Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

February Music Thread

746 replies

Wafflenose · 02/02/2017 21:51

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!

OP posts:
Fleurdelise · 15/02/2017 16:21

only you get some points for just attempting that area so if you get 5 points for attempting the scales, 5 points for the aural and 5 points for sight reading plus the max points for the pieces you passed. Grin

Dd was rubbish at sight reading in her grade 3 exam (she's amazing now, middle of grade 5 sight reading book and she actually enjoys itHmm) she was on the verge of crying when presented with a sight reading exercise days before the exam. The comments also stated she struggled on this area being a weaker area for her but she still got 10 points. So there you go!

Fleurdelise · 15/02/2017 16:23

Oh and no, there is no minimum, as long as all your points add to 100 you passed. So you need max in the pieces (90) plus another 10 across 3 areas which you would most likely get.

onlymusic · 15/02/2017 16:34

A, ok, thank you Fleur. I will stop worrying about Suzuki kids then GrinGrinGrin

Fleurdelise · 15/02/2017 16:39

Yeah that is the answer for seeing all these 4/5 year olds on YouTube that passed grade 5 piano. While I don't doubt that there is a certain musicality and maturity there (even for just sitting down and practising, my dd would have never done it at 4) I won't kid myself that these kids passed the sight reading, aural and scales tests in all cases. The odd ones yes but I am sure they mostly got a pass on the pieces.

onlymusic · 15/02/2017 16:53

Which makes you wonder-why did they possibly take those exams at all???

NeverEverAnythingEver · 15/02/2017 18:03

I haven't read the Tiger Mother book either, but what I hear coincides with what kutik said. I hate how people take a look at me and assume that I am a "Tiger Mother", whatever that means. It's rather racist and stereotyping. Then they are disbelieving when you actually explain what you believe in. Being brought up polite is a great disadvantage when it comes to situations like this.

We used the Suzuki piano books 1 and 2, and I was very impressed with how new techniques were introduced with new pieces.

gillybeanz · 15/02/2017 19:09

Hi, I'm here for a moan again Grin, sorry.
It really isn't a boast at all, but all you parents who have a struggle to get your dc to practise please be happy for this.

I was expecting a nice time with dd, she finished late last night after what can only be described as a gruelling week of rehearsals and concerts, for their music course week. with 2 assessments due next term, she goes back 26th Feb.

Straight away was up this morning and has hardly stopped all day, apart from quick appointment at opticians.
She has a timetable that has no time for anything else and doesn't want to do anything Sad

Sometimes I wish she'd never gone to the school, I miss her when she's there and even more when she has no time for us during holidays.

She can't be flippin normal, who wants to practice when on holiday?
Now, it's duets with dh, they'll finish about 8 then a quick supper and she'll be snoring about 8.30.

So come on my musical online friends, suggestions to get her out of practice room. Thanks

raspberryrippleicecream · 15/02/2017 19:20

No practice here Gillybeanz as DS2 has flu. Not to be recommended as a solution!

We had to retrieve him early from NYO Inspire residential, and I need to say the NYO support staff were brilliant.

He's slept most of the week since, I've just been canceling music lessons for the rest of the week.

gillybeanz · 15/02/2017 19:42

Aw, poor thing, he sounds really poorly.
I hope he gets better soon, I bet he feels like he's missing out.

It's such a shame as he's obviously worked so hard to gain a place there in the first place, they don't give them away.

Fleurdelise · 15/02/2017 19:48

gilly quick shopping therapy bribe? I think that she has something amazing to offer and it sounds like her dad can be part of it being musical, is there any way you can sneak in somehow?

Fleurdelise · 15/02/2017 19:49

We have the festival this weekend can't wait to see the back of it now.

gillybeanz · 15/02/2017 19:58

Fleur

I tried this on the way to the opticians today, she said she'd look online as she wants a concert dress, having worn trousers before.
Everything is bloody musical related Grin
I said what about anything else, lets go to New Look, she loves this.
I put money on a card for her every month and she has quite a bit now, she said she'd go online and choose something for our opera visits next month.
I could screammmm!

I know I should be happy she has found what she wants to do, she'll never be an A* student and other avenues would have been hard for her, as she isn't the brightest button.
So for this I'm more than grateful, but I just don't think it's too much to ask for a nice day together, free from music, just once in a while Grin

Fleurdelise · 15/02/2017 20:13

gilly I barely remember how DS looks and I wish it was because of music practise.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 15/02/2017 20:45

Minimal practice here, though there had been renditions of Pirates of the Caribbean on the piano, the flute, and the glockenspiel. I must say it sounds rather cute on the glockenspiel.

Kutik73 · 15/02/2017 20:58

My DS plays Pirates of the Caribbean on the violin!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 15/02/2017 22:00

Rara played Pirates of the Caribbean on the cello for our festival last year!

Actually, Rara is currently managing to tread the happy medium with music practice. She cheerfully gets on with it each day. I'm glad one of them does! Goo enjoys it once she starts - she just loves an argument first, and is confrontational (and exhausting!)

I haven't seen Rara much this week, due to her permanent reading fixation. She has read 11 novels and a short book about Stephen Hawking in the past 3 days + 5 hours. When we ask her to do anything else, we get "I'll do it later!"

OP posts:
violinandpiano · 15/02/2017 22:10

Only, yes, DD is at Primary Department. Is your DD there as well?

onlymusic · 15/02/2017 22:32

How interesting violinandpiano! No, mine is not, she is not mature enough for smth like that. I used to play with the idea to enroll her there but not anymore. May I ask few questions about primary department please? Still curious how it works....

gillybeanz · 15/02/2017 22:34

I've cheered up a bit now thanks all Thanks
Having a smirk at Pirates of the Caribbean, it seems to have been flogged to death, with all ensembles by the sound of it. I'm still twitching several years later Grin
She did flop really early, so she'll rest a bit now, I'm sure.
Even she can't keep that up.
Crafts and arty things will do the trick now, I think.
I'll just have to navigate her away from opera dvd's. Grin

violinandpiano · 15/02/2017 22:50

Only, of course you can.
In my opinion the audition is not as hard as you think. If you and Your DD are interested in JD, please just to try as we did last year. We have never thought my DD can get in, but she did. They think potential not exact level.

gillybeanz · 15/02/2017 23:00

Definitely agree with the potential ethos.
Most musical organisations are like this, except for the ones that want lots of your money.
At dd school exams and grades are not important.
Does the child want to do it, can they hack the expected work,
are they at the required basic level, do they have potential.
Go for it.

Trumpetboysmum · 16/02/2017 06:44

Waffle at the minute I am braving ds's moods to supervise his practice a bit ( he's ok at getting started but probably doesn't practice as efficiently as he could getting totally distracted by pieces that he likes to play not what he has to perform and play in his audition next month!!) he has also discovered the piano and I will often hear him playing that when he's supposed to be practicing trumpet apparently he finds it relaxing Smile What a shame raspberry that your son is ill hope he recovers soon. Ds got his place on the Alison Balsom workshop so that's incredibly exciting

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/02/2017 09:41

Ha! Don't mention Pirates of the Caribbean - I don't want to think about the number of times I've heard that!
Gilly I hope you get a bit of mum-dd time before she rushes back to school - she sounds as though she is loving her music! Poor young Raspberry - wishing him a speedy recovery.
Trumpet watch out - the fun instrument can become the main one and you'll end up with a super pianist on your hands!

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/02/2017 09:43

Meant to say as well that I would be very excited to meet Alison Balsom, let alone get selected for a workshop! I bet he'll have a fantastic time!

Trumpetboysmum · 16/02/2017 10:12

Loose he is really excited and I'm being allowed to stay and watch so I'm looking forward to it too Smile