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!

Sounds ever so familiar, but to give dd1 her due she is getting less stroppy..... dd2 is ok at the moment too IF she actually wants to achieve something. Low c on her flute was apparently impossible until she came home with a piece her class teacher suggested she could play With the choir in the xmas show. 15 minutes of solid practise and effort and we have a beautiful c....

Interesting hearing about the arguments and answering back fro the dc, I think they all must do this. maybe it's their way of saying this is my thing, so butt out. i don't think they are necessarily right to think like this though

I also found the posts interesting about practice and speed. You would think at dd school where their practice time is effectively and efficiently managed to the nano second, they would be practised at practising iyswim.
(Sorry if my spelling is wrong), however, you can still hear them rushing through pieces too fast before they have mastered the slower speed, and of course the giving themselves a little concert
Good practice is a learnt skill, some adults don't always get it right.

We are having a new addition to the family and have no idea how school are going to manage all the instruments and their practice, but not my problem.

We now have, in no particular order Tenor, Alto and Soprano Sax, Singing, Piano, Clarinet, Flute and the flipping violin is back.
She was messing about on one of her friends violin, with permission and he was there of course. When a string teacher came past and suggested she joined one of the lower ensembles, she's only about grade 4/5 emerging.
I don't think she'll need to do grades on them all though as Clari and Flute are the slow but steady instruments that will enable her to double and also Big Band requires Alto players to play clari and flute.
Flute is going to have to be a Christmas present, does that sound mean?
She asked to play drums last week, I shall not repeat my response, I'm sure you can imagine.

Mending good idea to record though not sure DD would be very critical of herself.

NeverEver no, I didn't read it, I'll have to look for it, thank you! We currently have the same on the clarinet, it's Bb, THAT'S WHAT I PLAYED! Erm...no you didn't.

gilly that is an impressive list of instruments.

Too many, Fleur.
i think she's aware that she can't play them all to the same level as there aren't that many hours in the day, but unfortunately the wind instruments do require doubling when they go into Higher Ed or into the industry.

Dh always makes me laugh when people call for certain orchestras and ask what he plays. He says all the saxes, clarinet and he owns a flute
He can play it to a fair enough standard for the requirements, but is no way a flautist

Woah gilly...that's an impressive list!

Oops, x posted with fleur

if i comment on DD's practice i usually get - "it is not wrong it is my INTERPRETATION" .... hmmm

Gilly - wow! def a serious talent to keep that many going, and even make ensembles on instruments she doesn't touch (violin!) given where she is!

Ha Ha, no, honestly the violin is no huge talent, but I think/ hope at least with a knowledge of several instruments skills such as composing, arranging, and conducting won't be out of the question if she wanted to.
I think the main challenge will come when she is able to choose singing as a first study, but that's a while off yet.
I do like that the school are very relaxed about it all and they really do show an interest in the emerging musician, rather than pushing for the next milestone.

Need to look for a flute now, they will be going to the exchange no doubt.

It was lovely reading about the festivals, I had no idea what they entailed either, and there's an organisation. They seem like such a good idea for children.

Does anyone know of any international or UK based folk organisations? On the lines of young people, maybe educational or not.

Gillybeanz is the type of thing?

www.gael.org.uk

One down, one to go.
Miss 12 has been a bag of nerves all week and yesterday even said she wasn't going to take the exam. Anyway - she went in and did it. She is hoping for a merit. She forgot to answer which inversion the chords were for the cadences and she got prompted for part D, so knows she isn't on for full marks in aurals. It's a shame as she has been getting them all right in practise.

Miss 10 does hers next week.
Then it will start to get really interesting... which diplomas..?

DipABRSM all the way, Shaky... although I'd be inclined to leave it for a couple of years. 50% fail first time, including professionals who are years and years post-Grade 8. The best advice when I took it was NOT to treat it as a Grade 9, because the jump is astronomical. And indeed it was. I spent an hour a day on just the research, for a whole year, had to analyse the scores and annotate all the chords, subjects etc and learn them, read around the author's biography, life and times, similar works from other composers, compositional influences and so on... I was really well prepared, but still only scored something like 14/25 in the Viva! (Almost full marks in the sight reading though!)

Fleur Have you read Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro? There's a story called cellists, i think, that you might find interesring, related to "you don't even know piano!"

Downloaded. Looking forward to start reading

Hugely impressed by minishakyisles!
There has been some practice over half term in this house but I have set a less than shining example by mislaying my music book!
DS2 has started to tackle a piece that the more advanced string orchestra is doing to challenge him a bit, but I think it will be a while before he gets promoted! He's in between the standard for the two at the moment. He has also almost outgrown the 3/4 cello - so much for that size lasting until year 8! I don't want to rush into a purchase so there may be another hire swap for a bit while we look around.

Wow, that cello didn't last long, did it?! Rara is 8 and has been on a 1/4 for about 20 months. Her teacher thinks it will be OK for another year. I'm not sure she'll ever need a full size!

Speaking of practice, my two haven't been spectacular this week, and I have made Rara cry. Oh dear.

Gilly: very impressive list of instruments
Shaky: did she take the diplomat exam?! Fingers crossed, from what Waffle described, it must have been a very very tough one!
I have been on long hours so I dont know what is happening at home. The other evening I sent our teacher few video records of the couple pieces and the scales she played and we were told that it was too painful to watch. Well I keep telling myself that we still have time. The good thing is she has been going to museums/theatre/indoor play centre as her dad took time off and since then she has been writting like mad everynight inventing a long fantasy story so at least it goes well from the academic perspective.
We have to postpone our violin lesson with our lovely new teacher even we really like her. The reason because we cant come to her place anymore due to my work commitment. What a shame. We found a temporary alternative teacher whose major is viola. Not feel 100% certain about it however we havent had a better option for now. Hopefully things will get better in the future.

Well done to the minishakeyisles.
They must be very talented and work hard, what achievements.

Raspberry

It's the sort of thing, but one that includes voice. It's more for the unaccompanied folk songs and for dd to get some repertoire in this genre.
She likes folk music and it isn't easy to find pieces that haven't been flogged to death.
A lot of the books on offer seem to just cover popular pieces that most people choose from, so was looking for something different.
That does look good though

No problem Gilly. Good luck in finding something.

Practice has not been amazing here either, especially with Grade 7 piano approaching!

I have no intention of rushing into diplomas here. Nor do I ever want them taking their higher level exams at the same time again!

I'm pleased to say goodbye to aurals.

Miss 12 doesn't want to hear the word 'exam' again for a while. She is longing to get back to some excitiing repertoire. Even Kreutzer studies are looking interesting.

Miss 10 is looking at diplomas - mainly as she is already playing such a lot of repertoire. She also loves reading around about everything. She loves lessons and practise and composing and improv and being in front of an audience. Strange child!

Shaky when you are through it and out the other side you will be able to tell yourself that it was better getting it all over at once. I'm not convinced that's the case but it most certainly will look better from the other side of the exams.

It has been a problem here when DS and DH have had exams in the same session because they were always wanting to play at the same time. Never mind that DS was in for two hours before his father came home, never mind that DH could play for three and a half hours straight if he'd just give DS the half hour.

Hey Shaky

She isn't strange even though we may think our kids are.
When they are in environments with other children who like to perform, I think we are the ones that appear strange.
Good luck to them all, I say. So many people end up in jobs they don't like and at least if push comes to shove these kids will have opportunities that many others won't.

Shaky I am so impressed with your DDs. Well done to them!

Cd wasn't on tonight, she just needs to speed up piece no 3 and she's done for the exam. Phew!

Due to long half term it is now two and a half weeks since the last clarinet lesson. Feels like we are going backwards with the pieces and is missing out more and more notes I'll be glad when it is back to normal,

Rara is liking her clarinet, although I threatened to send it back at Christmas, because the cello hadn't been out for over a week! She then played the cello for 40 minutes tonight! It's easier to pick up the clarinet or recorder when they're left out all the time. When the girls finally get their own rooms (watch this space) we'll invest in some sort of cello holder, and she can take it upstairs.

Rara is planning a Halloween 'surprise' for you all.

We had a really nice cello stand when DD played Waffle. It made a huge difference to it being picked up. Also, I think it stayed in tune a bit better.

Gillybeanz DD has an impressive list!

I have got DS2 to put his instruments in order of priority so we know were we are. He put them as piano, trombone, and clarinet/voice joint third. This was before he tried the organ, which of course he loved ...... But there is no way we can manage five lessons, either financially or timewise so something will have to go.

I did wonder about asking the Cathedral Organ Scholar for a lesson every month or so, DS2 is now allowed to get our church key and practice on that one when he wants, and maybe if he just did it very slowly?

He is spending tomorrow recording some solos on clarinet and trombone for a soundtrack for the prefirework show at our city bonfire. Another child not phased by audiences or performing!