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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

July Music and Musicians Thread

827 replies

Wafflenose · 01/07/2016 09:04

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.

OP posts:

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Greenleave · 11/07/2016 22:47

Ideally I'd like 30 mins too, its impossible to get someone good to come to us and only do 30mins lesson fee though, I agree practising in between is much more important

AlexandraLeaving · 12/07/2016 08:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LooseAtTheSeams · 12/07/2016 14:24

Ds2 just did piano exam so that's it for nagging until next term!
Not quite sure how it went - he had a bit of a fluff in the first piece but recovered - but he seems confident he's done better than me!
Green think you may find a teacher who does 30 minutes but consider 45 minutes to an hour as a blessing in disguise as so much more gets done. I want DS2 to get a longer lesson from next term so he can spend a bit more time on sight reading or theory. It is so hard to fit everything in, though.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 12/07/2016 15:07

We may be buying a violin. Any tips?

onlymusic · 12/07/2016 17:20

NeverEverAnythingEver, what size?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 12/07/2016 18:20

3/4. I think we'll go for it. He'll probably use it for a year or two, but if we can get a good one it's probably worth it.

Pradaqueen · 12/07/2016 18:39

Never, we went to Woodbridge violins. They were excellent and well worth the trip and work to your budget. A world away from student violins for not that much more money. Since getting her antique violin, miniprada is much encouraged by the ease at which a much more mellow sound is achieved. Frankly, more pleasant for the rest of us in the house too! I also hear great things about stringers too.

Fleurdelise · 12/07/2016 18:46

Hello all! Just checking in, managed to log myself out of mumsnet as I changed my phone and forgot the password. I hope everybody is well, nothing to report except that we are all exhausted and looking forward to our holiday which is a week on Friday.

Music related I have been asked to order the grade 5 piano pieces now that the new syllabus is out and grade 1 clarinet which I'll do sometimes this week. Also some vandoren reeds as the 1.5 Rico are softer than the 1.5 vandoren, or do I have been told and apparently that is the reason of the odd squeak DD is producing from time to time.

I've only read to the last page so apologies if I missed any important news.

Green good luck hunting for a new violin teacher, NeverEver happy shopping!

onlymusic · 12/07/2016 18:51

I spoke to the local violin dealer and he also said that quite a few people buy 3/4 antique violins for their children but he offers a deal - full exchange of 3/4 bought from him for a full size antique.
If you consider something more contemporary then Gliga or Stentor Conservatoire are supposed to be good. We may need 3/4 soon too...

NeverEverAnythingEver · 12/07/2016 19:09

There's a string shop near my office. We got the cello there but they are mainly a violin shop. I would happily (well, happily enough anyway) pay more for a better sound. But I can't make up my mind whether to buy it sooner or later. Lessons have ended so I don't know if playing a larger violin without the teacher's guidance will lead to bad habits. I'm inclined to leave it till nearly September. What do violin-wise people think? (Not that there will be much practice over the summer, if past experience is any guide!)

Pradaqueen · 12/07/2016 19:25

Miniprada had the stentor conservatoire before the antique one. Adequate much so much more difficult to get the same quality of sound out of it. Woodbridge also offer full p/ex against the next one

Fleur, miniprada will sit the new syllabus G5 on Monday. Definitely recommend the 60's swing, lovely sound. The only issue is the stretches required for tiny hands so you are definitely limited on the pieces you can choose from :-(

onlymusic · 12/07/2016 19:35

NeverEverAnythingEver, the violin school of thought is that it is better to play smaller instrument rather than larger, to avoid tension, etc

Pradaqueen, interesting comment about stentor conservatoire vs the antique one, useful to know, thank you! Saying that - was Stentor the same size as antique one? As different sizes are not directly comparable....
But when dd is on full size I will definitely go for the antique one :)

Fleurdelise · 12/07/2016 20:50

Prada grade 5 piano? The syllabus was only released last week so not sure if we are talking about the same thing.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 12/07/2016 21:18

Thanks only. I think he's big enough for a bigger violin. It's just that I remember how discombobulated DS1 was when he changed to a bigger cello. It's probably better for a teacher to deal with that ...

NeverEverAnythingEver · 12/07/2016 21:28

So how much exactly is a cheap antique violin? ("Call for price" implies "if you have to ask you can't afford it". )

Greenleave · 12/07/2016 21:57

Alex, all: thank you, we will still carry on with him on both until I could find one. He is very understanding and I am very grateful
Loose: good luck to your DS2 today's exam, is it Grade 4? Sorry I forgot! Yayyy for summer break without any nagging!
Ladies: I am reading your violin shopping with my ears/eyes open. I did ask my tutor earlier if getting a better violin would improve her performance, he said it wont yet. I have to say I am very tempting

onlymusic · 12/07/2016 22:44

NeverEverAnythingEver, oh, they are very different... We have a German one and it is about 1K, but I know someone who got one for 28K.... I think the best thing to do is to go and play few and choose which one you like....
And don't forget about the bow - I understand they differ too...

onlymusic · 12/07/2016 22:44

I mean if you are looking at antique violins, if it is smth modern bow is usually included, isn't it?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 12/07/2016 22:45

only We have instructions about the bow...

Pradaqueen · 12/07/2016 22:47

Only - Moved from modified stentor cons. 1/2 (bridge/ strings etc) to antique 3/4. Teacher insisted on a better one.

Never - as expensive as you (or grandparents) want to make it

Fleur - possibly we are but I thought we had the 16-19 abrsm syllabus but I stand to be corrected if that turns out to be for the violin not the piano (never looked that closely!!)

mistlethrush · 12/07/2016 22:52

I have always bought DS older violins rather than a modern stentor version. The 1/2 size I bought him looked awful when I first saw it but somehow I just knew that it would make a nice sound - it does. His 3/4 wasn't quite as good. He's swapped to the viola now and luckily I had a small one that he can play. His small violins undoubtedly allowed him to make a nicer tone -which meant that it was less painful during practise sessions! I have, however, always insisted on good tone production - and you can have a good instrument and still make an awful tone!

onlymusic · 12/07/2016 22:56

Prada - 16-19 is violin syllabus. I think if the teacher insists on an expensive good violin - it is a good sign. I would definitely go for the good one then.

Fleurdelise · 13/07/2016 06:56

Prada I was amazed at learning the grade 5 pieces in a few days piano 17/18 has been released on the 7th July. We were waiting for it as there was no point to chose pieces from the 15/16. Good luck to mini Prada in her exam.

I have violin envy and nobody plays the violin in our house.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 13/07/2016 07:34

at Fleur's violin envy.

Fleurdelise · 13/07/2016 07:58

My best childhood friend played violin when we were around 8-10 yo, I remember going around her house and she would take the violin out and play it a bit but I wasn't allowed to touch it.

I think I became a bit obsessed with it as I asked my parents to buy me one even though I had no urge to learn to play.

I wanted DD to learn how to play violin but FIL who is a musician put DH and DD off by insisting piano was "better" as it doesn't make awful noises. Revenge now as DD can definitely make some awful noises on the clarinet.

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