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Extra-curricular activities

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

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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:

Kutik73 · 16/02/2017 13:15

It's the very first time for DS to play in an orchestra so I am not bored with listening to Pirates of the Caribbean yet. I'm quite exited about it actually (no no I'm not thinking about Mr Depp).

NeverEverAnythingEver · 16/02/2017 15:43

Played on the glockenspiel you get Pirates on the Caribbean on helium. It makes you smile.

drummersmum · 16/02/2017 16:24

pirates of the Caribbean on helium

BeyondThePage · 16/02/2017 16:45

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - have just this minute got the date forDD16's G6 piano exam - April 3rd..

7 weeks notice seems a lot more than we usually get, so am pleased, but it is a lonnnnnnnnng time to be pushing the "practise for your exam" buttons!

Original poster

Wafflenose · 16/02/2017 21:20

LOL at Never! Rara has a glock, so I'm going to try it!

Tonight, she has taught herself middle register B and C. Oh, my ears! I'm very glad our house is detached.

OP posts:

Kutik73 · 16/02/2017 23:37

A bit late response to onlymusic stating that the point of taking exams early. I suppose there is nothing wrong to be wanting to get certificates for whatever the reasons. BUT as long as you are aware of the pros and cons of rushing. Some people value 'quality' and 'solid progress' then rushing to get higher grades won't be their choice. Meanwhile, others may not be bothered by the fact that their 'true' standard may not match to the paper, then racing up to higher grades will be totally OK for them. The disaster only happens when you are not aware of what you are doing.

Kutik73 · 17/02/2017 00:07

The reason why I introduced music into my ds's life was because I wanted him to discover the joy of music. I hoped he would find comfort, excitement, happiness, sadness, all sorts in music through his life. I didn't really expect music to be the central of his world like now. But he is only 9, so I won't be surprised if it's replaced with something else at some points in future. However, I can see he has definitely found something special in music and I feel he won't forget that even when music becomes less important to him. I am so glad I had the courage to phone up the piano teachers I found on the internet! It was the very beginning of our musical journey (though piano is very much in the background now).

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/02/2017 09:13

I sort of want a glockenspiel now just to hear the helium effect!!
It is ds2's birthday today. He has a couple of music presents - a stand for his keyboard (hopefully freeing up his desk for some homework!) and some very nice cello strings, as well as a bag for his piano music. Mind you, I am sitting with a coffee looking at his presents and cards while he sleeps in!

Original poster

Wafflenose · 17/02/2017 10:53

Happy birthday, DS2!

OP posts:

NeverEverAnythingEver · 17/02/2017 11:08

Happy birthday Loose's DS2!

DS1 was given a cello stand as his birthday present.

user789653241 · 17/02/2017 14:14

hello! I have posted before, and had great advice from you.
Please can I have some advice, please?
My ds has been learning piano, and lost his teacher due to unexpected circumstances in September. He now have keyboard teacher, but not proper piano teacher yet.

Anyways, he has been practicing grade1 exam pieces since last summer(without any input from teacher), and we decided to go for exam in spring.(Since he had enough of it already.)

Q1: I enrolled him for exam, but hasn't got exam date yet. Can you ask to change it if it clashed with something important? (He has residential trip during this period, which we didn't know at the date of entry to exam.)

Q2: We have been practicing scales and broken chords with you tube. But how do you practice aural? We have seen you tube video of grade1 exam, is it true reflection of what it is?

Q3: We don't have piano at home(only keyboard), and keyboard teacher doesn't use piano. I have asked school if he could practice on piano during break or after school, but it was denied. He hasn't touched real piano since July last year.
Do you think he would stand a chance passing?

Q4: I have no knowledge of music at all. Anything you recommend that we should look at/do? Any advice truly appreciated.

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 14:16

Happy birthday Loose's DS2! Lovely day to have a birthday.

DD got second place in the sonatina class (age 14 and under) so quite proud of her for her first festival. First place was a 13 yo so I wasn't amazed when the comments referred to dd's maturity to interpret music.

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/02/2017 15:35

Thanks for birthday wishes! We're having a nice day at the Natural History Museum.
Big congratulations to MiniFleur - what a great result!

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 16:22

Thank you Loose!

irvine I think you can ask for a change of date by contacting them directly but there is no guarantee they'll change it. Aural - there is an Abrsm app you can use really helpful.

I would go and look for a church with a piano to practice on a real piano as it could be a shock the difference between a piano and a keyboard in the exam.

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 17:44

Oh I recorded dd playing before the festival so if anyone is bored and wants the link I'll pm you

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/02/2017 17:59

Fleur I am not bored and I would still love the link! 😀

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 18:26

Loose the bloody thing is still uploading, as soon as it is done I'll pm you. I don't know why YouTube is taking so long.

Original poster

Wafflenose · 17/02/2017 18:43

Fleur yes please! Well done to her for being placed in the festival - that's fab!

irvine Yes, they change dates to accommodate residential trips and public exams, but that's about all. I had a bunch changed due to a school day trip once, but had to take them all to a different centre, 25 minutes away. ABRSM are really good at getting their dates out this term - usually you'll get 3-4 weeks' notice, but this term I got more!

Teacher should cover aural in the next month or so. It's pretty easy for Grade 1. It's not something you should usually be expected to practise at home.

I second the idea of trying to find a church or something to practise on a piano. Failing that, ask to go and try out on the piano at the exam venue beforehand. If you can't, no, this is very unlikely to cause your son to fail1

And for your last point... I'd familiarise yourself with the marking criteria. The average mark awarded by ABRSM is 117/150 (pass is 100/150) and parents are often shocked that it seems 'low'. They don't start at 150 and deduct for errors, but start at the pass mark and add/ subtract accordingly. The criteria are on their web site.

OP posts:

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/02/2017 19:15

Fleur thanks so much for the link - that was such a lovely treat. I've played it several times to get tips from MiniFleur's delightful playing! Well done to her.

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 19:22

Thank you Loose you make me blush, I am proud of her but I am sure you haven't got anything to learn from a 9yo and I am looking forward to see you play if you ever have a recording of you.

Waffle I've sent you the link.

I am uploading another two pieces as she has two more classes tomorrow, I'll send it on to you ladies as I like hearing some opinions (and show off with dd ).

As you may remember dd is a shy introvert, monosyllabic and I was amazed that even though the festival organisers said they don't have to introduce their pieces if they don't want to she chose to do it. She then told me at home she loved the applause for her and can she do more festivals as she enjoys performing a lot.

stringchild · 17/02/2017 19:24

Oh Fleur - yes please to the link - i love seeing these DCs play! well done to dd today, and good luck tomorrow!

se22mother · 17/02/2017 19:35

Fleur please pm me the link, would love to see her play. We did a festival this week too and dd came second in a mixed instrumental g 1-3 class

rogueantimatter · 17/02/2017 19:36

Irvine - does your school have a piano perhaps? Which pieces?

How lovely to hear a child say they love performing.

DS is triple booked during the festival weekend . Maddening. Residential weekend, juniors and festival class (only double bass in the school orchestra so compulsory)

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/02/2017 20:30

Well done Mini Fleur. I'd love the link please.

Sounds like she's hooked Fleur.

Well done to Se22 too.

Irvine I tried to request a change once, as DS2 was leaving on a school band trip to Germany an hour after the exam, I was offered a centre either 40 miles away or 60 miles away, except the 60 miles away WD during the residential. And then the 40 miles away centre had forgotten to book their venue, so wasn't available!

Thank you for all the get well messages, he's much better just in time for half term!

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/02/2017 20:34

DS2 took part in a Chorister recording at St Paul's in January, (50 choristers from across the country) and Decca Classics released this video about it today

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