July Music and Musicians Thread

[Wafflenose]

Welcome to wet July (well it's wet here) and a new thread. This is the place where we can talk about all things musical, like music lessons, exams, practice and new instruments. I am a music teacher (woodwind) and have two daughters. Goo is 10 and her first instrument is recorder, although on paper, flute has now caught up. She plays flute in NCO Under 11s, has just received the difficult bits she's meant to work on, so is finally cracking on with sorting out her piccolo. She started piano lessons at Easter and is going fast, currently playing Grade 3 pieces, and working through the Grade 2 sight reading and Dozen a Day books. Rara is 8 and far less keen - we are still currently trying to figure out what she really enjoys so that we can encourage her. But for now, she's learning the recorder and cello, and is between Grade 2 and 3 on both.

Goo did her flute exam on June 23rd, and now won't have any until at least March, or next June if I can push for that. Rara will probably do Grade 3 Recorder at Christmas. I have had a quiet exam term for my pupils - 7 altogether. 4 are already safely through (3 merits and a distinction), we are awaiting results for a Grade 6 Theory, and I have a couple of clarinettists still to go on Monday.

DS2 has never made an awful noise on the violin.

But if DC want to make an awful noise they don't need a musical instrument!

When I retire I shall pick up the violin.

Someday I had to lay on the sofa pretending that I was tired so at least 1 ear was covered as its still screechy here in this household. It might be just me who has ver low level of tolerance to "screechy noise" as when I read the detailed report on her most recent violin exam from the examiner it was all the wonderful praise

Ds2 was dissuaded by his father from violin because of bad memories of brother learning to play (in fact BIL ended up being v. good!) Took up cello. Now muttering about lack of portability! You can't win, though I must say I do love listening to the cello.
Heading off to a meeting tonight about forthcoming youth music tour in Germany. I'm trying to work out how many euros DS1 will need. They have four concerts and what looks like several visits to castles! Wish I could go, too!

Oh, and the growth issue. dS2 keeps growing. Thank goodness we hired the 3/4 size cello after all. In fact plan to hold on to it as long as possible as he will have peri lessons at secondary school and has to carry it there and back...

NeverEverAnythingEver lol to
But if DC want to make an awful noise they don't need a musical instrument!

There's a lot you can do to encourage good violin tone - getting the child to actually listen to the sound they are making is really quite important (you'd be surprised how few do). I do think that sometimes there is too much 'skating' the bow over the strings and not enough work on getting a little more bow weight into the string to get a good tone. Oh - and being relaxed makes a much better tone too - I had one lesson where my teacher had his back to me looking out over the garden and then said 'relax your left knee' - which I did and the tone just opened up miraculously - you can't imagine how a tense knee could do that to the instrument you have on your shoulder!

mistlethrush I agree. DS2's teacher from the beginning insisted on good relaxed posture. And I played my role by asking DS2 what sound he thought he was making the first time he drew a bow across the string, and it never happened again. He does have a good ear and we are all very relieved. But I think he is now limited by the quality of his violin and bow.

He makes his most horrible noises when NOT on the violin, which is more time though!

Quick question for everyone, especially the clarinettists and parents of clarinet players. Has anyone used Gear4Music? Are they good?

DS's clarinet teacher has recommended the Buffet B12 which will take him up to grade 4/5. She has given us the name of a couple of local people who might have second hand versions, plus a shop in London that will have them in stock brand new. They are £400 ish brand new and £200 ish second hand on ebay etc. So my theory is that as it's going to cost us £200 either way we might as well buy brand new, and if his toddler brother gets to use it at a later date then even better.

www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Buffet-B12-Bb-Student-Clarinet-Outfit/VTX This however is significantly cheaper than the big London shop, and also has a backpack case that I like the look of for a hands free school run. So a good idea or should I go for a real shop?

MrsWombat I've placed a £100 order with them before and it was all good.

wow this thread has really progressed... I've had a few days away which were much needed after 5 music exams in our household as well as the usual end-of-term events that needed to be fitted in around a full time job. Well done to all those with results coming through! So far I've had DS(11) with cello G6 merit, and singing G3 pass, and waiting for his G2 theory result; and DD(8) with piano G3 merit and waiting for her G5 theory result. This summer they've both got purple patches to prepare for NCO and then DD(8) is aiming for G7 violin at the end of the year.

....and screeching string instruments? The screeching I have from my little string players has never actually been on their instruments, but mainly comes from them when they have to practice

Hi Mrswombat, I just used them for a set of dominant strings and all was fine.

Excellent news for miniprada who was just made music captain of her school today following a rather impressive performance at music evening this week (she did the first movement of a Vivaldi concerto from memory) . Let's hope the success continues with the G5 piano exam on Monday...!

Green: it is possible to have a teacher come to the house for 30 mins. Ours has for two years. Although we recently upped It to 45 min to try and cover scales too.

Fleur/ yes vandoren reeds are what our teacher recommended- he has dd on a 2 though

MrsWombat, I've bought from them too - always quick delivery and perfect items (including an expensive-ish keyboard once).

Happy news in the TRL household yesterday. ABRSM results back: DD1 got her Gde 4 Harp (distinction) and Gde 4 Voice (merit), plus DS2 got his Gde 1 Oboe (distinction). Just got DS1 taking Gde 6 Bassoon on Monday left to go (slightly concerned his scales are slower than younger brother's oboe ones ...one of those pull-it-out-the-bag opportunities?!).

DD1 also excelled herself yesterday by getting awarded a music exhibition for her last year at prep so all her harp lessons are free next year ... whoop!! We're off to check out the next size up harps on Fri (second mortgage job). Somehow, despite the huge cost implications, going harp shopping is such a wildly exciting thing!!

Ooh well done TRL's daughter! Happy Harp Shopping!

Harp shopping does sound wildly exciting! I want to come too!

MrsWombat we bought DS drum kit from Gear4Music 7 years ago. Great service, the whole kit was in very good new condition and it's still making a lot of noise. DS teacher regulary buys from them.

Well done to miniPrada!
And also all the great exam results from everyone else. Lots of children working hard...
TRL Harp shopping... can´t even start imagining! Do you take your own 5p plastic bag?

You'd need a pretty big plastic bag.

I've just played with a music composition Chrome webapp called "Flat" - it's great fun - you can compose solo or ensemble things and it will play it back to you.

That's the summer holiday sorted!

MiniPara: great news, what a big and wonderful title, hope she will enjoy new responsibility!
TRL: very well done to great results!
We havent had theory result yet. Just checked now

Prada: wow, what a title!
TRL: great results, welldone!
We havent had our theory result either, it has been 4 weeks now. I have been lurking on bbc prom, might have to book time off from work for couple of workshop too. Target for today: call the council Orchestra to ask for any vacancy

My daughter (7) has her G1 this morning. It was meant to be May but she wasn't quite ready and now she's overdone the pieces. I am far more nervous than her. She is perfectly capable of doing the pieces perfectly but boredom errors have crept in. I have no worries about the rest of the exam at all.

Theory will be out by Monday, according to ABRSM. When I was taking mine, we used to have to wait six weeks. I don't know if I want to know the result actually - my pupil tries hard and knows his stuff, but was only going to pass with good questions and a prevailing wind.

Aww thanks for the good wishes everyone! Fingers crossed for Monday then we have potentially the theory results plus the actual G5 piano