Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

October Music and Musicians Thread

589 replies

Wafflenose · 01/10/2016 09:47

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Fleurdelise · 07/10/2016 18:20

Green I can't remember, are you doing an exam this term? If so did you get the date yet?

We're waiting for DD's date, hopefully it will be end of November, I suspect she'll be ready by then. Aural is fine as she did it before, she'll just need one reminder, sight reading is fine also as she is easily reading grade 1 pieces, it is just the pieces that really need a lot of work. Now that we finished with school visits (only one next week) she can focus on music practice every evening again.

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/10/2016 18:35

Fleur if you can bear it go and see all the schools you can! It does make sense to look at some with an eye to the future, I have a couple of options for when we think about sixth form for DS1, although ironically staying put would also be an excellent option.
It also takes some pressure off 11+ if you know you have a strong fallback option. Smile
Not a musical issue but I am slightly relieved we have a bit of a break from Japanese lessons before half term. I don't mind the time I spend reading s book in Costa but getting there and back was a bit wearing yesterday!
Green your new violin teacher sounds lovely and like she has great ideas for motivating MiniGreen!

Shakyisles · 07/10/2016 19:28

Yes, the stress will pass, so thanks for your kind words. It is bringing a cloud over the whole household. We really are counting down the days.

It's lovely to hear about everyone checking out schools. I used to be a music teacher in a senior school and have large classes for GCSE. Over here I homeschool. And those of you who manage to help your children with more than one instrument, hats off!

Miss 12 isn't planning a career in music, so is concentrating on maths and science and IT. Miss 9 actually wants to go into music. It's taking more and more time each day. I do worry it's going to take over completely.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/10/2016 20:22

There's not going to be much practice going on here for a while. I have just spent the evening in hospital with Goo, who fell over at a sports club after school. We thought her wrist might be broken. It's not, thankfully! But she can't move it, so it's ice, rest (in a sling) and painkillers for a few days. She was due to do county and NCO auditions very soon, and also play in a concert with the county orchestra (adults) on Tuesday. I don't think she will be doing all of that now, but really, I just want her to be better!

OP posts:
NeverEverAnythingEver · 07/10/2016 21:37

Poor Goo! Hope she gets better soon.

AlexandraLeaving · 07/10/2016 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Greenleave · 07/10/2016 22:08

Poor Goo, hope the pain will go real fast!!

Fleur: we havent got the date. I so hope that we will have it as late as possible as we need more time. You sound so on track, I know it could be worrying with a new instrument but I am sure miniFleur will do real well. For us, Am Abend is challenging for example the first note has 3 voices, the right hand with the 3 last fingers are loudest, the other 2 in different voice and left hand is in different voice, then other notes require some other technique. Pedals in bits, light pedal in other bit etc. The most worrying is now scales as for some reason she didnt get any scale right. We rechose the 3rd piece and it shouldnt impact much as we havent started with that 3rd piece yet. Well, it says it all isnt it when we dont practise properly(I told him that she had a cold the last few days which was partially true but not entirely true that it wasnt as bad that she couldnt practise for 2 weeks). We have to treat it with respect I think.

drummersmum · 07/10/2016 22:20

Waffle I wish her a quick recovery. It's a good thing it's not broken! Those damn sports Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/10/2016 23:04

Get well soon, Goo! Flowers Cake

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/10/2016 08:47

Thanks for all the well wishes. Goo is going to be mightily fed up by the end of the week. I think county auditions are out, but she is more annoyed about the fact that she qualified for the house football team, and is now unlikely to be able to play. We'll see if we can preserve her for her NCO audition, but I will also ring them on Monday to explain what's happened, because she obviously can't practise.

OP posts:
ealingwestmum · 08/10/2016 09:00

Horrible timing waffle footie and music wise...hope you manage to salvage or obtain deferrals for her for when she recovers, though the concert miss is a shame Flowers

Shakyisles · 08/10/2016 09:43

:-( bad timing. I remember when my little one broke her arm playing tennis. Meant she couldn't play in the high achievers concert. Or do the circus show. There were tears...
Hope all heals quickly.

Icouldbeknitting · 08/10/2016 09:48

I am sorry Waffle, it must have been a very stressful day for you. Does County only have the single set of auditions - ours has a Spring and Winter round.

Helenluvsrob · 08/10/2016 09:58

Poor goo :(

Just checking into say hi. I know this is about the kids, but I joined a choir this term- finally ! Same choir I sang in 30yrs ago as a student lol.

My kids are all big now, only have the 17yr old at school. She's planning a handful of grade 8s this year. I suspect that not wise with A2s and a general reluctance to do large amounts of practice. At the moment we are trying to mange out piano grade 8. It won't benefit her having the certificate. She's never going to me more that " useful " on the piano. However her teacher is a family friend with a very exam focused teaching style- tricky. Recorder and clarinet will be fine if she learns the scales properly ( her downfall).

Oh um. Yep .... that would be my tip choosing a teacher - choose people you like as well as your child likes. They are part of your life for years and years. We will still see our the teachers after she's left I'm sure. Piano teacher has taught one of ours at least since 2000, recorder since 2003 and clarinet since 2004. That a looooong time !

But the real stress at the moment of course is uni applications !

Fleurdelise · 08/10/2016 10:07

Just popping in to wish Goo a speedy recovery!

Busy weekend again, I feel exhausted with all this running around!

LooseAtTheSeams · 08/10/2016 10:17

Helen great news about the choir. well done for taking the plunge and I bet it turns out to be an excellent move!
Good luck to your DD but that does sound very demanding indeed. And I agree about choice of teachers.

raspberryrippleicecream · 08/10/2016 10:26

Poor Goo. Hope she has a speedy recovery and understand in auditioning panels.

DD sprained fingers in school netball before a Sax grade exam, meaning practice for the two weeks just before, and just managed the exam, but there were lots of tears and stress .......

Music Soc at uni were pleased to find out DS1 played trombone and tuba, so hopefully he is on his way to make new friends.

Helen well done!

Greenleave · 08/10/2016 10:58

Such a stressful time for you waffle, flowers and hugs from Greens!

Just saying I am writing a schedule now learning from drummers, feel like my life is sorted( more of knowing what to expect)

Pradaqueen · 08/10/2016 12:45

Poor Goo! This is my worst nightmare having moved the NCO audition.... As I write miniprada is doing sports activities at a taster boarding weekend at a potential school so I have my fingers crossed we come back in one piece. I have however right now got Wine in the spa at the hotel having finished my renovations ( and I have already sold 2 out of the 3 Grin) so may upgrade to fizz..... Speedy recovery I hope for poor Goo.

Green - no we are not at Barnes for the audition but at Felsted. Good luck to Minigreen!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/10/2016 13:16

Well done, Helen!

Yes, only one set of county auditions, Icould, but there's a chance they'll take her anyway... all you have to do is prove you're over Grade 5 (or Grade 6 for the orchestra) so I will talk to them on Monday and see what they say. We're not in a rush, because I think she can do those groups until the age of 21. It might just be a case of try again next year! More worried about NCO currently. She can waggle her fingers and managed to get dressed with help, but can't move her wrist and all and has no strength in her hand and fingers. We're working on the assumption that it's a bad sprain. Oh well, there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do about it, apart from wait. Which neither of us is very good at.

OP posts:
Mendingfences · 08/10/2016 17:26

Pool goo, such bad timing. Hope she recovers quickly. I must confess ds was under the weather this week and i kept him off school but let him do his drum concert. Blush

drummersmum · 08/10/2016 18:02

green I have finished the novel I was reading and starting on Bounce tonight. I forgot to say that the book that most influenced and transformed my parenting approach and view of things in general was this one. Many of you are probably familiar with it. It is sold as one of the "how to succeed" books (brrrr) but it is much more than that. It's actually about raising happier kids.

October Music and Musicians Thread
woolleybear · 08/10/2016 18:14

Poor Goo, I hope it feels better soon!

Dd on a sports tour this weekend so no practicing here. Bassoon reeds and book arrived today though so at least she will be able to play at her first lesson on Tuesday.

Greenleave · 08/10/2016 22:48

Woolley: yay!!!

Prada: Grin hope the spa and couple of drinks help to sooth Grin I am bathing myself in couple now too, we all deserve it!

Drummers: thanks, bought it now, looking forward to read it

October Music and Musicians Thread
Radiodependent · 09/10/2016 08:46

Hello, trying to keep up again, this is a really fast thread. Poor Goo, it's awful for musicians to get injured. It's inspiring to read about everyone's auditions, lots of inspiration for the future there when the Dcs are a bit more proficient. I also read Mindset in the summer, it's amazing. I keep meaning to read it again now term is underway. The attitude it promotes is great for kids but also helps insulate me against all the competitive parenting round here (W London!). Here ds1 is still working on his bass bowing so we decided to do a recorder grade for experience (of course after the closing date). Trying to decide whether he will do Grade 1 or 2 next term. It depends mostly on his sight reading. He also has a lot of choir songs to learn so we will be kept busy for a while.