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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

May/ June Music and Musicians Thread

920 replies

Wafflenose · 24/05/2016 17:48

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. Grin

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AlexandraLeaving · 21/06/2016 21:40

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onlymusic · 21/06/2016 21:41

I like your mistype Prada Grin
Only...no I didn't know re: perfect kids

QueenofQuirkiness · 21/06/2016 21:48

Thank you so much for all the wishes, I hope this was just a blip and she will be able to play as well as she can tomorrow

Pradaqueen · 21/06/2016 21:49

Only... How funny! I've had Wine.

onlymusic · 21/06/2016 21:52

NewLife4Me you made my day with the youtube video!
Fleurdelise there is another one, just as we discussed yesterday!

The Music Parent vs The Music Parent

LooseAtTheSeams · 21/06/2016 21:53

Queen your poor DD. I am glad she is going to try again and wish her all the best! CakeCakeCake
Prada what lovely feedback! Not surprised it brought tears to your eyes!Smile

Original poster
Wafflenose · 21/06/2016 21:54

Well done to Miniprada!

I have watched all the music teacher videos in the past, and they make me howl too!

I have slightly imperfect perfect pitch (I will explain myself!) which is the most common type - I tested Goo tonight and she is exactly the same. We are 100% spot on with notes played on our wind instruments (flute/ recorder for her, flute, recorder, saxophone or clarinet for me) and either correct or one out on piano, where the timbre is more even, so I think we do it partly on the quality of the notes, iyswim. I wouldn't be totally accurate if you used an oscillator to produce the notes. However, usually perfect pitch ISN'T quite perfect - most of us are stronger on our primary instrument, and it can fluctuate a little (apparently) with the time of day - or with the menstrual cycle, I'm told. Some people do have the next 'level' of pitch memory though - a boy at my work can instantly tell you what key any live or recorded piece of work is in, and identify all of the notes in any chord you play him. If he sings a well known song, it is always in the original key - he can't start anywhere else, whereas I'm happy to sing something like Happy Birthday starting on any note! So the variants of perfect pitch (or almost) are all to do with having a good memory. At university we were told everyone who starts lessons by 5/6 will develop it (it's very much more common in countries where it's common to start young, and where Suzuki lessons are widely taught) but I don't think that's quite true.

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onlymusic · 21/06/2016 22:04

Wafflenose do you mean kids or adults or both here?

However, usually perfect pitch ISN'T quite perfect - most of us are stronger on our primary instrument,

I think where little kids are concerned and it is identified at early age it is quite logical as this is what they are learning and what is used to check their pitch....
My idea of perfect pitch is smth like that (apart from crap title of course!)

Original poster
Wafflenose · 21/06/2016 22:12

Both. It's just that there are definitely 'degrees' of perfect pitch, so maybe the perfect bit is misleading? All involve an ability to name a note on hearing it, or to sing any given note. I can do both of those things, but am slightly less accurate with piano notes than others. And on clarinet or saxophone, my first thought is to give the note name on the actual instrument, rather than at concert pitch. Make of that what you will...

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raspberryrippleicecream · 21/06/2016 22:55

Queen grade 5 sax was the exam where DD (11) broke down. The examiner stopped the exam and restarted it when she calmed down. She ended up with high merit.

DD passed G8 earlier this year and has never been happy in exams. However, she is just finishing GCSEs and has been brilliant at getting on, and especially good at moving on and not worrying about exams already done. I'm sure music exams have helped.

Prada well done. I didn't know about DS2s perfect pitch until he was a chorister.They call him the human tuning fork in choir and use him to give the note.

onlymusic · 21/06/2016 23:02

Wafflenose this is interesting, I have to think about it... I read so many different opinions about perfect pitch that don't have my own anymore :) Would the same principle apply if, taking piano as an example, few keys are pressed simultaneously? I mean if a person can call them correctly does it mean anything or it still depends?

Fleurdelise · 22/06/2016 09:01

onlymusic that was highly entertaining and not far off from conversations in RL Grin

We never tested DD for perfect pitch, interesting discussion though. Smile

Green good luck to minigreen today!

LooseAtTheSeams · 22/06/2016 09:42

Only love the Music Parent Clip. The Complaint one made me laugh out loud!
Perfect pitch has never visited this house, sadly.
DS2 trotted off to rescheduled piano lesson but was trying to mess with my mind by saying he thought it was rescheduled for tomorrow. As if there isn't enough to keep track of.

onlymusic · 22/06/2016 09:49

Dd was identified as having perfect pitch by one of her teachers quite early, at about 5yo, same sort of test as on a video above, so in a way I always knew, but as they say - it is nice to have but does not really give you any advantage... So I try to see it that way but have to fight my inner musical parent sometimes Grin

Pradaqueen · 22/06/2016 10:21

Good luck mini green!

ealingwestmum · 22/06/2016 10:43

Thinking of you Queen today for 2nd time round, and minigreen's violin...

Just taken a call from an inconsolable girl, totally messed up her exam, but taken at school so I can't give her a hug. She was in SUCH a good place last night. No melt downs, no drama, playing her pieces to the best I'd heard them and in bed for 8.30pm. But, screwed up all 3 today (according to her), though was weirdly in control of her sight reading and aural!

Thanks for all the links and videos to cheer me up though Smile

musicathome76 · 22/06/2016 10:50

I loved the videos :)
Well done to miniPrada-great confidence boost for her!
miniGreen fingers crossed for you today.
This time next week will be my two DSs piano exam.
I am after some advice: my 8year old DS, who already plays piano (sitting grade2 next week), horn (gr3) and cello has announced he also wants to learn guitar.
I cannot pay for lessons for him, as already he is doing quite a lot and we have two other kids. But I still want to encourage him as he is keen. I have given him an old guitar + book and told him to get on with it, he can ask his older brother for help on the guitar. Is this reasonable? He does not want to give up any of his other instruments as he likes them and practices, but I think it will be a lot for him.

LooseAtTheSeams · 22/06/2016 11:44

Music sounds totally reasonable to me! Especially as he has an older brother to help him. Just beware of the 'fun' instrument becoming the favourite! Though I am very happy it did for DS1 (bass guitar, though). Good luck for next week!
Ealing totally feel for your poor DD, but she may have been much better than she thinks. It's so difficult to tell in the exam. Hope she's OK. Flowers

drummersmum · 22/06/2016 12:15

I agree with loose, Ealing . It may just be her perception of it, not necessarily accurate... I feel for you not being able to hug her though!

Pradaqueen · 22/06/2016 12:30

Flowers for ealing's DD I bet it wasn't as bad as she thought

ealingwestmum · 22/06/2016 12:45

Thanks guys, hope so too, though her exam barometer is normally pretty accurate unfortunately!

That said, I believe, this time more than previous, she well and truly smashed the G6 bar, irrespective of the result from a 30 mins exam, and that she just needs to believe that it's not the be-all and end-all (as we all know on here) to becoming an accomplished player!

Some are clearly more nervous to perform in front of one person vs a whole audience...they're all so different

Greenleave · 22/06/2016 13:29

Hey all musical moms, listen, my extremely talented daughter has done her violin grade 3 today. His teacher said she is extremely talented so she could have a pass because she is extremely talentedGrin

Fleurdelise · 22/06/2016 13:55

ealing Flowers and lots of Cake for your DD!

Green Grin well done to your DD but my DD is also talented very very talented and she will win all the contests ever. Because she's talented! Grin

On a serious note, well done minigreen, now a well deserved break, well done for all the hard work, more so in the theory side, I am well impressed!

Fleurdelise · 22/06/2016 13:58

DS (15 next month) drove me crazy last night so this is my state of mind today.

May/ June Music and Musicians Thread
howabout · 22/06/2016 14:09

Queen thinking about your oboe player today. Got everything crossed for her as well as my one now.