October Music and Musicians Thread

[Wafflenose]

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!

I'm glad it means so much to you, Green. Same here!

Our school orchestra wasn't too bad, but I think nine Year 6 children left in July for secondary school, and Goo's two friends have given up this week. So now this is all we have left: three violins, one oboe, one clarinet, two flutes, one trumpet, one cello, and sometimes a guitar. Goo is Grade 7, Rara and the trumpet player are Grade 3, and ALL of the others are Grade 1 or below. I've told them they have to keep going and support it though, and perhaps it will improve as the year progresses.

^ green on the value of this thread. Great updates and congratulations on those who've sat auditions!

We were so fortunate with DD's junior school. They had a fantastic head of music and standard of orchestra. Then strangely, the senior (through school) seemed to have a criteria of only those with G5+ could participate. We'd moved on by then, but she feels sad to see so many of her old pals now who have dropped their instruments, and worse, fallen into the cliche that music is not cool now in Y8. Getting the right support set up early can make such a difference to motivation levels, especially for those that are not completely self driven like some on here who instinctively know their future lies with music. There is then still a great pool like my DD falls into, that music still has great value on lots of levels. As does playing in orchestra where you may not always be given the most stretching of parts, but the contribution to the team is critcal to its success.

Green great you now have a date to work to, I am sure minigreen will be just fine.

You guys are lucky, DD's school doesn't have an orchestra and they ignore music generally, they have a choir club but that's it. That is why I think it is so important that DD's secondary school needs to have at least one orchestra, the two schools we love (one of which is DS's current school) have a beginners orchestra, a senior orchestra and various bands for different instruments.

No school orchestra here , but we live in a tiny place. The usual set up here is a windband and a strings orchestra rather than a classical orchestra, but we dont have those either! Right now we are focussing on alle the great opportunities they do get and suplementing with holiday curves where possible.

Music tuition is well subsidised here but there are still clear social divides. In the rural areas there is often very little choice - voice,gitar and maybe keyboard, and in the cities the the middle classes are hugely over represented in the orchestral instruments.

Holiday courses that should read!

How embarrassing! Played in a concert last night - just adult learners so not a big deal and my right hand froze (nerves) on bar three. Tried again, same thing. Hand shaking! Third time managed to push through the bar and play on - could sense audience relief! Irony is I managed to play all the difficult parts ok so looked a right idiot for getting stuck on one bar! The teachers were very sweet and as one said, we are not robots, these things just happen! Once I got going all the shaking went from my right hand. So, just wanted to say how much I admire all these children who do auditions where it is competitive as well as public!

Loose Well done for playing in concert!

Loose well done for playing in a concert I would never do that, honestly you have my full admiration!

DD's piano teacher had a goal discussion with DD last night, she said that she wants to teacher her what perfecting a piece to concert level means so she'll focus on two pieces that she can then perform in January at a music competition. She told her it will be boring at times as there will be weeks when she'll work on 2 bars continuously. In the meantime she'll also get a grade 5 piece going and add the other two in the new year with a view of taking the exam in the summer session as she doesn't want to stop doing other pieces therefore will take it very slow with the exam pieces.

DD agreed to it, hearing she'll start exam pieces gave her the motivation needed.

Thanks Fleur and Never! I am kind of pleased with myself for getting to the end of the piece rather than giving up!
Fleur, I think your teacher's plan is excellent - I think MiniFleur will be amazed by what she can do with that kind of focus.
Had a chat with DS1's bass teacher. He was a bit eek! at how close the bass guitar exam is although he says pieces are definitely ready. Scales, on the other hand, need more work. I am going to have to chivvy DS1 this half term and watch his computer usage like a hawk! He also needs to revise musical terms for his theory exam (especially the German ones). Problem is, he is very bright and also very lazy. So, because he can pick up a lot of things easily it comes as a nasty shock when he has to make a big effort!

That's how our piano teacher works too Fleur.

We have the clarinet exam date, 26th November, I panicked, the teacher said she's ready. She wanted to change her C piece last week as she thought it was too hard, she listened to it this week though and said it is ready so there's no point to change it.

Loose and Raspberry good to hear you think the plan is good, I have to say I am worried about the time spent on perfecting (two bars for example for a long time) she's only turned 9 so hopefully it won't put her off.

And we have a piano that sounds lovely, got home and asked DD to play as it was tuned, I actually forgot how good it sounds when in tune lol

🏆 for you Loose, you are so weldone and have a steel nerve that you kept going. You are a star, think about me who was supposed to start but then postpone. I dont know if I could ever do it as well. It was so frustrated for example my daughter for some reason always got her left hand wrong in all her scales and I dont even know if they are wrong, then my teacher was trying to say scales are do simple it should have been 1-2-3-4 instead of 1-3-2-4 (or whatever he was trying to explain) and I told him I dont even know what does it mean. Awggg!!! I told myself that I should know a little when my second child starts.

Fleur please don't worry - she would have passed based on what I heard 5,6 weeks ago? I think she will get a big fat distinction.

Thanks for the reminder anyway... Rara has played the clarinet, cello and recorder once each this week! I need to get on her case. In my defense, I have been poorly for about 10 days, and also had Goo's birthday and NCO audition to contend with.

Fleur: you are so much readier than us, we havent had any scale done and the last piece hasnt been touched. We still have time!(trying to pretend that I am calm). Think about Xmas and a long break after!

Thank you for the reassurance Waffle yes, that is what her teacher said, in fact she said once we are back after half term she'll move on also, a bit of sight reading and checking the pieces quickly but other than that she can introduce other stuff. Oh and DD did do grade 1 aural with her piano teacher and she did well so no worries. I think she does hope for a distinction as she keeps asking if her playing is distinction level. (Like I would know lol).

Looking forward to hear Rara's playing when you have time Waffle and happy birthday to Goo!

Green in fairness grade 1 is easier than grade 5. DD finished her scales for piano grade 5 but her teacher is not happy with their quality (she has some wobbles, one hand apparently going down first so not completely synchronised, but so small is the detail that I can't actually hear it ) so she's starting them again one by one and discussing the technique behind it. I have to say if I was DD I would have felt demotivated but DD seems to respond well to criticism and want to improve.

Is your DD playing Orange (Burgmuller) by any chance Green? That was my favourite from the previous syllabus but DD is of course taking the new one so no chance to play it.

Oh and (boasting alert!) had parents evening last week and I had such amazing feedback that I felt overwhelmed. Apparently working at the highest challenge in maths, top with another 5 kids, which I had no clue about. Not bad for a child that started behind the curriculum in reception (due to being August born I'd say).

Boast away, Fleur those moments are your reward for all the support you give your DCs and you should rightly bask in the glow! Also, lovely to know the piano is back in tune. I have dreams of getting a 'proper' piano...
Green thanks for your kind words! And scale fingering is mind-boggling! The only thing is the more you get the fingering right, the more likely it is to become natural. Getting everything together and not hesitating is so hard to do - my fingers tend to rest at certain points, so I have to imagine the keys are very hot or something!

Fleur Well done to DD. :)

We are having a half-term break. No music lessons next week.

Thank you ladies! Talking about the scale fingering, I do agree is crazy. However Loose you are right, DD's fingering comes natural, she doesn't need to think about it, depending on the key signature. I find it fascinating!

NeverEver only clarinet break next week for us, piano still going on through holidays which I am happy with.

Fleur: I bet you had to hold your tears, of all these moments being parents, the monents their hardwork and ability are acknowledged are the best isnt it, and being August born in the year def makes it more special!

We were busy watching Xfactor till just now(and it was very late for someone who usually is dead on bed at 8.30), and also caving few pumpkins, first one in the show here

Loose

Fleur love your boast, keep 'em coming. I also love your piano teacher btw....

Thank you, you are very nice!

Green you reminded me I need to get carving, I think I'll do it next Friday as I am having the day off.

Drummers I felt we were onto a winner with the piano teacher from the beginning when she almost shouted at me when I made a mistake. Now seriously, I do appreciate every second our piano teacher dedicates to us, she calls randomly in the middle of the week to remind us of something or to say "just had this idea, I think this should be the next piece your DD will play because...", she sends texts to tell DD something in particular, she's also texting to share her good news. I feel she is very invested in DD's musical upbringing and it makes us feel so fortunate. I know she's like that because she really believes DD has potential but I feel very lucky.

We forgot DD's clarinet cd accompaniment at her teacher's today and she really wanted to play this spooky piece with the piano over the Halloween period. Oh well, she'll have to play it without the cd.

i played a concert last night with band and i think we should play to people drinking beer more often..... they were most enthusiastic

I think my audience could have done with a beer or two! Bet the band was awesome, Mending!
Thanks for the positive message drummers, made me smile!
Green I do like the pumpkin very much - also your fireplace looks fab!
Wonder if DS1 took bass guitar comments to heart as he has been practising his scales without any chivvying!