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.

Greenleave I totally agree about taking gr5, this was my intention - to sit gr5 only, but teacher suggested to do smth in between, for example gr2 at winter but timing is not good so we agreed on gr3 at spring

Hi, another newbie although I did introduce myself on a previous thread. Can anyone tell me about 'music festivals', not the Glastonbury variety of course, rather instrumental! I keep hearing about them on here and would be interested to know what they are exactly and if there any in Middlesex and Surrey please? Also, has any parent successfully taught their under 10 yo music theory to grade 5 without private tuition but just using the books? My DD aged 10 takes violin grade 5 soon. Shortly to take clarinet exam myself, yikes!

onlymusic Dd's teacher also wants her to do grade 3 before 5, just to get her used with the exam format while it isn't so important.

loubielou I have looked into festivals a lot lately as we want DD to do s couple, she hasn't done any yet. Here is what I found: they seem to happen sometimes between February and May/June, there are categories such as under 10s, under 12s, performance concerto, composers classes such as Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, graded classes. Some are competitive and some are just feedback oriented. This is what I could find about festivals in our areas.

We also have a high piano competition in the area, the requirement is grade 6+ and it has been won in the past by one of the Bbc young musicians piano finalists this year. I googled it as Dd's teacher told me she wants to prepare DD for it when she feels she's ready.

With regards to theory I am actually convinced you can do it with sporadic input from a teacher. I would start at home and just identify if there are any gaps by doing past papers.

We had to do the abrsm practice first, 1 by 1, a book could take 5-7 hours. Then the past papers came quite easily

Notbothered, hello! miniprada (10) played the same concerto last year for two festivals and one a cup in one for it. Sounds lovely and she also went straught onto it from G3 and skipped G4 and sat G5 last Saturday. We re-sit G5 theory this term and also sit G5 piano. We are discussing next grade in violin with her teacher next week.

Prada, mini Prada did so well with her violin!!!she has such a busy term this term, best of luck for theory and piano!

My DD went through all the Theory books and past papers, and we waited until she got consistent distinctions in each grade before commencing the next. We were limited to school holidays, so each book and set of papers ended up taking a few months. She started at 7, sat Grade 3 as a practice run when she was 9, and Grade 5 a few months later. She got a distinction. :)

*won a cup not one.. Brain fade I reckon. Thanks Green for the kind words.

Ooh, new instrument - we're having one of those. Someone brought a Kaiser baritone to band and DS had a play of it and wanted one. I gave it the big fat "nope" so he said he'd buy it. He has been saving ever since, helped by a generous birthday gift from my mother. I suspect that she's been slipping him the odd £20 as well because he keeps coming to me with cash to pay into the bank - he keeps finding it in his bedroom apparently. He's ordered it and we are waiting for delivery (ten weeks).

DH is hanging his nose over pianos (again). It happens from time to time but the reality is that he does a lot of playing after 10pm and it wouldn't be fair on DS or the neighbours. They have enough to cope with as it is with brass players on both sides of them.

Hi all, I have DD 15 playing towards g7 on piano, violin and trumpet and DD 13 playing g5 piano, oboe and viola. and DD 4 who is very enthusiastically joining in but no planned lessons for at least a couple of years.

On g5 theory, my DD taught herself, aged 13 from the books with no input from me or teacher, so it is doable. I now feel a bit guilty so am planning on learning alongside DD2 when I can twist DD1's arm to teach us. I am a fairly decent amateur string player (no exams or qualifications to my name) and a self-taught pianist after growing up watching my DF play all the time.

Following on from previous thread we only afford it all because I do the strings teaching and also taught them piano to g4 before passing on to a proper teacher. This also helped with making time when they were younger. The wind and brass is through the school music service, which is fantastic if you already have a musical foundation to build on.

On violin I think there is a massive jump between grade 4 and 5 not just in terms of scales but also position changes and consolidating right and left hand technique. However after that it all starts to come together much more. Think this is also true of piano?

Hi all, lovely to see a new thread and catch up with everyone! I took up piano lessons a few years ago (four? Can't remember!) and love it. I hope to take grade 4 in December and I have just started grade 4 theory. Ds1 age 14 plays tuned percussion, drum kit and bass guitar and I think we'll avoid talking about his recent grade 5 exam! He loves theory and the plan is to take grade 5 theory next term and possibly grade 6 bass guitar.
DS2 plays piano and cello, has just taken grade 3 cello and is starting on some grade 4 pieces and Suzuki cello be 3. He doesn't love theory. at all. He has grade 3 piano early July but I don't have the date yet. He is currently s bit shattered due to SATS, music exams and a scarily rapid growth spurt!
I am so pleased that half term is next week!

Dd's music lessons are only private and while we can afford them I do wonder what would have happened if the older one would have been musical also. Not that he doesn't get a fair share of the family budget (I currently save separately for him as he'll want driving lessons in a couple of years' time).

I think it just made me realise how expensive it could be if you have 2-3 musical children in the family each on at least 2 instruments.

Dd's clarinet book has arrived, I'll have a look at it tonight. Last night she did her practice and it was a bit frustrating as she comes from piano and couldn't get the fact that the clarinet is manipulated by the blowing not fingers. So let's say she was playing 3 Fs she'd move her finger every time as she thought it is like piano, every time you want to make a sound you place your finger on that key. So she would cover hole, play F, remove finger, look for the hole again, cover hole, blow. Does it make sense? Had to remind her that the teacher said when you play the same note twice or three times you just keep your finger on the hole but stop blowing. So blow, stop, blow without removing finger. She was a bit stroppy.

Managed to move her lesson on a Saturday also as the teacher found a place, she agreed to it even though it it after piano, so just a small drive between, DD was adamant though that she prefers it.

Waffle thank you for the new thread!

I just got the ABRSM piano appointments! End of June, a bit earlier than I asked for, but still gives us 5 weeks to practice and perfect G5 (DS1) and G2 (DS2).
More worried for DS1 (12year old) as he only started piano lessons a year ago and this will be his first piano exam. He is also doing G6 guitar and G6 horn in the same summer session. Following from previous thread, for my eldest it is absolutely true that with previous music experience, he started piano at 11 and is now taking Grade 5.
On the G5 theory it is possible for a motivated child (mine was 11) to go through the books and self teach with some (limited) help from his dad at home.
I also have DS2 (8 years old), who took G3 horn in the spring and is also playing cello and taking G2 piano in a month (!). His older brother is helping him with music theory and hopefully next year when he is Year 4 he can sit Grade 5 theory.
My 5 year old is playing violin (Suzuki) and enjoying it so far.

On the question how we can afford it? Horn and cello are through the school funded by music service and we pay a very small amount (cello-free, incl. the instrument hire :); horn- small charge per term). Both DS1 and DS2 play at the country brass band and get given their instruments for free.
I pay for piano lesions and violin and only own these two instruments, everything else is school or band property. Saying this just had the piano tuned and was advised to buy a new one, especially for post Grade 5 work.

Sorry I hope above makes sense, of course the clarinet in manipulated by both blowing and fingering, I meant that you don't need to move your finger every time if you play the same note like with the piano, you just stop blowing.

thanks for the new thread waffle, we are a talkative lot aren't we.

I have two kids but only one musician, DD who just turned 15. She plays guitar, bass, piano and sax, and sings. She also writes, plays and home-records her own material. Couldn't tell you what grade she is in anything but she's a competent guitarist and she is doing grade 6-7 pieces on piano. Sax has been on hold this term but is apparently coming out for the summer, as she wants to take it to music camp in the holidays and also use it at some recording sessions that are tentatively planned for the October half term (she is applying for funding from a local arts council to help pay to record an EP).

I also play guitar, rather badly, and need to get my finger out and do some practice because we have our end of year show in about 6 weeks. DD has some concerts coming up too: she is supposed to be playing piano at a concert in mid June (for those who have been following, the Chopin nocturne is finally sounding like it has a fighting chance of being ready ...I am proud of her because this was a big ask for a second year pianist). She also has some local gigs doing her singer-songwriter stuff over the summer, and two jazz events in August.

Completely understand the finger problem Fleur. I have the opposite problem because coming from a violin background I get really frustrated and forget to replay the piano notes all the time

Good to hear it isn't just DD who finds it frustrating howabout. She got the idea but couldn't take it out of her system so when she'd stop playing the first F she'd automatically move her finger and get annoyed that she forgot to keep it there.

Well at least she only made the "strangled duck" noise once last night. She does find it funny when she does it though.

Hello again all, especially to those joining.

DD (12) plays violin (working at G8 level) and piano (sitting G6 in June), also sings this year...I never know whether voice is counted as a third instrument?

Love hearing everyone's updates, but at times feel incredibly guilty that I am no where near as supportive as you all. She's been asking for a while to learn a wind instrument but I just cannot see her cramming one more thing into her schedule right now. Let alone tell her that she was SO bad on the recorder that it is for her own good to avoid...

Agree with others on G5 theory, if your child is motivated enough, it can be done by self teaching via the workbooks. I was of no help because I've forgotten to read music but could test on the foreign phrases as token support.

Icouldbe enjoy the new baritone! Not sure how loud it is but I suspect that if DD would dare playing one of those my neighbours would move out. I was already conscious last night that while they said they enjoy hearing DD practising piano not sure they enjoyed the F F F F E E E DDDD "strangled duuuuuccckkk noise".

Can't believe the new thread is this long already!
DS (14) plays piano, drum kit, marimba, timpani, xylophone and anything that makes a noise when HIT. Plays classical, ragtime, jazz, fusion and Star Wars. He's preparing Gr8 on all of the above which means we're going to have a busy year as of September OUCH...the thought. Also doing a few composing classes with a famous resident composer at school. On top of all this he plays in six ensembles in school plus choir.
I should be working myself

Ah, and Fleur...you're making me want to learn the clarinet!

Hello! DS (10) plays trumpet and cello, both around G3 and he will be doing the G3 Trinity exam in early July (date yet to be confirmed). DD1 (5) started the violin last September but already wants to give it up in favour of piano lessons - she wants an instrument that you can sit down and play! DS takes his lessons at school, owns the trumpet but hires the cello. I shell out £45 each week during term time for his lessons, so when you add on music books, exam and festival entry fees and holiday courses, it is costing around £2k each year for his musical education - so no chance of him taking on a third instrument as I just couldn't afford it. The silver lining - once he is G5 level, all future lessons would be free as he would then automatically qualify as a music scholar at his school (private, so goes to Y8). DD1 does group lessons at a local music school on a Saturday morning during term time - far, far cheaper. Given DS's school schedule (long days), he would not be able to pursue music out of school, so we have been rather stuck with the expensive option of private lessons in school time.

However, we will be moving to NZ in September and so all change viz schools, music teachers and lessons. We will even be able to have a piano, something we have no space for at present, so DD1 will be pleased.

On which note, I am contemplating buying DS a cello before we leave. I've been advised to invest in the best quality strings I can afford. Can anyone suggest both a make of cello and strings that I could investigate? He is using a Stentor Student 2 temporarily with a set of good strings on it and the sound seems far superior to his usual hired instrument (Stentor 1 I think with standard strings). Many thanks for any guidance.

Just got our ABRSM G5 piano appointment - july 01 which is fantastic as we have an inset day not often that happens to us! Hope everyone gets the dates they want.