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!

hi Disorganised - i think it is not unusual (in this house at least!) for practice habits to vary at this age; i am really not sure it matters too much if it is not exactly the same amount every day - quality is essential but obvious longer quality practice is a great ambition.....in some ways an earlier audition may mean more to your DS than a late one and be easier to focus practice for - the summer feels a very long time away, esp for a 10/11yo. Just a thought but i would probably be weighing whether it is worth putting in some other milestones earlier than summer to aim for e.g. festivals or even an audition elsewhere? or indeed a 'special' lesson with someone he respects

Onlymusic Yhe assessment that ds had was a pre audition assessment at Guildhall. It was very useful and the Head of Strings is such a lovely man. We were very impressed. Ds wants to join the Junior dept of Guildhall which is Saturday music school.

Stringchild We are so torn wrt leaving the whole thing until this time next year. The application process for Junior G opens on 5th Jan. Or whether to just try. He has such huge potential (we're told) and he wants it very much but can't quite get his head round the practise. I do agree that their may be an anxiety element as he does have Aspergers.
We've also been thinking about him having an extra lesson each week? So 2,45 min lessons but hat will be on top of String Ensemble once a week,Saturday music school which is local but only for 2 hours and then 3 out of 4 Sundays he has one or the other orchestras that he plays in. As well as that he has to fit in homework,practice,and tutor (school).

Arrgghhhhh,what to do.

drummersmum like the way you think :) That would be me - getting the person I need one way or another :)

disorganisedmummy extra lesson is an excellent idea I think (in this circumstances)
Another thought about his practicing which may explain his current attitude....
www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/key-executive-functioning-skills-explained