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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
onlymusic · 06/02/2017 18:56

I know it is a very silly question Waffle but did you look on youtube?

onlymusic · 06/02/2017 18:58

Oh, NeverEverAnythingEver I sometimes think what happens after....
Then start planning, first diploma, then perhaps just lessons? I guess learning does not stop with grades...

onlymusic · 06/02/2017 19:04

I think I mentioned before that I had a chance to see the finals of Menuhin competition last year. The girl who won it was just fab, but I also liked the cello boy from the orchestra (student of Menuhin school). He is very animated and I think acts as a star in making. I think he is really worth watching (somewhere from 10.38)

PetraDelphiki · 06/02/2017 19:06

I have dd(10) plays violin (G4), cornet and piano (G3). She's doing G4 cornet in the summer the either 5 or 6 violin at Xmas depending how hard she works...we are having a year of playing mostly for fun not exams to take the pressure off. And she and I are doing G5 theory next month which will be fine unless she makes really stupid mistakes!!!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 06/02/2017 19:09

I have had a quick look on Youtube, but was left none the wiser about which pieces might be easier/ harder/ more fun to play. Personal recommendations and pointers about particular pieces would be great, but failing that I will have to play the pieces to Goo when the book arrives, and let her choose one.

OP posts:
stringchild · 06/02/2017 20:25

Only - thanks for sharing the clip; pretty stunning performance by the winner! and DD loved the dress! see what you mean about the cello - wonderfully secure left hand

Icouldbeknitting · 06/02/2017 20:44

DS is three and a half years past grade eight. It just goes on as before - lessons, technique and repertoire. There is always more to learn

Original poster
Wafflenose · 06/02/2017 20:48

Thanks for the link, only!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wafflenose · 06/02/2017 20:59

Just to clarify... Goo was hoping she'd be done with music exams next year, not with learning music! She might well go on to study it at university or music college. She doesn't want to start doing piano exams just as she finishes flute and recorder exams, but I'll let her and the teacher talk about that in a couple of months.

OP posts:
NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/02/2017 21:04

Waffle I had a quick look at the A list and am also none the wiser. Grin I guess she'll have to choose for herself. I don't like the arrangement of Gounod's soldier's chorus though, and if there's a Kabalevsky I would always choose it (but I think this one is extra and not in the book). The Haydn looks like you need to get your staccato done very well. But I haven't played them and I think you need to play them to know... Not helpful!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 06/02/2017 21:14

Thanks, Never - I have had a look and am not finding them overly inspiring really! Oh well, I suppose we'll just have to see what she likes. I'll let you know what she picks when the book arrives.

OP posts:
LooseAtTheSeams · 06/02/2017 21:32

I must catch up with the YouTube clips - especially to get DS2 to watch the cello!
I can't help much on the piano pieces but will be interested to hear what Goo chooses.
Is anyone else really, really looking forward to half term?Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 06/02/2017 21:53

Yes I'm exhausted!! And it hasn't even been a long term!!

onlymusic · 06/02/2017 23:01

I am glad that cello boy passed audition in our thread Grin
Pity there is no information on names - would be interesting to monitor his career.....
(I am not discussing the girl - everything I can say about her is that I had goosebumps when listening her alive - she totally stood out of 6 finalists and didn't leave a chance to anyone else)

stringchild · 07/02/2017 08:25

Loose - I am but we still have competition and then RCM JD audition to go first!!

NeverEverAnythingEver · 07/02/2017 08:51

That young violinist is great!

I went to see the Russian Virtuosi of Europe play Vivaldi's Four Seasons. They were fabulous. One forgets what a great performance piece this is, with the conversation between the soloist and the ensemble.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 07/02/2017 08:56

Waffle I find youtube performances of exam pieces generally dispiriting. Grin

Contrast a grade 3 violin piece:

Exam demonstration:

A performance (about 4:10 in) :

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/02/2017 08:56

Good luck Stringchild - exciting but stressful, I imagine!
Apart from a piano lesson for me and a bass lesson for DS1, half term just gives us a bit of a breather to recharge!

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/02/2017 09:18

Ok, just listened to the 12 year old violinist in the Menuhin competition and nearly forgot to breathe!
But I love the second violinist in your contrast clips, Never.
I am having a crisis of confidence over the grade 4 piano exam - I think I need to stop thinking 'exam' and just think about why I enjoy playing ( I don't mean not do the exam but to try to change how I think about it). On the other hand I also need to fix my scales, which were ok and now aren't. Back to the scales jars...

Drivingmadness · 07/02/2017 11:53

3 music exams , 1 audition, county level competions in 3 different sports, 6 danceperformances this term (between 2 dc!). When are the summer holidays?

Trumpetboysmum · 07/02/2017 11:56

Loose I am full of admiration I really don't think that I could go back to music exams now

Kutik73 · 07/02/2017 13:53

Hello there. I have a question half nosy but half serious.

I know two boys who are at a JD. One started when he was Y6 (he was 10 when auditioned). He played Vivaldi A minor 2nd mvt for violin (Suzuzki 5) and two G7 pieces for piano. Another started when he was Y4 (only 7 when auditioned). He played Bach Gavotte in D Major for violin (Suzuki 3) and also piano but don't know which piece he played.

Yesterday I met a mum whose daughter auditioned last year. She is Year 6 so she was Y5 (9) when she auditioned. She played two G7 pieces for violin and a G6 piece for piano. She has done lots of music activities including in NCO. She couldn't get in. Apparently it was a shock to everybody who know the girl. Her mum was not sure whether she should let her try again this year.

To me, her daughter sounded as musical as other boys who passed, and in some areas she may have been more advanced. I know grade cannot tell all and also it depends on who you are competing. But still, quite surprising. Any thoughts??

Trumpetboysmum · 07/02/2017 14:10

I think it very much depends on the places they have available on certain instruments in a given year and how the children audition. We haven't gone down the jd route mainly because we didn't realise that he was any good until it was too late to audition last yearGrin also the London ones are a bit far . he is auditioning for AYM ( sort of like a jd) this year they are looking for around grade 7 standard at least ,but I know that they are looking for more than that - enthusiasm, musicality etc .we are not expecting ds to get in this time but you never know !!!the feedback will be useful and I know of some who have auditioned 2 or 3 times before being deemed ready for a place. I also know of others who have been turned down but have then gone on to get places at jds in London so I would think it would be definitely worth trying again this year or in the future if you don't get in to any of the jds and maybe trying a different one if that is possible. I think they are all looking for slightly different things

stringchild · 07/02/2017 14:26

I agree with Trunpet - they will not have the same number of spaces per instrument each year (they can only take as many as they have room to teach that year and sometimes it will depend on people leaving and freeing up slots) so there will never be 'enough spaces' for talented children. Grades alone aren't the full story- I think they want rounded musicians who really show passion and commitment. So I would never assume that someone wouldn't get in somewhere else or in a later year, and would def keep trying if they are keen.

Stressedstatemum · 07/02/2017 14:42

I have some knowledge of the Guildhall JD. By far the most important thing they are looking for is passion and potential. The Head of Strings really emphasised that your child should be dragging you to the JD, not the other way round. Competition is tight, but they do give feedback if you don't get in and can advise whether it's worth trying again in 6 months or so. Practice is at least an hour a day, and increasing as they get older.