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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!

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SE13Mummy · 08/02/2017 22:01

Trumpetboysmum DD1 has been to one of the NYJC workshops but it was a girls-only one so won't have crossed paths with your son! It was at that workshop that it became apparent that the most advanced players were all at specialist music schools, many attending a JD at the weekend and that if DD1 seriously wanted to follow a similar path, it made sense to look at the local JD. She has done various holiday courses including youth orchestras, a jazz course and samba over the past 2/3 years but would like to do something residential this year, apparently!

The recommended practice duration for brass players at her JD is 40-50 minutes. On the day that she has an hour of orchestra after school, she doesn't do a separate practice because she also has dance and Guides.

stringchild · 08/02/2017 22:28

SE13 - my dd has also done one of the girls only ones! were you at the one in the autumn last year? dd thoroughly enjoyed it (she would have been obvious from her choice of instrument if you were there....)

what i am slightly amazed by is how many at specialist schools also do JD - i guess that really is passion and commitment

Kutik73 · 08/02/2017 23:16

I understand young children will benefit from having supportive parents who help/supervise their practice at home. But those who help, how long are you going to do so? I used to sit with my ds but stopped more than a year ago so my ds has been practising alone since then. I start feeling guilty after reading some of your comments here...

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/02/2017 23:36

I am trying to wean Goo off her constant need for supervision, reassurance and an audience. She's 11 years old and well able to do it by herself.

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Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 00:14

My ds was only (just) 8 when I abandoned him! Perhaps I should have fought harder to stay in a bit longer... It certainly made him more aware of his responsibility though, and although his progress may not have been as rapid as those who have support at home, he seems coping alright.

Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 00:22

Oh dear, I hope I don't come across as an irresponsible parent. I still follow what he's learning and I do think of practice time when scheduling his week or term. But just don't get involved in his practice for some good reasons.

Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 00:24

But I am having a wobble after reading some comments here.... Hence my question...

NeverEverAnythingEver · 09/02/2017 08:01

Kutik I think it depends on each individual child (and each instrument, for us). Mostly I leave the cello alone. I never pay any attention to the flute. I shout a bit about the piano ... The drums are roundly ignored. But the violin prefers me to be there for some reason. Hmm Grin

Fleurdelise · 09/02/2017 08:10

It depends what works for each individual. I don't think it is irresponsible not to be involved the same like I don't think there is an issue having an input.

For the amount of work DD needs to put into piano and maturity required to understand why she needs to practice only certain things efficiently I think she is to too young not to be reminded. Such things like "shoulders down, repeat one bar on and on, slowly, keep your wrist in a certain position" my 9 yo is definitely not mature enough to understand why.

She is quite young and feels like if she can play the piece of music assigned (as fast as possible of course Grin) she has practised. While her teacher asks for certain techniques which herself states she is asking for a lot from such a young pupil but wants to push her potential to high levels of musical development.

When will I give up being involved? Probably when DD will sit at the piano and first open her practice diary to check what is required and then follow what it is written down.

With clarinet there is a different story, she does it all on her own as the current requirements are not as high, it is mainly about learning pieces and apply the knowledge she already has from piano (dynamics). I just sit and listen as all the music practice happens in the living room.

Drivingmadness · 09/02/2017 08:55

dd1: no way would she listen to my comments/advice, would refuse to play if I'm in the same room. dd2: likes me to sit with her (certainly not all the time though), and will take my comments on board.sometimes we will play together for fun.

Trumpetboysmum · 09/02/2017 11:48

SE13 shame they haven't crossed paths and I'm sure when he goes away with NCO the conversation about specialist music schools will crop up again both myself and his teacher agree that it might be something to consider for 6 th form but until then it's about enjoying it and keeping his options open. Good to know they aren't recommending more than an hours brass practice at his age too!!

onlymusic · 09/02/2017 15:07

Kutik73 please don't feel guilty about what you are doing just because someone is doing it differently. I practice with my dc just because 1) one is 5yo 2) second one is.... don't start me on second one.....

It all depends on children too. What suits one may not suit another. From what you wrote before you are doing a great job with your ds, support him all all the way through and I am sure that if you don't do smth there is a good reason for that. You know your ds well and know how to handle him in his best interests.

onlymusic · 09/02/2017 15:23

Very well said Fleurdelise Bear

onlymusic · 09/02/2017 15:27

Drivingmadness, you just reminded me.... My 5yo-if he makes a mistake he does not like to be told how to correct it, he is trying to do it himself.

My 9yo - 5-7 times of reminding her to correct her mistake is about the time when she finally switches on her brain and notices that I am actually saying her smth :)

Trumpetboysmum · 09/02/2017 16:01

Kutik to agree with what the others say there is no right or wrong way to do it. I had no input at all in ds's trumpet for about 2 years ( well until he got his current teacher who had really high expectations) then I helped in his practice most days for a year or so but we fallout too much Grin and as he's a bit older I've now backed off. I hardly have any input in his piano practice but have to sit with dd otherwise she won't do it at all !!

Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 16:30

I felt guilty because I knew my DS was not mature enough to practise alone yet. He is the kind of child who goes to school without school bag... But he refused my support and after long thoughts I chose to let him make mistakes. I don't think he will change his way so am trying to see it that he is learning lifeskill from this looong sloooow process...

His violin teacher welcomes parent involvements (but he understands my choice so I don't get told off). But piano teacher is opposite. She doesn't like parents getting involved!

Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 16:37

My parents didn't get involved in any of my activities. Is it a generation thing?!

EnormousTiger · 09/02/2017 17:03

I just paid for my last year's music lessons ever (child 5 who has a music scholarship) having started paying almost 30 years ago for chld 1. End of an era.

Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 17:41

30 years.... I wonder when will be the last time of paying music lessons. How old is your dc5, EnormousTiger?

woolleybear · 09/02/2017 18:41

Just a quick one to say thanks to Fleur and Waffles discussion and Waffles advice we have tried the 2.5 reed. The first time dd played one of her exam pieces after putting it on she cried because it sounded so much better! So thank you.

She played in a little school concert tonight with one of her exam pieces and did very well. Can anyone remind me when it is usual to hear about exam dates, I thought we might know by now.

Currently I supervise clarinet practice whilst dd is preparing for an exam but not bassoon, next term there maybe a swap!

EnormousTiger · 09/02/2017 18:47

(he' 18 and actually his sister started her instrument at 6 or 7 and she's nearly 33 so it is more like 26 years of continuously paying for lessons! Each school concert this term seems rather sad as virtually the last. (I did teach them to up grade 7 or 8 singing actually myself so no fees there and theory (and their father taught the older ones theory to grade 5) so a bit of money saved there and he taught 2 of the older ones the piano (he's an organist (FRCO) and music teacher).

It's a good idea with younger children if the parent can sit for 5 or 10 minutes a day and just hear the practice as it tends to keep the children doing it. I have spent a lot of time accompanying the children on the piano actually which when they were grades 1 - 6 could be a bit painful but on the higher grades is lovely and with my son's grade 8 trumpet he was better on the trumpet than I was at the piano pieces (that was partly because the piano parts were quite hard being orchestral parts originally but also he is quite good now).

I can't remember when exam dates are given out. Good luck to everyone doing them. We have none now.

SE13Mummy · 09/02/2017 19:38

Stringchild it was Valentine’s Day 2016 that DD1 took part in the NYJC workshop. It was a positive experience but I know she was disappointed that there was quite a bit of talk about joining summer schools etc. that she was three years too young for. She's probably been spoiled by the music service's 'stage, not age' approach to allocating children to ensembles...

In terms of supervising practice, we're fairly hands-off beyond attempting to insist upon some sort of a warm-up.

stringchild · 09/02/2017 19:57

I don't supervise as I have no musical knowledge at all (frequently reminded of this) but I am required to sit silentlyConfused

We are through to the final of the completion Shock - can't remember who gave me advice re floaty skirts but we got one and it works brilliantly so thank you.

Kutik73 · 09/02/2017 20:20

stringchild, if you are talking about the suggestion of layered organdy skirt, then it's meeee! xxx

Original poster
Wafflenose · 09/02/2017 20:22

Exam dates 3-4 weeks before exam. So I am hoping to not hear anything until well into March. Rara is ready, but my two other pupils are not!

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