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!

My experience has been similar to waffle's in terms of the speed of older learners. DD started teaching herself piano about two years ago (third instrument), and has been having regular lessons for about a year now. She is tackling grade 7-ish pieces and she's certainly not murdering them. I'm not sure that she has the dexterity or accuracy of younger starters but maybe that will come.

The way that drummersmum's son has progressed seems ideal to me, and shows the benefits of taking it gradually.

It is I who have perseverance to carry on with violin Mistigri, not my children . If it were up to them they would would stop lessons after two months :)

We have a "real" pianist, singer in our house tonight who plays piano, flute, sing in Gloucester Cathederal since he was a child and all to a high standard(he doesnt do music for living, only as a hobby). My 8 years old was blowned away with so much singing and piano(we had to miss a lesson today as guests came at 4)

Regarding to exam, it does get easier when they are older, even only half a year older. I was really worried last year when she had her g1 violin and grade 2 piano. This year the dates are not ideal but hey ho, I dont feel as panicky!

well, dd1 has her date for exam; in 2 weeks' time. How many times have I heard her practice in the last 2 weeks. Hm, once I think, last night....
No date for dd2's recorder exam yet. At least gives me more time to practise the accompanying piano bit....

Exampanic, haha, good luck!!!No news def better!

Very good first clarinet lesson, DD came out beaming. We now have the instructions for which book to buy and DD asked for a clarinet strap as her thumb hurts a bit. Any recommendations?

DS has never had a neck strap, (he started at 7), but he does have a thumb cushion on the sticky out thumb rest. I find Ackerman music brilliant for things like this, very fast free delivery.

Waffle this thread is only going to last half a term.

DS2s Cathedral Choir CD arrived yesterday. I hadn't realised he features quite a lot as the only treble soloist on it, he told me he hadn't any solos on the recording. Anyway, it is lovely and will be a great reminder when he is no longer a treble

The de facto go-to thread for musical advice by miles Waffle

Thank you for the advice I'll order the thumb rests then. Her thumb was hurting after the lesson and her teacher showed her a neck strap but we'll try the thumb rests first cheaper option also

Just out of curiousity, what method books did your DC start on for clarinet? Dd's teacher asked for Clarinet Basics, I can see the reviews are high but no clue if it is "THE" method book.

I am keeping an eye on the thread and will start a new one later.

Those slings are pretty useless and won't help with thumb discomfort - most people get that at first. I find them more useful for getting things into the right position for people with joint and ligament problems, but veering away from using them at all. Just get one of the £2 thumb pads (or a few, as they have a tendency to ping away!) and play little and often.

Clarinet Basics is the best book on the market (I hate Abracadabra, but use it for additional tunes to play) and Learn As You Play is OK for adults, teens and more advanced musicians. It probably won't last your DD long, so her teacher will most likely recommend other books to run alongside it. I am so excited for you - I got 4 new clarinet beginners in Jan/ Feb, a new flute player (aged 11) last week and have someone else on the waiting list!

Thank you Waffle yes her teacher did say she'll probably fly through the book as she doesn't need to learn how to read music. They had so much fun yesterday, at one point DD was doing the blowing and the teacher was playing the Harry Potter theme by pressing the notes on Dd's clarinet, DD was amazed, she now wants to learn the HP theme.

Lovely to hear your DD's enthusiasm Fleur . The summer break after DD2 got her oboe she just spent experimenting with playing tunes by ear. Her oboe is called Olaf because her party piece was "Do you want to build a snowman". She was showing me the callous on her thumb the other day so I think she is beyond thumb pads.

She has piano and oboe exams back to back in a couple of weeks and I am at the stage of questioning the wisdom of pushing the formal qualifications. Really really looking forward to her going back to just playing for fun for a while.

Goo is desperate to play the flute for fun now. I think this is why she is having to be told to go and practise. She's been with her new teacher for 4.5 months, and is on her second grade exam with her!! Teacher is going away for the summer, so I'll ask her to recommend some fun books and duets etc before she leaves. She has already given Goo a few Grade 7 pieces to play at home - Grade 6 isn't for another month!! We both want to get off the treadmill for a while.

Thank you all for your comments re early piano - much appreciated! I spoke to teacher and she could offer a little 20 minutes or so after DD lesson which might work ok. I asked DS about piano and he was just upset that he couldn't have a lesson first - so make of that what you will! DD is doing well with piano now and I don't want to jinx it so that might be an issue. Rivalry won't be good but if they are both into it might be fruitful.

Hmmm, forgot to name the clarinet, I'll ask DD tonight to do it.

Waffle for pleasure sounds good for Goo, from what you said about the practice sessions it sounds like she is fascinated with the piano currently?

Dd's clarinet teacher showed her last night some of her instruments, a piccolo to which we both went "aaaawwww" and a massive sax to which we both went "oh my god"! I had a vision of the future for a second and not sure if I liked it or not.

Fleur DS used some very old books belonging to my friend who taught him the basics. She gave him for Christmas what else can I play Grade 1 and 2 which he enjoyed.

Watch out for the big instruments! They creep up on you

Also agree that recorder is a good instrument but I think when the breath control is not great (and DS is a bit of a shouter) the squawking can be a bit off putting :( but I think it would be good for him to have a go at that as well.

Yes, Goo is loving the piano, and has missed two days' practice out of 35 - because we went out for the day. I haven't asked her to practise once. I'll try and video her playing her new piece - I can't quite believe what I'm seeing. (Iberia by Catherine Rollins for anyone who is interested! From a book called 'Spotlight on Impressionist Style')

Raspberry I did think that there must be a point where we should put our foot down with regards to instrument additions. Also private music lessons are so expensive not sure how all the people do it when their DCs do more than 2 instruments.

Lucy I think 20 min lessons are great to begin with considering the fact that your DS is eager. I would mention to him every time before the lessons begin that he needs to concentrate during the lesson as it isn't long, just as a gentle reminder, my DD needed it when she was 6-7 otherwise she'd keep talking about the said kittens and puppies.

waffle Goo sounds like a natural when it comes to music, I am truly impressed!

I think the differences between Goo at 6 and Goo at 10 are mainly to do with perseverance and self-belief. Plus, she really wants to do it now, and is clearly trying to catch up!

Fleur in our case piano has stayed at 30 mins but DS often has some of DDs time as she is contentedly pottering along slowly. We are also lucky that school employs their own excellent teachers and subsidises lessons.

We may have to rethink DS2 though next year. He currently has 4 lessons a week but the Cathedral pays for singing and towards an instrument, that will finish next term.

I am currently just paying for Goo's piano, and Rara's cello and swimming. Those things come to the same amount each week. SWMS pays for Goo's very expensive 60 minute flute lessons, out of her budget - we pay a small contribution to SWMS each term, but her place is DfES funded. I teach both girls the recorder. The rest of their activities (choir, band, netball, school recorder groups with me, athletics etc) are either free or just a pound or two a week, through school.

Rara is going through a sticky patch with cello - teacher pulled the plug on Grade 2 and has mentioned Grade 3 next year, but nothing is currently happening to move her forward, and I'd say there's not a lot of motivation on either side. I think we need to wait for Rara to grow up a bit, to cope with the technical and musical demands of the next level. I know it's usual to start strings fairly young, but maybe 5 3/4 was too young for her - she is immature and tiny, and just seems to have gone as far as she can for the moment. I do think she's far more of a natural wind player, but she's not having any of it!!

I hoped the thread would last the month, but it won't. I'll start a new one.