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Extra-curricular activities

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

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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:
drummersmum · 04/04/2017 17:21

loose you have all my respect Wine

Fleurdelise · 04/04/2017 18:12

Congrats Helen! Star

Greenleave · 04/04/2017 18:13

Hellen: many congrats, wow!

Se22: So glad now we could move on, yay!!!

Seriously, a career for a 9 yrs old. I’d think its too early. Benefit of starting learning an instrument when they are young are: 1. Enjoy learning a skill, being able to play, start building their musicianship early; 2. Being able to join Orchestra, performing, there are loads of fun; 3. Might be able to participate in community musical activities to build up community sense; 4. More time to practise as we only have 20-30 mins homework a week from school.

Exams, festivals or none, if you don’t care then that’s the best, if you don’t need exams to motivate then you have avoided a large cost. None of the audition requires a certification to show what grade at what mark and as everyone else is saying here.
My non-competitive and zero ego attitude gene has passed through both my children. We were overwhelmed and enjoyed the festivals because many of the young players are truly amazing. Its an eye opener to us. We are in a trainee Orchestra now and everytime we see the main performs our jaws dropped. Our school doesnt have many musical children and we wish this will change in secondary.

raspberryrippleicecream · 04/04/2017 18:23

Brilliant news Helen

Trumpetboysmum · 04/04/2017 18:34

Great news Helen

foundoutyet · 04/04/2017 18:36

Helen, will be an inspiration for dc3

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 18:54

Fleur I think it is not about career at 9yo but about having a choice of career. If they want they can become a musician. But they must not. But if they never had music lessons-there is no choice.

foundoutyet · 04/04/2017 19:01

But if you start so "intense" with a really young child. Don't you think they might be missing out on a career in sports, dancing etc. Because these all need lots of hours, if you potentially may want your child to excel and become a professional.

Fleurdelise · 04/04/2017 19:09

foundout I agree, I personally feel we've found dd's "thing" with music, but that's because she was reluctant to have other activities or when she had she gave up such as dancing and ice skating. But I feel that we also subconsciously told her it was her thing by encouraging music and placing it on a level with academics.

I don't remember going extra sessions to enable dd to ice skate besides her lesson, I don't remember asking her to practice her dance moves beyond her lessons, while when it comes to music she always had our support. So maybe we've made music her thing, I'll never know if it was talent or support that made music more serious in our house.

foundoutyet · 04/04/2017 19:16

Fleur, I remember dd doing an activty because a "friend asked.She enjoyed it but it wasn't wow. After 6 montsh it all stopped. By coincedence she started again, had extra encouragement, extra sessions, became really good at it, and now competing at high level .
Was it her "thing" or was it her being pushed/encouraged so she became better at it?
As mentioned I have always, rightly or wrongly, presumed they would go the academic side, so all these are activites were/are just for fun.

Can you guess dc are away this week, so spending too much time on mumsnet....

Doubleup · 04/04/2017 19:51

Well done Loose! You got through it! Pour yourself a Gin - you deserve it Smile

Well done to your DC Helen!

Just preparing myself for dad's bassoon practice - hopefully without the attitude! Lovely guitar practice earlier with hardly any prompting, but tennis lesson in between and she's a bit tired, so who knows. Roll on the end of term when we can get it over and done with in the mornings - or at least that's the plan...

Doubleup · 04/04/2017 19:52

Dad? Dd - flippin' autocorrect!

stringchild · 04/04/2017 21:15

Congratulations to Helen's DD - great result :)

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 21:26

foundoutyet I don't think anyone in this thread starts very intense, we are not THAT pushy :) and we are talking about very young children. How intense is intense? :) If child is capable of practising for about 30-45 mins at a young age this may be an indication of abilities in itself. Does not mean that child is not able if he cannot practice that long though.
Say in our case - I would be more than happy to send dd to any sport but she is so unsporty no one wants us (and we tried, trust me!). We can only go private, but there are not that many private sport activities. She has private and school swimming lessons since 4yo (at some point 2 private+1 at school), ds has the same+football. There also was private French tuition and chess club, and I am sure there was smth else as we used to have after school activities every day, sometimes two, but I cannot remember now. We had to stop chess club because it coincided with the orchestra time (we stopped this too now), as stopped French lessons too - was too much fun and drawing and dd needs more academic approach, she has violin+piano+Brownies+swimming now. Ds has violin+swimming+footbal+starting piano after Easter. I would love to add some more activities (sport and music) but it takes time and money to find a good tutor, plus dd has certain issues therefore I decided to leave it for the time being. I don't think my children miss an awful lot, apart from outside time and play dates may be which is not good but...to be honest it is also easier for me this way. But they still can become a musician assuming they are interested (I on the other hand will do my best to discourage this :))

Fleurdelise · 04/04/2017 21:30

We've just finished music practice, dd's pieces are coming along so nicely, I am feeling more positive. She has the three piano pieces learnt now and two of the clarinet ones.

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 21:35

foundoutyet how about your dd was not ready first time and then became ready later? :) I guess in our case- there are music genes running in the family, on dh side with one pro musician too, and yes, all teachers we had always were praising dd for her abilities (meaning potential I guess as she is not the great performer) but now when I am so much into music I can clearly see that no matter what is her potential, at the moment there is no spark. And I don' t feel she will make it without a spark.Therefore I will give it all to her just in case but if spark is not there in a future, I will try to be philosophical about it - it means it is not her thing after all.

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 21:38

Fleur pls remember about me if you are making video!
We are missing lesson this week-teacher has an orchestral work to do and having a rest from us Wine

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 21:40

And ds is really struggling with D major scales two octaves..... Grrrr, he just seems to have a mental block!

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 21:43

foundoutyet you made me laugh about dc being away :) I am using my last days whilst they are at school too :)

gillybeanz · 04/04/2017 21:50

I'm not sure if others would agree but I think the child decides for themselves very early into playing if it's another subject to learn to a given point/ seems to be grade 8, or whether they want it as a profession.

My dd knew from a very early age and although she danced up to three times a week she chose to stop to concentrate on music. You can't be in two places at the same time.

We encouraged our other two and let them have a go on most instruments (borrowed) but neither wanted to continue past about grade 3/4. That was fine they were sporty and both quite good at hockey. Ds2 had an excellent voice but really didn't want to sing in public, that was fine.

I don't think there's anything wrong with either approach tbh. Either the subject approach or the determination to become a musician. As long as they are happy and not forced into it, are doing it for themselves, then it's a fine and wonderful Grin

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 22:04

There are some lucky parents children as you describe gilly but not all of them. I made an attempt with music when I was a child but my parents never pushed me into anything but I was a child who needed a lot of pushing. I still do! Therefore I am a bit relaxed about absence of dc self motivation, I know from my own experience that this may come later

gillybeanz · 04/04/2017 22:37

Drummers

That was my point entirely, thank you. That was why I asked what the young age was applying to.
Of course there are child prodigies who have obviously started very young.
However there are musicians of all sorts of different levels and genres making a living from their talent just the same.
You don't have to start young to become a musician, it has no bearing on your future career whatever age you start.
Unless you are a child prodigy with your life decided for you.

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 22:44

gilly, ok, how about St Martin in the Fields? Anyone has a chance? :)

onlymusic · 04/04/2017 22:46

274 messages.... 100 more since yesterday night....

gillybeanz · 04/04/2017 22:57

only

I believe so, I think I went to see something there once, can't quite remember.
I know plenty of people who have worked there over the years.
My dh and several of his peers have definitely.

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