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.

The same applies to music grades, I know a concert pianist who I doubt anybody asks "so, what grade were you at 10?" Or "when did you pass grade 8?"

I think once a DC takes music seriously as a career of the future grades are something of the past

This is very true.

With piano (though this is probably less true of orchestral instruments) most children good enough to consider a performing career in classical music are unlikely to work through the grades anyway. Genius piano boy at DD's music school is probably diploma level at age 9/10, grades would be totally irrelevant for him.

I've always found other parents hugely supportive at concerts - nice about DD's singing ("she should go on The Voice" lol) and very encouraging of nervous young musicians. The biggest round of applause at DD's concert last Wed was reserved for a young man who screwed up his first piece (a Bach fugue) and was mortified, but composed himself and played his other pieces brilliantly. Second biggest round of applause was for the littlest kid, a very new pianist but already a great performer. Normal parents actually love to see other kids doing stuff well, never be put off by the mea spirited ones!

Sorry to hear about your troubles Fleur. I personally would ignore it. I've had the same but I laugh it off and don't engage. I've done my schooling and music! and all the exams I'll ever need to do so I am not living vicariously through my child (there are plenty who do!) Personally, I'd love her to be sporty (I was) but she's not.

On an amusing note, last week we were at an open day for secondary school with some very competitive parents (not from our school but another local one). It turns out we share the same strings teacher. On hearing what miniprada has achieved with the new teacher in the last year, they went on to grill the strings teacher straight after (!) about how miniprada had achieved G1-5 in a year when their's hadn't progressed to that level. The strings teacher was very amused and calmly advised that the difference was meaningful and regular practice. Apparently this child had been having 4 lessons pw with 2 different teachers and this term was the second time she'd sat G5 (cello I think) to try and get a 'better' (merit/distinction) pass. I mean, really?! Who makes a child sit the same exam again? Just move on. You've passed! As a pp said, no one ever asks you what 'pass' level you got in any exam. Ever.

Good luck to those who have exams this week. Countdown to July 01 here....

Fleur that unworthy thought went through my mind as well I was very happy with my pass at grade 3!
Prada the mind boggles - must say I feel sorry for the child. I like the sound of your teacher though, they handled the situation with those parents very well!
I think I may print out the phrase 'Regular and Meaningful Practice' and pin it up over the piano!

My friends and family post their children's achievements on FB. I think it's nice. You don't have to click on the video if you don't want to watch it but it's nice to see what everyone is doing even if you are hundreds of miles apart.

well, as I tell dc, it's all relative. You will always find people who are worse and who are better than you. And what some parents find not pushy at all, other parents think it's very pushy.

Wafflenose. Some last minute panic questions.
dd2 has her recorder exam next week.
Never been an accompanist on the piano for an exam. Can I have a quick practice at the centre? Our piano is quite a light piano, so a bit worried about playing on a strange piano.
Also....there is one piece that we both start at the same time. Usually dd is the one who counts. But last week I attended a school concert of dd1, where lot of children were playing their exam pieces on various instruments and no one was counting out loud..... At home dd sits behind me and neither of us can see each other very well (lack of space). So who should do what? How do we start?

Ha-ha, if dd ask why she is better at music that some other child I tell her because she started her lessons at the earlier age. And if she asks why she is worse I say-because that other child practices more and works harder :)

exampanic in our case dd makes a big sigh and accompanist is supposed to pick it up. But they usually see each other. But, yes, I suppose it should be almost hidden as her teacher used to say that it was too much and loud :)

I genuinely know that my daughter isnt musical material, I although will always fully support her what ever hobby, fond she has (if they are healthy). I know her strength and weakness, I can try to help her to improve her weakness and strength. I dont think she is excellent in maths either, we were better than her when we were at her age. She is popular at her school with her creative writing however its not enough as an author(her dream). All my friends dont even live in the sane borough as us so we dont know why there was a jealousy. It just happens though to everyone to a certain degree, its life I guess. I myself only have admiration for the hard working and talented children, it took me a long time to accept ny friends jealousy from no where about nothing

exampanic In one of our exam pieces DS and pianist look at each other, DS nods, and then count two beats before playing. So 4-beat piece: Nod-3-4 play.

Prada same exam twice?! I bet that the DC will thank his mum when they are 30 and they remember that moment when they got 125 points rather than 118 the first time.

will have to try and move a bit where dd stands, and try it out. She is so used to count 1-2 1-2 will be interesting

Dd 7 has been given f and g major scales on clarinet to master over the (very) long holiday but can only just reach low f and g. Any tips please for helping a relatively small person stretch to these notes?

Yes - please don't!! I have a short 8 year old in the same position and am taking her through some other books and pieces until she can reach comfortably. I ended up permanently injured trying to stretch for them as a small 7 year old, hence my caution. If grade 1 is looming on the horizon, it won't be until at least November - plenty of time to grow a couple of cm. Then F major at least can be learnt in a few minutes - it's easy and cool, because you just lift up the fingers one by one, then put them back on again.

exampanic you can probably have a warm up/ run through in a different room, but wouldn't normally get to try out the exam piano, unless you are the one taking the exam, and then it would have to be organised in advance. The pianos are usually easy to play though.

I was moaned at by an examiner two sessions ago for counting candidates in (almost silently!) but in that particular room, I have my back to them and there's no way round it, so I have carried on! On the day, do whatever you usually do - it's fine! But for next time, have your daughter practise signalling you in with a breath or an upbeat of her instrument instead of counting.

Enjoyed piano lesson last night - I have two G4 pieces hands together and am going to have a go at sight reading the third one this week ready for next lesson.
scales are also going well but my aim is to cure the bad habit of resting on notes, especially in the descending scale! Annoyingly, DS2 is much better with this than I am - it must be youth or something!

Wafflenose: thank you. At least I will know what to expect.
But guess what THERE WILL BE NO NEXT TIME ha ha ha!!! dd2 moving to different school in Sept where they do exams in school.
Hm, I suppose we carry on as we are. Dd2 would be OK changing the way we start but I would get completely flustered.
dd2 has done some piano exams in that centre and she did say the piano was a bit heavier than ours. Sigh.

One more little question. I presume dd is expected to stand playing her pieces? She usually sits down for her pieces or when we play together on the recorder, but stands when playing scales. dd1 plays a different instrument and I think she said she stands at the exam.

I am hopelessly behind with the thread. Best of luck and good wishes to everyone in the midst of the exams.

DD2 came out yesterday vowing to learn all her scales for next time and engage properly with getting confident at aural - her Dad reckons the learning experience is probably worth the price of admission, but he is pretty hard sometimes - I still have everything crossed for a pass. On the upside her reed behaved and she didn't get dry mouth and wobbly lips, so hopefully the nerves are improved and that should mean she actually will put the work in next time rather than under preparing to give herself an excuse note.

I can relate to all the pre teen angst everyone is suffering but the good news is I think my now 13 year old is starting to get much better at self regulation. There have been a lot of explosions and walking on eggshells over the last 3 years though.

The DC definitely learn piano scales quicker than me Loose - either an age thing or the fact I am much better at organising their practice than I am at actually doing mine.

Yes exampanic she will stand for the exam.

I am sure the result will be fine, howabout. Glad she has learnt from the experience too.

Goo has always been highly strung, but her preteen strops have been going on for a couple of years now (on and off). She is only just coming into puberty now, so I imagine things will get worse before they get better. Your post gives me hope though!

Thanks waffle I will tell her to try again towards the end of the holiday, and not to stress it. She was getting frustrated last night as she could barely do it. She's been assigned lots of pieces to work on too so we will work on those for now. Not sure when exams are planned for...am awaiting the teacher's report

Sorry, these threads are so long that I can't remember... was it your child who was at Stage 11 a couple of months ago? It sounds like Grade 1 preparation, and I normally enter children after Stage 14 and some extra pieces. She sounds so far along that I would be tempted to miss it out if the suggestion is Grade 1 at Christmas, let her hands grow until all notes are comfortable, and do Grade 2 in a couple of terms. Just my 2p worth (clarinet teacher speaking - I have a tiny one who isn't as far along as yours, but will be beyond Grade 1 by the end of next term).

So miniprada had a pre-assessment and pre-audition for one of her secondary school choices yesterday (it's a selective school that is very oversubscribed) She really did herself proud. Great academic scores and then a really great pre-audition. They gave instant feedback to parents for both assessments. Director of music has invited her to apply for a music award next year and identified she has perfect pitch. Makes the hard work and practice worthwhile and I am very proud of her (happy to share with you guys as in RL it would seem very boastful!) it was also a really positive experience for her in her first interview.

Hi waffle, yes that sounds like her.id be more than happy to skip if the teacher decrees. We have g 3 violin next term plus a house move

Prada that sounds amazing, well done to your DD, she can see results of all her hard work!

Thanks Fleur!

How: good luck, I am sure she will be fine.
Prada: that is great to hear, many congrats to her, hope you didnt cry! I can imagine all the effort you too have been putting into, all the best for the results next year!

what a great confidence boost for her Prada!