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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:

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 20:35

I've pm'ed you ladies so check your inbox.

Thank you for the good wishes I'll let her know she has a few supporters she doesn't know.

Fleurdelise · 17/02/2017 20:40

raspberry that is impressive. Is your DS in the movie at all?

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/02/2017 20:46

Good luck to your DD Fleur tomorrow. I'll listen to her playing after a taxi duty for my DD.

Fleur, he isn't talking but is very easy to spot as he is the only boy not in red!

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/02/2017 21:23

She's lovely Fleur. Very confident, and I love her acknowledgement bow at the end.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment technically, but I really enjoyed listening to her.

se22mother · 17/02/2017 21:52

Beautiful playing fleur. Well done to mini fleur, the pieces sound lovely

stringchild · 17/02/2017 22:00

Fleur - really lovely playing! good luck tomorrow

Raspberry - will look! singing in St Pauls must be pretty special

user789653241 · 18/02/2017 07:59

Thank you very much, for all the helpful advice! Much appreciated.

EnormousTiger · 18/02/2017 08:32

rasp, that's lovely. (I have not seen Andrew Carwood for about 20 years or so so that was interesting too as he is on the video).

One comment a couple of pages up - why do exams if you can pass even if you fail the scales? For many children including my 5 it acts as a spur to get on with doing some practice, secondly you receive UCAS points for grades 6 - 8 and even just applying for some jobs in their 20s my children have had to tot those points up along with their A level grades. It is also an external objective measurement of how good you are. Mind you I am pro exam. When we sold my late parents' house the new buyer found a time capsule my siblings and I had put into the wall when the house extension went up. My sister's was a nice description of herself and her life. Mine was a list of what I had passed - grade 3 this, gym award that... on and on, laughing as I type.

(Also I like accompanying them and when there is an exam coming up I get the chance to play with them..... My oldest is entering the school music competition next week in about 6 categories which is probably extremely unfair on some younger boys (he's in the sixth form) as he counts as beginner piano (he's never had a lesson and has just taught himself one piece) and drums (he has got my older son's full drum kit out taking up a huge amount of space this week), he's doing trumpet which is his thing so that's fair enough, electric guitar (he does have lessons) and classical guitar and singing (that is the lovely bit for me - he plays the guitar and sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - I have been listening outside his door regularly but I never persuaded the twins to do grade 8 singing - they did grades 3/5/6 and 7 with me as trebles.... anyway your voice is always with you. I hope one of them joins a choir at university). This is not my son singing but it is a lovely piece . he has strict rules when I record him - if it can just be sent to him or if he think it's good enough to go to a limited list of family members.

I am at the end of an era with the twins being 18. My daughter started the piano about 25 years ago.

rogueantimatter · 18/02/2017 09:07

Waves to EnormousTiger - almost at the end of an era here too. I can't believe it.

Raspberry - fabulous fabulous video. I love the little boy who says he listens to the echo and thinks the singing sounds really good. What a very special thing to be part of. Just lovely. That little boy has reminded me of the first time my DS played with his junior conservatoire big band and commented that "it actually sounds good".

Good luck to mini Fleur.

drummersmum · 18/02/2017 10:54

fleur what a great result in her first festival. Hope today goes well. Please send me the link aswell!!
se22 congratulations too!
raspberry looking forward to watching...
DS had his special lesson with jazz drummer yesterday, 90min, then came home and drummed for another 3 hours and played marimba for inw hour till friends came for dinner. My head was spinning by then and I forgot to salt the basmati let alone do any actual work

EnormousTiger · 18/02/2017 11:32

May be the era will never end. I will certainly not stop singing and playing myself anyway .

I do have a toddler grandchild so I certainly hope to get her on the piano and singing (have already bought her the Kids Stuff CD (King's Singers) for the car www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0000630Y0/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new&tag=mumsnetforum-21

AlexandraLeaving · 18/02/2017 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Wafflenose · 18/02/2017 13:35

Loving all the videos - well done, kids! Will have to see if I can talk Rara into making one soon.

OP posts:

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/02/2017 13:55

Thanks for your comments everyone, it was pretty special. He did the concert too.

Enormous my oldest is a number of uni groups with his brass instruments, so still concerts in offer. He's competing at uni brass this weekend, we couldn't go but it is being live streamed, so keeping half an ear on it and will watch him properly when he is on.

drummersmum · 18/02/2017 16:06

raspberry I loved it. What a sound

Fleurdelise · 18/02/2017 17:43

Thank you for your good thoughts all, dd didn't get any more 1st to 3rd places today but got some amazing lovely comments and the constructive feedback was exactly what her teacher is asking her to focus on so it didn't come as a suprise. If anything these comments and feedback in the last couple of days made us realise (again) what a great teacher we have.

The most impressive performance in the under 10s today (and he was the winner) was a little 7/8 (he could have been 6 also as the height didn't match the playing) Asian boy who played the Satie Gnossienne no 1 so amazing that left us all mouth open. It was just shockingly beautiful. Now I do understand the level of practice that boy has to put in but still, the maturity of his interpretation was beyond comprehension for his age.

SE13Mummy · 18/02/2017 19:44

Trumpetboysmum DD1 has a place on the Alison Balsom workshop too. She'll be getting herself there and home again as DH and I are both teaching. DD1 and I met Alison at a concert a couple of years ago - will you be going to the concert on the 12th?

Trumpetboysmum · 18/02/2017 20:48

No unfortunately SE 13 we are at a family party that weekend but as it's my day off I'm going with ds on the Tuesday ( he's too young to travel into London by himself) and I'm staying to watch the workshop which should be interesting

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/02/2017 23:16

Thanks drummers. Glad your DS enjoyed his present.

Fleur I'm glad it was a good experience for her overall.

DS1s uni didn't come close to winning at Uni brass, but it was lovely to watch him and his group on live stream. And brilliant to watch hundreds of young people still playing their instruments. Many are music students, but lots aren't, DSs uni doesn't have a music department, but has a huge student music society

drummersmum · 19/02/2017 14:39

fleur thanks for links! I enjoyed her playing very much, she's really flown in the last months, and she's 100% adorable but I'm sure you already know that

EnormousTiger · 19/02/2017 17:37

rasp, that's good. I certainly sang at university, even on tour in Spain. It was great and even took extra violin lessons and piano lessons. My older children though did not participate in university music which was a shame. My youngest just asked me to accompany his trumpet wnhich was nice now we're the same standard (and then carry with drum kit with him upstairs - not so nice but I suppose good for my body strength)

drummersmum · 19/02/2017 17:38

DS allowed some filming during marimba practice the other day and even an upload. So, not wanting to bore anyone, let me know if you'd like me to pm you a link...

raspberryrippleicecream · 19/02/2017 17:59

Yes please Drummers mum

Fleurdelise · 19/02/2017 18:01

Thank you for your lovely words drummers and yes please to the recording of your DS, please PM me the link.

Paulweller11 · 19/02/2017 18:30

Yes please Drummersmum- I can show my little drummer : )

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