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March Music Thread

999 replies

Wafflenose · 01/03/2017 07:36

Here you are - a new thread for March! I can't believe we are now up to 700+ posts each month. Thank you all.

I am Waffle, Mum to two girls. I have Goo (11), short for Kajagoogoo, which is 'short' for Kaj, which means... well, that would be telling! Her younger sister is Rara (8) - Rara is what she used to call herself when she was learning to speak. Goo plays the flute, recorder and piano. Rara plays the cello, recorder and clarinet. We have Grade 7 Flute and Grade 1 Clarinet booked for the end of this month. I think we might have Grade 3 Cello and Grade 4 Piano coming up next term. Goo is off to secondary in a few months, and I really don't know if she will ever manage to fit in her last couple of recorder exams. I'm all for saving money though.

I will try my best to read everything and follow this month. Last month's thread moved so fast!!

OP posts:
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Trufflethewuffle · 02/03/2017 17:49

Anyone do theory this time? DS1 did grade 7 and DD did grade 6. Both thought it went fine so fingers crossed.

RapidlyOscillating · 02/03/2017 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kutik73 · 02/03/2017 21:59

Just received the audition date for a local youth orchestra. They said they would send a set of scales and a set piece shortly. Ds also has to play two contrasting pieces. I'm not too worried about two pieces as he can just play some old pieces. He is good at sight reading too so can usually learn a new piece quickly (I assume the set piece is not so complicated). BUT scales will be a problem. Those who followed exam syllabus would be fine but as some of you know my ds hasn't done any exam and has been working on only one scale... The standard of the orchestra is G5-8. So I suppose he is expected to have covered at least G5 scales....

Greenleave · 02/03/2017 22:23

Best of luck to everyone doing theory!(thinking of Petra).

When is the date Kutik? Will they check scale? Most auditions are for sight reading and the chosen pieces. If you have 2 months then its time(if no Easter skiing plan either). We are not doing well with pieces here this time compare to piano when we struggled with scales. Piano pieces are picked up so much easier these days while violin...

Fleur: hope everything is ok.

EnormousTiger · 02/03/2017 22:26

Son was second in music competiton tonight (and he was first last year). The boy who won was utterly wonderful - amazing playing. I loved it. No exams now for my lot - they are all finished.... except 2 doing A levels this summer so we are not exactly exam free this year of course.

Kutik73 · 02/03/2017 22:31

We only have 3weeks or so... And I don't know when they are sending us the list of scales and the music of the set piece. They may assume most candidates know those scales so they may not be going to give enough notice! Ds has lots things going on this month. Not sure if it's doable...

Kutik73 · 02/03/2017 22:37

Green They said the applicants need to play a set of scales and a piece - they are sending out shortly. On top ds had to play two pieces...

Enormous Congratulations to your DS to come the 2nd place!

Trumpetboysmum · 03/03/2017 07:12

This thread moves so fast but I will try and keep up. Really busy march here with numerous concerts with solos another music competition and his AYM audition plus the workshop with Alison Balsom next week ( I'll be relieved when march is over !!) I have promised ds's trumpet teacher that we won't take on so much next term so that they can work on technical stuff that needs fixing and start to prepare for grade 7 ( which will be fine as ds can already play at least one of the pieces confidently). I guess it's just about finding the balance ( which we haven't done this term) but everything seemed to happen in march Confused and they were all such great opportunities. Regarding teacher praise we never know which way it will go with ds's teacher he's either full of praise or makes it sound as though the things that need fixing are then end of the world Grin but we have learnt not to worry and just work on what needs fixing, plus I suppose it's only because he wants ds to play as well as he thinks he can. Ds can also be a bit changeable in how he plays but I think that's because playing the trumpet is so physical and if he's tired he just doesn't always play as well ( not sure how playing when tired will go next week we shall see...)

Trumpetboysmum · 03/03/2017 07:12

This thread moves so fast but I will try and keep up. Really busy march here with numerous concerts with solos another music competition and his AYM audition plus the workshop with Alison Balsom next week ( I'll be relieved when march is over !!) I have promised ds's trumpet teacher that we won't take on so much next term so that they can work on technical stuff that needs fixing and start to prepare for grade 7 ( which will be fine as ds can already play at least one of the pieces confidently). I guess it's just about finding the balance ( which we haven't done this term) but everything seemed to happen in march Confused and they were all such great opportunities. Regarding teacher praise we never know which way it will go with ds's teacher he's either full of praise or makes it sound as though the things that need fixing are then end of the world Grin but we have learnt not to worry and just work on what needs fixing, plus I suppose it's only because he wants ds to play as well as he thinks he can. Ds can also be a bit changeable in how he plays but I think that's because playing the trumpet is so physical and if he's tired he just doesn't always play as well ( not sure how playing when tired will go next week we shall see...)

Trumpetboysmum · 03/03/2017 07:51

Sorry my phone died and it's posted my bit twice !!

PetraDelphiki · 03/03/2017 08:09

Hi all

We did G5 theory this week...paper was fab!! Musical terms were andante, cantabile and dolce...all that worrying about stupid German words for nothing!!!

No other exams in the foreseeable future...maybe G4 cornet next term and prob G5 violin at Xmas. But dd is doing the local music festival in a few weeks...

Fleurdelise · 03/03/2017 09:26

Well done to your DS Enormous! And to the winner, I know what you mean, the under 10 winner in our festival was amazing and a pleasure to listen to, you don't feel like your DC has lost but as the right DC won.

Kutik while I fully understand the stress I think you need to treat the audition as a nothing to lose experience, try to get your DS as prepared as possible but ultimately is the type of situation that if he doesn't get in there is always next year.

Green thank you for your good thoughts.

Trumpet good luck with the audition and the workshop.

Petra good luck with the local festival and well done to your dd for the grade 5 theory exam.

user789653241 · 03/03/2017 09:39

Hello, can I ask you some question please?

My ds has been practicing to take grade1 piano exam for while, and I think he is going nuts!
He has a form of doing something weird, like trying to play the songs in different scales. But it was reassured by some people on here.

Now, he started practicing different scales and broken chords in separate hands. A minor right hand with F major left hand, together, etc.
Is it ok to do things like this? He also try to do contrary in all the scales he knows.
I am not even sure he is doing all those correctly as well.

Problem is, we don't have piano teacher at the moment. So, it's totally DIY with big help from MN.
We have been confirmed to have proper piano teacher back soon, but anyway, I got no music background, so can't really help him with this at all.

He should really be concentrating doing everything correctly, rather then trying something obscure, isn't he? His exam date is in April, so we got a month to go. This is the first experience for him(and me), so I am panicking a bit. I have spoken to some people in RL who has experience of playing piano, and they all say grade1 is easy, but since I don't play, I wouldn't know.
Any advice appreciated!

drummersmum · 03/03/2017 11:46

irvine can't you find an urgent temporary teacher to steer the boat for a month? Maybe someone at school that can come home, or a friend's recommendation, or someone local online? It sounds as if your DS is a true free spirit and I think it would really help. I don't remember anything about gr1 scales, too long ago. But I think your DS may love free jazz some day :) !

drummersmum · 03/03/2017 12:09

Enormous a big Star to your DS.
Kutik I would be surprised if scales are a make or break requirement, especially as he hasn't taken any exams. Ultimately they want good players and sight-readers. Good luck.
Fleur sending best wishes.

What do you call this? DS Gr8 Orchestral Perc exam date has come. It's the same exact day as the drumming competition. Different instruments, different pieces, requires different preparation. And the same week as his speaking Spanish iGcse which he's taking early.
Madness. They call it madness... Confused

green he had to withdraw from charity concert because it was the weekend before the week I just described and DS very wisely said he now needed to prepare and revise all weekend!

stringchild · 03/03/2017 13:01

Kutik - I would make sure he knows to explain his teachers scale approach in auditions, and to offer them the one he has. This is likely to come into the JD audition too - doubt very much that it's a deal breaker at all but ds might expect a new approach if he joins as DD has to do scale assessments each year.

As a matter of pure interest - which scale does he do and why only one? I thought scales were a foundation whether you did exams or not so am intrigued (and dd hopeful she might be able to switch to this approach,,,,)

EnormousTiger · 03/03/2017 13:41

In fact my son was just saying last night this boy is probably going to have to win (school's competition internally) every year now until he leaves the school as he is very likely to be the best unless the school fixes it so someone cannot win two years in a row but that wouldn't feel right to the boys I'd assume. Or may be this boy won't enter as he gets older. I was surprised when my son texted tos ay he is in next week's concert too (which is the night his mock A levels finish) but I don't mind - I think you need a break from revision and music is a nice way to relax and the school certainly appreciate it. He's driving boys from school to a short rehearsal for the March concert tonight too after school.

Kutik73 · 03/03/2017 14:04

Fleurdelise You are right, ds can try again if not successful this time, especially for the youth orchestra, they run auditions every term so he doesn't need to wait for the whole year unlike JDs.

drummers Thanks for making me feel less panicky about scales. We received the list of the required scales & arpeggios now. Hopefully his teacher can help him prepare for them.

string Unfortunately ds has to play all the required scales & arpeggios as they are compulsory for the youth orchestra audition. And the (only) scale ds can play well is not on the list (typical)! However I am not too worried about playing scales for JD auditions as only one place requires to play scales and we already met the head there and when ds told him he had been working on one scale the head didn't seem to care much and just said ds could choose which scale to play at the audition. From the conversation I assumed ds would play only one scale. But now I am not sure. Were your dd asked to play several scales when she auditioned in the past?

The main reason for learning only one scale is because the teacher is so precise about smallest detail such as the way of dropping and lifting each finger on each string, shifting, timing, shape of hand and there are another long lists to cover for bowing (speed, weight, shape, and so on). Ds has to do this from one long note to 24 notes and also double-stops. The teacher says there are so many G8 holders who cannot play a simply 3 octave scale PROPERLY and he absolutely hate that... The philosophy is, once you master one scale you can learn other scales pretty easily and quickly. However, I think your dd is much more advanced than ds, so even if she switches to this one scale method, she more likely has to cover more than one scale. Ds is doing only one because he hasn't mastered the technique fully yet.

se22mother · 03/03/2017 14:08

Kutik out of interest how does he cope with sight reading without scales. I mean how would he know that there were sharps or flats without knowing the corresponding scale/key. Dd would love a one scale method, she detests them with a passion.

Kutik73 · 03/03/2017 14:13

At some points in the past I was concerned if ds should learn or practise other scales. But as he is practising G7 scales for piano, actually I am relieved that he has a different approach for violin. I think it will be too much scales otherwise!

Kutik73 · 03/03/2017 14:15

se22mother He knows/understands keys as he does G7 piano scales and he has done G5 theory. I do think it would have been a bit of a problem otherwise!

Kutik73 · 03/03/2017 14:25

Just to add... It doesn't mean ds is banned to play or hasn't played other scales at all. For instance, when he practises vibrato, he plays D major or C major instead of his usual scale. It's just that the teacher uses one particular scale to teach him technique. He asks him to practise the scale at home, and check the scale in a lesson and hardly ever check other scales.

Ds has never played chromatic scale on violin but it's on the list for the audition... Can anyone tell me if it's tricky...?

se22mother · 03/03/2017 14:29

Dd loves the chromatic scales, they click with her better than normal scales.

Kutik73 · 03/03/2017 14:32

Ohhhh, I hope my ds likes it too! He likes it on the piano though. I am not sure how hard/different on the violin...

Greenleave · 03/03/2017 14:48

Kutik, very interesting experience and idea on scales, we might do the same for our second child as so far half of the (little) time goes to scales. We are still wrestling everytime we practise now. Last night was the first time I heard her playing dominant and diminished scales and they are so weird.
Petra:nice!

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