Spring/ Summer Music and Musicians Thread

[Wafflenose]

My children go back to school tomorrow, and it's my birthday this week, so it must be properly spring in the UK now, and time for a new thread! Please jump right in by telling us about your DCs' learning (or your own), or by asking any music/ music exam related questions you like. We have lots of experienced music parents and teachers on here, as well as lots of new ones.

I am a music teacher, and mum to Goo (10) and Rara (7). Goo started the recorder and flute when she was tiny (age 3 and 6 respectively), has recently added piccolo, but not very well yet, and is starting piano lessons in a couple of weeks. She has no exams this term, but will probably do Grade 6 Flute in the Autumn and Grade 8 Recorder next Spring. She plays in her school orchestra and recorder groups, South West Music School and NCO, and has her first concert with County Wind Band tonight, after a trial course. She hasn't auditioned to become a member yet, and might not for a few years yet, due to age and time factors.

Rara isn't so musically inclined - she prefers to read and draw, and is also very physically active. However, she is due to take her Grade 2 Cello exam this term, and Grade 3 Recorder in the Autumn - she's currently getting to grips with the treble and loving it!

Ha Loose .. Sounds a lot like ds... He's so laid back that he is horizontal

I think the composition and analysing music but will really interest dd. She loves the idea of layering and already records and then plays over parts
I blame ed sheeran .. She'll be wanting one of his foot recorder thingamajigs next

Thanks! I'll have a chat with his music teacher in school when it's parents' evening, if he manages to make appointments ...

The saturday music school is now offering composition, but he really hasn't got enough gap in the morning to fit that in.

Clearly if he wants to do it I'm not going to stop him! But he's already being put off art (he loves drawing) because he has to analyse 'em ...

xpost trout. Perhaps analysing music is more fun than analysing pictures ...

Never DS1 has chosen art and music. I know what you mean about analysing pictures but DS seems quite happy now he knows what the teacher wants. Mind you, I'm sure I'm going to be tearing my hair out in two years' time over unfinished coursework. He's doing music GCSE because he really wanted to but I completely agree it's not essential if you're doing music outside school anyway.

Of course, DS would argue GCSE Music is essential to him and that's the important thing!

Another clarinet question (sorry!): I found an info on google a while ago stating that the front adult theeth should be all in before starting. Are we talking about all 4 at the top and all 4 bottom teeth? DD has the 2 lateral incisors gaps, so the teeth fell and we are still waiting for them to grow back.

I understood it to mean that the top central incisors needed to be in. I'm pretty sure Dd had all 8 when she started but I don't think she necessarily needed all 8
I've never really thought about it.. She covers up her bottom teeth angling her lip inwards but puts her top ones on the mouthpiece and then covers them iykwim. So maybe just the central teeth are definitely needed?
Sorry.. Not much help!

The 2 central ones at the top and the 4 bottom ones are there fully grown. It is just these two lateral top ones that seem to take ages to grow, she had gaps for a while.

Forgot to ask the teacher also...

Dad's teacher wanted them all in (think it is a risk to the teeth rather than playing issue)?

fairyqueen that's the one! Are you going? Am really sad that logistically only one of us could go, and we are over 300 miles away so can't nip down for the evening.

Fleur I'm pretty certain DS2 didn't have 8 when he started at nearly 8. He still has a lot of baby teeth at 13.5.

Fleur: dd only had the 4 "central" teeth not 8 when she started playing

Thank you all! You are honestly a treasure! No doubt that by September I'll keep coming back with more questions.

for all before you chuck me out of this group for being too annoying with my endless questions.

Oh and raspberry my DS soon to be 15 still has some baby teeth at the back.

I have just started someone who was on the waiting list for 2 years. I wanted top two front teeth. Bottom ones are irrelevant, and come in earlier anyway. He was 9 by the time the top two came in... and Goo had a full adult set at 9!

We should then be fine. The teacher hasn't mentioned it and also I would assume that by September the lateral two will make an appearance also.

Actually I think I meant what Waffke said! Good news is that braces don't seem to have made an impact to clarinet playing, teacher now decided we can move on from G5

Desperately trying yo think of two musical celebs staring with 'A'....??

Musicmom what type does she have? Goo has massive blocks (two in each side of her moth) to bring the bottom jaw forward, and also a contraption that we have to turn a key in once a week to expand the top jaw outwards. Seems almost barbaric, but we've had not so much as a whimper from Goo. When this phase is done, it's on to normal braces (train tracks) for 2 years or so.

DD had gaps either side of her front top teeth when she started clarinet - in fact the teeth have only started coming through in the past few months and she's been playing since February last year. Her teacher never mentioned it, and it didn't occur to me that it might be an issue!

Ds can't have "train tracks" yet as apparently you need your adult teeth to be in place. Taking him to the orthodontics again in a few months as they said if the last two are not out by then they'll extract them

DD is doing quite a good job of her pieces, more so Bethoveen being a favourite, I love when there is no exam discussion. She does ask (bless her) "is the my exam piece?" Every time there is a new piece introduced which is quite amusing as we need to keep repeating "no, these are just to learn and keep in your repertoire."

Thank you Rue sounds like she'll be fine. She's getting excited, a bit worried as she likes her routine, but asking questions about the instrument and so on.

Wow, lots going on for all so early into this term!

We're struggling a little with the sports vs music/life in general scenarios as some others up thread, and I have not enjoyed the last few days watching in the wings pavilion where there is one for cricket or rounders matches to finish in this bizarre weather. This is on top of her 15 hours weekly swimming pre/after school. We could never consider junior music schools for this reason, but hope that she continues to strike the right balance between music and sport, prioritising correctly when stuff comes up.

The good news was her music exam result came in this week after 6 days of chasing her to get from music office...a good distinction for G4 singing. Miss the days of personal contact with a music teacher who texted/rang you if the result came during the holidays...now we get the 'oh, did you not know what you got'.....weeks after the results have come out! I'm sure some senior schools out there are a little more proactive

DS has been given exam pieces to learn. But I don't especially want them to learn exam pieces! I guess they could do exam pieces + other pieces...

My DS is just 13 and he's already had 18 months of orthodontics - adult teeth in place for ages and wisdom teeth moving into position now! Unfortunately he doesn't play any instruments!

DD is enjoying her "exam" piece mainly because it's so easy and she is lazy lol. She started it on Sunday and I'm already having to shout downstairs for her to set the metronome and play it slower. It's supposed to be played at 140-145 bpm, at this rate it'll be about 300 before her next lesson!