned because she was in significant pain that week with a dance related injury. This term she will definitely do grade 6 singing (held over from last term because of her tonsils/adenoids operation) and maybe grade 3 piano. Not sure about that though. Grade 6 flute in the summer. She will probably do a few singing classes in the music festival - she isn't going to play though, neither is DD1 which I think is a bit of a shame but there you go - she needs to concentrate on her A levels (her RCM requirement may be EE but she is aiming for A*s nonetheless). She has grade 8 theory this term though. DD2 also has the dance festival and half term so yet another packed term for her (good thing really, keep her busy and fill the void left by the panto). DS has refused point blank to do grade 7 sax. I don't blame him - he has enough to contend with with his GCSEs. But on the other hand it seems a shame not to when he is easily that standard and he's finally made the effort to pass grade 5 theory (although as he points out, that was designed to support his music GCSE endeavours not to put more exams back on the agenda).

While I'm here does anybody know anything about The children's choir GB or whatever it is.
Dd is asking about it, no idea how she found it and I've been avoiding it for years. I know that's bad but if anyone can remember my previous life of all the running about, they'd understand.
I know we can't afford it as well.
How does it work? Is it worth it?

Uhtred

Your nn is hard for dyslexics

Your dc have done really well and sounds like lots of hard work, good luck to dd with gr6.
Exams aren't the be all, dd doesn't seem to be working towards any for the foreseeable future, even Piano though she's around grade 3 now.
It's so good to hear what others are up to.
My dd has a local concert next week, I'm really looking forward to it, she's singing 3 pieces and I haven't heard her sing for so long now.
I am hopefully going to record it.

I know that is a bit off topic, but not so much, has anybody seen the Amy Winehouse movie tonight? What a huge amount of talent and so quickly wasted. I found it so sad...

Green DD is using the grade 1 theory by Lina Ng not the abrsm one as her teacher thinks it is more fun. Not sure if it is on a par though, that is why I want to buy previous tests and see how she's doing to understand her level.

Here we go again. I'm getting so exam jaded it's not fair on dd really but I like to think maybe it helps lessen her stress..
Grade 7 recorder in Feb. School work seems so time pressured and choir too that I think she wants to do this to prove she still can do a recorder exam. She'd better get the aural right this time !

Anyone know when the summer dates might be ? I'm wondering if she could for a grade 8 in then. Otherwise realistically she won't get 3 done in year 13. Of course she doesn't have to, but I think she could do and for her having the bits of paper helps her self esteem .

helenluvsrob I get the feeling ABRSM is quite flexible on dates in the summer. Our music Centre books two days in May each year and brings in an examiner but DS2's piano teacher manages to get dates in July so you can definitely aim for quite late in the school year! Piano teacher teaches both for the music centre and privately and basically enters everyone privately in the summer just to give them a bit more time.
Back to music centre groups this morning and lessons next week. DS1 is planning to do only grades 6 and 8 in bass and drums so can safely put that off for a bit and focus on getting G5 percussion out of the way. We need to get him on a theory course as well - I doubt he knows as much as he thinks he does!

New folk welcome?

DD (8yo in a few days) is a chorister, and playing violin and piano. We're not UK based so not doing grades.

She's likely to go to vocational school from grade 4 (18 months) with the choir.

haha! I can imagine!

We're in Sweden so the differences are present but not huge.

Goo is doing a theory paper without any help today, and oh dear, you should hear the noises she's making! I'll let you know how she does (having missed out a section because she hasn't learnt the foreign words yet.

78% all on her own. Not as good as the one she did before Christmas, but good enough, and it's shown up the bits she needs to work on.

Rapidly

My dd may be joining yours if she is starting Monday, not sure why or even if she has the story right.
Something was mentioned before xmas, but dd believes it's only temporary for a few weeks.
Good luck to her, she'll love it.
Hard work and she'll be shattered though

Have just seen, she is starting Monday.
Wish her good luck from me and dd, and I'll tell dd to keep a look out for her.
Are you all set?
If you are unsure of anything I might know feel free to pm, I'll help if I can.
Not very knowledgeable on specific chorister stuff though.

All, hope weekend gas treated you well.

Fleur: never a big fan of Amy but then I am not a big fan of any music either, now thinking I am hoping the kids will do better than me. Regarding to the abrsm theory. Our tutor said it might be easier to stick with 1 format if we want to take g5 with abrsm. I dont know how hard it is for her yet until at least we see the books and start. I was hoping she could have grade 5 done by end of Primary. The aim was hoping she was then can play alittle and be selected in any school's piano/violin activity at secondary if she wants to join. Lets see how it goes!

Rapidly I wondered if it was that school. Hope she had a good start and enjoys it.

Hope your DD went back OK Newlife. I met our mutual friend when she was back home a while ago and owned up to the connection!

DD is getting worked up over G8 already! She and DS1 are having extra lessons for G8 prep this term apparently, so will be an expensive one.

I put the last 2 children i n for grades 1, 2, 3 and 5 theory myself - they did one a term with the grade 4 book over the summer.... however first attempt at grade 5 was fail but they did pass after that. I still think it was good for them to practise by doing the earlier grades and get used to sitting in an exam. I did all the theory grades.

You can do ABRSM exams abroad by the way. They sent out examiners but of course there is no need to do any exams at all if you don't want to.

Ds1 came back from first percussion lesson with new teacher. I asked how it went and how the grade 5 pieces were going. Turns out teacher thinks he may be ahead of grade 5. Pointed out to DS1 he can't do other grades unless he does grade 5 theory. Have left him to ponder that one!
I've just started on new grade 4 pieces for piano. I have chosen Tempo di Menuetto, the one by Rybicki that translates as I Know of a Pleasant Meadow and the Indian Pony Race - really outside my comfort zone on that one!
New Year's Resolution? Sort out my scales!

Raspberry: whats a great fun having them learning together, mine is quite a big gap between the two so no chance. My final aim ever is G8, then hopefully she gets hold of the technique and build up a hobby.

Loose: scales is still our nightmares, slip fingerings grrrr!! Do you have a plan for your son on the theory test?

Deo: thank you for sharing, I am nervous too, if it takes long to learn each grade theory then we will take pregrade 5 tests. I havent received the books ordered from Amazon though, never so looking forward to seeing a delivery that muchxx

Different instruments Greenleave. DD is sax and DS1 Tuba. And DD just stresses over the fact DS is so laid back!

Loose ,he can always switch to Trinity and forget theory although I think theory gr 5 is half a gcse done. Other option is start working on gr6 repertoire while preparing theory. Gr5 theory cabe taken the term before the gr6 practical exam.