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!

gillybeanz What does your DH teach?

I play the piano and have only started to play with other people in my grand old age. I must say I've always enjoyed playing on my own ... But I'm quite unsociable!

Wow, this thread moves SO fast! And so good to see new faces too.

DD (13) Y8 plays violin (G8), piano (G7) and sings (G5). And swims. A lot.

Thankfully no exams here this term, just lots of juggling of ensembles x 5, lovely pieces to master and continuation of studies/2nd movements etc to improve technical skills.

I may be a lone wolf on the practicing with parent present/alone when young age. We are a non-musical family and both us parents in the early days worked until late, so practice was always non-accompanied (with listening from a distance if I was in). I do understand the reading analogy, but hands up, only read to her at night when she was very young.

But, I do love a good concert, be it impromptu at home or formal at school, and have a decent ear even though my music reading days are long behind me.

Great link Drummersmum. It's sad to see extra curricular such as music not given the same level of respect as core academic subjects.

My parents both don't have this kind of musical knowledge either. I think we always practised on our own.

And I don't read with my DC either apart from the very early days. God those books were dull! I was so happy when they could read more interesting things and we could talk about them. Perhaps that's why the music teachers were very excited when they started playing "proper" music!

I think I've convinced myself to ditch the learner piano books for DS2 and go for something else now ...

never

He teaches Saxophone mainly but has dabbled in clari and flute, though not really a flute player.
Any instrument for jazz impro though as it's the same on any instrument. He wouldn't dream of trying to teach specific instrumental technique on an instrument he doesn't play well.
All ages and levels from complete beginner to students returning from conservatoires around the world.

I'm so addicted to Schubert's at the moment but there is no hope in hell of being able to play it... :(

never

Of course you can, it's a slow process. It just takes a long time and with music there is no cutting corners.

Ha, another one here, who is far behind compared to other children on here, but who is actually also one of the most "advanced" in her year 9, with here grade .....4....Maybe difference is that she DOES NOT practise every day,

gilly I once asked my teacher about La Campanella. She said how much time have I got. Well, not enough. I shall stick to feasible pieces.

Though Erlkonig is probably not as bad as La Campanello. I shall have a look at the score.

It is interesting to hear about other people and practising habits. I really meant very young children would need supervised practice in order to improve - certainly my two aged five and six would not have been able to carry much information home with them without parental input. But then the Suzuki method is heavily dependent on parental input anyway.

I am interested in hearing about children who are self motivated. My two were definitely NOT self motivated in the beginning, although the older one is now extremely keen. It must be great to have a child who actually wants to practice.

Read drummers link on the train tonight, thanks for sharing it drummers. The fact is for us we have never had to work so hard and paying so much for academic( apart from paying tax) while we spend so much more time and money on music. My daughter told me that she is now the only violinist in her school Orchestra as other older kids are busy with preparing for 11+. I try to comfort her by saying that then she is now the "lead". She said "mum it isnt particularly fun when you dont have anyone else to follow you"

I'm a great admirer of the Suzuki method. I taught my DC book 1 and 2 on the piano. What little children can do is sometimes beyond one's expectations!

When DD started piano age 6 she definitely needed me to have an input into her practice, same as reading. I had to sit down and remind her what to do, correct mistakes as I was sitting in lessons so I kept up with her. My DH always jokes that I am a musician who cannot play an instrument.

Now it is just a habit and I am being led by DD, she has days when she would practice when I am cooking, days when she sits me down at the opposite corner of the room so she can play for me and days like today when she asked me to sit next to her (on a chair) while she practised. I do make sure I pay proper attention at least twice a week to ensure she does do what the teacher asks.

I still sit in lessons and I guess now that she does a whole hour I can leave her there and come back and pick her up. I will wait for her to settle and then start the strategy.

Never thank you so much for putting the Erlkonig up - I've listened to it several times this morning already and love it. I'll show it to ds2 later as I think he would enjoy the animation as well as the piano. I know for sure I can't play that, by the way!
Music lesson last night was a mixed bag - definitely improvements but teacher is hounding me on details and technique and given me horrid finger exercises to try. However, aural practice went well!
DS2 has already learned Bow Chicka Wow Wow - he's basically taught himself and the teacher went over the tricky bits in the lesson.he 's going to try another one from the group C list but don't know which one yet.
As for practice - he seems finally to have taken on board the pitfalls of the mini-concert. It does cost him a few marks in exams as he reverts to niggling little mistakes under exam pressure. But he is exactly the sort of person who has to come to a realisation himself - he won't do something just because someone else tells him. It's a strength in some ways and a frustration in others! What I do like is the fact that he is at the piano and enjoying playing every day.

Hi all! Don't know what is wrong with me these days but I am so behind in everything that don't even have time to read MN!
Anyway, in order to receive subscription will make a comment too :)
Dd8 is doing grade 3 theory in November. Her instruments are violin and piano.
Ds5 is learning violin.
Talking about children who are 'behind' - totally agree-there is no such thing as being behind in music, just some start earlier than the others, and it is definitely worth carrying on.

Fleur, saw the video of your dd playing piano in old thread-aaah, she is just fab!
Green good luck to your mini with NCO audition, will follow with interest your journey to the big orchestra :)

I can see some discussion of practicing is going on (though cannot see where it started). I practice with both of mine. The only reason is - I want quality practice. They would probably be ok to practice on their own, but will make and repeat silly mistakes, like play minim as semibreve and vice versa (had to check in a book the right names ). Not because they don't know but because both are pretty careless. It is like - with me they will polish the piece up to 90% in one go, without me - they will need up to 3 lessons to do it (practice-teacher points mistakes, practice-etc)

Ah, forgot our major news! Dd started recorder at school and very enthusiastic about it - comes home and practices it by herself I wish she would be as keen on violin :)
Told her - if she does not practice violin I will make her to go to recorder lessons instead. She does not seem to mind

Great news only. It's lovely to still have young DC who can venture into new things.
The other day we were listening to some Albeniz and DS suddenly said: Spanish guitar is an instrument I'd love to play.
A little voice inside me said WHEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!

drummersmum
Your little voice is quite loud actually!

When I was young I picked up the guitar just so I can play Asturias and Memories of the Alhambra. I wasn't going to learn all the basics, oh no. After all I could read all the notation. I did actually manage to learn at least the beginning.

only

I'm not a huge fan of piano music, yet strangely enough my most favourite music ever is a chopin piano piece. strange but true.
Although listened to the Erlkonig last night and it is lovely.

My all time favourite is....... pretty obvious really.

I've been told it's quite hard to play because of the emotion required. Have no idea though as don't know any classical Pianists.

Advice please for my DD who wants a music career.

DD is 15, taking GCSEs this year. She took Violin ABRSM Grade 2 in 2013 and three years later has just got her Trinity Grade 7 with distinction. Her teacher is sure she'll can pass Trinity Grade 8 with distinction next summer. She's also working towards ABRSM music theory Grade 5. She has been self teaching piano for a year and has just started lessons - apparently she's around Grade 3. Her teacher has suggested she do a violin diploma alongside A levels. She belongs to a small orchestra who meet monthly, but when I have transport in the evenings next year to try and get her into one that meets more regularly and will give her more experience.

In the ideal world DD would like to perform, if not, use her knowledge to teach others either on violin/piano or secondary school. She has found a passion for music a lot later than some other children, so I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice. I wonder if she would do ABRSM Grade 8 violin for instance.

She'll take A levels in music and geography (as she likes this, it's her strongest other subject, achieved A* in mock mock and all her coursework is marked at this level). She'd probably choose her other two from English Lit, photography, ethics, photography or biology.

I'm an upper strings teacher & orchestral player, DH has a desk job but is also a cellist orchestral player & DD (14) has just passed grade 7 oboe & started harp about a year ago (working towards grade 2) she is also a keen singer & on a music scholarship so does most of her music at school. Our biggest problem is balancing her music making & school stuff with ours & we very often pick her up straight from school on a Saturday lunchtime to get to our afternoon rehearsal on time for poor DD to then have to amuse herself for the afternoon then watch the concert. With around 30 concerts per season that's most weekends but we do remind her that we have to sit through her concerts too. She has just applied to CBSO youth & plays for various local holiday youth orchestras.
It's a mad busy life, but I don't know what we would do without our orchestral playing - it's like pressing a reset button on a Saturday evening to give us the energy to get through the next working week!
Anyone hear of a good 2nd hand grade 8+/pro oboe please let me know! Lack of 3rd octave key becoming an issue.