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.

The world has been shaking here. The kids have a few days off practise and had to be more careful about where they've put their instruments.

Flute shopping! Exciting! Open or closed hole?

sounds scary shakyisles!
closed holes for us

in other news I've just been told the district is removing the kids access to music lessons because they are provided by another district. They are offering no alternative provision and private teachers simply don't exist (because of the district music school system....) If we go 'privately' to the district where they have lessons now the cost to us will increase by at least 15 fold......

I am hoping that the district that provides their lessons actively want to keep them (all three are dedicated, turn up on time, do any extras that are requested and are performing 'above expectaions' so there is a chance....) and might give us some discount. There are at least 4 other children in the same situation so there will undoubtedly be a local 'council of war' to fight to keep our provision. It seems bonkers that apparently the way to increase numbers in the music school is to remove kids provision but hey what do I know....

I am NOT a happy bunny today

Thinking of you Shaky.

Fleur DS2 developed a bad habit of playing with his clarinet to the side at one point, not intentionally, and received warnings about not turning a clarinet into a flute!

Mending that sounds ridiculous.

raspberry - it is totally ridiculous, if the consequences weren't so devastating for the kids then I think it would be hard to keep a straight face at all the bullsh*t they are spouting.

Seriously its at the level of me being told
"Mending, you must understand that we have to use our money where there is highest demand"
so then I ask
"how have you assessed demand"
to be told
"I haven't"
I suggested he might consider for example a questionnaire, his response
"that's a very good idea"

also teachers can't travel to my kids school because that would take up valuable lesson time, but no it is not discriminatory to offer lessons in school time in the only other school in the district, thereby actively preventing kids in our school from participating because "there are more kids in the other school"

I am horribly behind again, in spite of my intentions to keep up with this thread...
drummersmum, thank you for remembering about me when it comes to the books :). I made a note of "Play It Again", the other book about jazz which I am not interested (just yet :)). I will wait till dd starts jazz lessons and then may convert :)

LooseAtTheSeams I feel the same when reading about Green's day - she manages to fit sooo much in it, it makes me feel totally disorganised :))

Disorganised I am reading about your ds's experience in Guildhall but keep forgetting to ask-why Guildhall? (is it in London?) Why not - RAM, RCM or Trinity?

Pradaqueen I am impressed with your dd and her wish to get a higher marks for theory exam! Well done her!
Dd's teacher was saying buy grade 5 papers and forget about grade 4, she knows it more or less. I asked- how about getting distinction, and his response was epic - what for? He is a professional musician who never got a distinction in his life....

Greenleave your dd's scales reminded me that mine requested to buy her all the violin scale books to grade 8 . She said they are fun

Fleurdelise you reminded me about violin Christmas carols book which I am on a mission to find now....

se22mother, wow< Paul Harris, this is very cool!
drummersmum congratulations with grade 8 drums done!
"Prada", oh these festivals.... many funny things happen during the festivals... I always try to take them as a possibility of public performance....

Good luck Mending. I hope you can get someone to see sense

I have good news, DS2 has a place on the NYO Inspire residential in February. Hell be very excited. I'm hoping school will be similarly enthusiastic as he will need a day off!

I've just fiiled in an application form for NYJO workshop and concert with our music hub for the NewYear too, lots to look forward to.

And these are both free, he is very lucky.

Wafflenose, re festivals... I find that examiners are a bit relaxed there.... They try to be nice... They do give some advice, this is true, based on each child's performance, but somehow it does not manifest as something very serious to be honest... We have been in a situation once where dd had all the nice comments about her playing and distinction but then I caught up with the examiner after the class and asked her opinion again - it was not as nice as comments on examiner sheet! It was good eye opener though, made me to consider some changes.

Onlymusic We chose Guildhall primarily because of its location. We're in South East Essex and Guildhall is quite a doable distance- an hour or so in the car. We also have 2 train lines near us so eventually ds could get on the Liverpool Street line and walk but we would build up to that. Both RAM and RCM would be a good 3 hour round trip at least so feel it's. It workable at the mo. If he doesn't get into Guildhall we will look at Trinity as that's our next closest. It's a tricky thing isn't it but ds's music totally dominates our life which is now impacting ds2 and causing a lot of resentment-he is only 8. We'll see what happens. Watch this space!

I must say that I also treat festivals as a reference point where we are with our music. And it was not that bad so far. It is also a pleasure to see some really outstanding children - but this is not a frequent occasion of course. It is also a bit of a motivation for me as a parent - I have an opportunity to see a result of my work on stage

AlexandraLeaving Elgar's cello concerto is brilliant, this is my only regret - that it is a cello and not a violin concerto! :)))

Congratulations with all her 1st and 2nd places to mini Prada

Wafflenose I posted a link to the book about music parent to music parent advice some time ago, I now have the book and it is a good read... Anyway, there is a chapter about the importance of choosing the right instrument and having just read it it is very interesting to read your comment about Rara's clarinet....
Which makes me wonder as it was I who decided what my children are going to play.... I let them change though, if they wish :)

Talking about exams - is not it a teacher who decides when to enter the student? I am getting confused... Everybody talks about the exams in a way which makes me think that parents enroll their children....

Talking about exams - is not it a teacher who decides when to enter the student? I am getting confused... Everybody talks about the exams in a way which makes me think that parents enroll their children....

Except for the fated piano exam, yes it is the teacher in our case, IF the DC want yo do it. But there is also usually a bit of planning and discussion to avoid too many things happening in one term

very well done to your DS2 Raspberry, NYO Inspire sounds like it'll be a fantastic experience!

Thanks Ealing Was it you who has applied for the London day?

DS2 did the Leeds day in September and thoroughly enjoyed it. No audition but a huge application form, and he had to say why he wanted it.

The highest ensemble locally is County Orchestra which is Grade 5 up, as I understand it this is exactly the gap Inspire is trying to fill.

Congratulations to your DS Raspberry, I can't see school having a problem with a day's absence for that.