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.

Just caught up - well done to MiniEaling. It may not be the mark she wanted but it's a fine mark all the same!
I have a feeling that's a better mark than DS2 will get in his grade 3 exam. He can play everything but he gets nervous and I just don't think he's done enough sight reading (although he is downloading music and playing it, but he knows how it's meant to sound!)

Thank you all for such thoughtful comments. These last few weeks has made me reflect on our children that are all so committed to their music making, overcoming their demons...whether that's sight reading, exam nerves, performing in public etc, all on top of their day school jobs. But most importantly, not to lose sight that they need to keep enjoying their playing, despite the on-going (and ever changing) challenges.

We are done now for the school year and taking some time out before residential music school and other summer stuff. For those that still have outstanding exams, awaiting results, concerts and festivals, I wish you all really positive outcomes if I forget to turn on my phone for 10 days and miss the news

oh and I am in even more awe of those of you that have returned to music, or brave enough to start as parents of talented children! No pressure there...

Well done to CeeBeeBee's son. A child at the school I work at (not a pupil of mine) got 99% for a Grade 1 exam last year, and our area rep said that a teenager got 100% for Grade 7 Jazz Sax at a rival school this session! These marks are so unusual though - mine average high 70s with Trinity, and they are pretty well prepared. My record is 95% (Year 5 girl, Grade 2 recorder last year) and 141 with ABRSM (a Grade 3 Saxophone, many years ago). I've had a few 93/94 for Trinity practicals and ABRSM Theory in the past, and Goo just got 93 for her last two flute exams. She is so happy - it used to be merit every time when she was younger, and we were both fine with that!

Thank you both for the warm welcome and kind comments. The waiting is worse than the exam my teacher is also out if the country when the results are meant to be due. :(

ealingwestmum, congratulations with the exam result! I think it is fantastic result taking into account piano is such a difficult instrument to play ad she was nervous.

spaghettihoopsagain, all our teachers, present and past, insisted on playing from book, not by ear, and as far as I can see quite a few children prefer to play by ear/from memory. I see it as a benefit. However, from my experience if you started to think about new teacher it is probably the time to go ahead.

Mistigri, how about Burgmuller 25 progressive pieces I believe they are grade 2-5.
This one is supposed to be good though I am still to buy it
www.amazon.co.uk/Clementi-Sonatinas-Schirmer-Performance-Editions/dp/1495007278/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467925867&sr=1-5&keywords=Clementi
This one if good too though some pieces will be very basic-but there is plenty to play!
www.amazon.co.uk/Kabalevsky-Pieces-Children-Schirmer-Performance/dp/1480340677/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467925926&sr=1-5&keywords=Kabalevsky+for+children

CeeBeeBee, fantastic result, well done to your ds!

I've got the Kabalevsky opus 27. Not the schirmer edition thoguh. I don't really like schirmer editions. Too congested and too interfering. But this is a brilliant collection, small and playable but masterpieces nonetheless.

I've also got the Bergmuller. But I haven't played through that. DS1 did "returning home" or something.

We have a collection of sonatinas, Clementi + co. That's very useful.

Funnily enough we are now focusing on musical dictation where my daughter was given a very short bit of piano piece and was asked to rewrite it on the music sheet. We were told that it will help with music imagination, sense of rhythm and pulse, ear training and memory(only allow to listen to the short piece once). It looks like she is very far from getting the right answer

Greenleave this is very good! I don't think many teachers do it.

Aural is our demon, our weakness is lacking sense of pulse and rhythm (blame us, parents who dont have any musical gene to give to her). Our teacher said it should be our focus for now. I am still thinking of Saturday music school and the County Orchestra as it helps to improve aural and sight reading too...too lazy, for now our weekends are only meeting friends, catch up with social life, outdoor activities. hat off to you all for hours of driving and waiting for your musical children as I havent done it yet

Green, that sounds like a great idea! Agree that miniprada's violin sight reading has improved immensely since joining the local orchestra. We are also trying for NCO again but will heavily focus on sight reading before that.

green playing in an orchestra or group is excellent for listening and rhythmic skills. DD as a young child never showed particular aptitude for this but since she started to play guitar (which has always been an accompanying instrument for her), I'd say it's her strong point.

ceebeebee well done to your son!

onlymusic Thank you for those suggestions. I've gone with the ABRSM Piano Anthology for the time being, because it's an economical way of getting a varied bag of pieces for sight reading practice. Hopefully the quick progress will continue (I'd say her sight reading has improved by two grades in a week) as she can "read music" perfectly well, it's just sight reading technique and confidence that is lacking.

Greenleave, agreed that it is a great idea-music school or orchestra, definitely consider it, let us know if you need some nagging . Dd has musical genes however rhythm is also a problem - so perhaps you are too strict with yours? :)

Mistigri, not at all, I also think that one book will be enough :)

I also need some nagging to nag my dd to practice more piano...

DD1 has passed her grade 5 oboe with 118 what a relief seeing as she was extremely anxious. Next is grade 5 theory...hooray

QueenofQuirkiness, this is great, congratulations!

Queen: that is great news, many treats for your daughter this weekend ahead!!!
Only: I know I do, I just feel so lazy. We are nearest to Wandsworth music centre and it seems like a great one, I am still thinking(thanks for nagging me, I do need it).
Piano practising: I havent seen much happening in my household yet. To be honest, if I am not at home then nothing is happening, its all the playgrounds, cycling, jumping or hanging around in the garden. If I were you then I would set up a target, maybe weekly one. Its always easier working toward a target

Wow - just catching up now on this thread - lots of great results for the dc of Howabout, Alexandra, Only, Greenleave, Raspberry, Ealing, Queen, CeeBeeBee - and apologies to any I have left out. Many congratulations to all the children concerned.

Just received DS's G3 trumpet result - 81/100 so a solid merit. . Almost full marks on sight reading and technical work but nerves apparently got the better of him in his first two pieces (he said the trumpet was shaking in his hands despite the examiner being lovely and making him laugh). That's the last exam for a long time - we are moving overseas and his trumpet will be ensconced in a container for the better part of three months, so no practice possible.

Suspended fantastic! A great result! well done to him and to CeeBeeBee for an amazing result as well!
I do sympathize about nerves, though, as I've suffered myself in the past and there's very little you can do once you start shaking except try to keep going!

And Queen - sorry meant to include congratulations in last post but pressed button too quickly! Another for a super oboe result!
I think DS2's goal is simply to get more in his grade 3 piano than I did - he keeps shuffling up and saying 'I'm catching up with you!' I have sniffly pointed out that unless he can do grade 4 in one term, he won't have caught me by Christmas! I wouldn't mind but he's almost as tall as me!

Good results coming in, well done all the minis!
We're enjoying school is over, and going to the RCM percussion festival tomorrow. we'll be there from 10:30am to 8:30pm...