Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 ··· 24 25

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

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 16:18

ealing hahaha that is a very good joke you wrote there. DD doesn't value my input at all, we still have a family joke, shouting at top of our voices "you don't even know piano!!!". Change the wording to whatever else, it works. I don't have a huge input except saying things like "remember, the teacher asked you to play that slowly or keep your elbows low, or keep the scales lighter". Some tantrums sometimes too.

As for you shouting "bow" and making people jump, we have the equivalent "wrists!" I am now over my third year of shouting "wrists!" almost every practice session if I walk by. The cat usually jumps and runs off.

drummers that is so lovely, your DD saying he's proud of you. It is on my to do list also, maybe a new year's resolution? I was playing some Christmas carols with DD, myself on the piano, I thought it sounded good but then DH recorded us and... let's just say it needs perfecting

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 16:20

Sorry drummers I wrote DS but stupid phone corrected to DD

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 16:33

I fear I am going to lose the battle on unpicking my DD's habits though. My other belt out shout is "FEET!". She's 13.5 years old, and still walks on her tip toes. Since 13 months old.

Some habits are just meant to be. But I manage to control this one, during school hours at least by acquiring for her the heaviest pair of doc martens her feet can stand

Original poster

Wafflenose · 06/12/2016 17:15

Any Theory results here yet? They are starting to filter through now!

Well done to MiniFleur... that was one of the most surefire distinctions I'd ever come across - it was almost in the bag a couple of months ago, so no surprise to me, but FABULOUS!

DH is a lot better, and is home. He's even cooking dinner. Still some way to go with his recovery, but he might be back at work next week.

My examies yesterday were a mixed bag. Most of them were poorly! Rara insisted she wanted to do it, but didn't play well. It's understandable - she wasn't able to practise over the weekend, and was dragged out of bed at midnight Saturday night and forced to spend hours in A&E with mainly just Goo and a crappy (and slightly inappropriate) movie for company. She will definitely pass though. I hope they all do - two of my Grade 1s were a bit dodgy. The Grade 4 and 5 candidates sounded very polished, but I don't know if that's just compared to the five Grade 1s I'd just played for...

Examiner did come out for his break after my eight candidates, and praised me on their supporting tests, saying that their sight reading, aural and musical knowledge were all excellent. He also said that the Grade 1s need to work on their detached notes now. I saw a few of them for lessons today and got them to show me tonguing and slurring - all good. So maybe I'm just sleep deprived and going insane.

OP posts:

Greenleave · 06/12/2016 17:20

Drummers: and I am very proud of you too.

I sat with my daughter the other day and I shouted melody, remember melody and she said mom, this is Prelude, hahaha. I only remember in an email our teacher mentioned about melody and it turns out it's supposed to be for AM Abend. Shouting is just my nature, my wrinkles are my children achievements.

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 17:35

Good to hear your DH is on the mend and with his family at home waffle

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 18:28

ealing I have this image of myself during the piano festival coming up suddenly shouting "wrists!"

Waffle happy to hear your DH is better! thank you for your lovely comments for minifleur, I didn't think she'll have it in the bag so soon. It will be interesting to see what's next no rush for the next exam, bought 80 graded studies and also the James Rae book of studies so she has plenty of stuff to play. The high notes are driving me (and I am sure my neighbours also) crazy. I feel like telling the teacher "we tried, it wasn't meant to be"

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 18:30

Oh and it must make you feel great Waffle to receive such a lovely comment from the examiner.

stringchild · 06/12/2016 18:40

well done MiniFleur!

waffle - thats great news:)

Doubleup · 06/12/2016 18:58

Waffle glad things are returning to normal :)

LooseAtTheSeams · 06/12/2016 19:11

Waffle good to hear your DH is home and what lovely comments from the examiner!
Drummersmum I nearly said awwwww! Out loud on the tube when I read that - what a wonderful DS you have! And good for you - I wish you lots of fun with the piano!
Very belated congratulations to Ministrings as well - sorry I missed the news when Intried to catch up with the thread!
Haven't seen theory result yet but DS1 goes for his bass lesson tomorrow so will nudge him to ask while he's there - hopefully they can see it online.

TheSecondOfHerName · 06/12/2016 19:29

Just found out that DS2 got 94 in his G5 theory, so I've decided to let him off the hook for leaving the exam room after only 50 minutes.

PurpleAlerts · 06/12/2016 19:40

I have an e mail to say the results for my DDs grade V theory are available online but I have looked and they aren't there.

I know the applicant number and password are correct.

I am not hopeful that she has passed but having been told they are available for the area she took them in and them not be there is very frustrating! Any music teachers know if there is usually a delay between e-mail and results online?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/12/2016 19:44

Drummer Have fun with the piano! Best instrument ever.

In our house the shouting is usually "SLOW DOWN!!!!"

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2016 19:48

Now that we're in full share mode, I am known to also shout ELEPHANT HANDS. Stopped since she responded back from piano with a sarky 'er mum, elephants don't have hands'

Original poster

Wafflenose · 06/12/2016 19:59

I bow before TheSecondSon's 94... I got 93 back in the dark ages (1990s) and was 15 years old at the time. I also stayed in there for a lot longer than 50 minutes!!!

We are finally receiving bits of good news here... firstly that DH was able to come home, and now a good set of exam results. They were all recorders, and the exams were taken yesterday morning with Trinity. Two Grade 1 Passes (one was really poorly and about to go for hospital treatment, but wanted to do the exam!), three Grade 1 Merits, Grade 3 Merit (Rara - bottom end of the merit category, but great under the circumstances, and any amount of practice over the weekend wasn't going to propel her into the distinction category anyway, so I'm pleased), Grade 4 Distinction (the very special nine year old who is also approaching Grade 4 Clarinet and auditioned for NCO), and my Grade 5 result has yet to be released.

OP posts:

drummersmum · 06/12/2016 20:06

the second amazing result, well done to him!
Waffle happy to hear DH is back cooking dinner
Thank you all for your encouragement regarding my crazy middle-age attempt. I shall go to do my practice after writing this. Ealing yes! Do it, take up the violin. After doing daily practice my mood has been uplifted, it's like magic.
My method when DS is practicing is waiting for the right moment (pause), then starting with the same tune every time: "I know I'm not an expert in this, but from an audience point of view..." then I change the coda like for example "you may want to try that forte a bit less forte" or "slowing down may help you" which obviously is not a comment from the audience. This way at least I acknowledge from the beginning that "I don't even know piano". Invariably though, the most common answer I get is "that's what I was doing"

Tomorrow is the first performance of the school musical. He's been in rehearsals till 9pm every night and says we're in for a treat!

drummersmum · 06/12/2016 20:07

Oh just read about Rara she did really well!

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 20:26

TheSecond wow, I knew he'll get a great result but that is amazing! Well done to him!

Waffle well done to all your pupils and especially to Rara, great achievement!

Purple maybe there is a glitch in the system? I'd wait till tomorrow even though it must be annoying.

ealing what's with the Elephant hands? Is it a violin thing? Really funny!

drummers but now your DS can't say "you don't even know piano" as you will soon enough. However your DS may be the one doing the suggestions, from an audience point of view, of course.

Well happy to report progress on the high notes, only two squeaks, it looks like she'll get there by the next lesson. Her teacher said her pupils usually take about two weeks to grasp them fully but she has a feeling DD will have them nailed in one week. Of course now DD doesn't want to disappoint her so she's working hard to prove her right.

Also progress with the festival pieces, once ready I'll record her and show off, I love one of the pieces in particular.

onlymusic · 06/12/2016 20:32

Congratulations to eceryone with the exam results and great to hear about your dh, Waffle. Dd got 87% for her grade 3 theory (she is not a happy bunny), but I reckon it is not bad taking into account she left the room after 30mins? :)

drummersmum · 06/12/2016 20:45

only tell her tell her tell her 87% is a good mark!
fleur ha ha, thank you, but by the time I know as much piano as he does if I ever he will be a grown man and I will be babysitting my grandchildren who will be telling me that I don't even know piano.
Elephant hands I am guessing is thumping the keyboard? Guessing from experience of course....

Fleurdelise · 06/12/2016 20:56

only that is a fantastic result! Well done to her!

drummers

Original poster

Wafflenose · 06/12/2016 20:57

Well done, only's daughter! Goo got 89% in her Grade 3 and was highly annoyed, but manage the elusive 90% in her Grade 5 a couple of terms later, so your DD might do something similar! (87 is fab though... they only need 66 to pass. Or is it 67?)

OP posts:

Pradaqueen · 06/12/2016 21:03

Well done everyone! No improved G5 theory results here but I have texted the teacher.... Fingers crossed!

In other news she is through to the next round of the super-super selective London indie so she's over the moon. So proud her hard work is paying off. She loved the exams at this school as they are literally not tutorable and very off the wall in content.

Waffle - good to hear your DH is home. for you xx

Drummersmum I bow to you.....I gave up at 16 having reached G5ish violin and G7 piano. Literally couldn't play a note now on either and like minifleur, miniprada messes about the piano teacher (I don't sit in that one) but not violin (I do for that). She doesn't mess about in Spanish though and that's via Skype and I don't sit in that either, so perhaps it's just piano teachers

onlymusic · 06/12/2016 21:37

Thank you ladies :) I shall tell dd about Goo-she will love this story! :)

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 ··· 24 25