Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Extra-curricular activities

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

May Music Thread

784 replies

Wafflenose · 01/05/2017 15:59

Hello, and welcome to the May thread. It's a public holiday in the UK, but my school is open and I had to work today, which is why I've only just got round to it! This is a place for parents of musicians of ALL levels, and adult learners, to chat about lessons, practice, scales, concerts, exams, and whatever else they'd like to! We have lots of regulars, some occasional posters, and sometimes people who just pop in to ask a question. It's a friendly place.

I have two daughters. Goo is 11 and in her last term at primary school. She's working towards her Grade 8 Flute (some time next year) and playing from the Grade 4 Piano book (currently refusing to take any exams, and putting off the first proper performance!). Rara is 8, may or may not be doing Grade 3 Cello this term, and is approaching Grade 2 Clarinet.

Both of them played the recorder for years, starting as preschoolers. They reached Grades 7 and 3 respectively, but sadly neither has really played since the music festival a few months ago. They are obsessed with their Flute and Clarinet, and really enjoy Piano and Cello. There won't be many opportunities to play the recorder at the secondary school they will attend, so much as I love it, it's probably a good time to quietly drop it. Recorder has given them both lots of opportunities, confidence, reading skills... and festival prizes!

Goo does NCO and South West Music School. Rara isn't that level at all when it comes to music, but is gifted with her hands. Instead of practising the cello and doing her school spellings today, she completed a lovely sewing kit without bothering to look at the instructions, and also made a lovely crafty construction from card and coloured paper. Both girls are keen on drawing and playing computer games. Rara swims and Goo plays sodding netball and dodgeball, which have both been responsible for multiple injuries over the past few months!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Wafflenose · 09/05/2017 21:30

Two people have mentioned Benslow to me today. I was reluctant before, because the hire money could go towards her own flute, but I suppose we might be able to hire one until the next round of auditions for grants.

OP posts:
Greenleave · 09/05/2017 21:53

Yes, "we" find many ways to pass the practice sections (did I mentioned someone playing violin laying on the sofa).

Living in London while being spoiled with choices of many good teachers, the lesson cost is high and over time I think lesson is the most expensive. We pay £100/week for 1hr violin and 1hr piano(teachers come to us). We hardly take holiday so it could be easily £5000/yr. I cant imagine 3-4 instruments and 3 kids(although both of us cant play at all so lessons from tutor is the only way). For family who (2-3) children have multiple activities then many of us could be struggling.

woolleybear · 09/05/2017 22:07

Thanks, unfortunately it is not likely that dd will be able to have lessons at school, I don't think there it is worth a teacher coming for just one lesson a week and I don't know that there would be much call for others to learn. We have no music centre in our county either but I am waiting to hear if there is another bassoon teacher who will teach after school in the county arts team.

Our area wind band is split into two, up to grade 4 and over grade 4, many move on at grade 6/7 to county orchestra or wind band but stay with the area one also.

The similar string orchestra is split into 4 groups from beginners up.

Thanks for the mouthpiece info, think we will look at that for birthday or Christmas.

Fleurdelise · 09/05/2017 22:19

Green Grin love the choice of seat!

Pradaqueen · 09/05/2017 22:53

I avoid adding it all up after Dancing, Spanish, violin, orchestra and piano. I used to buy lovely handbags (hence the username) now I just peruse the handbag websites whilst waiting outside miniprada's activities 😂

LollipopViolet · 09/05/2017 23:03

Hello all, may I join you?

I played clarinet from 11-16, only got to grade 2 but happy with that. Haven't really played since, but dabble occasionally - my ability to read music is shot! I'm now 27, for reference.

I'm also very lucky, I have a friend who plays flute professionally, and during conversation mentioned I would've loved to have learnt that too, but the cost as an adult is prohibitive. She's offered me a long term loan of one of her old instruments and a beginners' book, to see if I take to it! Grin I tried a flute a while ago in my local music shop, and can get a sound out of one, so there's hope :)

Doubleup · 09/05/2017 23:32

Hi Lollipop, good luck with the flute. I'm trying to get my brother to lend me his so I can have a try at teaching myself. Always been a little jealous that he was able to learn a woodwind instrument; my sister and I both played violin as strings was all that they offered at our tiny country school. By the time my brother went, they had a visiting teacher for woodwind. He's agreed, but getting hold of it is another matter!

RapidlyOscillating · 10/05/2017 03:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleurdelise · 10/05/2017 09:59

Just wanted to quickly share this for the recorder fans

www.facebook.com/scottbradleemusic/videos/1402760379760143/

LollipopViolet · 10/05/2017 10:54

So my ability to read music randomly reappeared last night, this morning I've managed to remember all my basic finger positions and thought I'd play a bit.

Got the clarinet out to discover that I need to buy reeds :( Not fair, I was looking forward to making some music, got one reed but it's got a bit missing from the top :(

Will call into the music shop later and get some :)

Icouldbeknitting · 10/05/2017 11:07

Lollipop have you found the thread full of adults returning to music? Not that this will help you with your reed problem but you might find someone to talk finger positions with as there is at least one clarinetist there:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/music/2897437-Instrument-players-come-and-chat

violinandpiano · 10/05/2017 11:10

Doubleup,good lucky with your DD's audition. I think playing pieces to very high standard is much more important than grade standard in the audition.

onlymusic · 10/05/2017 12:03

I am getting behind again... Will need to catch up with this thread. Just a quick answer to BettertoChange - asked our accompanist the examiner name - he said it is Dr NW if he remembers correctly. I can get you exact examiner code though from our certificate if it is any help

LollipopViolet · 10/05/2017 12:57

Icouldbeknitting I've joined that thread now :) I'm trying to find some classical music that's back at a more beginner level to get back into playing, and will buy some reeds later today so I can play tomorrow :)

Fleurdelise · 11/05/2017 08:00

Very quiet here, is everybody practising hard?Grin

We're plodding along, dd's B and C pieces are coming along nicely for the exam, the A piece which was easy to learn from notes point of view is giving her a bit of a head ache as it is meant to be really fast and speeding it up she makes mistakes. Hopefully she'll manage to do it on time.

Fleurdelise · 11/05/2017 08:01

That was piano but when I read it back I realise it applies for clarinet also, C piece faster and she needs to speed it up.

Doubleup · 11/05/2017 09:48

Fleur, I thought it was a bit quiet too...

DD2 is doing lots of practice at the moment. An hour a day broken into 2 half hour slots. Hard work for a 10 year old to blow for so long. Getting much more focussed and with fewer strops, which can only be good! Also having to fit in aural practice and theory (G5 in June) - and homework, dance class, tennis.... It's a time tabling night mare!

DD1 is much more laid back although she has a couple of auditions coming up so will have to get her act together soon. Lesson tomorrow, so that should focus her.

Wafflenose · 11/05/2017 09:48

Not a lot of practice here at the moment. Rara is just being scatty, Goo is sleeping in and missing her morning slot. I think she is growing - she is very tired and having random aches and pains. She's now 2cm shorter than me, and she's only 11.

OP posts:
violinandpiano · 11/05/2017 12:07

"Doubleup"Lots of focus has been on DD2 with her rapid progress/being on the local gifted & talented programme etc"

This is the first time I hear G&T group in this country. Is it for music? May I know if it need apply by yourself or just need the teacher recommendation? Thanks.

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 12:24

pianoandviolin, you don't need to do anything as long as I know. Mine is on G&T too. I was told so by his school. I'd never heard of G&T until then. To be honest, it hasn't brought us anything other than 'recognition', so no real value for us. He is given some extra sometimes, but not much. Maybe his school is just lazy...

violinandpiano · 11/05/2017 12:45

Kutik73,thanks. Is it about academic?

Fleurdelise · 11/05/2017 13:53

I thought the academic G&T concept has been dropped, as in there aren't any G&T programmes in schools anymore. DS has been on it while in primary school and it involved extra lessons in maths (being taken away from other lessons to do "stretching" work in maths) and having extra work assigned to him.

When we joined primary with dd it has been stated it doesn't exist anymore, and no, I didn't ask for dd to be enrolled. Grin It just came up in a curriculum meeting discussing ability groups, those have disappeared also, they work as a whole class but they are given 3 levels of work (challenge bronze, silver, gold) and the kids challenge themselves with guidance from the teaching staff on doing the appropriate level of work based on their ability.

Maybe it is just our school?

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 14:17

Fleur, you may be right. I heard there were some changes in the system a long time ago, but I don't really know the details. I was informed he was on their gifted programme when he was much younger, and I remember those selected kids inc. my DS was being given extra sessions when he was Year 3 for instance. But I didn't get informed by school about the extra sessions, other parent told me, and I asked DS. School didn't and still doesn't communicate well so I have no idea what's going on. But as I said, we don't really pay much attention to such title as it hasn't brought us anything meaningful so far. I suppose it varies school to school though.

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 14:20

But quite recently those kids were sent to an academic senior school for extra sessions - I thought it was part of the programme, but they may be a separate thing.

Kutik73 · 11/05/2017 14:23

violinandpiano, DS was not playing musical instruments yet at the time (may have been doing piano but nothing exceptional), so yes I think it was about academic ability. I got detailed reports at the time, but don't really remember the words now. It just confused me at the time. The country where I'm from doesn't have such a programme.

Swipe left for the next trending thread