December Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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!

DS2 has a distinction (just!) for his Grade 7 piano. Worth waiting for!

Yay Raspberry! Fab news xx

👍 Raspberry! Definitely worth the wait!

If I don't get to check in next few days, my best seasonal wishes to you lovely lot on here. Enjoy, relax (well, pretend to at least) and 🍾 to 2017

Great news raspberry

Fantastic news Raspberry!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Yes Merry Xmas to you all! Final lesson today before Xmas -all went well. Having trouble however locating the UPS man with miniprada's electric violin eeeeeeek! Fingers crossed it bloody well turns up. I shall fill you in with the whole story of the purchase (complete opposite to the lovely Russell at Woodbridge violins.....) after Xmas. I am too cross at the moment and all most certainly will say something libellous!!

Oh no Prada hope it turns up

Congratulations raspberry, a double win as now you don't have to wait for the result over Christmas.

Raspberry - well done :)

YAY Way to finish the year raspberry !!

Well done to young raspberry - he's way better than me now!!

Things are starting to look up here. Goo and I have had a really rough few days (a week so far, for her) with flu, temperatures of 40+ and disgusting coughs. She is nearly better now, and I'm slowly getting there. I do think we are all going to be healthy (finally) in time for Christmas though!

I paid off Rara's hire clarinet today, as an extra Christmas present. It was only 60-odd quid after deducting the hire money - a bit extravagant as an extra, but Goo is getting a whole new bedroom soon (we've been trying to sort it for six months - it had to be totally gutted, re-plastered, plumbed etc) and Rara practises well, so she deserves it!

Thanks all. Really proud of him. It was the first time he was actually nervous, shaking before and after.

Today was the first music commitment free day for weeks! Back to it tomorrow til Christmas Day.

Prada hope violin turns up!!!!!!

Waffle bet you can't wait to kick 2016 into touch!

Happy Christmas to all of you

Raspberry - amazing result for your son!

Waffle - fingers crossed for a healthy Xmas and a good start to 2017.

Finally finished work and DD2 broke up from school today. The build up to Xmas seems to have been dragging on for weeks. Concerts, ballet exam and just when we thought it was over, DD2 had to play her bassoon in assembly today, after only being asked to do it on Monday. She didn't bat an eyelid - such a difference from the shy little girl she was even a year or so ago.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Well done to raspberry junior!

Well done raspberry what a great news just before Christmas!

Prada hope the violin turned up!

Waffle good to hear you are all getting better!

If I don't come back to the thread in the next few days I wish you all a Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year! 🍾🍸

raspberry that is awesome news, well done to him!
Prada oh no! Hope there is good news soon.
Waffle so pleased to hear everyone is on the mend now!
School is done, just Japanese tutoring today and then complete chill out! Have a great Christmas, everyone!

Waffle that's great news that you are all on the mend happy Christmas everyone

Ok- I really need to ask!
Why is Andre Rieu so popular- I mean I get that his shows are probably quite kitsch?
But come on, he hardly even plays the violin, he spends more than half his time holding the damn thing, not playing it!
And to add further insult to injury..,,he's very very rich!
I do not get it!
Who buys his cds, who buys tickets to his shows?
He's just a showman right? I get that he's probably trying to make classical music fun, but really?
I mean Nigel Kennedy has a good time, as well as his audience, and still actually plays the violin- and amazingly well!
I don't get it....,,what a waste of a Strad violin- Rieu's violin!
Ok rant over- sorry just watching sky arts Rieu how it all began?
I know- Why watch it- but I wanted to know why

I don't get the popularity of Andre Rieu either. For a start, I absolutely HATE Strauss waltzes and the kind of music he plays. Secondly I wish he'd make up his mind if he's a violinist or a conductor. Finally, I don't know anyone musical who likes him or would go to any of his shows.

The people who like him seem to be the same type of people who think Russell Watson is a great operatic tenor.

I'm not a musical snob, but.................................. wink]

hello all, my tuppence worth is I also don't rate Rieu either.
I think it's because we know his orchestra can play, but where are the less attractive females? Why do they all play in unison rather than the written parts? It's almost like you have to be a pretty woman who just plays straight.
I'm sure some good players are over looked because they don't fit the mould.

Anyway, lots of best wishes for Christmas and please look at my link on the thread in extra curricular. I received the email today and really want to spread the word. Music is for all, irrespective of income.
If you fancy a quick comment it will bump so others find it.
Thanks

HAha that's reassuring then.
Happy Xmas all x
Gillybeanz- I'll comment on your thread now

I didn't even know who Andre Rieu was. That's how impermeable the bubble I have built for myself is

Sorry, I am behind everyone's news again....
Count me in - I also don't like Andre Rieu. However I believe he is pro, he just found his niche..., wiki says "For his work, Rieu has been awarded such honours as the Order of the Netherlands Lion by the Netherlands, the Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France, and the Honorary Medal by his native Province of Limburg."
But what is about David Garett? Similar sort of things...I guess they just bring classical music and masses together?...

Oh well 110 in grade 3 piano...no comments yet. I think we had the pieces too long and she practiced the errors in...

Onwards ad upwards...grade 4 cornet next term!