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!

Fleur someone with more experience might be along shortly, but piccolo is usually reserved for advanced flautists - two teachers we talked to about it don't recommend it until you get to about Grade 7 flute. There's little solo repertoire available - it's an orchestral 'doubling' instrument. We couldn't find any resources for Goo to teach herself this summer, so she ended up using her beginner flute books from when she was little.

Alex: wonderful news on the clarinet head and yes, main Orchestra is like a far distant dream to us, a goal for one day!!!
Prada: I am tired of congratulating miniPrada daily . (Only joking). The fact is I need one of the card you gave your friend the other day please!!
TRL: I have just sat down and felt knackered then reading your post I feel like my day has been nothing to compare. And a cello, plus a harp?

Wow, to miniPrada - so well done!

Greenleave: there was a truly hideous time when DD1 wanted to play double bass as her second instrument along with the harp ... there was just NO way! We can only fit the harp, a driver and 2 children in the car at the same time so everyone has to zipcard around already. Maybe I should go with the whole flute idea simply on grounds of transportation but not till after 11+ as we're struggling to stay afloat with h/w and practice at the mo and I think the whole family pack of cards would collapse with another instrument to fit in.

Aww thanks everyone. It is a selective faith state , the music just pushes her up the list making it more likely to get a place. We'll see what she decides....

Green - I bought the card in WHSmith (assuming you didn't mean it was me on the card )

Can i join you?
I've got three small(ish) musicians in the house, dd1 (10) plays violin, dd2 (8) plays flute and ds (6) percussion. i tried in vain to get him intetested in a smaller instrument, his first choice was tuba and his second double bass......

We're not in the uk so no grades but dd1 is in a talent development program and working on some Vivaldi in her lessons, and the other two seem to be following in her footsteps progress wise.

This terms performances have already started, dd2 was first two weeks ago, dd1 tomorrow and ds next wednesday, but as far as i know thats it until the Christmas season starts.

Dd 8, yr 4, is preparing to take g1 clarinet, G3 violin and g1 theory. She also sings in a couple of choirs.

Welcome Mendingfences!

Thank you Waffle about piccolo clarification. I guess is something to leave for later, much later that is

Alex missed your news on principal clarinet... Huge congrats to your DS

Mending: you are welcome!
TRL: We live in a terrace with small garden with 2 girls and most of the times we feel like we cant manage. I cant imagine how could you do it! I have made a decision to pay more for the silence system with our piano and it turns out great. The other day I was putting our 2 yrs old to bed and our lovely old lady neighbor knocked the door asking if we dont play after 7pm(she wasnt even playing by then). Had I have a harp and a double bass then we might have to move
Loose: love the take away, I am sick of cooking and cleaning sometimes and a take away is heaven( to be honest I dont even cook much, I am just tired-lazy). When is your concert? Are you playing with one of the boys?goodluck with the new drum lesson.
Our violin teacher got back to us and asking is it a mistake that she thought London auditions have closed. I havent received the confirmation email so our teacher might be right, hahaha. Not too sure why NCO let us pay. We decided if there is an audition then we will go with the 2 that we just did with our Orchestra. There might be never in the NCO history there is a child to play a grade 3 piece for an audition hahaha, hopefully it isnt too embarrassed.

Green some will have played lower grade pieces. It does NOT matter! I know of two girls who passed their Grade 2 exam after getting into Under 10s last year.

Prada: the card is for me as it suits me now hahaha. The reason because when I read about miniPrada and Goo are going to NCO then I was thinking: should we also try? I eveb had no idea what is NCO and what does it do? The pushy mom award should go to me. This morning we spoke about it and I said you have a chance to have a week away from home with other children. Then I had a million nods and massive grin. I although had to tell her that this only for a feedback to understand where we are compare to similar age children playing the instrument. Many other children might have been working hard for it hence deserve more. She agreed!

Green -dd only did g2 the term before she got into under 10s. Lots of children don't take grades at all.from the website, some London venues are full but not all of them - I would call them tomorrow as offend there are cancellations too.

Prada - well done to Mini! DD passed her first pre-audition but we have some months to go yet.

Thank you Alexandra for the Eb clarinet info, I guess DD is attracted to the piccolo as it is so tiny and cute. I'll let her know that there is a cute clarinet out there also.

Is there a way to find out where is the nearest NCO audition to me and their local children orchestra? Just for the future record.

Fleur: www.nco.org.uk/userfiles/ncomvc/documents/audition/NCO-Audition-Venue-Information-2016.pdf

Your nearest regionals would be London Juniors in Hammersmith.

This is an interesting read:
www.musicparentsguide.com/2015/02/17/students-really-quit-musical-instrument-parents-can-prevent/

Thank you Waffle!

*drummersmum" ha! This resonates with me so much. I know so many people whom during the 3 years since DD started piano were puzzled she had to practice everyday. So many people who minimise if I celebrate her music succes (oh, another piece of paper stating she took a music exam) but if I mention academic results those ARE important. And quite a few people I met who think that music lessons means you DC goes to a teacher once a week and that's that. But insist on their DC doing their academics homework.

"Parents don’t treat music as important as other subjects. The sad truth is that many non-music teachers and administrators do not find music equally as important as math or English language-arts — but parents must. Besides, you wouldn’t let your child quit math, would you? Many kids would jump at that opportunity! Music is a core subject…period. The more parents treat it as such, the less students will quit"

green don't stress about feeling pushy...as long as you are going with what mini green wants you are being supportive not pushy! It's when you are forcing her into stuff that she doesn't want to do you need to worry!

Dd did a weeks brass camp last year and absolutely loved the week of music!! She's desperate to do it boarding next year!

Petra: we were all asked 1 add 1 equals what tonight? you have someone loves maths in your car today Petra!
Stringchild: thanks for your kindwords and sharing your experence, we are waiting to see if there is a confirmation for an audition first

I was trying to explain that proving 1+1=2 is not trivial at all!!

www.storyofmathematics.com/20th_russell.html

You wait until dd starts telling minigreen logic puzzles!!

Hello everyone, can I join in? I am not a musician myself but my two oldest children are doing Suzuki violin with their father. They did a graduation ceremony in London today, DS9 Book 3 and 4 and DD7 Book 2. This is very exciting for two rurally based children!

We also realised this week that DS has perfect pitch, he can correctly identify any note you give him and tell instantly what key things are in. Lucky beggar! Should come in handy if he continues playing. DH is jealous.

Our children practice most days too, the suzuki thing of only having to practise on the days you eat holds true here

dd came home and asked if she could audition for NCO, I said duh there's no saxes.
She's known this for years, she's a strange kid.
There are a few from her school do it every year though, so she must have overheard them or ventured into another dept.

Looking forward to a concert, hope it's soon.
Now she has started tenor there are opportunities for solos and she knows she has a 24 bar / 2 chorus solo, in one of the ensembles.
Clari is emerging from the depths occasionally, but still referred to as the swine pipe , Piano still not very appealing but serving it's purpose.
Singing going very well, but she went white when her teachers told them they'd be leaving playing flute. Owning one will probably be as far as dd gets with flute, although introducing her to the great Roland Kirk Jazz Musician saw a glimmer of possibility

interesting article Drummersmum, thanks for posting that, a lot of it really resonates.

Found the new thread!

Hello Humphrey!

Petra Have you read Logicomix?