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Extra-curricular activities

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January Music Thread

769 replies

Wafflenose · 02/01/2017 22:24

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.

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raspberryrippleicecream · 30/01/2017 21:42

Trumpetmum how amazing. DS1 was lucky enough to hear her about ten years ago. I would be explaining politely to school where he would be that day, and asking if there was any possibility of it being recorded as authorised absence. DCs school is generally very supportive though.

Waffle my DD is so similar, sometimes whatever you say is wrong. Good luck, I'm sure she'll be fine.

Reed's, DD didn't do well on Vandoren for sax, so we've tended to stick with Rico Royale for clarinet too. I bought two boxes of 10 clarinet reeds by mistake at Christmas, so they will have to like them for a while!

stringchild · 30/01/2017 22:13

Trumpetsmom - wow what a great experience! good luck with the school

Reeds - we are on Vandoren and still on 2.5 as we start preparing for G7; dd also uses the red Vs on a 3 sometimes. Am sure she has some science to it, but i really don't know why she swops around

waffle - you have my sympathy; enjoy the week :)

Trumpetboysmum · 30/01/2017 22:15

Raspberry ds's school have been great so far but his school orchestra have a concert that day he will make it back in time for the evening they just have to agree to him missing the afternoon rehearsals
Waffle ds can be equally tricky sometimes instead of crying though he just gets really cross I feel for you I just keep hoping he will grow out of it

raspberryrippleicecream · 30/01/2017 22:28

Ah I see Trumpet, hope they are reasonable

Drivingmadness · 30/01/2017 22:30

Mistigri, how spooky; I got dd2 to listen to exactly this piece by same pianist yesterday!
My mum used to play it (she passed way before dc were born, but I have inherited her piano ). I used to have a go at it but it never sounded like hers, even though she struggled with artitis in her fingers.

AlexandraLeaving · 30/01/2017 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trumpetboysmum · 31/01/2017 06:24

No exams Alexandra is definitely something to celebrate Smile

NeverEverAnythingEver · 31/01/2017 07:30

Here sometimes practice = sulking/angry/"But-you-don't-even-play-the-violin!!"/"That's-what-I'm-already-doing!!!"/shrug.

Though sometimes they do actually play things over and over till they get it without throwing a tantrum. Shock

se22mother · 31/01/2017 08:04

Never ever, dd says exactly the same Smile

NeverEverAnythingEver · 31/01/2017 09:00

I can't remember if I did all those things myself when I was little. Probably did. Grin

But by the time I was in secondary school I'd happily play scales all day ... Not sure when I ever did my homework. And surprised that our neighbours didn't move away...

LooseAtTheSeams · 31/01/2017 09:42

Waffle I feel for you - we don't get tears here but tantrums and silent treatment have both been known.
Wine Wine for you!
Mistigri lovely to hear about your DD! Well done to her!
Trumpet I don't think there is any way your school can turn that one down!
Last night's piano lesson could have gone better. 'pleasant meadow' needs a lot more attention! Sat at the piano this morning working on all the fingering. Again. And it turns out the scales have to be played faster, although that's less of a problem.

ealingwestmum · 31/01/2017 09:56

FlowersWine waffle. Can relate to your angst.
Currently off music and all other stuff due to a locked injured finger during netball. Not a very happy Head of Music when she had to excuse herself from orchestra. Not helped when another student (DD's nemesis always trying to outdo her) turns up with exactly the same injury 5 mins later. One loves sport, the other doesn't...poor teacher can't be doing with injuries during concert prep!

stringchild · 31/01/2017 10:03

Ealing - poor dd and head of music!

Generally do people pull out of sports likely to injure before big events? We have also had the netball finger issue this year and am wondering if I should pull dd out of her match this wee given her competition next week. Seems odd to do this for a 11yo but sort of tempted this time round as the competition is a relatively big deal.....

ealingwestmum · 31/01/2017 10:12

I don't think children do pull out of school sports usually string unless it they really are anxious for a major event. This was just usual run of the mill games at school with a rogue ball hitting her finger at the wrong time. Cricket, netball, rounders etc...all have similar risks but normally minimal...except on here with our kids!

ealingwestmum · 31/01/2017 10:32

Argh, she didn't get through to shortlist for her music competition either. She'll be gutted, even if it's not a total surprise. Hope this week gets better...

drummersmum · 31/01/2017 11:18

ealing I'm sorry for miniealing. She fits so much in though, tell her from me she's amazing x

trumpet what a great chance. Definitely get out of school whether they like it or not Wink

Icouldbeknitting · 31/01/2017 11:46

I have pulled DS from some sports in the two weeks before G8, diploma and a residential music course. I asked him to be excused from hard ball sports and not to be put in goal for penalty practice because I thought that the biggest risk was a ball in the face and a split lip. Lads larking about could mean that months of practise and/or a big chunk of my money was wasted.

Trumpetboysmum there will be other school concerts but maybe not another educational opportunity like this.

stringchild · 31/01/2017 13:36

ah Ealing - what a shame! hope she is ok with it?

TrumpetsBoys - how did the school respond? hopefully good>

Icould - thanks; i haven't done it so far but others in our year 6 have. Think this time i will just because the whole thing is such a one off it would be a real shame to miss it

ealingwestmum · 31/01/2017 13:40

I did just drummers, thank you! Smile. She said there's always next year.

Just managed to grab a sneaky lunch with her before ortho. 3 years of torture. Can you tell her to stop biting her nails mummy; can she not eat pizza crusts mummy; can she stop playing hockey mummy and on and on. She does one out of 3 of these (and wears a customised mouthguard for the pleasure). Weirdly, when I have made DH take her (because I've not been in the mood to be patronised), not ONE comment. Ever!

Felt much better when we left the surgery and DD says "could you ask x to not breath as much, Mummy" in her best imitation voice. Not music related (but I feel better for the rant)! However I was sat there thinking how DD's orthodontist would react to some of the DC here playing wind instruments with reed challenges and broken brackets! We have light though...4 months of pain to go, so today did have an upside...

And DD dreams about eating apples, carrot sticks and french baguettes again Grin

stringchild · 31/01/2017 13:46

Ealing - 4months - brilliant! have no idea how long we have left (bottom set about to go on, but not until after the easter course).

Braces have completely killed all enthusiasm for the clarinet here, the pain has been so bad after each adjustment. Think it may be bye-bye clarinet after this year....

ealingwestmum · 31/01/2017 14:03

All good, thank you string. She rolls on pretty quickly, thankfully.

I have a quick strings question for some of you here - DD's violin currently has Thomastrik Peter Infield silver P100s on which work well with her german violin, except for the E because it was too squeaky. Used a Dominant but still not as nice sounding as she'd like - do any of you use any other brands that you can recommend? A full set of her current strings are circa £80. Any advice welcome!

ealingwestmum · 31/01/2017 14:05

x-post string. I can imagine, it must really hurt, as every tightening hurts without putting a mouth piece in! DD wanted to take up a 3rd instrument as wind a few years back, I said no for this reason (amongst a few others, like the little one called TIME)

NeverEverAnythingEver · 31/01/2017 14:44

ealing We have Eva Pirazzi strings. They are very bright.

ACMEinc · 31/01/2017 15:08

We don't see eye to eye about practice at the moment. I try not to get too heavy handed as it will just cause an argument but it is hard.

In her non argumentative moments she does say it would be worse if I DIDN'T nag her! So at least I have that to work with. I think there is just so much going on at school she wants to switch off at home.

Got the feedback from G4 clarinet and the examiner said she'd had a great result 'undermined' by shaky scales. So it's not just evil mother who thinks they need more work!

LooseAtTheSeams · 31/01/2017 15:57

ealing oh gosh, your poor dd. Although I like her reaction to the patronising comments! I admire all children who cope with braces. DS1 had a bit of a narrow escape at the last checkup. I don't think he'd cope as well as the brave dcs on this thread!
DS2 reports that his cello teacher made positive comments about the possible cello and knows someone who can do any necessary repairs if he likes it but it turns out to need a bit of work. I'm feeing quite excited about it and I don't even play cello!