February Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Overdue again, this time due to our local music festival. I put in 32 entries, and am now finished for this year, but haven't had a lot of sleep recently!

I am a teacher of woodwind - mostly recorder and clarinet at the moment - and have two DDs. Goo (short for Kajagoogoo in case anyone was wondering - and no, that isn't her actual name!!) is 11 and plays the flute, recorder and piano. Rara is 8 and plays the cello, recorder and clarinet. We are heading towards a half size cello soon, and I think we might have found a suitable one. We're going to try it out this weekend.

The girls have been entered for Grade 7 Flute and Grade 1 Clarinet this term, and I am really regretting it, as they are so under-prepared. But hopefully after a slightly quieter weekend, we can all get back on track.

Please jump right in, ask questions, moan about practice/ scales/ attitude, tell us about your DCs or your own learning... and new members/ beginners are always welcome!

*vaguely!!

Jeans and Converse here for festivals the only concessions to 'smartness' are that the jeans must not have holes and that a hairbrush must be used! Results never been affected and no comments on appearance from adjudicators! She can be forced into dresses for concerts though and I second whoever said look online - especially the likes of ASOS and Lipsy size 4.

We wear school uniform for festivals, but this is a Young Musician competition and they have specified 'smart casual'. I think that excludes jeans, but I will look online with her at the weekend.

Hi Waffle dress code is (unusually) formal black concert dress. Dd now fits a small size 4 if we take the waist in (length is perfect); black trousers and pretty top def easiest/cheapest/preferred combo but got a great skirt in the sales thanks to Kutik which will last a long time hopefully.

As the parent of a very long string bean shaped DS, where the dress code for a few concerts each year is 'dinner jacket and bow tie, I can absolutely sympathise.

I basically refuse to buy an expensive item that will be outgrown by the next time it is worn. When he reaches his full adult height (I keep hoping that this will happen, but at 6'2" there is currently little sign), and perhaps becomes a little wider (26" waist..) then I will consider it. He wears white shirt + black trousers, and takes along his school blazer should he be pulled up on his absence of jacket. He's always one of several teen boys with similarly-bolshy parents!

We got DD's current concert dress from Just Last Season. She is nearly 15 and just about a size 4. I think it will last her through to sixth form!

Ds really doesn't care about his apperance at all luckily for concerts it's pretty easy and I'm going to send him in school uniform ( on the advice of another mum) when he plays in a young muscicians comp next month

Hello from the mum of musical 'children' - DCs are 20 and 17. where did the time go?

What an array of trophies Waffle - I am super impressed.

I hoped DS would enter our local festival in some solo classes this year - his last year, but he was adamant that it's unsuitable for jazzers. I'll miss not sitting in a state of nervous excitement writing little notes about the performers and seeing if I can predict what the adjudicator will say.

DS is going to start a BMus in jazz performance - double bass - at Guildhall in September. I know this is bad form .....

but I was hoping to bring the attention of an unanswered thread I started in Higher Education to the parents who post on this thread! I invited parents of DC at conservatoires to chat on my thread. I wondered if pps here might be conservatoire graduates or have older DCs attending. I'm so nervous about DS starting, especially in London. Excited though.

I sympathise with clothing problems. Brings back memories of shopping for a long black skirt for a petite 14YO. IIRC I got one from an online dancewear site eventually.

Alexandra/Waffle - completely agree; if it says smart casual I would go with that for sure. Pretty tops and jeans/trousers are our normal fav (or hoodies )

Just checked to see what it actually says 'participants are encouraged to announce their piece, bow on completion and dress smartly as befits a public performance'.

None of which affects the outcome at all!

Both DSs like wearing a music themed tie with a shirt, and only wear school uniform if representing school.

DC play in three different concert bands for one class. Two play in white shirts and ties. School dance band plays in all black, with long black skirts, for the girls, which results in a lot of kerfuffling about. (Only 4 bands in the class usually)

'participants are encouraged to announce their piece, bow on completion... '.

I always enjoy this. It's usually hilarious at our recitals.

Hands up if your child has been taught to bow in their music lesson (bow as in fold over the body rather than get a noise out of strings). It's a learned skill like anything else and you can practise it at home.

We were at an examining board high achiever's concert a few weeks ago and most performers came from the "slope in and scuttle out" school.

No ds hasn't dd is excellent at that sort of thing as she is much into her musical theatre and performing maybe she should give ds lessons !! I know at the taster day for AYM they talked about them presenting their pieces and performing them rather than them thinking of it as an exam so maybe we should talk about how he should introduce his pieces for his audition

You should see adults trying to remember to introduce their piece and bow at the end at my music school concerts! We are the worst! I say which piece I am playing and just kind of nod at the end. Other people launch into the piece with no explanation and run off afterwards. That's not counting the cries of 'I can't do this - I'll stop now!' (Not me, I hasten to add). We're always shown up by elegant and poised teenagers.

Loose I've pm'ed you!

Dd2 loves bowing. Dd1 is a work in progress on that front..... its funny because dd2 used to freak out if she was Even in a room with people she didn't know and god forbid they should look at her, but once shes making music on stage she loves the attention 😆

Interesting article (re.piano)
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/from-a-cleaner-to-a-concert-pianist-the-polish-immigrant-who-hit-the-right-note-in-britain-763577.html

How lovely!

DS2s singing teacher organised a workshop, with a drama teacher. They were even encouraged to acknowledge the accompanist

I do think the accompanist is much underrated. They should be treated as a partner and should always be named and acknowledged.

I've been away from the thread and it looks like I will for a while (work overload). Only I loved that story.

Friend of mine shared this with me
Music theory quizz
www.actionquiz.com/classical-music-theory-quizzes/

Just to put this one here in case someone's DC want a fun piece to play: Sheet music here.

I heard it on the radio a couple of weeks ago. I've not known about her, but it seems that she was a remarkable woman - the first woman conductor in Brazil, and was involved in the abolition of slavery and suffragist movements, according to wiki.

What happened to this thread??? I could hardly find it among others
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