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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

October Music and Musicians Thread

589 replies

Wafflenose · 01/10/2016 09:47

I thought I would start a new thread, as September's is looking unlikely to last for another month.

The music threads are open to all musicians and parents of musicians, no matter what their age or level might be. We have quite a few kids on here who are very serious about music, and plenty who do it as one of many hobbies.

For anyone who's new, I am a teacher of woodwind, and mum to two girls. Goo (10) plays the flute and recorder to a similar level (Grade 7 on both), and started the piano in April - she won't be doing exams on that. She is hardworking, committed, highly strung, and a stubborn little madam. Rara is 8 and far more laid back. She is taking Grade 3 Recorder this term, is a little behind that on the cello, and just this week started learning the clarinet. I don't suppose she will carry on with three instruments in the long term, but we'll wait and see which she loves!

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TRL · 17/10/2016 21:32

Green, I think you said, Barnes, yes? If so, the building works on site nearly finished me off, hauling the harp every which way and miles from the normal parking for Regionals which we've had there too. Even when you were on site, finding it today was difficult.

stringchild · 17/10/2016 21:40

Green - there are quite a few options and NCO will decide the best orchestra for each child that meets the standard; some repeat years in the same age banded orchestra too. Now you can relax and wait for the December letter (usually early December for the younger orchestras, but i don't think they have said when it is this year yet).:)

Greenleave · 17/10/2016 21:41

Hahaha, you had my full sympathy as I couldnt imagine if we had a harp with us today, its a longgggg way from the car park. Yes, the building is massive, and hiding at after the building work. There werent any where to hide from the rain as we had to walk around the building. I was running into a wrong place where it says staffs only in hope finding someone to ask for a direction as it was near dark with no-one ourside.
Waffle, right, I think we are under 10s as she will be 9 before end of this year.
Its ok to be a looser everyone, we were too crazy anyway.
Harp: will bring her to the concert in Barbican, I am sure she will then know what has happened today(everyone in this household doesnt care about it at all, come on, my husband completely forgot to ask us about today).

Greenleave · 17/10/2016 21:54

Reread my post and realised I got your name wrong Hapsburg, sorry!

stringchild · 17/10/2016 22:13

Green - we will be at the Barbican too; maybe we will even manage a thread get-together!

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/10/2016 09:19

Green I am sure it went better than you think but sounds like a very stressful experience! I thought things like that (rain, lost, building site) only happened to me...
roll on half term - DS1 is getting ratty because he's tired and DS2 is fretting because he doesn't know which sets he'll be in after half term. He had a headache last night and another load of homework so no cello practice but it now turns out teacher is ill so no lesson today. Hopefully he will get band practice, though.
Had a mild panic at weekend over sixth forms. No need for any forms yet as DS1 is only in year 10 - it was more the realisation that it's not as far away as I thought! Where on earth did the time go??

drummersmum · 18/10/2016 22:55

Green sorry to hear, how stressful...
Remember: there are no loosers, only learners.
The good thing is, you always said this was a rehearsal. So whatever the outcome, next year you'll prepare with more time and arrive there an hour earlier Wink Whenever I feel like you're feeling now, I always find the thought consoling: next time it won't be like this. The rain, of course, there's nothing to do about that except move south Wine
I love your DD's level of stress zero.

drummersmum · 18/10/2016 22:56

Loose why do you need to move DS1 for 6th form?

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/10/2016 23:23

Drummers he doesn't have to move, just that he has the option! Actually staying where he is would be a good choice but he's expressed some interest in sixth form college as an alternative.

drummersmum · 18/10/2016 23:26

I see.

Greenleave · 19/10/2016 07:15

We have primary school then secondary then high school in our country. Eventually high school friends stick with us longest as its not as big and matured as Univ where friendship is formed in a different way and we have usually got over our crazy teen and formed a personality that could last. I think moving to another 6th form, making new friends would be great Loose, beat of luck. My friend's daughter(who is a French) who has a daughter did really well with her gcse then there are so many options opened for her at 6th form, she moved to a much more academic school as of her choice(she was very shy and wasnt as academic earlier) and planning to do medicine in one of the best Univ in this country. There shouldnt be 11+ in this country, it is too early to categorise someone who will be good at what.
Drummers: I am over it now Grin, just only worried of losing my job Grin. Classic mistakes: no rehearsals before, getting to the place late should be for the amateurs, I would usually slightly more organisedGrin. Deep down, even given a perfectly smooth start etc, we are still underprepared and we appreciate it. I have done my small research, we still have few more chances to try(if we want to as I need to get someone feeling excited about it first, maybe after this December show).

We had last night full on with scales, its all labour, we are slowly killing them one by one. Last night my husband was saying we should book a trip away next midterm week. I said we are saving for the violin and couple other things and we will be skiing for 2 weeks at Xmas anyway(the other 60% of the truth is I dont think we could learn all of these scales on time for the exam this term).
I have a hard time at work and finding it very hard to leave at slightly earlier than 5pm to drop her to the violin teacher's place on time, not too sure what to do now(even I do start early, already in Waterloo now catching other 10mins train).

LooseAtTheSeams · 19/10/2016 08:05

Oh, Green I do hope everything goes ok with work - it is incredibly stressful to have to run out of the door at a particular time, especially when things are uncertain. I remember going into work at 7am on Fridays for two years just so DCs could go to a martial arts club!
Agree with you that 11 is too young - at 14 and 16 it is much clearer. I am biased, though, as I teach in post-compulsory education!
Sixth form isn't a burning concern here - more the shock that I have a DC old enough to even start thinking about it! Grin
In music exam news, DS1 has his date through for his grade 6 bass guitar exam next month and for once is definitely ready so I think he might even enjoy the experience! Hopefully we get grade 5 theory out of the way as well, crossing all fingers.

drummersmum · 19/10/2016 16:25

loose I don't know where time has gone either. DS also in year 10. And I only have one. Sometimes I feel that time has all gone into hours of music and practice, like sand through a sand timer, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Conflicted. Or maybe it's just one of those blue days...

raspberryrippleicecream · 19/10/2016 21:40

We have an end of November date for Grade 7 piano. Slightly earlier than piano teacher wanted, but good to have it out of the way before December madness!.

Disappointed to find out that DS1s uni Christmas concert clashes with the younger DCs school concert. Uni is only an hour away so we were hoping to go!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 20/10/2016 21:47

NCO auditions are done, and they will certainly remember us, for better or worse! Grin My little pupil played a serious piece, followed by Daydream Believer, which was commented on as being an unusual choice! We both know it was, but love to play it together, she has given several successful performances of it before. I wonder if anyone else played a pop song?! Goo was the only one there today who attends a state school, and also had unwashed hair, cringe! By the time I realised (she was on the way out of the door to go to school) it was too late, aargh!

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drummersmum · 20/10/2016 21:53

Waffle sounds good, Goo's unwashed hair and your pupil's Daydream Believer are the kinds of things that make all the difference Grin I'm sure it went fab for both and Goo's recovery is quite miraculous Star

drummersmum · 20/10/2016 21:56

Everyone,
Open day at RCMJD is Saturday November 26th. Places need to be booked in advance.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 20/10/2016 21:56

She said she had a bit of a blunder in the unprepared sight reading piece, but that the other one was very easy. Both pieces went well - I could hear her from the waiting room, but someone decided to chat to me all the way through! The little one did everything right, and is really pleased with herself, regardless of the eventual outcome. I'm hoping for regionals for both. Predictably, the girls want to go on the summer courses!!

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NeverEverAnythingEver · 21/10/2016 07:46

Waffle Sounds like it went well!

How do you find time to do all these! We are struggling just to practise the usual stuff ...

AlexandraLeaving · 21/10/2016 08:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LooseAtTheSeams · 21/10/2016 09:01

Well done, Goo and little pupil - I love Daydream Believer, bet it sounded ace!
Alexandra I don't think so many people know about NCO. I hadn't heard about it until I started reading these threads. I think there may have been a tiny leaflet about it on the borough music service notice board once but no real attempt to promote it or explain it. Goo is very lucky as well as extremely talented in that she has a fantastic support system! I am sad to hear that's also a problem with the Sunday orchestra, though.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 21/10/2016 09:37

NeverEver they haven't been practising much else for the past few weeks really.

I am pleased to announce that Goo has now washed her hair and looks delightful again.

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Mendingfences · 21/10/2016 12:19

well done for the auditions! I think its great that your little pupil played daydream believer, DD1 auditioned for her talent program, which is mixed instruments (but mainly 'band' with guitar, keyboard, drums and singers) with a Vivaldi piece and the rock guitarist she was auditioning for was obviously happy enough with that given the outcome.

Fleurdelise · 21/10/2016 13:29

Waffle well done for both Goo and your little pupil. I hope the results will be as expected.

No news on our side yet except that I finally managed to book a piano tuner to tune our piano. I hope we won't be told off but I have been trying to book one for three months and the recommended tuner was too busy. In the end he recommended someone else. There you go, good future career path, piano tuning, there seems to be a shortage out there. Hmm

Greenleave · 21/10/2016 13:56

Glad to hear your experience Waffle! Good luck to Goo and your daughter.

Our state primary school Orchestra is really modest, there are only 2 violinists and a handful of other instruments, my daughter asked to quit but I said she has to stay to support it. Even has to encourage another other of her friends who can play to join(and we dont live in a deprived area, might be just an area where there are not many children playing Orchestral instrument).

I am forever in debt with this thread created by Waffle and supported by you all. I never heard of theory before for example not mentioning NCO or our current Sunday Orchestra.

Fleur: I have the exam date: 03.12, suddenly I know what we have to do the coming weeks