May/ June Music and Musicians Thread

[Wafflenose]

Welcome, everyone. I can't believe we need a new thread already, but I'm delighted that they now seem so popular!

I'm Waffle, I'm a music teacher and I have two daughters - Goo (10) who plays the recorder, flute, piccolo (a bit) and started the piano a month ago, and Rara (8) who isn't as musically inclined but plays the cello and recorder. She is plodding (very) slowly towards Grade 3 on both.

We're going on holiday this weekend, so will have to have a good read when I get back. For now, I'll wind the thread up and let it do its stuff.

Onlymusic DS has had one half hour rehearsal with the accompanist all the way up to grade 8 although for that one he ran through the pieces a few times with a pianist before he saw the centre accompanist.

I've given up trying to keep up with this thread now, it's the last week of GCSEs next week then summer starts for us. It was the listening element of GCSE music yesterday, it started off with Bob Marley and "Every little thing's going to be alright" and finished with The Rolling Stone's "I can't get no satisfaction". Whoever set the exam has a sense of humour.

Greenleave, thank you for the recommendation of theory web-site and books (see how much I have to read to catch up :))

CoteDAzur you posted some very beautiful music, totally engaging!

dd1 exam due Tuesday, she has had 2 practices with piano (2 different people). dd2 has me playing with her all the times. just that I tend to go wrong somewhere in the middle, regardless how many times I do it....

Got the exam notes back for both DSs today - plus the shiny certificates! - and they make interesting reading. DS2 lost out on a merit due to scales (pieces obviously went pretty well from the marks). They sounded OK at home but not consistent enough and of course an exam is very different as I know too well myself. DS1 also had scales disaster and an aural disaster but was saved by phenomenal snare drum playing! Sight reading was OK. DS1 has unofficially been getting a longer lesson since the exam and I am now determined to make it officially 45 minutes just to get everything covered.
I think the problem with my DSs is that they still see practice as the Mini Concert! I would say DS2's piano teacher has got the measure of him, though, and directs practice very specifically and it does pay off.

And good luck exampanic for Tuesday. dS2 got one practice with the accompanist but his cello teacher accompanies him in the lessons so he knows more or less what to expect.

CoteDAzur talking about photocopying - dd's teachers always try to save me money even though I don't like it - I really prefer to buy books - it is just more convenient (but then they are not very expensive). The latest inconvenience is - teacher promised to make me a copy of past theory paper for grade 2 . I don't feel to be in a position to say no thank you, but thinking of buying a book (secretly )

Only our cello teacher is the same. All goes well for three grades then at the last minute I end up having to buy the book anyway because the other accompanist needed the piano part in advance and teacher not around to lend her copy! Never mind, I think we will use it for sight reading practice!

Fleurdelise I totally agree with you about the piano - two clefs and two hands and pedals of course! I am always impressed with someone's quick piano progress.

Greenleave my dd also think that piano is easier than the violin but her violin progress is faster even though she started it later and struggled a lot at the beginning.

OnlyMusic - I'm glad you liked them I'm new to Rameau's music but like you, find it totally engaging. I have also just recently discovered and feel like my musical horizons are finally widening beyond Bach, who has been my one and only love since... well... ever.

ealingwestmum, what a good comment, totally agree with you! This is why I stopped worrying about going through the grades quickly as I realise now that repertoire and good grounding are more important

"the travesty is that some of those children would have achieved those higher grades without a deeper grounding of music beyond their pieces vs those with lower but more rounded musicality. "

Fleurdelise

I do wonder if the grade 6/7 by 10 have done any other repertoire outside of the abrsm syllabus.

But it is not unrealistic, is it? If a -musical- child starts at 4-5, skips some odd grades, -or doesn't skip,- surely it can be achieved? You mentioned that your dd will be doing grade 5 next year, so she has all the chances to be grade 6 at 10, doesn't she? Mine can achieve it too just because she started early. And she does not play only syllabus pieces, I would change the teacher should it be the case :)

Talking about musical lessons for adults and to encourage non musical parents, unfortunately I never did musical lessons myself though I would like to, but don't have time as have too many hobbies already. But I was sitting on the lessons since dd started and of course we listen to music together. I can feel how I developed musically during those years. I can hear her being out of tune most of the time, I know enough of music notation to figure out if her dynamics correct, or if she missed the rest, hold the note long enough or missed the retake! You learn it as you go along and it is not as scary as it seems

On the grades subject I am learning so much about music and becoming accomplished.
Too much emphasis is put on grades and I can see why because I've been there myself.
It's a difficult mindset to get out of, being a grade 8 does not make you a good player.
being a good player makes you a good player.
I'm not suggesting that exams are meaningless, they serve good purposes, but they aren't necessary.
Says me who occasionally still wonders which grade will be next on which instrument. It's becoming far less frequent.
I do know she won't get the pieces until a few weeks before the exam because she will already be at the required level so won't need long.
It's a theory of taking the exam when you are about to consolidate the one above.

CoteDAzur when exams are done I should investigate more, I am hooked on baroque music now and with Bach being my favorite too though I am more on the violin side Bach violin concertos is my favorite CD since the beginning of the year :) But harpsichord sounds lovely! Thank you for the link!

NewLife4Me I am for grades, but.... I hate when people start comparing grades! As you quite rightly said because high grades don't make you a good player. And to be honest even high marks don't too. I would not say that marks are totally meaningless but they can be subjective and not necessarily a fair reflection of a child's ability.

Btw, I don't said that because dd had low marks, quite the opposite I found myself in a situation where marks were high but skills were poor.

Sorry, trying to read and type, and it is too late already,
I didn't say, not "I don't said" of course :)
Should stop for now :)

Re age/grades - it varies so much. DD is 10 and taking g7 this term (because we have to for other reasons although DD is ready) - but her repertoire is still extensive both as a soloist and because she plays in so many permanent and ad hoc ensembles. For auditions, festivals etc she will rarely chose exam pieces but insists on choosing pieces that appeal to her . Others are like her and yes, we know some, who never stray from their three pieces - but sometimes it is not a lack of skill, but of confidence in these children, and that us a shame to see. Also some children are just not that keen in their instruments but have no choice but to continue!

I completely agree with Newlife - musicians grow; as long as grades aren't being used as a constraint, they can be a path for some. We will step away for a few years on instrument no. 1 until DD has the emotional maturity to really get g8 pieces.

Mamareptor as my dd started piano and violin early - go for violin. Some piano teachers don't even take students before 6yo. It requires too much body control and cognitive ability. I am rather pro early start just because they will not remember life without playing and if they are able enough they will be almost done before secondary. Violin is also more social instrument - they can take part in orchestras or play with their friends.

CoteDAzur valid points re piano playing at 4yo-totally agreed!

onlymusic achievable (grade 7-8 at 10) but I think it depends how it is achieved, was it achieved through skipping some exams so the child can extend their repertoire or did the DC only played 24 pieces most of their musical life? As long as it is the former it is great, I see exams more like a measure of "where are we now", a target to work towards at certain times and the necessary devil in other situations (such as musical scholarship, but I understand it isn't necessary to have the piece of paper, I guess it is easier to prove your grade though).

Not sure DD will be grade 6 before primary school, I don't think we'll have the same level of available time come September for two instruments and academic work (11+ Grammar schools in our area). But I do hope that she'll be able to keep up with some sort of progress and skip maybe 6 again for 7.

In the end all it matters is that she continues to play in secondary school, that she'll still play pieces she loves and she has music as a hobby all her life. And if she wants to take it more seriously it is up to her, I did say I will visit with her the specialist music school in our area and if she decides 100% that it is the school for her we can discuss it then. But I don't think she is currently ready for the level of commitment they are after.

onlymusic - I used to be just into Bach's violin concertos, as well. Then I got into his keyboard works as I went back to playing the piano after +30 years, and then got totally obsessed by his cantatas, arias etc. If you haven't yet done so, I would totally recommend for example his sung by Andreas Scholl (who has the most amazing alto voice), (start listening at 2:18), and lots from St Matthew's Passion such as and (again, sung by Andreas Scholl).

Cote Have you tried the piano transcription? Do you like them?