April Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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.

Thank you, everyone!

Fleur the second audition is in a couple of weeks they all go all day and play a piece in a masterclass set up and then do lots of workshops so whatever the outcome it will be a great experience. I think by this stage they've all proved that they can play it's a case of deciding who will benefit from their rather unique program ( lots of creative ensemble work which ds loves)

Trumpet, congratulations to your DS for getting through to the second round! Mine has also got through to the second round for JD No. 2 audition (No. 1 has been done). They said the competition was extremely tough so he has done exceptionally well to get this far. And I totally agree with them. I am so proud of my DS even if he couldn't pass the second round. It was all his idea and desire to do this challenge and he persuaded me, DH and other people along the way. I was very much doubtful if he met their standard, and DH had no clue at all. So I purely admire his drive, passion and graveness (or boldness...?). And the most importantly, he is enjoying the whole process very much, so couldn't be a bad experience whatever the outcome! I am very happy to hear that you also see it as a great experience for your DS and him enjoying the opportunity given.

Well done to Trunpet ds- sounds great; -!: to mini-Kutik for getting to second round!

Not much new here except the clarinettists have been asked to take their saxophones to the NCO U12s next week (if they play sax) so that sounds like some extra fun!

graveness = braveness!

That sounds great string. Ds was asked to bring his cornet if he had one. He does have a borrowed one but he hardly plays it and the tuning slide has got stuck so I think it will need to go back to the county to get fixed. His teacher did offer to lend him a very expensive cornet ( I politely said no I didn't want ds to have that sort of responsibility- ds's teacher doesn't have children yet )

Exciting news for MiniKutik and MiniTrumpet!
Well, DS1 does seem to be practising well this holiday while DS2, who has a piano lesson this morning, has done a bit but not much! I seem to have failed at chivvying him and getting my own work done, which is a bit of a collapse all round! This isn't unusual for school holidays...

It's so hard fitting work into the holidays ( in desperation I did my work first thing this morning and will be taking my reading for work on holiday next week) ds is amazingly discaplined dd less so ( and she has a homework project too which will be getting done at the last minute I imagine)

Thank you, Loose. Well, talking about holiday... DS was supposed to practise more this week as his second audition is next week. But we have been inviting friends over and spending outside too long instead. I blame on the unexpectedly nice weather! However I hear the weather will change next week so hopefully less temptation for the last half of the holiday.

The weather always does change for my birthday. It always bloody rains!

Goo is at a sleepover, due back soon. She's just been invited out for the afternoon by another friend... busy girl. It's for the best though - she is so utterly obsessed with NCO that she will often bend my ear about it for 15 hours straight. She is re-watching the old DVDs of the concerts, has most of the names of last year's Under 11s learnt, and enjoys listing them all (!), has been helping me with a surprise for the courses next week and generally won't shut up!

Rara was poorly for a week and hardly practised, so we'll address that issue today. Goo needs to do some as well, during the short time she is with us! She has a piano lesson this evening. It must be coming up to a year since she started, so I'll try to get a video of her soon.

I've already started checking my exam results, even though it's only 10 days so far. I think they will come out next week.

Waffle - dD just called me at work to tell me she has now packed her NCO bags ready.....😀

Goo has had her clothes picked out and packed for a week! We have made a list of everything else she needs but haven't packed it all yet.

As I type, she is going through last year's repertoire with one hand on the piano. Right now, we have Gladiator!

DS gone to his residential. Lots of tambourine practice in the last days! The house is so quiet without anyone banging, hitting, shaking, pedaling. Time to do some serious work.

Trumpet well done to him and hope he enjoys the experience. Kutik keep us posted

Loose and Paul and other percussionists out there which I always forget, do your DC know a Youtube channel called Drumeo? DS is totally glued to it. It has full length lessons and masterclasses by some of the best like David Garibaldi from Tower of Power, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Benny Greb. Totally recommend it!

Please may I ask what kind residential for NCO this Easter holiday. I only only summer course.

Drummers many thanks - DS1 didn't know it and is going to investigate!

Loose: holiday is def harder for us in term of practice. We are better with term days. We are not away this week so someone is trashing my house with some thing called "Art work", I was advised by my neighbor that never do Art gcse latter as it eats up every minute of the day for anything else. I am truly hopeless because I still supply her with everything she needs. Violin lesson is this Friday.

Aww, Rapidly, they are pretty much the same age. Goo started off with all the white note major and minor scales, Grade 2 sight reading books, Martha Mier's 'Just Imagine!' followed by the Catherine Rollins Impressionist books, which she's still using. She's also played loads of pieces from the Czerny/ Gillock compilation book, and now the Trinity Grade 4 book. I have a few of the Jazzin' About books too, which she might like. I can recommend the Jazzin' About Styles one - it's Grade 2-4 and has rock, disco, dixieland, ballad and goodness knows what else. Something for everyone.

Violinandpiano- the three 'older' orchestras each do a week's course at easter too (and the eldest two do a weekend in Dec)

Art GCSE coursework has taken up a massive amount of time although seems to have been it on hold this holiday!
I discovered a booklet DS1 had been given on thinking about 6th form. Under possible A level options he wrote Maths, Computer Science, Art and Music. I am really hoping he will think differently by this time next year simply because of the coursework!

waffle and string I hope your DDs have fun next week - love that they are soooo organised with their packing! DD got around to packing her suitcase on the the morning she left (due to rather hectic week and concert til 10pm the night before) - sounds like they are having a great time and looking forward to concert on Saturday

loose DS school is putting a limit of 3 A levels. Although I think they can add Extended Project as a fourth.

Oh that's good Drummers and I'm sure that will be the same for us. it will hopefully force him to choose a more realistic combination!