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.

Loose I rather like that Pleasant Meadow piece. And the Pony Race seems jolly.

I think the youtube performances are rather dull though ... Post your Pony Race when you are ready!

I said in one feedback form from school that they really shouldn't give so much homework and please don't give any homework to be done over the weekend for goodness' sake. They need to rest!

Fleur yes that is normal, and no, the reed won't fix it - it's just a developmental stage while the high notes are still coming. You might find that they come and go for a while. The embouchure needs to be tightened ever so slightly, core muscles engaged, and angle of blow slightly altered. It won't be happening in three months' time, even if you don't do anything specific about it.

Thanks Waffle that sounds reassuring as I thought there is something she is doing wrong. I'll keep asking her to take it easy but I am sure her teacher will also reassure her in the next lesson. The reeds and mouthpiece should also turn up by then which will make it even more interesting (maybe harder?).

Never the YouTube performances are dull! I think my Pony Race has a certain frisson - possibly due to split second terrors about getting my fingers on the right keys! I can play it nice and fast now and the last dramatic bit is a lot of fun!
I might record it nearer the exam...

NeverEver: They need to rest!

Whoops

drummers By "rest" I mean play computer games ...

Loose A bit of terror makes for a more exciting performance!

Now I must go and see about this violin practice.

Fleur It won't be harder. The reeds just have a bit more resistance, but a 2 is still very soft! I only let my pupils stay on a 1.5 for a matter of weeks. The mouthpiece won't make any difference to the difficulty of getting high notes. In the long term, a more expensive one will sound better, but most of my lot probably wouldn't be capable of getting the most out of a nicer one until Grade 5 ish, which is why we tend to wait.

Loose I'd love to hear you play.

Waffle thank you, I've decided to get the mouthpiece as DD's teacher said that while she only brings it to the parents attention after grade 3 if I can afford it it will be better in the long run. I think DD will stick with clarinet for a while so I am sure it will be a good investment even if she may not see the benefits just yet. Dreading practice tonight, I hope we'll see an improvement on the high notes.

If anyone is looking for a physical activity for their kids (or themselves!) take a look at Park Run and Junior Park Run. It's free (good for parents shelling out for exams galore!) no need to book just turn up on the day and they are all over the country. You don't need to go every week so easy to drop when you have other commitments. Ours is a 5 min drive away so we are out the house for 40 mins max on a Sunday morning. I appreciate this might not be for everyone. I have a toddler as well so am up early anyway.

For the first time in a very long time last night, l had to ask DD1 to stop playing sax and go to bed. Amazing what a new book of play-along popular hits can do and at the bargain bin price of 89p too!

Fleur thanks - that will spur me on to practise!
Slight head-reeling moment as trying to coordinate so many different things. at the moment I rely on my family calendar on the kitchen wall for times and dates but it's the additional stuff like sharing lifts that is making my head spin! And I think our activities are fairly straightforward compared to those of many other DCs!

Two music scholarship auditions to go .... One today one tomorrow. Then onwards towards G7 and G6 in March. New orchestra is really helping miniprada wth the sight reading plus new techniques

Drummersmum- your expertise is required please, or any other percussionists/parents of percussionists.
Little dd is currently playing Czardina (gr 5 xylophone- Trinity book), also just started looking at Dvorak Humoresque (Abrsm gr5).....
What else could you recommend her playing at around this level, or lower.
But not any higher than this I don't think.
Thanks x

Hope today's audition went well Prada - miniTRL has done her scholarship auditions now (3 in the end, all of which wanted different playing lengths etc - I'd imagined, erroneously, she'd just roll out the same two contrasting pieces). Is tomorrow the end of the interviews & auditions for miniP? Good luck to her. Such a relief here now it's all over although the waiting-for-large-envelopes-containing-HUGE-scholarship-offers is a bit of an anxiety ridden game!

paulweller ah finally a question about something I should know (away from violins and mouthpieces) and I can't answer it!! DS started tuned perc age 11 and because of his piano o and drums experience he started with grade 6 and 7 pieces. He also never had formal books just pieces his teacher would give him. Sorry I will time permitting do a bit of further research for you.
prada best of luck with auditions. I know they're holding them at DS school this week aswell. Soon it will all be over!

TRL you too, make that mail slot in your door wider for the FAT envelopes

Thanks drummers mum 😀

Thanks all. One more today! One to go next month.

TRL - we've actually played the same pieces - the ones she's nailed every time on both studies regardless if they want 7 or 8 mins. Neither pieces added up exactly to either time - although she does have some in her repertoire that do. I figured two shorter pieces executed well was better than two fitting the time but not as good/ tricky spots that are not always achieved was the right way to go.... We'll see! Of the school's asking for a max playing time, it has felt a bit like a conveyor belt... Two schools did not stipulate a max playing length and that has felt as if the panel has asked more searching questions if that makes sense?

I did feel sorry for the mother who had to lug her DD's harp into one school yesterday though . Although very common, violins are portable

I hope you get the offers you wish for TRL and Prada!

Thanks for your help at the weekend, folks. I think DD will be offered an exam slot. We are not really as high-powered as all your musical children but I will tell you a bit about DD. DD is 11 and is doing grade 3 piano this term. She started learning at 8. I think she is capable but not very focused. She's impatient I think, and gets bored learning the pieces, and her practice therefore isn't very efficient (rattles through the bits she can do, stumbles through the harder bits, then rattles on...). She sings as well in the regional youth choir, which she loves.

Good luck to everyone doing auditions etc!

@paulwellar11 After G5 pieces we moved to www.amazon.co.uk/Masters-Marimba-24-Classical-Masterpieces/dp/B0018MJTW4?tag=mumsnetforum-21

She loves this book and it's a nice diversion from grade pieces.

Latinfortelly it sounds as though your dd is doing just fine as long as she's enjoying it. My too also practice like that especially on the piano ( ds is a bit more critical of his playing on the trumpet) if they let me listen in I will often say that was great etc but which bits do you think you need to go over ds's trumpet teacher also gets him to record his practice sometimes to encourage him to really listen to what he sounds like
It now looks like this term is going to be even busier than I thought as DS really enjoyed his day with aldeburgh young muscicians this week and has decided to audition for them . I'm not sure that he's really ready yet but it will be a good experience for him anyway ( the auditions are quite creative I think !!)

Hi everyone. I'm struggling to keep up with everyone's childrens progress. So I'll say a big well done to you all!
We've just had the date through for ds's audition for JD which is 15th March,much earlier than expected. I'm now terrified that he won't be ready. His violin teacher thinks it will motivate him more. I hope so. He did 45 mins practice last night and that was before we knew he date. I'm having a bit of a freak out at the moment so if anyone can calm me down/give advice/hold my hand I would be very grateful!!

I think we probably worry more than our children do . I always tell ds just have a go and see, if you don't get in or you do a performance and it doesn't quite go to plan it's not the end of the world. Ds's trumpet teacher believes that it's how you cope with failure that will determine whether or not music ( as a career) is the right path for you , I think this is pretty sound advice