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Extra-curricular activities

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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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11
LooseAtTheSeams · 06/12/2016 07:49

Well done minifleur! Very well deserved and what a lovely start to the day!

Greenleave · 06/12/2016 07:50

Oh, what a wonderful news Fleur, congrats to miniFleur.

LooseAtTheSeams · 06/12/2016 08:04

SE22 I think it is a bit harder if you haven't done any piano but I think in that case the age of the child is also a factor.
DS1 doesn't play piano and is waiting for his result so I can't be very confident yet about this method but he did some theory with his xylophone teacher and then I booked private theory lessons with a piano teacher. He got through grade 4 and 5 practice books and papers in less than a term each.
DS2 plays piano and is working on the grade 1 book in his piano lessons. I am hoping by the end of the Summer term/ Summer holidays he will have finished G3 theory. That should hopefully put him on track to do grade 5 theory around the time he does grade 5 piano, although I may book some extra lessons nearer the time!

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 08:23

Thank you ladies, her eyes lit up this morning! Great start of the day indeed!

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 08:28

We've extended to an hour lesson for piano a while ago with a view of 30 min Theory and scales and 30 min pieces but when something else comes up as with the festival now and introducing exam pieces plus other repertoire theory is being pushed aside. She's still getting homework for theory, the teacher explains a new concept and then sets 2/3 pages to be done at home so she's plodding along.

LooseAtTheSeams · 06/12/2016 08:36

I sort of wish DS2 had an hour with his teacher but given that he tends to keep playing while she tries to tell him something I don't think her nerves could stand it! I sit in on his lessons at the moment and make a reproving comment if he gets too full of himself. Oddly enough he is making much faster progress this term!

Mistigri · 06/12/2016 08:49

se22 my DD started formal theory classes when she started sax at age 13, at that point she wasn't a pianist. She had done 6 years of recorder (so could read the treble clef) and 2 years of guitar (which had given her some instinctive, though not formal, experience of transposing).

Surprisingly it wasn't a problem at all, she caught up her age peers (who had 6-7 years of theory) within a term. She did start piano at the same time as sax and theory, but I don't think that made any difference really.

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 08:53

Loose so it isn't just my DD who plays on top of her teacher while she's trying to explain something? I find it so rude and I tell her that, sometimes the teacher literally closes the piano so she can stop her to explain something.

I do think sitting in lessons helps the DCs, I sit in DD's lessons (well separated by a glass door for clarinet) and it helps me reminding her what exactly she has been asked to work on otherwise she'd play the pieces with no improvement and consider that good practice. Hmm

LooseAtTheSeams · 06/12/2016 09:21

Fleur I gather it isn't unusual! It does drive me mad, though, as I think he's being really rude when he does it. I think it's useful for me to be there for that reason and for knowing exactly what to practise, as you say! Also there are chances to talk about more subtle things that wouldn't go into the practice book, like what kind of music he likes, what styles suit his playing etc.
I don't think he does the same annoying thing in the cello lessons - it must be something about the piano!

Trumpetboysmum · 06/12/2016 09:54

I don't sit in on ds's lessons but his teacher always tells me what he needs to work on. He's also got ds recording some of his practice now so that he is actually having to listen and decide what he needs to work on rather than relying on us to tell him Grin

Icouldbeknitting · 06/12/2016 09:56

I like sitting in on the lesson because I get to hear some lovely duets. I'm not sure that DS realises even now that they are sightreading practise, he can't slow or stop because his teacher is driving it. Once DS is old enough to be driving himself this will end and I will miss it.

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 10:05

I find DD's current lessons so detailed, how to keep her elbow, how to lower her shoulders, how to rotate her hand if she wants a certain articulation, all about technique that even if her teacher would like to she can't write it all down. And DD is quite young (9) to understand the importance of it so none of it would be practised at home unless I remind her. Or maybe is just my DD who forgets all the details once she's out of the door after her lesson.

Icouldbe that is how I feel about the clarinet lessons, last lesson they put the cd accompaniment on and played duet Christmas carols together, it made me feel so festive. I generally shut down with clarinet and don't pay much attention to what happens in lessons as she's still at that level where she doesn't need much reminding for me, different story with the piano practice.

se22mother · 06/12/2016 10:13

Thanks, we will keep plodding on with the theory. Her theory teacher is actually a piano teacher so maybe approaching it from the wrong angle for a violin and clarinet student when it comes to some concepts. The teacher got me worried last night as she said dd wasn't picking it up as quickly as a pianist. Maybe I should look for a new teacher with a different background.

I sit in on violin lessons, although clarinet is done at school. I do find the sitting in useful when it comes to reminding what needs practice. She does seem to forget the more boring technique as soon as she comes out of the lesson to do with bowing, arm placement etc

drummersmum · 06/12/2016 11:08

fleur FABULOUS!!

drummersmum · 06/12/2016 11:29

string great news many congratulations to your DD

PetraDelphiki · 06/12/2016 11:38

I'm banned from lessons! Dd can't work properly if I'm there for some reason!

Greenleave · 06/12/2016 12:03

Mine is the same. My teacher used to complain about her rolling on the floor in almost every lesson. I have been able to catch the 5 or 10mins ending of our piano lesson and it is usually with aural session then I saw her hiding her face on the side of the piano twitching her arms and legs while singing or answering any questions. I had a violin teacher whom we have to come to her place for lessons(she is really good though) and she has a massive yoga ball in her room. There is no guessing there as she snapped the ball and rolled every moments she could. I dont aprove it, ambarrased and find it very disrespectful and wasting precious time with music teachers. I am dreadful the moment she turns teen to be honest. The thing is I am now even more worried on my 2nd daughter who is showing worse signs. She just never stays still for 1 sec, always on her head on the sofa or anywhere, running and chasing. Neither of myself and my husband is that active.

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 14:18

Thank you drummers! Smile

NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/12/2016 15:10

Petra DS2 becomes completely silent if I'm in the lesson... This is a child who cannot stop talking (to and at me) at other times ...

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 15:23

I join the Petra and Never camp on this one Grin. And, that most of my DD's teachers have formally banned parental presence in the room, ok for me to be around the house though where I can still hear her piano mistakes

I did draw the line with one interim teacher who came highly recommended to support DD through G6 violin exam whilst actual teacher took a month out of school teaching. Home lessons (teacher's home). She made me sit in the car. In all kinds of weather. For 90 mins. Not even a cup of tea in return for our 2 hour commute. NEVER AGAIN. Junior school and crazy exam entrance stuff brought the full stupid out in me...

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 15:29

Well done to youngfleur!

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 15:36

Thank you guys! I am so proud of her, she counted the lessons she's had up to the exam this morning (I know, weird child) 14 in total. Not bad to get distinction in grade 1 after just app 3 months (with a six weeks break also) I am so proud of her!

DD's piano teacher goes with the flow, some parents are allowed to sit in lessons some aren't, it depends how the pupils react to it. I am trying to let go but I haven't been a couple of times and DD didn't practice the way she was instructed.

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 15:57

Fleur I think it's really impressive that she really values your input and responds to it. When she's older, she will also appreciate the attention to detail she has in her play (that helps her to produce such great results) that has been instilled by you focusing her on these from an earlier age.

I am also jealous. I feel I still have years of screaming 'bow' randomly (and making people jump) to unpick my DD's years of bad habit forming Grin

drummersmum · 06/12/2016 16:01

ealing I am picturing you in the car, freezing Xmas Shock

The news here are... well I have started learning the piano. Years ago I was about g1 and now I have to start again from scratch, very slowly, with the books DS was using when he was 6 Blush. I can't afford a teacher right now but I'm fine on my own to start and when I need help I will ask DH. The best thing after a few days is that DS hugged me and said "I'm so proud of you".

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 16:11

Oh my goodness drummersmum. I think we all join your DS in being proud of you. I feel a movement coming on. Mine has threatened to teach me the violin again after I gave up at G2 but so far I have resisted!