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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Eroica · 04/12/2016 14:33

Acoustic (I think? Don't know anything about drums, sorry)

drummersmum · 04/12/2016 15:19

eroica the Pearl traveller has taken DS all the way to g8 but needs to have crash cymbal added to start with, and of course after years DS has bought new hi-hat, other cymabls and had to change snare skin because of use. But he started on it as it came plus crash cymbal, and it was great.

drummersmum · 04/12/2016 15:27

eroica : www.gear4music.com/Drums-and-Percussion/Pearl-Rhythm-Traveler-RTX705HCC-Jet-Black/BEV

I forgot to say it's a traveller kit, heads one inch smaller and drums half the depth which makes it compact and easier to have at home. That was what attracted us to it. Cymbals are not top quality but good to start with - lasted till grade5, five years. DS is still using the same bass pedal after all these years, which shows good quality. The parts that were most damaged by use after several years, like I said, were hi-hat, ride cymbal and snare skin.

Eroica · 04/12/2016 16:25

Ooh, that looks good, thank you. Compact is good!!

drummersmum · 04/12/2016 18:02

eroica Oh no, the traveller kit we have seems unavailable for some reason... Maybe they don't make it anymore? The Pearl Roadshow is a good option too, available in the Wembley store: www.wembleymusiccentre.com/pearl-roadshow-18-inch-5-piece-drum-kit-with-hardware-2-cymbals-black-9988.html

BeBesideTheSea · 04/12/2016 18:51

Hi all. I posted a couple of times on earlier threads, but not for a while. I just need to share with people who understand.

DS is 6 (7 in 3 weeks) and doing G1 recorder tomorrow. Today's practice was the worst ever. He is so despondent. Nerves I guess. I got him to explain the difference between scales and arpeggios to DH and he totally relaxed and nailed them all without thinking. I worry that 6 is too young for exam stress!

Sight reading is good for notes but not for the length of notes. And he has a snotty cold so his breathing is going somewhat off (plus recorder is dripping).

Plus his last lesson was 2 weeks ago as teacher is away. Fortunately head of music has stepped in to accompany him.

Pradaqueen · 04/12/2016 19:40

Crap rehearsal = great exam in this house. Don't panic besidethesea it's G1 where examiners are very encouraging and my advice would be to not show you are worried. Sometimes kids need space to fail as well as succeeding (it genuinely is important) but if the cold is holding him back, can you find another date later in the month?
Best of luck to you both.

Orchestra Xmas carol concert this afternoon. Lovely trio of miniprada and two others (cellist and violinist) who are much ahead of the others in their age group. I had a proud mummy moment 😀

BeBesideTheSea · 04/12/2016 20:00

Thanks Prada - was posting here as keeping it all in from him.

Concert sounds lovely. Glad when this is over and he and I can have fun with Carols (me 'singing').

Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2016 21:04

Fleur if you don't want to do theory you can do practical muscicianship or jazz in some instruments ( trumpet piano drums sax etc) ds is going to do his trumpet jazz grade 5 so he doesn't have to take his theory exam in a hurry .he's motivated to play but has far too much homework to be motivated to revise for anything else. his teacher is still doing theory etc with him though as he'll probably need it in the end. Or you can do trinity exams

BeBesideTheSea · 04/12/2016 21:05

Sorry, another Q. With the prep test he found out his marks straight away, but this thread seems to suggest that is not the case for actual grades?

(he is doing it via school so only 1 opportunity per term).

drummersmum · 04/12/2016 21:18

bebeside it takes forever to get results... well it feels like forever anyway.
prada rejoice in your pride, one of the few rewards you get!
fleur trinity exams are an option, another one is preparing g6 but not take it, instead progress to g7. More time to prepare theory. That's what DS decided to do. He never sat g6 but learnt all pieces and scales.

Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2016 21:22

Yes I think if ds changes his mind about the jazz exam that's our plan too

Pradaqueen · 04/12/2016 21:23

Besidethesea - you'll know before the end of term I'd say 😀

raspberryrippleicecream · 04/12/2016 21:24

Hello BeBeside.

No the grade results take a bit longer. How long depends in Board and Centre. Trinity results are handed to the Centre administrator at the end of the exam session, so then depends how long they take to distribute them. ABRSM will notify the teacher approximately 2 weeks later

raspberryrippleicecream · 04/12/2016 21:27

Fleur the Theory seems to come together quickly when it matters. DS2 did it the session before Grade 6, and really focussed on it on the lead up.

Eroica · 04/12/2016 22:01

Thanks drummers mum Smile Will work on DH...

drummersmum · 04/12/2016 22:11

gillybeanz thanks for clip, it was great. I actually saw Dizzy Gillespie live at the Blue Note in NY in 1991. I was sitting in a front table and he dedicated a song to me because I was dribbling so much saliva Grin

BeBesideTheSea · 04/12/2016 22:55

Thank you all so much, you are all v kind.

I am going to concentrate tomorrow on getting DS to relax...

I am going to be in bits when he has his Chorister audition next month!!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 04/12/2016 23:01

Good luck to your son, BeBeside. Rara has her Grade 3 exam tomorrow. My husband is seriously ill in hospital, and she hasn't been able to practise much. I probably won't be around much for a few days, but hope to be getting back to some semblance of normality by next weekend.

OP posts:
raspberryrippleicecream · 04/12/2016 23:11

Waffle I'm so sorry. Been a rubbish few weeks for you! Flowers

Good luck to RaRa tomorrow.

BeBeside good luck to your son too. And especially good luck with the chorister audition, my DS2 is a Chorister and has had an amazing time. Please let us know how he gets on.

se22mother · 04/12/2016 23:13

Sorry waffle. Hopefully next year will be better. Good luck to Rara And mini beside tomorrow

Eroica · 05/12/2016 00:16

Thanks Waffle, I do hope he's on the mend soon.

Trumpetboysmum · 05/12/2016 06:54

Waffle hope he gets better soon and good luck Rara

Icouldbeknitting · 05/12/2016 07:02

Sorry to hear that Waffle, you've had a rough few months with one thing and another (and another and another). I hope he has a speedy recovery.

BeBesideTheSea · 05/12/2016 07:30

Flowers I am sorry to hear that Waffle. Be kind to yourself.

Good luck to Rara.