January Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Happy New Year!

Sorry I'm a bit late starting this thread - I've been away for a few days without internet access. Anyway, this is our monthly thread for musicians and parents of musicians of all ages and all abilities. It's a great place to chat, or to ask questions about lessons, practice, exams, auditions or anything music-related.

I have two DDs: Goo (11 and in Year 6) who plays the flute, recorder and piano, and Rara (8 and in Year 4) who plays the cello, recorder and clarinet. I think we have Grade 7 Flute and Grade 1 Clarinet coming up this term, and also the local music festival and Junior Young Musician competition for Goo. Grade 7 Recorder and Grade 3 Cello are tentatively pencilled in for the summer, but we'll think about those nearer the time. Goo is also in NCO, and lives for it... it's all she talks about, she loves writing to and texting all the friends she's made there, and she is in Under 12s this year. I am a teacher of woodwind and have a little clarinetist who's just got into Under 10s. I hope to have a few more trying out next time.

Oh and we're also practising the end, not to run off

Can I ask peoples opinion on festivals? I've just realised we have a local one in March but the entry deadline is this Friday! Are they very stressful or a good experience?

ACME I am sure people with more experience in festivals will come along and answer you, I am looking forward to it also.

It is DD's first in February and while it is a competitive festival (or at least the classes she has been entered to are competitive) we told DD we're not doing it to compete but as a performance opportunity with the piano as an instrument which can be very solitary most of the times. This was our main thinking, performance experience, we'll decide if she wants to do it again once she's done it once.

Acme it depends entirely on the festival. Dd has done done really relaxed Ines and one eye-wateringly vicious . Dd mostly enjoys them, and the feedback.

We were new to festivals until last year. We've used them as practice for indie 11+ music scholarship practice events. They are good for that, and also to show you do other music stuff other than graded exams. It also seems a shame to get the pieces really polished only for them to never be heard by another living soul save for the teacher or examiner...

As SE22 says they can go one way or the other in terms of vibe One we did last year, the judge made it quite clear she had a favourite so it was quite demoralising for any kids in the same category as that child.

If your child is advanced, don't put them in the 'age' categories as a 10 year old playing a G7 piece gets no credit playing against a 12yr old playing G1. Graded categories or children against 'any age' tend to be 'fairer'. Be prepared to give up a lot of time, the scheduling appears to have no rhyme or reason I.e violin categories are not all on the same day . Good luck though! Miniprada has many cups, medals and certificates from doing three in the past year. She loves them.

Ours doesn't have graded entries, just age categories apart from open which is G7+.

If your child likes performing, festivals are a brilliant chance to perform. DS1 and 2 both enjoy performing solos. DD used too, but stopped about 13. She likes the groups still though.

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh! DS's teacher has told him that he has passed his grade 1 clarinet, during his lesson, but doesn't know the details like the score or if he got a merit etc. Is that normal? The suspense is killing me!!!!!! #FirstWorldProblems

DD is doing a grade 4 class but with a piece around that level that was on the syllabus years ago as I didn't want her to play the same piece everybody else is potentially playing, a sonatina class and a under 10s class. It will be interesting to see the level in the U10s class.

MrsWombat that is a bit weird, from what I understand the teacher sees the results online and the score so they should know what they got. Unless the teacher just quickly glanced at the results and saw that all the students passed and didn't make a note of the results. The certificates arrive shortly after (1-2 days) by post so the teacher should be able to tell you in a couple of days.

Possibly the teacher isn't the entry person, so has just been told Tom, Jack and Alice have passed?

That would make sense. His teacher works for the schools music service so I'm guessing the co-ordinator has told her quickly in passing that everyone has passed, and she's not seen the full info yet.

Well done min-ACME and Mini-wombat.

The waiting is a killer isn't it!

A solid merit for DD1 in her G5 sax. Entered for G6 oboe this term too. Decided that DD2 will do G5 theory in the summer term though.

Thank you so much for that advice Alexandra, I will show dd tomorrow. She does tense up so much in that piece. The other pieces are sounding beautiful so hopefully this one will soon.

First night of the senior band tomorrow, will see how it goes, particularly the time playing as it is two hours, straight after just over an hour on the bassoon and school orchestra before that!

Wow Alexandra, well done The Boy. A cup!!

Congratulations to mini-double

Congrats to The Boy Alexandra!

Wow Alexandra! Well done! And to the mini's of double up, ACME and mrswombat - fab results.

New orchestra went really well here - perfect timing for miniprada as she is a rubbish sight reader (a definite consequence of skipping grades and fast progression) and she was put with the G7+ 1st violins (2nd desk) so felt very grown up with the teenagers. Her teacher was laughing, saying 'well that was an intensive sight reading experience!' It has done her the world of good though and most importantly, she loved it. She has also been invited to take part in the free (!) music services two day workshop in half term so she is very excited about that too.

Next week brings the music auditions for the two London super-super selectives plus academic interviews for the same and one boarding option. She is also representing the school in a national general knowledge competition...Next Friday I will be diving into a vat of !!

Well done to all those who have received results (and cups).
DS2 (now working towards G6 clarinet) is being very disciplined about practising his scales and arpeggios at the moment. I'm hoping he'll inspire DD (working towards G4 flute) to do the same.

Well done to those with results and cups - fab!
I had a word with DD and she was interested in giving a festival a try so I have posted the form and entered her for a couple of the solo woodwind classes. It sounds like good experience and the feedback will be useful too. We don't know all that many young musicians locally so it will be interesting to see what others are doing.

Sounds like another busy week to come Prada. Good luck with auditions.

Loosing track gosh, well done for grades acme, wombat and double ! And whoever I'm forgetting. And for that cup Alexandra ! He must've done very well. Yes, cellist pulled out but I'm sure your tissues were useful to wipe out some proud tears, right?....

Prada best of luck with all the auditions.

Bebeside I knew I was forgetting someone. Congrats!

OMG. He has only gone and bloody done it! I am a Chorister mum (well, technically from September I will be a pre-probationer Chorister mum, but you know what I mean)

THANK YOU all so much. You have provided so much advice and support over the last year or so.

He doesn't even know yet! Woo Hoo

#mega proud mummy

Loving all the good news stories!

Hello All, new joiner for the music appreciation threads please. Am a bit of a lurker too, but numerous and lengthy music threads means I haven't read them fully. Sorry! but great info thank you. I have a dd aged 10 who loves music, and plays piano Gr5 dist and singing Gr 4 dist. She will try for a music scholarship next month (not near London), but from what I have seen standards vary - seemingly the more selective the school the higher the music standard ? @Wafflenose I have heard of a not-so selective school 11+ auditioning a girl with only Grade 3 merit singing. (I don't think she was awarded one) and a girl considering auditioning with Grade 2 piano and flute. I also know of a girl with singing Grade 5 merit (lovely strong musical theatre voice) with Grade 5 theory who is auditioning for a very selective girls school (near London), and has been encouraged to audition by the Head of Music at the selective.
@Pradaqueen Your daughter sounds fabulous, and a good role model for mine. We wish you lots of luck for super super selectives auditions. Very keen to hear more about them and what you are offered etc.
What I would be grateful to know is - which schools offer 33% off fees? Is it because London is so competitive? I haven't heard of any, it's just token honours available.
Thanks in advance, and looking forward to joining in.