March Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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!!

ealing thanks for that article. Just read it. So with practice, as with everything, it's the quality not the quantity

Loose: that was so funny :), they have my vote (and very much like my children and myself).

Glad everyone had a nice day! I am so happy I had escaped the breakfast in bed thing as I insisted to go to the Pembroke Lodge for a late breakfast. It was a truly lovely and relaxed day.

Regarding to practise, I so agree with quality matters, we do make so much different when she puts her mind to it and seek for improvement. We are even making it worse or come to bad habit making it harder to correct when we practised mindlessly.

Only my child could drop and break violiin one day before the exam...
Wish me good luck in trying to organise smth to replace it, otherwise no exam for us...
(there is constantly smth-feels like this exam is just not destined to happen)

OMG, is it tomorrow? Good luck replacing it. Maybe talk to the school?

Rara's clarinet exam is tomorrow. She should get a distinction really, but has just been playing spectacularly badly.

I think the bottom of Goo's pinky is broken. It's all aligned OK so I don't think she needs an X-ray or anything - we are just keeping it taped to the next one. She can waggle the top half of the finger, but the bruising is horrible.

well done for all the lovely results!

Trumpets - was ds at Kings Place? just saw some of the videos from today - fantastic work by them all as usual

Waffle - oh no - how is playing going? does it hurt?

Def ask school or teacher to help re violin - there are bound to be spares around with one or the other; we have lent out string instrument to a child in the same situation before

omg only sending good vibes. Broken violin the day before exam. They never stop surprising us.
waffle poor Goo. Will she be able to do the exam? Sending good vibes for Rara too.

Goo hurt her finger on Wednesday, and has been off all sport ever since, in a bid to rest it. She didn't even do it playing sport - she was pratting around on the sofa with Rara, who kicked her. It's only just emerging now just how bad it is. But yes, she can play. She's more worried about a netball match on Tuesday. I couldn't give a hoot about the netball, but I can't tell her that!

Waffle hope the exam goes well and the finger is ok
Only I'll keep my fingers crossed that you manage to sort out a replacement
Yes ds was at kings place today great little concert at the end by them all as usual we love going there and ds is really enthused I took dd to the science museum while ds was rehearsing so all in all a lovely day

Only, is it the old or new violin, oh dear, I would call abrsm to see if it can be postponed while you have it sorted out. Fingers crossed for you.

Wish Rara and Goo best of luck and hope the fingers recovered in no time. I broke my arms 3 time(2 for the left anx 1 right), all three time were while playing with my sister.

OMG only. Good luck!

Good luck with the exams minionly, Goo and Rara!

We have the music exams here also for admission into secondary school, there are 6 schools in the area that are partially selective academically and they also have music places (approximately 10-15 places per school).

To get a music place the dc needs to take the music aptitude test (the test where there are electronic sounds and they test pitch, rhythm, texture and melody) and you don't have to have played an instrument to be able to pass this test. Following this test the top marks kids are invited for an audition and marked again based on their performance. They can play an instrument or sing.

Once you get the marks back for both academics and music you apply for 4 school options.

Dd will take both the academic and the music test in September this year.

Only - that is my worst nightmare. Hope you get it sorted 🍀🍀🍀🍀
Get well soon Goo's finger! Seems like it's one of those months. Miniprada had a mock piano exam which did not go well. Literally no margin for error 😱

When is the exam Prada? I'm sure she'll be fine.

It's on Friday Fleur!! 😱😱😱😱😱

All my candidates for this term have now taken their exams, but I had an usually small bunch of three! Rara and her friend both had good scales and sight reading (they think), mostly good pieces and the odd slip here and there. Rara blew the bit of rhythm that she often gets wrong in 'Out of Sync' and also part of the aural. That's probably a merit then - still nice. My Grade 3 Flute has sorted herself out somewhat, but still too close to call.

Waffle, glad that Rara has now done her exam. When is Goo's? Hope the finger is pain free.

Only, did you manage to sort out a replacement violin?

Grade 6 oboe tomorrow for DD1 and then a big sigh of relief - for a while until it starts to ramp up for bassoon for DD2......

Waffle glad you and Rara got through it and hope Goo's recovering well.
Only - eek, I hope you found a replacement and good luck to everyone taking exams!

Goo's exam is on Wednesday. Finger is a little better, but I wish she wasn't planning to play netball tomorrow!

Good luck to all those with exams to his week, I'm wincing at all the damaged fingers and instruments and hope everything works out ok.

We once had a smashed clarinet mouthpiece just before a concert which was fun!

Those of you who may remember me posting a link to the Jubilate CD DS2 was involved with, it is no No 1 on the classical music chart!😀

DS had a mad weekend as usual (play date in a park, allotment duties, chasing after chickens, table tennis, football and cricket...) and today he was unwell. He missed a football match tonight which I am secretly relieved. It would have been an hour driving each way, and standing outside with passionate daddy supporters, shaking, freezing....

Good luck to Goo and miniprada for the forthcoming exams! raspberry, you must be very proud!

Prada I am sure miniprada will be fine but I know how you feel. This time I feel like we'll be in a similar situation by the exam date with no room for error and trust me, dd does need plenty of room for error.

Good luck tomorrow doubleup!

Raspberry wow! Impressive! Congratulations!

Only how did it go?

In other news I've done a music aptitude test sample with dd, her first one ever, she got 48 out of 60. She needs 45 to get to audition stage. I was amazed as everybody around me told me how hard it was and how I shouldn't get disheartened if she only gets 30 the first time she is exposed to the concept. I have 2 more samples so I'll do another one next week.

Good luck to the auditions and exams this week

Morning all,does anyone know if you can do a musical aptitude test online?

disorganised not that I know of. I also think it depends on your area as some counties don't use the same test. If you pm me with your location I can tell you if it applies to you and then point you in the right direction of where to buy the tests from.