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December Music Thread

604 replies

Wafflenose · 01/12/2016 10:00

A new thread for December! Musicians and parents of musicians of ALL ages and standards are very welcome! I do try to keep up with the threads, but am struggling to remember who plays what sometimes. Might it be helpful to have a different thread where we could list them all (for people that want to?)

I am Waffle, teacher of woodwind, and mum to Goo (11) - flute, recorder and piano, and Rara (8) cello, recorder and clarinet. Rara has her Grade 3 Recorder exam on Monday, and I have quite a few other pupils entered, but no other exams for us this term. Goo has had a crap time recently, with a wrist injury, mangled fingers and now new braces, so I've pretty much written off any musical progress this term. We have the music festival at the end of January, so maybe she'll be all healed and ready to move forwards in time for that!

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raspberryrippleicecream · 17/12/2016 23:06

DS2 is taking part in a NYJO workshop and concert in January, very much looking forward to it.

Fleurdelise · 18/12/2016 09:57

Wow full size violin, is your DD in love with it Green?

Greenleave · 18/12/2016 10:37

We tried few 3/4 and then just thought of why not 4/4 then they didnt seem as too big or might be because they are all old and rustic violins so they are not as big as the usual 4/4 brand new. The sound of 4/4 is so muchhhhh beterrr(when R played, not us). They can all be exchanged with no cost so we dont have to stick with it forever if its not the right one. She hasnt had a go yet since as we are just out of bed now then a long bath to follow.

Mistigri · 18/12/2016 11:59

Green hope your DD has fun with the new violin. I think instrument size is a very personal thing: DD who is very petite (and has tiny hands) plays quite a large acoustic guitar and doesn't find it a problem. She finds it easier to play the full-size guitar than her downsized acoustic (equivalent of a classical 3/4), probably because there are other factors that actually matter more than size, including the quality of the set-up.

We could actually do with a 3/4 sized piano (since she has mini-hands) but they don't exist lol!

stringchild · 18/12/2016 12:34

Green - how weird we must have been less than an hour apart in our vists! Hope mini green enjoys the full size 😀

se22mother · 18/12/2016 14:23

Wow a full sizeXmas Envy we are only just upgrading to half

Paulweller11 · 18/12/2016 15:07

Damn can't do brass academy at Easter- we have tickets to see The Who in Mancs, little percussionist really wants to see Zak Starkey, being the son of her fav drummer- Ringo.
She'll have to do summer course instead.

PetraDelphiki · 18/12/2016 15:08

Summer at yehudi Menuhin for us!!!

drummersmum · 18/12/2016 17:15

Green full size!
Thanks trumpet for the NYJC mention. DS may audition for the summer course. The thing is he really wants to do a course with his jazz trio mates, so they'd all have to pass the audition and go together. They were discussing doing The Rhythm Studio again this year but this sounds so good. The Percussion Academy at Purcell looks great "PaulWeller. But for us it'd have to be one of two because of cost. Trumpet* do you know where the residential for NYJC will be this year? They only say the last concert will be in London (their website was a bit of a mess Smile )
All these recommendations are so good. I've spent years asking for things like this! Anything else worth considering?

Paulweller11 · 18/12/2016 17:35

She's never done it Drummersmum, but I think she'll like it. She wants to do the residential rather than day. She'll possibly be one of the youngest there staying over but I'm sure she'll be fine.
We can't do Menuhin summer as it's only brass.

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/12/2016 17:46

The Easter one does sound good but I think DS1 may need Easter holidays for intensive GCSE Japanese swotting! On the other hand, I can seem him loving the Summer one. I will make a list and let him pick out the one(s) of most appeal! he has been told by all his teachers that if he puts the time in he could do really well and I think the penny is starting to drop. It's a hobby but it's his main hobby!
I suspect even the short course NYJO would be a big ask this year but of course next thing I knew I'd booked tickets for us to go and see them in concert at Kings Place at the end of March! (My aunt wanted to treat us to something as our Christmas present and this was quite reasonable!)

Trumpetboysmum · 18/12/2016 18:03

Drummers sorry no we have just been at the end of day concert and they didn't say where the course would be just that the concert will be at kings place on 12 th august. Ds isn't old enough or ready to do the full course yet but he's keen Smile great music again today I'm not really sure how they manage to learn it all by ear in a day

drummersmum · 18/12/2016 18:24

Thanks trumpet!
loose what is the short course NYJO?
Paulweller your little one is very brave.
DS attended one of the NYJO "Jazz Academy" Saturday morning sessions in Union street. We got there and there there were already three drummers, each waiting in line to play as they only need one drummer at a time! The boy that was drumming did not look like he wanted to stop any time soon obviously. We were not going to cross London on a Saturday morning for him to stand in line and get 10 min at the drums, that's for sure. So we didn't return. It's great if you play brass but with drumming it's just a pain, ONE drummer. At the open day of the RCM, the jazz ensemble had one drummer playing and another one waiting. I think percussionists in general get very good at waiting (DS waited almost a whole concerto movement recently before he had to hit the timpani), you need zen techniques, that's why they're so cool Grin

We had a shopping day too and DS got the ride cymbal he was owed from his birthday last month. Second shop, again it took him about 90 min to decide but he just came down from practice in the loft to announce that his new ride was a smashing success. Phew. Of course he also fell in love with a cajon pedal (he already has the cajon). It's so dangerous to take them to shops like that!

onlymusic · 18/12/2016 18:38

Ladies, thank you for your kind comments about dd's video - I know you didn't have choice to remain in my mailing list Grin Sorry, I didn't answer straight away as was travelling but read all the comments.

kittymum, welcome to the thread! My input into your situation is that good memory is indication of abilities too, therefore does not matter if it is memory or anything else. It is definitely a promising start but.... unfortunately depends on their desire to practice in the future....

I recently had a conversation with a mum of 8yo who is preparing for grade 7 (strings). Not sure if mum really meant it but the insisted that it is nothing special about her child and contributed her success to the child's musical environment...Confused. Well... perhaps she is right and it is nothing to do with the few generations of talented musicians in this family....

drummersmum · 18/12/2016 18:50

green thanks so much for posting a pic of the magic shop which I shall never visit.

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/12/2016 19:25

I was very taken by that photo Green! So much so that I even contemplated trying to visit the shop!
Drummers I think what happens is that everyone auditions, but if they don't get onto the full course, there's a 'short course' that is a bit lower key but still worth doing because the following year students who do it end up on the full course. I think your DS is more likely to get on the full course.
Seriously, DS2 must have spent 6 hours practising drums since Friday. I have no idea what's going on!

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/12/2016 19:26

I mean, DS1 of course!

Trumpetboysmum · 18/12/2016 21:35

Drummers sorry I sat in the car on the way home and realised they did say where the course was going to be Confused it's going to be at the Purcell school I think it's residential ? And fairly easy to get to if you are london based hope that helps

Goodbyekittymum · 18/12/2016 22:08

Onlymusic I think any child at any age who takes an exam of any kind is amazing.
I do think having a good memory really helps her with her piano playing. She only needs to be shown a scale a few times and she remembers it.

Is there a pattern to piano scales which some children notice as I think it all looks the same to me?
With sight reading a new piece she goes straight in trying both hands instead of hands separate first too.
There is no rush in trying to take any more exams for a while as I really want her to enjoy music for life, and there is always going to be someone younger and better than you.

drummersmum · 18/12/2016 22:22

Oh trumpet that's great Purcell is perfect for us as we're in London. Txs

Greenleave · 18/12/2016 23:10

Drummer, I could never understand what you said about percussionist until today in our concert, they are very very powerful though as their sound is the highlight of any concerts.
Loose, 6 hours? Was it in the fancy shed?Grin
Thanks Misti, I was having a second thought about it as it doesnt cost us anything if we take the 3/4 for now then try 4/4 later. Although she had her heart on this particular one and R(the shop owner) said that it isnt too big for her. Lets see what her teacher would say. (She played 10 then choose the best 3, then really liked 1. R played 3 times with her turning away and didnt see which one was which and every time she chosr the same one so we sticked with it. Hopefully I will get a little more practice after please).
Fleur: we had a go today, although mainly focus on tunning it right and getting used to a new full bow. It will take us time to get to know it and be able to handle it/familiar with it. I told her it could be hers if she plays it until she is 18, otherwise she has to give it back to meGrin

onlymusic · 18/12/2016 23:18

Goodbyekittymum yes, memory could contribute to it of course, but then sight reading is a complicated thing to do....and then body coordination is another problem and your dd is clearly in control of it...I believe there is an ideal instrument for every musician, perhaps piano is a perfect match for your dd.... I think mine did piano grade 2 at 6.5 but piano is definitely not her thing... We put it on hold now...Anyway, good luck with your musical journey and with exam results!

onlymusic · 18/12/2016 23:24

Greenleave congratulations, new instrument is soooo exciting! Ours (3/4) will arrive some time after new year, hope dd will grow even more into it. We already have full size violin, old German make, cannot wait when she can play it.
Saying that couple of days ago she announced that she is quitting music lessons.
Yes, over my dead body Angry

Doubleup · 18/12/2016 23:51

I like your thinking Green 😄 Used a similar line on DD2 with her oboe.

Doubleup · 19/12/2016 00:15

DD1 I meant! It'll be a long time before we are buying a bassoon for DD2.

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