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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

April Music Thread

970 replies

Wafflenose · 31/03/2017 13:38

We've managed to fill up the March thread, so I give you April's, around 10 hours early. Don't use it all up at once!

The music threads are for learners of ALL ages and stages, including beginners and adult learners.

My kids Goo (11) and Rara (8) break up from school today, thank goodness. Rara is off sick at the moment, in any case, but they both need a break. They did their music exams this week. Goo got a distinction for her Grade 7 Flute, and we are awaiting the results of Rara's Grade 1 Clarinet, plus a couple of my pupils. They will probably come on my birthday - the ABRSM ones often do.

Next term, we have a big community concert at the local high school - all the feeder schools take part. Goo could do Grade 7 Recorder and/ or Grade 4 Piano, but I don't think she wants to. Rara is doing Grade 3 Cello. My Year 6 Recorders have been asked to play in the local Festival gala concert, and I'm sure there will be primary school leavers' performances too.

OP posts:
hapsburg · 04/04/2017 12:52

DD away at NCO, so taking inspiration from Loose I have been playing the piano as it is extremely quiet around here! Lovely neighbour commented this morning that she hadn't heard any music for a few days - we are very very lucky that they like hearing DD play. I don't think there's much chance of my piano playing moving on much from the grade 1 challenge I did a couple of years ago!

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 12:54

violinandpiano it is a human factor too as examiners are human. I don't believe that 30 marks make you a better musician. It is only a reflection of a performance on a day, child's nerves and what examiner was eating for breakfasts. Nothing else :) May he he wanted to go to the loo during the performance and didn't listen to the piece carefully. I think we mums tend to put too much importance on smth totally unimportant when it comes to our dc :)

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 12:55

hapsburg thank again for sharing notes for music periods, apparently this is one question we got right on exam :)

foundoutyet · 04/04/2017 13:04

But why would she be done at the beginning of secondary school? Went to secondary school concert last week and there were a couple of seriously good players, who passed grade 8 when they were 11,12,14 or so. They are putting many hours in AFTER having passed grade 8. And I know they are not going to be professional muciains.

I agree, no need to spend on academics outside of school during primary school age. It is however a difference how schools handel more academic children. We changed for dc3 and it has made such a difference in her "happiness"

Fleurdelise · 04/04/2017 13:05

violinandpiano I also think at grade 1 the examiners are more generous, dd got 30 in one of her pieces and 18 in the aural test. The aural is also easier. This didn't repeat at grade 3 and I have no hope of repeating at grade 5. But it doesn't reflect on total music ability it is only 10 min on one day.

It also depends how long a dc has been preparing for that grade, you said so yourself that the friend's dc took longer to grade 1. So did my dd, she did grade 1 after 18 months of playing while a friend of hers took it around 9 months after starting lessons but got a lower score. I have no doubt that if the friend would have taken the exam a term later she would have got higher marks.

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 13:05

foundoutyet only if she wants to. If she says-no music for me anymore I may let her :) (have not decided yet :))

hapsburg · 04/04/2017 13:08

Glad notes were helpful only

gillybeanz · 04/04/2017 13:16

I'll never forget the examiner who one of dh adult students came across.
She was nervous and well into her 60's when she took her grade four.
She was well prepared, could play pieces standing on her head, aural was good, scales, sight reading etc, a clear distinction so we thought.

She went to pieces in the exam room and one of the pieces just went from bad to worse.
The comments included x put up a good fight, right to the bitter end. Grin
She just scraped a pass in the end, but I loved the comments.

foundoutyet · 04/04/2017 14:04

ha, how about me accompaning dc for her grade 1. I practised when I was sleeping, sure that if I could do it whilest sleeping I could do it during the exam. Well, that didn't work out. Stopped and started, played with 1 hand. But dc did what I told her to, just carry on playing regardless of what I do, and she got her distinction. but never again for me

foundoutyet · 04/04/2017 14:04

and I better namechange again.

Helenluvsrob · 04/04/2017 14:18

Woot . Distinction for grade 8 recorder for DD2 :)
Great results for her and also for her teacher as she might be his last grade 8 ever. Comment sheet awaited.

BeyondThePage · 04/04/2017 14:24

This could be "outing" but... Last year we were told online DD had a distinction for G5 piano. Got the certificate - "with distinction", got the comments sheet ... 116 marks...

Luckily she KNEW she hadn't got anywhere near a distinction. Received a written apology ... eventually.

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 14:27

Congratulation Helenluvsrob, what a star StarStarStarStarStar

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 14:28

Oh BeyondThePage! they had to give her extra marks for that! :)

LooseAtTheSeams · 04/04/2017 14:35

Helenluvsrob fantastic result - that is amazing! Star

gillybeanz · 04/04/2017 14:48

Helen

Excellent results well done to your dd Halo

Original poster
Wafflenose · 04/04/2017 14:48

Congratulations to her, Helen - how lovely!

OP posts:
Kutik73 · 04/04/2017 14:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Icouldbeknitting · 04/04/2017 14:55

Congratulations Helen, good luck with deciphering the comments when you get them.

Kutik73 · 04/04/2017 14:57

Helen, congratulations!!

Helenluvsrob · 04/04/2017 15:17

Thanks all! the comments will be interesting, though it looks like she did actually learn her scales this time! I know I'm her mum, but she is playing really well now. I hope it boosts her confidence for her A2 performance. We are always aware that you can get an invigilator who doesn't see recorder as " an instrument" for this sort of recital - after all they have to cover all sorts of musical performance. DS had a snide comment " so you play the french horn yet you've chosen the ...recorder for your recital" Argh! Ds Ds just said " yes it's my favourite" and socked him between the eyes musically. DD2 doesn't have that confidence.

buggerthebotox · 04/04/2017 15:41

Just wondering if there's anyone out there who has taken LCM Jazz Piano Diploma or knows anyone who has?

I'm struggling to find anyone IRL.

se22mother · 04/04/2017 16:41

Congratulations Helen

Icouldbeknitting · 04/04/2017 17:15

Sorry BTBotox no help from me. We have done a LCM performance diploma but not a jazz one.

drummersmum · 04/04/2017 17:17

yay Helen ! Star
Gilly doesn't it depend on instrument and genre? You don't see pianists or violinists playing as soloists in Carnegie Hall who started lessons at 15. There's no chance I'm afraid.