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Extra-curricular activities

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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 · 25/04/2017 09:14

Waffle forgot to say, the first book the one closer to grade 3 has other music parts in it as well, piano, harp, clarinet, I didn't go through all of it but you may be able to get the girls to play together, I can check tonight if there is any flute for Goo.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/04/2017 09:31

Thank you - they have only played their flute and clarinet together once so far, for the Family Music class in the festival, so that would be nice.

OP posts:
Fleurdelise · 25/04/2017 10:03

I'll have a look when I get home and if I find any flute parts I'll post a picture just to give you an idea.

Both books have the accompaniment cd also which dd likes.

MirandaWest · 25/04/2017 13:18

I very occasionally post on these threads - currently waiting for DDs grade 2 result to come back. She did it on 4th April and the music centre has already sent out an email saying they should have had results last week and they will let us know when they do Grin

Her friend did her grade 5 violin a week or so before and recently got her result which was another distinction. DD wasn't too surprised as her friend is (a) musical and (b) practises the right amount

se22mother · 25/04/2017 15:26

Waffle out of curiosity which are the g2 pieces Rara has been playing. Dd has been given deep river and shh to learn by her teacher. Loves shh but not so keen on deep river.

user789653241 · 25/04/2017 16:41

It's been three weeks since exam, and we haven't got the results yet.
I really hate waiting... sorry just wanted to rant.

drummersmum · 25/04/2017 18:25

What's happening with waiting times? We used to wait max 2 weeks in the past. They really have to get their act together, especially as the examiner fills the report during the exam and could give a grade immediately. Are grades changed back at HQ?
We are doing our exams with Trinity this year. I am told they are quicker.

drummersmum · 25/04/2017 18:28

Belated congratulations to mini2nd and minitrumpet Smile

Doubleup · 25/04/2017 18:30

Miranda and Irvine - 4 weeks and counting. I heard that one of the teachers had "queried exam content" which may be causing the delay. No idea what that would be about, but annoying for everyone else waiting for their results!

ealingwestmum · 25/04/2017 18:57

We are still waiting for AB results from 22 March, sat at school. Looks like they have sent for moderating, there were issues reported with the examiner that must have been beyond being just grumpy with DD on exit!

raspberryrippleicecream · 25/04/2017 19:45

Trinity much quicker Drummers. The examiner leaves the results with Centre Coordinator as they leave!

We will never beat 10 minutes for results. DS2 was the last exam of the day!

stringchild · 25/04/2017 20:13

Ours were all sent for moderating last year (school) and it took ages and caused some quite odd result changes - i always wonder how they can moderate without videoing really, but i am sure there is a way.....

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/04/2017 20:27

se22 she has played everything in the book, but she didn't play them all well!

OP posts:
Greenleave · 25/04/2017 20:44

Can teachers challenge and be able to make change to the results. I often read here that us entering via school it takes longer than usual( we def received our result within 2 weeks).

Grade 7 scales are mad, the scale book is "thick".

Trumpetboysmum · 25/04/2017 20:54

Green that's why ds is doing grade 7 trinity he's doing a couple of scales/ exercises and then playing some orchestral excerpts. He'll do Abrsm grade 8 ( eventually) but we will be planning for this well in advance to master the scales . Not that he minds learning scales this is just different

Greenleave · 25/04/2017 20:58

We HATE scales trumpet, violin scales are ok. Piano scales are boring!

Fleurdelise · 25/04/2017 21:11

Waffle no flute part I'm afraid.

I understand that there have been issues with the results this session after ABRSM moved. Not sure if it is just this session or it will be like that going forward but dd's teacher has been waiting for over 4 weeks. Angry I hope it is just this term as I don't want to wait this long in the summer, I will probably be on holiday by then.

Dd is on a mission, she wants a high mark in her exam (I really hope she's not aiming for a distinction because I understand it is harder to get in the higher grades) so it is the third night she practiced piano really hard. She actually did an hour and a half only on piano. No clarinet practice as she had wind band.

She really enjoys it also, she tells me what sections she's working on and what she wants to achieve and then we laugh our heads off when she makes mistakes, mainly in summertime as there are a few jumps where she lands on the wrong notes when she speeds it up so she needs to repeat the jump on and on and on.

It is a phase which I'd love for it to last but I doubt it as we do have tantrums also so please don't envy us for too long. I'll let you know when the honeymoon period is over.

Fleurdelise · 25/04/2017 21:13

Dd is fine with scales, I actually never thought she'll learn the grade 5 ones so quickly but she did, she likes repetition, now we're working on shaping them a bit.

We may be moving to trinity though if her teacher wants her to do another exam before she has grade 5 theory with the view of back to ABRSM for grade 8.

stringchild · 25/04/2017 21:26

g8 scales are a problem because of the sheer quantity.....dd in denial really, and focusing on pieces and sight reading.....ho hum!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/04/2017 21:30

Thanks for looking Fleur. I have ordered the book.

The jury is out with regards to Grade 3 Cello. Rara can play the pieces accurately, so if she doesn't do it this term, her teacher has said she won't do it at all. The last exam she did was Grade 1, two years ago, so it would be nice for her to have it. Having said that, she is finding the scales really hard, and the pieces had no character today. She was very tired and withdrawn, so her playing was quiet and lacklustre. It all depends how she plays in her next lesson, as the closing date is the week after that. I really don't mind, either way. I just want her to be happy.

Both girls have now jettisoned recorder. Rara claims she still plays, but she doesn't. She is in love with the clarinet (actually she says cello is her favourite, but her behaviour suggests otherwise). Goo is playing a tiny bit at school to support her friends, but is obsessed with the flute. It's a shame because she got to Grade 7/8, but she can always pick it up again as an adult, and could easily teach. Heck, I did that, having got to about Grade 3 at primary (no individual lessons, ever) and not played for 10 years. It's now my career.

OP posts:
Fleurdelise · 25/04/2017 22:28

Waffle there are still at least 7 weeks till the exam so I am sure Rara can improve a lot in this time. If dd can do it I am sure Rara can. Dd's pieces were a mess last week. This week they sound so much more convincing. One piece though worries me as it is quite fast, hopefully dd can achieve that speed.

As to teaching: dd was asking the other day what she'll do after grade 8. I said there are diplomas to get and she could teach. She counted that if she keeps to a grade a year now she'll be grade 8 by 13, so she could get some pocket money during teenage years by teaching little ones piano at a smaller fee. Smile Not a bad way to earn some money I guess.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/04/2017 22:39

Exam would be June 12th or 13th, which is the thing that's worrying me most about this!

OP posts:
Fleurdelise · 25/04/2017 22:52

6 weeks if you don't count this week. Which freak me out to be fair even though dd's teachers are working with her to be ready by the first week I am still hoping she'll get last week.

Why would the exam be so early Waffle? Is it a special visit?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 25/04/2017 22:53

It's Trinity, at the school where I work, and the dates were set ages ago. We are going on holiday at half term too, so realistically she only has 5 weeks. I suppose I could ask for July at a different centre - that's definitely possible, but the teacher might not like it.

OP posts:
drummersmum · 25/04/2017 22:57

DS was OK with ABRSM G7 piano scales. We switched to Trinity for G8 because of the pieces, he liked them better. Trinity requires less scales but they require different dynamics in them which can be tricky. It also adds the style exercises, so there's more to learn. They're just different approaches I guess. His exam is this summer, he has been playing the pieces for sooo long now, if this term hadn't been so busy he should've taken the exam this term... At least he will be performing the Mozart sonata next week Smile