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!

Thank you Waffle I texted the teacher also to ensure she's happy with it as previously she did say Buffet B12 or Yamaha saying that the Yamaha one is slightly lighter (a beginners model) and as I was going to rent initially we'll go with whatever DD liked more in the music shop. She confirmed that it is perfect for beginners and as I know the current owner it shouldn't be a problem.

DD will be excited so I'll have to decide if I should hide it before she officially starts lessons, is there anything really breakable if she fiddles with it before her teacher tells her how to use it properly?

Please wait for her to be shown how to put it together properly. Most damage happens when putting together, taking apart, as there are certain keys which have to be pressed down while you do this.

If the Yamaha is lighter than the Buffet... I've never, ever noticed!

I have a teeny 9 year old boy on a wooden clarinet actually - I have explained all the reasons why he shouldn't have it and doesn't need it yet, but I was overruled by the parents, as that's the one mum used to play.

waffle I think the teacher said it is slightly lighter but it isn't a huge difference and if choosing between the two to let DD have a feel of them and let her decide as she doesn't mind (as a teacher) which one.

No way I'd look at a wooden one, DD will be 9 in August but she is petite and I want her to be as enthusiastic as possible about it, not to be put off by how heavy it is.

I'll put the clarinet away once we get it or maybe pop into the local music shop to give it a service and ask them to show us how to handle it. What does a service consist of? And how often is it done normally? Is it like piano, do you need to have a specialist looking at it every 6-12 months?

This reminds me...I need to get the piano tuner in.

They take off all the keys, clean everything and replace corks and pads. They recommend every couple of years... but mine last went in during 2007!

n0ne you will get better answers from the proper musical types in this thread - however a few things I try to do to inject a bit of musicality into the proceedings...

• sing everything - a little song for dinner, for coming home, for seeing a cow etc (?)
• go to a music group, I loved Kindermusik because there are all kinds of different styles played
• listen lots of different types of music - we have kind of cheated at this in that we listen to quite a lot of Zingzillas and Kindermusik CDs, so still kids' music - Backyardigans has some lovely songs too
• get plenty of good quality instruments for kids, ie not the ones that are plasticky and don't make viable sounds (ELC guitar is a particular bugbear of mine) - eg recorder, tin whistle, bongos, swanny whistle, etc
• get a cheapo keyboard that allows you to play at least three keys at the same time and let her go mad with the different sounds
• when listening to music ask her to pick out the instruments, if it's 4/4 or 3/4 etc
• something we do a lot - set up a simple repeated riff with a bit of a beat, and let her sing/play/improvise whatever she wants with it
• when she sings, harmonise (v.quietly) with her (I try this with DS but of course he always tries to join in with my note :)
• learn an instrument of your own/join a choir - I have recently joined a choir again (barbershop) and my kids are fascinated by it

At 3 she may not be too young for Suzuki but people have different opinions on that...! HTH

fleur,
A full service may include a repad and cork too.
My dh services his students instruments and prices vary as to what needs doing and any repairs that are required.
Things like rods and screws can add to the cost.
As a general a complete overhaul is around the £120 mark, but not sure if this is because they are students and giving him business anyway iyswim.
They still come back to him postgrad which always amuses him.

He is teaching dd how to do her instruments, they are quite often operating on instruments There's lots of brasso and silver cleaner I know that much.

Lucy, wonderful advices, I have saved them for my toddler for the future use, can't believe my second "baby" soon will join her sister with any musical activity. I am dreaming of a day my elder child can show her sister on either piano or violin ( with a small fainted hope it's even theory...she could even teach me one day!)

Thank you both Waffle and NewLife last question before I think of something else of course would you recommend a service now or wait a bit, start lessons and service a few months in, providing it is 6 years old but has been touched only three months from new and it is from a trustable person (I know them very well, no reason to lie about it)?

She said it is three months max, se thinks it is more like two months but just to be certain definitely not longer than 3 months.

I am asking as I do need a tuner for the piano pronto, buying the clarinet and accessories, clarinet book(s), music stand, and not forget the lessons.

While I can finance it, I do think it is less of a shock and easier to go unnoticed over a longer period of time.

But be honest, if it needs to be done I'll do it no doubt as I don't want to spend more later on if anything goes wrong.

I would be astonished if it needed a service - it sounds 'as new'. If I were nearer, I'd test if for you! I might be coming up your way July/ August time though.

Thanks Waffle let me know if you want a quick meet up when around here. I'll pop around to the teacher in July also so I'll take our new friend with us.

Fleur - I agree with Waffle. Only time we have needed any type of service was when pads etc fell off and some bad setting up/mishandling damage. DD now knows how to look after it (NCO taught her the whole cigarette paper and screwdriver stuff). Can the teacher give her one lesson explaining the instrument pre summer as I am not urge you (or DD) is going to resist for another 9mnths :)

FYI DD was on a Yamaha plastic until grade 5; now on the buffet e12f which is really nice and adding a e11 A to our instrument collection this week!

musicmom DD will start in 4 months officially as the slot she is taking isn't free yet till July and then we are on holiday for over two weeks end July till middle of August but the plan is to have a trial lesson before our holiday just to discuss what else I need to get (method book, maybe neck strap, music stand, reeds) and yes, maybe a bit of playing but nothing serious till September. I hope the Buffet will last her till grade 5-6 but then it depends if she really shows the same commitment as with piano.

I think it sounds as new fleur in which case it will be good to go.

When dd first started playing (when she was 7yo) on a student model she used a neck strap for the first year.
There are plenty of instruction videos on YouTube re putting it together / taking it apart... But yes you press down on certain keys to put together and remove the keyed pieces so not as to cause damage . It's fairly simple though

I am very jealous of the A clarinet - I don't have one yet!!

I was reading earlier about the Bb clarinet and A clarinet and I did wonder if DD would be confused that the C on a Bb clarinet is a Bb on the piano. Would she?

I don't know the answer to that one fleur as clarinet came first in our house ( before the piano) .... There was no confusion.
Dd also has a buffet e11 A ( council loan) . She says its a bit heavier than her Hanson b flat but not too heavy

Jumping in on the clari talk

I have an a and Bb both Edgeware and very old.
It sounds more mellow than the Bb but it's not that much different.
I don't have a C though.

It sounds lovely for Mozart concerto though, which I am working back up to again
It has been all over Europe with me and seen a bit of life.
Poor thing has a crack now and won't sound the same if fixed, they never do. So don't play it as much as I'd like.

So now I have a 10.10 far superior, but not the same old hard slog to play.

Fleur DS started on piano and added clarinet (and trombone, descant and treble recorder) He's never been been confused, just seems to soak it up and get on with it!

Don't look too far ahead though, clarinet may turn out not to be 'her' instrument. We've had a couple of instrument changes with my older DC.

Anybody got any suggestions for good Jazz festivals this year.

We have a few but dd wants to see as many as she can.

Dh is working at a few anyway, but I'm sure there are probably more.

So far have got : Manchester, Wigan, Llandudno, Marlborough.
Prefer to be the well known names ones.
Any singing ones too, have only got llangollen, we love this one

I just googled Brecon - they are apparently going to announce the line-up this month. The festival is always in August but the last time I went was years ago. It was great fun, though! I'm going to check out the ones on your list!

Loose

Thanks, I forgot about Brecon, how could I

Musicmom

If you anybody who doesn't like the cigarette paper approach even though they are inexpensive, just as good if not better are the foundation paper things, very fine things.

Please tell me what is the cigarette paper approach. It looks like I must know all about it.

raspberry I suspected so, that kids just take it in and don't question it. I am a bit precious about piano and told her she can learn clarinet if piano is not affected (practice mainly). I do know she may give it up but I usually ask her to stick at a new activity at least 6 months.

Fleur it took DS1 4.5 years to move from trumpet to tuba/trombone. DD tried violin for 2 years, then cello for 4 years before abandoning strings completely.

I think I am prepared that DD may give up music completely or switch instruments once she is a teenager, I've seen it happening around me a lot, the giving up that is.

I would be sad though because I have two very different children and I can see so clearly what is their "thing" and Dd's is music. I always thought that if they progress and get to a high level before teenage years in music there are less chances to give it up but I'll just have to wait and see.

I also thought that I'll keep Dd's activities to a minimum of 2 so she can give it her best but now she'll have 4 in September luckily two of those won't require home practice so won't take so much time.

DS told us off the other day saying that DD does too much in her spare time, DD though jump in to say she loves it.