November Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Let's have a new thread for November... I'm not sure if the old one will last long enough. This is a place to talk about music lessons, practice, exams and anything to do with learning instruments/ singing. We have beginners and advanced players of all ages.

I am mum to two girls - Goo (newly 11) - Flute, Recorder and Piano, and Rara (8) - Cello, Recorder, and one month of Clarinet so far. She won't put the clarinet down, so I think we've found The One.

Shaky congratulations, presumably she would have been upset with a lower mark seeing as it would have broken her run?

Best wishes for all those starting the long wait for G5 results. I keep suggesting to DS that he might like to have a look at G6 seeing as he has all this free time at the moment (homework, what homework?) and he agrees with me and then does nothing. I thought it would help his A level composition so he would study once and win twice.

Shakyisles, congratulations to miss 10! Well done her!
I am green with envy re double violin concerto, our teacher promised dd to start on it but now he says he cannot see the point as there is no one to play it with. I said - play second part yourself then!
Meantime I am on a mission to find another violinist to play this concerto in duo category in the next year festival. This is my ultimate music parent ambition . Once it is done I will retire from music lessons

shaky Well done to both your girls! Fab results.

Oh Shaky: wonderful result!

Congratulations Shakey's DDS!

What a great exam run for her shaky

And to you other DD, I hope she really enjoys the Bach Double...lovely piece!

Wow Shaky! Fab result to your girls!

DS: Can we stop talking about slow practice now?

Me: Yes, when you actually do it.

And: "Do you actually think I actually like shouting slow down all the time?"

Shakyisles congratulations to your DDs!

Wow Shaky - congrats!

Fast practice is also an issue here for both the 7 yr old percussionist and 9 yr old violinist!
7 yr old percussionist is now the proud owner of 3 x timpani! (Yes obviously I am insane!)
She's had them 2 weeks and absolutely loves them- I can see why though!
We've finally found a tutor for her too, so all good!
No exams here for a while, 7yr old doesn't want to do any, apart from rock school drums- which is fine by me!
Hope Theory exams went well for all

Can anybody please suggest Aural -pitch app ( preferably free as we don't have much time to practice) for Grade-2 Piano ( LCM - does it matter ?)?

Dd1 came home from her lessons last night very pleased, she's got the music for flight of the bumblebee. She also seems to have miraculously grasped the concept of slow practise .

Well done to your dd Shaky!

We have had a scales free week this week on the clarinet as dd is so fed up with them, she cannot get one of them nailed and then just gets more angry with it which makes it sound much worse.

As a result her pieces have had a bit more work, two just need more dynamics adding and the third is nearly at this point.

The bassoon is going well, dd has worked out a few notes with the other hand and told her teacher who said it is fine for her to practice them and progress through the book if she wishes. Still on the top hand only with the group though.

Mendingfences How did the miracle come about?

Shakyisles Amazing!

Woolley What bassoon book is she using?

Hi Double,

She is using Abracadabra Bassoon at the moment, we are open to suggestions of others though. It may be that she mainly teaches herself and the lessons are for consolidation.

Woolley. DD2 used that too and progressed through it quite quickly. She then moved on to Learn as You Play Bassoon by Peter Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes). Still using that now even though she is post Grade 4. Great for fingering charts, lots of exercises and some lovely tunes.

DS had Abracadabra bassoon as well. At the start it took two of us to work out the fingering, especially round the back.

I always think bassoon players are a bit like swans - looking all serene with the fingering you can see, but boy are those thumbs working hard at the back!

shaky that's fabulous. Your daughters have done incredibly well.

paulweller 3 timpani ?!!!! I will come back with more questions and exclamations when I can steal more time from work bit I think it's wonderfully crazy of you!

through a complete inability to even attempt to play it at concert speed

paulweller that sounds amazing and DS1 must never, ever know that anyone has 3 timpani that live with them!