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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:
Fleurdelise · 13/04/2017 18:22

Thank you, yes piano pieces. I'll start collating a list and we'll discuss it with the teacher and make a choice by June/July. She needs to start something asap after the graded exam so she has time to polish it till September.

I was going to keep Summertime up to scratch and audition with it, it is complex and a bit show off but I am worried it is too controversial and may not get her in as it is not a classical piece. What do you all think?

stringchild · 13/04/2017 18:52

Fleur - I really doubt anyone rules a child out in the basis of period of piece 😀

Kutik73 · 13/04/2017 19:43

Fleur, DS played Chopin's Polonaise in G Minor and Mozart's Sonata K545 for his recent auditions. We considered Haydn's Sonata, Hob. XVI:7 also but DS played it at a concert last year and didn't have enough passion to re-visit this piece again. Anyway I believe all of three are grade 5/6 standard, and just playing a section or play without repeat like exams, then they fit under 3 mins.

At first I thought both Chopin and Mozart were too famous/obvious for an audition but DS liked them so let him play what he liked in the end. I must say I didn't need to worry as both were well received and we didn't get any negative comment for our choice. DS played Chopin without repeat, and Allegro only for Mozart.

Kutik73 · 13/04/2017 19:45

A bit late, but happy birthday Waffle. Welcome in 40's! Grin

Pradaqueen · 13/04/2017 20:07

Happy birthday waffle! Hope you are being spoiled!

Fleur - I would play a graded piece if you have one ready rather than gave to learn a new one. What you need Is a 'go to' piece they know confidently. If that's Summertime, go for it I say. Miniprada played 60's swing as her 2nd study and also cruella de vil From G6 this year. She got music scholarships to the local school and also to a London top10 super selective plus two top boarding schools. They are looking for interpretation and confidence mainly - and as waffle says, strong sight reading. Will she have a second study? Pm me if it is any of the London day schools if I can help I certainly will! I'd also google music aptitude tests if she faces one. One school posts an example of theirs on line ( can't remember which)

Kutik73 · 13/04/2017 20:07

Summertime sounds a great choice though especially if your DD loves the piece.

Fleurdelise · 13/04/2017 20:52

Thank you all for the advice, I'll make a note of all of it. (Screenshots work best Grin)

Prada not any of the schools miniprada tried for, we're outside nw London and only trying for the state schools 11+. Yes dd will do the MAT and her piano teacher did some with her, she did a couple of full tests and she's scoring high enough to make us believe she'll get to audition stages. She scored 48/46/51 on the three sample tests she's done and historically she needs 45 to qualify for the audition.

Once all the grade 5 pieces are done I'll record them at their best (that's quite funny as their best is generally a week or two AFTER the actual exam) and message you guys and ask for your honest opinion on which one you would chose for an audition.

Prada did your dd manage the tremolo in Cruella de vil? Dd is desperate to learn it.

AlexandraLeaving · 13/04/2017 21:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Greenleave · 13/04/2017 21:39

When is the audition Fleur? Would there be enough time to master a new piece?

I didnt know audition for 11+ is available for piano too. I thought they only wanted Orchestra instruments. For now we still dont think we would try.

Only: thanks for the link, I am now on my daughters' book case, some of them are good read even for my age. I was told that chatting to her about the books she read could help with her comprehension. Her maths and writting is ok(she is through the next round for bbc 500 words recently, her vr/nvr and comprehensions are bad. We need to start with some practice.

Fleurdelise · 13/04/2017 21:58

Green if she goes through the music aptitude test the audition is in September. It is any instrument including singing but as I said we are only looking at state schools, no reason really to apply for private as we're lucky with the state ones, but this means she has to take the music aptitude test which seems to be a bit of a lottery.

Greenleave · 13/04/2017 22:05

Best of luck Fleur, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. We will follow your footstep next year!!

Doubleup · 13/04/2017 22:25

Green, can't persuade DD2 to enter 500 Words. DD1, however, entered it 5 times and got through to the second stage 3 of those times. Very different children.....

Greenleave · 13/04/2017 22:42

I used to complain about her school as she was bored, not being challenged etc, however I must now say they have done ok as they taught her maths and english and both of them she isnt doing badly. Especially English, she now loves writting, her writting is shown to yr6 and we were told to try 500 words and I was told she did it in just couple of hours abd submitted it. Admittedly when I read it later, I thought I have read some better bits so the result came as a surprise. Had they taught her all other 11+ stuffs then I will be forever shut Grin. Although, I understand its no where near to the level few good secondary schools around us asking. We hope there is still time. I am now still finding a tutor. I cant teach her english/vr/comprehension...her English is even much better than mine now.

Pradaqueen · 13/04/2017 23:14

Fleur - yes she had a lovely tremalo. Just heard that she passed G6 piano - 118 (looking at you waffle re: 118 not 119 😉) Delighted and it is a massive surprise as it was a truly crap exam. I've never heard her play so badly. I know as I was sitting outside....😱 However, lovely dress. Fleur - she scored 27/30 on cruella de vil. I think it's easier when you know how it is supposed to sound.

Well done to minigreen - fab result.

Fleurdelise · 14/04/2017 00:10

Thank you Green!

Well done miniprada!!! And well done for scoring high in Cruella de Vil, I've listened to it on YouTube and tried to put dd off learning it but I now feel more confident she can do it.

Greenleave · 14/04/2017 00:24

Prada, yayyy!!!

Trumpetboysmum · 14/04/2017 06:38

Well done miniprada Smile

se22mother · 14/04/2017 08:08

Well done miniprada

Kutik73 · 14/04/2017 08:35

Great news, Prada. Very well done minipanda. Star StarStar

stringchild · 14/04/2017 09:10

Well done mini Prada!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 14/04/2017 10:09

Well done, miniprada! I think I got 118 for my Grade 6 piano too... except I was 18, not 11. I started around 15 years old, to get into university!

OP posts:
drummersmum · 14/04/2017 10:28

Well done miniprada ! green you can audition on anything musical. DS auditioned on piano and drums (so nothing orchestral!).

Pradaqueen · 14/04/2017 10:38

Thanks everyone. She's so happy today! Off out for a posh lunch to celebrate.

Hope you've got a suitably large hangover Waffle Wink

woolleybear · 14/04/2017 11:53

Well done miniPrada on the great result!

I hope you had a great birthday Waffle!

Dd is listening to the grade 4 pieces on the cd while doing her homework currently though I think she has already decided her A piece.

Practice routine has been non existent this holidays so we need to get back into good habits for the start of term.

Fleurdelise · 14/04/2017 18:19

It just dawned on me that we need grade 5 theory to progress so I bought the pink book today. I've read a bit of it and went through the chapters to see the level of info and I have realised that even though dd is only on the grade 3 theory book she knows a lot more and it is only a few chapters she needs to pay a bit more attention. So I plan to keep ignoring it now till September and after the 11+ to accelerate the learning and then aim for the March exam session. Hopefully it is doable.