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.

Thanks everyone, I now have plenty to research further, we dont have any musical friends, family...everything is learnt afresh. Will report back once I have any news.
TRL, great advice on the Orchestra and its not far from us at all. I can do Wimbledon trip. She has although just had her grade 3 violin so it might not be good enough, it might be next year. Theory is ok for her, non musical gene but love the logic behind it (she said its very intuitive and logical and interesting). For her, practical is so much harder and challenging. I have my teacher now often cries: why she never had a single tenor clef/transposition wrong without anyone explaining to her and cant have the same in terms of getting the pulse and the rythm right. I also fail to get this girl practice(or have my mind set/fixed about a disciplined practice) as we partied from Thursday till just an hour ago. Feeling so guilty with our teacher tomorrow when he will see all the etudes he gave us still Zero, the dictations are not done. Well, we will do better from ...next week

Greenleave, I don't really believe in musical genes. Musical upbringing, musical families, all encouraged to play something, yes. I come from a family where nobody plays anything and they're all a bit bemused by it. DH plays too. We have one child who just 'gets' it and one who doesn't have a clue, but it's down to interest, willingness to practice, and the fact that the younger one just hasn't found 'her' instrument yet.

I am starting to feel grateful that we don't get any choice of school at all here - no grammar, no scholarships, no auditions. Goo is finding school easy, doing the bare minimum and having lots of fun. We can write whatever we want on the secondary school application form this autumn... but we already know which school everyone in the village is going to get. Good luck to everyone else who has so much preparation to do, and I hope you all get the best possible schools for your DCs.

"Gene" in my terms is anything she is given: the living/studying environment she was brought up, any parent plays, sibling plays etc. The most important thing is I havent had my head fixed in terms of her music yet, I havent had any plan. If she could be any good with it then we will work hard for it(then I have to work harder in terms of giving her all the supports: bringing more music into the family, going to concerts/events more often, finding her a good teacher, good school etc). I havent seen her commitment/determination for it yet(she is doing well in terms of academic and for that she has a level of commitment that we could work toward). We although now have 1 small aim, aiming to be able to play in a bigger/more serious Orchestra(this for now not in terms of her music career yet, more in terms of her social music life and having fun). And for it we will have to reach the minimum grade 6 in violin(its a mountain to climb compare to theory). I will ask her tonight if that is what she wants(I am sure she does, she loves being challenged, my only task is finding her the right challenge and giving her a support which any parent can do). Another short term but slightly harder task is finding a better violin teacher. If any of you know anyone who is good please pm me. We still havent found one. Thank you all for the precious support and info.

Greenleave, areyou London based? I know one teacher, she teaches my friend's dc, but I think you will need to commute to her place. She is a good teacher though and friend's dc does really well with her. Let me know if it interests you

Green am I right in remembering you are changing violin teacher? If so, ask about potential duet / ensemble partners that they also teach. I spent many a giggly afternoon with my duet partner when I was minigreen's age. Sometimes working like this with one other child achieves more (the wonders of relaxation for technique) than a disciplined orchestral environment - although probably a bit of both would be ideal.

Sorry, was trying to write a comment but then managed to find an actual quotation from the book and didn't notice that comment was still there when posted :)

I do strongly believe that everyone is 'musical'. I have yet to come across a child that isn't, given the chance and sufficient interest. But yes, there are gifted musicians too. I think MiniGreen has a wonderful, rich environment, two lots of music lessons, theory, orchestral opportunities and the chance to go to some really good schools.

I came from a very deprived background, and didn't have the chance to start at a very young age, or go to the best teachers, or even to be particularly encouraged, yet I am now a music professional. A garden-variety woodwind teacher, it's true, but I also did some professional playing in a show last week. I think that what I need now is some continued courses/ training.

Your story is very inspirational Wafflenose. Dd's teacher had similar situation and it is amazing how well he did. He didn't even have "proper" lessons till quite late. I like the way he put it - I asked at what point he decided he wanted to become a musician and he said "I didn't really have options, music chose me". It does seem to be the case with some people....

My siblings and I are the first generation to play musical instruments in my family. I am forever grateful to my parents for that.

I am with waffle about being "musical".

I've enjoyed reading this very long thread! I teach the piano, and have two DDs.

DD1 has done Grade 6 on the piano, and Grade 4 on the violin, but is not learning at the moment because she is in university. She plays the piano a lot when she comes home, and wants to take my keyboard back with her in September!

DD2 is working on Grade 6 piano, Grade 5 flute and Grade 3 harp. She is not keen on practising any of them, but enjoys playing the things she likes! Music will be taking a back seat for a while though, as she has GCSEs coming up.

I put 5 pupils in for exams with the ABRSM this session. Three Grade 1s, a Grade 2, and a Grade 4. The Grade 2 pupil is very good and works very hard. They had 137 at Grade 1 last November, so I'm hoping they will get a very good mark. All pupils except one came out saying that the exam was okay and there were no major problems, so hopefully all will be well there. The other pupil, doing Grade 1, came out of the exam room in tears. They messed up the pieces apparently, but I don't know how badly. This pupil is usually able to play them fine, but nerves must have won! They said scales and aural were fine, but sight reading was not good. I've just got my fingers crossed for a pass, but there is a strong possibility that this pupil has not passed.

I'm checking the website daily, as in the past, the results have come through before I get the email!

Green, do you only want the option of someone coming to you? Or would you contemplate going somewhere? I'm just asking because someone here mentioned the Russian School:
www.londonrussianmusicschool.com/
I thought it sounded fabulous, a full programme that includes solfeig, theory, orchestra playing and probably a top instrumental education. OTOH, it's two lessons per week, as they aim to accomplish what Saturday JD does.

Welcome, Tokelau. I'm sure your Grade 1 pupil will get through just fine - my DD1 and I always remember the bad bits of exams afterwards, and it sounds like they did, too. My DD2 always seems quite pleased with herself! I am awaiting ABRSM results from July 4th, which should be published any day now. I had a Grade 3 Clarinet, who played well as expected, and a Grade 1 who messed up two of his pieces. It's made him more determined, happily - he's made more progress in the two weeks since that than in the two months before, so the result doesn't matter too much.

Hello all! Just popped around to say congrats to all the great theory results! Well done to all the musical dcs.

We're off on holiday this week for 2 weeks so I'll join you all once we're back! Keep up the great work!

Well, that's embarrassing. I live in the same borough and never heard of Stoneleigh! It looks great - definitely worth pursuing for MiniGreen!
It's very hot and a I am going to have a piano lesson in a sweltering room tomorrow afternoon! There are times when I wish my teacher came to me instead of vice versa. We could have used the posh shed
Ds2's cello teacher is going to come to his new secondary school next term as there is another boy just starting there who plays cello. Turns out they are in the same form and have the same first name. That's not going to be confusing, is it?!

Thanks everyone for your suggestion, yes, I would love someone to come to me please. Maibly because both myself and my husband work full time and long hours. Our weekends are usually full too. We always have a nanny/carer who is at home so if someone can come to us duribg the week then that could be ideal.
How: great idea regarding to duet, havent thought of it
Drummers: I thought of Russian music school and went there once to see the atmosphere. Its a great school with right atmosphere, although it costs us an hour and a half to get there and another an hour and a half to get back. I feel bad if she has to travel that much every weekend at 8 years old. On the train it isnt exactly as pleasant as in the car also.
I wrote to Stoneleigh and received their confirmation for this Sept audition, now its the preparation. Not too sure for youthorchestra can we replay the grade 3 pieces we just learnt or we should learn something higher grade.
Only, Waflle: very moving story, especially when it comes to "music finds me". I will give her a full 100% support in anyway I can if thats what she wants to do and aim high for it. We havent had any ambition apart from that I know we have to sit for 11+ as the quality of state secondaries in our area is very poor

Fleur: have a lovely holiday, I have holiday envy! Mine hasnt come till the next couple of weeks!
Loose: often thinking of your shed, I wish we could have one, there isnt a chance unless we build a shed underground, that will need alot of digging!

DD's clarinet exam over, she thinks it went well, so we'll wait and see.

I think she could have done with a bit more practice tbh! Apparently her teacher is talking about grade 2 at Christmas, will have to wait and see.

green totally agree. 90 min each way is way too far.

How much is the Stoneleigh membership? Could not find fees on website...

Green, my audition advice (from a teacher far more experienced than me) is to always play a piece from the grade below, and play it like you the grade above. So if she is grade 3+ by then, play something grade 2+ in a grade 4+ way. This advice has never let us down. Some of Goo's friends stretched themselves last year, thinking they needed to go up a level for nco auditions. None of those got in. Goo's preparation was poor for a number of reasons. She was grade 5 at the time, but got upset and changed pieces, to a rather easy grade 4, but tried to play it as if she were grade 6. She got in, despite being way behind the other under 11 flutes on paper. Their ability and enjoyment shines through more readily in something comfortable.

Waffle That sounds like good advice.

Same advice we've always had too...better to play a piece with accomplished style vs one too technically stretching or rush learnt.

Waffle, good to hear your story. Like many whose calling has led them to teaching/creative roles, the path hasn't always been straightforward from the outset. I hope you get as much pleasure going back to learning as you do teaching...

Waffle: great advice, will write to our teacher tonight to discuss