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.

teacherwith2kids well done to your DS!

drummersmum that sounds busy but if he is up for it I'm sure it will work out just fine. for you!

Just ordered the grade 5 scales and the teacher said we can get the grade 5 pieces also as soon as they come out, she thinks she'll be ready to start preparing around October/November.

We'll have a busy year ahead also next year, piano grade 5 planned for spring (if ready) 11+ in September and I will assume clarinet exam at some point. Also the decision needs to be made if to apply for specialist music school or not, we'll decide sometimes in the new year.

I won't think about it though just yet, God knows how things will be by next year.

Oh and DS is having his GCSEs next year also so I will need a lot of this

Sorry to hear about Goo Waffle. I agree, on any other MN thread there'd be unwanted and unwarranted criticism. That's why I love your thread and the property ones as they are really supportive and great advice to be found.

Just wanted to say good luck to everyone tomorrow who's doing the theory. I am now rather worried we might make it two F's in a row given that miniprada appears to have not really done much since March, but we live in hope we'll find the additional couple of marks we were short last time!! Fingers crossed!! We also have a preliminary music scholarship audition at one of her secondary choice schools next week so busy times ahead!

I literally cannot wait until this time next year when they'll be no exams and playing will be for pleasure!

teacher congratulations to him!
Prada good luck with exam and audition.
Fleur I will drink your watching the match tonight.
To all the theory DCs...May the force be with you.

Teacher: wonderful news, many congrats!
Drummer: all these grade 8 looks so superior to me(working on grade 3 now), all the best!
Fleur: grade 5 challenge is on the scales I read it here, you are wise to get the book now, let her practise on it slowly so she isnt overwhelmed by then

Pradaqueen: just thought about you when I was on the train today, thinking we might see each other tomorrow as we both live in SW London if I remember you mentioned it before. Best of luck, I am sure it will be a pass this time, fingers crossed! And also the audition next week!

Only, no idea about these books, I was thinking of some interesting pieces to play around Grade 3-4 but not exam pieces, anything you could recommend.

I have...loads of theory books, couple ones are completely useless, highly not recommend. There are 3 books we like: abrsm, dingle and mymusictheory. Will find them and take a pic tomorrow. In the end we found the abrsm book is the best. I am going out tonight and someone has already in bed so we are all ready for tomorrow morning(just realised it is morning not afternoon as I orginally thought phew!!!)

green you'll blink and you'll be there

Good luck with the theory for tomorrow, everyone! The young man who took his Grade 5 twice last year is taking Grade 6 tomorrow! He's borderline, but plans to use all his time, and we're hoping for the best.

Goo had her lesson today. The bad bits (Bb minor and half a study) were still bad, but her teacher says she's a star and thinks she will get a merit. Goo's face completely lit up when teacher suggested playing duets tonight - it was as if she'd come to life again! Teacher, Goo and I are playing duets and trios at a village fayre next week. And Rara can take her cello too, if she wants to.

Drummer: even having no dream here still I have a secret wish for her to finish all abrsm grades for both violin and piano, so hoping I will be in your shoes one day!

I currently don't want my DDs to do any more music exams, ever!!

I think I will skip some Waffle, saving money and also time off work to bring her to test centre etc. So definitely wont sit every single grade. I have a someone who loves theory and has been enjoying learning it the last 2 months and a half. Someone might do grade 8 theory in the future!

Good luck everybody taking the theory exam tomorrow! I am sure it will all go well! I'll now drink for you (while watching Scandal on tv, I have become addicted)

CoteDAzur your video is -WOW! It made me to want to play myself (though I am not going to!)

teacherwith2kids congratulations to your DS!

This came up on my fb - Guildhall summer courses
www.gsmd.ac.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/files/Summer_Schools/Short_Courses_2016_-_double_paged.pdf?dm_i=351V%2C8Y60%2C2KXGHX%2CTO6F%2C1

Just sneaking in to wish all the theory candidates lots of luck for the exam tomorrow and to congratulate Teacher's DS on winning a place in the jazz band!

only I saw that. Perhaps I'll send DS1 to music theory boot camp next year.

No music school today! What to do!?

Cote I love your video :) you have lovely technique and very photogenic hands ;)

Good luck to all the theory candidates.

We are on the countdown to DD's solo guitar gig on Tuesday night, she's going to do a full run-through with amp and mike this weekend.

Finished both piano and clarinet lessons for the week and the clarinet teacher mentioned we need to start thinking about grade 1 soon. Mind blowing, she only had 4 lessons. That would be the November season though so that would be after 7 months (with a break over the summer).

I asked DD if she wants to skip it and she said no, she wants to do it. Sigh...

Well G5 theory is done although miniprada took 50mins less than last time so not sure if that is a good or bad sign...... She seems happy though. Seemed to think that the paper was significantly easier than the last one so let's hope she read the questions properly!!!

Hope everyone else got on well this morning.

Green- no we are the other side of London

cote well played what a joy for you!
Were you holding the phone in your mouth ?

My daughter spent only 1 hour too and for some reason I think it wasnt a good sign for us. She was told to spend the whole 2 hours and double check. Well, we will know the result in 1 month time. Thanks everyone for your good wishes!

Thank you for all the love for my middle-aged piano skills and middle-aged hands

drummer - I just put the phone on top of the piano, looking down.

I recently had a clarinet pupil start from scratch in January, and take Grade 1 in March. She got a merit! I entered her for the exam after 2 or 3 lessons. Usually it takes 6-12 months, but I had a little girl with SEN take four years to get there once. When she passed, it was one of the highlights of my career.

Well done to the DC that took theory exams today! Fingers crossed for the results.

Waffle impressive, I am trying to convince DD to skip grade 1 but I think maybe I'll discuss skipping grade 2 so she feels like she achieved something major initially and then skip (so she doesn't feel like a beginner anymore ). Or I may leave it to the teacher as long as it doesn't become only exam work.