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!

That piece is on the go currently in our household gillybeanz, alongside DD learning Clair de Lune (Debussy). A nice slow contrast to the Tarantella speed...long way off to perfecting but lovely to hear the 'classics' now the standard of her play is improving!

Neverever: never say never...

Hello Tiger I'm certainly no expert but can give you a few pointers.

It sounds like your dd would like to take the classical approach and maybe go to music college?
I know there are different types of courses depending on what area your dd would like to work. e.g there are Uni's that offer joint Degrees in Music and Music education which take a more theoretical approach mixed with some performance units.
There are others that are solely performance related and whilst cover theory and academic music are predominantly performance based.
A friend of ours has a DIploma in Bandmanship, has never taught and makes her living as a Trumpet player in West End Shows.
Some Colleges/ uni's only seem to favour ABRSM exams usually Grade 8 and A level Music will be sufficient, with the obvious experience of ensemble playing.

I would google the ones you think she maybe interested in and see their entry requirements.
Please don't think your dd has come to music late, I personally know at least a dozen who are working in the industry who didn't start until late teens, so your dd is ahead of them

I would definitely push for the Theory as she will need this for an ABRSM grade 8. As you probably know you need this or an equivalent to progress from grade 5 practical.

I think the most important thing if possible is for your dd to understand the different routes and decide which she would like to take. I know it's no easy task if they just want to be involved in Music with no specific goal, but it does save making expensive mistakes.

Tigerblue It doesn't matter whether she takes Trinity or ABRSM for G8 because they are equivalent. If her teacher is more familiar with Trinity then that's a good reason to stick with that even after she has her G5 theory. She will find the theory useful at A level, DS has started it this year and he had to have a theory refresher night early on (as he appeared to have forgotten everything he ever knew)

DS is 16 so I'm not far enough ahead of you to be able to offer any advice, we have it all yet to come.

ealing

Oh how lovely, I would love a pm sometime if she fancies an audience
I understand if not, but would love to hear her
I think it's the simplicity of the music that appeals to me, it's just so basic, earthy and uncomplicated to hear. As I said though probably hard to accomplish.
I heard the Arthur Rubinstein version many years ago and love it.

You're on gilly. may be a while, but I will send you one when she's happy with it

ealing I look forward to it, but understand it takes time.

Tiger

I did forget to say that some of the conservatoires look more at the audition than the academic quals.
This is obviously only one of them but take a look at this.
I know she is a while of yet, but looking now will help her choose the right subjects and gain whatever experience they look for.

www.rcm.ac.uk/apply/entryrequirements/undergrad/

Mine has a long way to go yet, but a friend at school last year was told by all the visiting colleges to her school that they couldn't offer him anything.
He has gone here and dd has decided she wants to as well. I have 7 years to change her mind
www.berklee.edu/focused/global-jazz

gilly I've gone off Chopin . Mostly, anyway. Apart from the fantasie impromptu and .

NeverEver thank you for Erlkonig. That was beautiful. And gilly that Chopin Nocturne may be many people's favourite but there's a reason for it! It's so moving.

DS favourite piece of piano is this:
We actually saw Kissin perform it live a few years ago. It was his encore. DS loves it so much that when he talks about how far he'd like to go with his piano, he says : "my ambition is to be able to play the Chopin's Scherzo n2". It is way beyond g8 so he's got a while to go!

gilly I don't know about this specific global jazz program, but Berklee is the number 1 place to go for jazz studies right now. And they offer scholarships. The only thing is, she would be across the pond!!

I know, I don't think I could hack it, I'd go mental, but obviously won't stop her if it's what she wants.
She has no fear though and already acts and believes she has left home.
I have never known anyone so determined her siblings are so different and just normal, with normal jobs
She tells everyone that she lives in Manchester now and it really hurts me, I get so upset. I know she loves us and we have a good relationship but I'm under no illusion she'll be off to see the world at the first opportunity. I haven't let her know this though and never will.

Maybe she'll go down the vocal route and want to stay in England, London doesn't seem so far away compared to USA.

Wow, page 5 already!

I have dd, year 5, age 10 who plays clarinet.

I spoke to her teacher today to ask if we should put off grade 3 til next term and she was practically horrified at the suggestion! Am I just expecting too much? I think we pretty much had it together at this point with grades 1 and 2. This term we still have scales that are causing problems (chromatic and d minor), and one piece was only played for the first time today!

Apparently, grade 3 this term, grade 4 in the summer, and grade 5 in the summer of year 6 is the grand plan. Also theory lessons start next week!

I think this will be heading towards possibly applying for music scholarships which I hadn't previously thought of, though school has a very good track record of getting them.

It is moving fast!

Woolley: you are so organised!

Please can I have a question for everyone who had done and/or are doing 11+: how do you find time to study and when? if we do 30 mins violin and 30mins piano then our day has already been too much. We nearly forgot school homework and rushed to do it last night

We have, DD,10, grade 3 flute, DS, 7, grade 3 violin and DD, also just turned 10 yrs is doing grade 4 cello this term. Pieces well on the way, scales all learnt but aural.... struggling with listening to a piece of music and talking about the character of the piece. Can anyone help with this? Any good websites? I think I need to teach her a list of phrases/good vocab to use. She's good at listening but not so good at using descriptive language!

Green - we tried to do 1 each of a maths/English /VR/nvr paper per week in year 5. We had a tutor for 1 hr pw to work through any issues. I guess I would say we did most of that on a Sunday as miniprada had usually 1 hr homework per night. If I had my time again, i don't think I would bother with the super super selective as the music dept is not great ( it couldn't be given that they use a CEM style test) and I also don't think miniprada was familiar enough with the style of test or the difficulty level of nvr and I have to take responsibility for that. I think if we'd not had the family upset at the same time she may have got a better result (which is out next week) but I am a great believer in everything happening for a reason, so we'll see! Main thing is, you have plenty of time so no need to rush.

Greenleave, not an expert of 11+, dc did 10+, and all low key. But did not find doing more than about 5 be of the same vr/NVR useful as did not improve score after that. I did go a level up after that, so did another 5 of 11+ test . Oh, and those tests were 10 Min tests, only just before the exam did they do a longer one.

Dd3 loves maths so would often do online maths (mymaths) as that would give her the results as well, without needing my input.

homework often gets done in car.

Hello October! I don't post much, but I do try and read everything as it's really helpful. I have a DS aged 8 in year 4 and about to do clarinet grade 1 this term. Hs lessons during school time via the music service. Apparently they will also be learning the violin in class time at school which should be interesting. I'm looking forward to DS figuring out that his music theory skills transfer across. Not looking forward to squeaky practice combined with a toddler!

I mentioned in my last post how I didn't have a clue if he was ready enough as he didn't sound as good as the YouTube videos I'd found. Anyway I found this on the ABRSM website: gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/practice-tools-and-applications/on-your-marks/ Where you can "mark" an exam. I had a go at marking the grade 1 oboe exam which was a "pass" and I'm relieved that he's currently working at a similar level. I'm going to show it to him at some point as well as the sections where she "passed" should be a confidence boost I think, and also he will know what happens in an exam.

We managed to find a someone fairly local via ebay who services and sells clarinets and bought a refurbished Buffet b12 to replace the one we hired from the music service. He came to our house (!) to deliver and adjusted whatever was needed for DS and gave him a few tips as he is a teacher as well. Amazingly the refurbished one does not squeak!

Has anyone used the ABRSM aural app? Is it a good investment? We are going on holiday over half term and I don't fancy taking the clarinet, but thought we could concentrate on aural for a few days instead. (Staying with the inlaws)

Prada: all the best for nco this week and the result next week. As parents we tend to pessimistic and over worrying. As much as envying your energy and your support to miniPrada, you do inspire me to keep up.
Driving: we havent done vr-nvr. I told myself that I have to list schools that she could try then research for their requirement however I havent come to the point. I spoke to my husband the other day and we think we might try 10+ too, there are not many choices for 10+ though and with childcare for 2 yrs old we are worried logistically it could be too much stress for the whole family. Schools with school bus might work for us.
Our state school dont prepare for 11+, as much as its a lovely nurturing school it doesnt help with 11+preparation. Few children in my daughter class moved to a prep because of the reason and prep/private primaries do more work and better equipped. Both of us are only at home after 7pm so there is so little time during the week. After a very quick meal and cuddling and chit chat, its almost just about the time for bed. Awggg!

Green we started 11+ this year (year 5) by putting a schedule together that includes: music practice everyday, 20 min either verbal reasoning or maths everyday, in turns, and Saturday one complete VR test, Sunday one complete maths test. We are in an area where they are only testing VR (Cem style) and maths. We are not looking at private school, only state schools. All this needs to fit around dinner so a typical day means we are all home by 6,30, DD does her maths/VR while I cook dinner, then we eat and then it is music practice. Lights off at 9 pm.

DD has free time from when she finishes school till 6,30 so I don't feel too guilty for it.

Obviously the schedule is adapted if she has homework as there wouldn't be any time for extra maths/VR but that happens usually once a week. She has maths homework on mathletics and she loves to do extra as it is online and she does extra as they get points and certificates in school if they reach a certain amounts of points. I found her doing mathletics this morning when she woke up.

It is not me that is organised but the clarinet teacher, I also think it would obviously be good for her to have assisted with producing a music scholar. She mainly teaches piano and seems to get the kids who don't practice much so having someone who goes away and practices (though not much this week!), joins bands etc is a novelty I think.

If grade 3 is to be this term we need to really get better organised, and dd has been warned that the clarinet will be coming away with us in October, and scales need as much practice as the Take That piece she is trying to perfect!

We use an ipad app, we didn't get on with the ABRSM one we had to start with so we use Aural Book for ABRSM, which you get one per grade and are free. Its reminded me we need to get on this a bit more often as well, as its generally dd's weakest area.

i don't envy anyone trying to combine music, 11+ practice and school but it's so good not to drop activities. Although state primaries don't usually prepare for 11+ many do go mad over SATS and I know some schools don't even put year 6 children in for local sports or drama events because they keep them at school swotting for SATS. I think it's too much and I'm glad our primary school took a more rounded approach. Maybe music exams took DS2's mind off his SATS - in any case he did very well without giving up any fun stuff.
Good luck to everyone waiting for auditions, exams and results!

Loose when DS did the 11+ we told him we don't really mind regarding SATS results and we don't want him to stress about it. Same message will go to DD when the time comes. I don't fully agree with school testing mad, same goes for 11+ but as the 11+ will affect her choice of school we have no option but to prepare.

State schools don't prepare for 11+ here, some do a bit but they call it English comprehension instead of Verbal reasoning but no formal preparation.

I think I am just trying to say that doing too much of (the same) things they already know, or that they are going to learn at school, will not help much for the exam and time would be better spent, uh, maybe practising music...

I liked the 10min tests books. Had one for maths as well, just to check where the gaps where. In fact only gap was reading from analogue clock! Which made me realise we didn't have one in the house!, so now we do have hanging one in the kitchen. So rather than doing tests, it's asking what's the time, how many minutes left before we have to go, etc.

Aural tests app, someone here, or was it the Sept one mentioned an app, as we couldn't download the abrsm one (no ipad). It's a quite funny one, although dd says is going to kill the lady with the voice....

Fleur agree - 11+ has far more riding on it than SATS! I think 10 minute papers are a brilliant idea, by the way!

We are not doing 11+ and we are completely ignoring SATS. :)

spaghettihoopsagain You asked about the music character question - what in the music gives the piece its character. DS1 had a few aural lessons and he comes up with answers like it's a lively atmosphere because there are lots of staccatos in the middle, or it's sad because it's in a minor key. That kind of thing. (He passed so I assume that was fine!) A quick google gave me three websites that look like they've got some ideas:

www.e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests/guides/abrsm-grade-4-guide

www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=48812

www.edwardmaxwell.com/ABgrade4auralnotes.pdf