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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!

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Kutik73 · 21/05/2017 10:52

having non musical parents, i feel dd will get some independent input that we can't give

That's a well point, string. Would be great if DS gets a help from someone in the know like that too...

We will have a go as we won't lose anything by trying. But I already know quite a few very talented kids in our area, and some of them play uncommon instruments. So yes, DS may have a chance, but I am not going to keep our hope too high nor to rely on the scholarships while sorting out our financial side.

I used to be worried if failure would give him a negative impact or knock his confidence down (not specifically for scholarships). But I've learnt that he is not a kind of a child who gets devastated by failure. He really is VERY optimistic (too much sometimes). So I can just let him go and try then see what happens. Grin

Kutik73 · 21/05/2017 11:13

Fleur, DS's piano teacher requested the first week of July for her pupils last year. But we got the third week of June.

DS applied for the exam near the deadline and that's when he started learning the pieces so he was not particularly well prepared. Being away during May half term didn't help the situation... My main concern was getting a date straight after the holiday. So although July would have been brilliant, having a date in the third week of June, DS still had 2-3 weeks after the holiday so it was OK.

Hopefully you get a July date. However, it doesn't sound like a huge problem if it happens to be a bit earlier. Your DD sounds so very well prepared (I really need to learn your organise skill). Smile

drummersmum · 21/05/2017 11:39

I'm late to catch up on everything, but I hope Double 's DD is not too much in pain. Prada an exam on paracetamol, I've been there, horrible and you feel for your child so much. Well done to her for going through it. ealing what can you do, there will always be those parents - stuff them. They'll be a speck in time in only a few months.

AlexandraLeaving · 21/05/2017 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pradaqueen · 21/05/2017 13:15

I agree to stuff 'em Ealing also! Grin

Kutik - sorry misunderstood the year your son is in. That does make it tricky. I think the legal rules surrounding scholarship awards changed a few years back as a sort of quid pro quo for schools retaining charitable status. This was in favour of bursary awards hence why it is a rare beast if you find any scholarship greater than 40%. It does mean that this creates difficulty for those borderline cases where genuinely talented children miss out on some opportunities as their families are just a touch wealthier than the rules allow. It's always worth chatting to the bursar though as each school tends to have a unique set of rules. I'd also mention that sending a child to an independent school where sacrifices at home are required is also a difficult balancing act. Generally it's tricky to always say no to school trips (netball tours in Barbados not Cumbria that sort of thing) as this is part of the school life experience in my opinion. Remember though that you can negotiate with schools once you have their offer re:scholarships. It's a tricky minefield to navigate so I hope your son loves the state option it might be the best place to be top of the class and to always have a family holiday Wink

Doubleup · 21/05/2017 13:30

Been to the walk-in clinic, where unusually dd was seen within 10 mins, but then had to go to A&E for an x-ray. Thankfully not broken, but had been bleeding under the nail and the pressure had been building up, hence the pain. Hot needle through the nail and lots of bleeding later and she is saying it isn't so painful. See how it is tomorrow as to whether she can play for the audition, but it's a 'maybe' rather than a 'definitely not'. Can't put it off as this is the extra date put on specially.

Only missed 15 mins of DD2's concert after having to walk to the theatre from the hospital. Had sent DH off to the theatre in the car so that one of us at least would be there on time.

ealingwestmum · 21/05/2017 14:39

Ouch Double, sounds like one hell of a weekend for you all, fingers crossed for the maybe turning into a definitely tomorrow!

ealingwestmum · 21/05/2017 14:45

And thank you ladies for the support, I guess we are at least never short of stories of those parents! Grin In other good news DD reached an event final in her regional swim champs this weekend. Pah to that said parent. Now making up her missed music practice quota for the week...

Doubleup · 21/05/2017 14:51

Thanks ealing!

Doubleup · 21/05/2017 14:54

And well done to your dd ealing. How did the dd of the mouthy parent do? Was she even competing?

LooseAtTheSeams · 21/05/2017 14:57

Yay! Well done miniealing!Star
Double that sounds a bit gruesome but suspect it's a really positive sign. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to dd!
Fleur same for a speedy recovery to minifleur!

ealingwestmum · 21/05/2017 15:04

Thankfully not Double! Was telling anyone who'd listen that her DD had SO many interests that club swimming had been on hold. She clicked I was DD's parent at the end as paths had crossed in a recent music concert and that she was considering joining...yep, same club as my DD! I have this joy to come, though I am hoping she may calm down a little, her DD is Y7 and is admittedly very musically talented on top of sporty. 1 strike, I hope no more to come Wink

Wafflenose · 21/05/2017 16:32

Fleur What Else Can I Play, books 3 and 4, Amazing Solos for clarinet, Going Solo for clarinet, Concert Repertoire for clarinet, and some of the harder Guest Spot series!

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Doubleup · 21/05/2017 16:52

Not sure if the photo will come up. Not very techy.

May Music Thread
Doubleup · 21/05/2017 16:54

That was before the lancing of the nail. Somehow looks even more gruesome now. Sad

Minimusiciansmama · 21/05/2017 17:01

fleur also the what else can I play books here, and the trinity musical moments 3 & 4. Her teacher is away so she's given her a set of show tunes to put together a mini concert as a post-G3 project. Some of its from "show music for clarinet" and a couple from a Disney book we have. We have a second hand book shop round the corner so we are always stopping for extra repertoire

drummersmum · 21/05/2017 17:16

ealing Star Grin

Fleurdelise · 21/05/2017 17:39

Thank you for the good wishes, minifleur seems fine except a bit of a cough and a bit of a sore throat. We've been on a bike ride today a few miles there and back, my house needs a deep clean but it can wait, I can't miss the good weather.

Thank you for the books advice Waffle and Minimusician I'll add them on my Amazon wish list. After each exam dd's piano teacher makes us a list of repertoire to buy so dd can move on and I thoroughly enjoy ordering the books. Makes me feel she is moving on and away from exams for a while therefore I'll do the same for clarinet.

Looking forward to order the books in a few weeks, I already have the piano list ready Smile

Fleurdelise · 21/05/2017 17:39

Double those little fingers... Sad I hope she's feeling better and will be able to audition tomorrow.

ealingwestmum · 21/05/2017 17:44

Pain killers at the ready tomorrow Double, the fact that it looks worse post photo is probably a good thing as the bruising is taking effect! She's been very brave.

raspberryrippleicecream · 21/05/2017 17:49

Ouch Double. I hope she is ok tomorrow.

Good wishes to all poorly DC.

DS2 is currently 1 hour 45 minutes into his 1 hour organ lesson. Good job we had nothing else planned.

This is after singing services this morning and this afternoon, plus organ practice in his lunchtime!

Doubleup · 21/05/2017 18:44

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. She's doing the audition more for experience than anything - not really holding out for a place this year, so it isn't the end of the world. She was more pleased to be considered good enough to be asked to audition. We'll see how it goes...

rapberry - that's what I call stamina!

Greenleave · 21/05/2017 20:48

Ouch Double, this looks painful, hopefully it will heal very soon. Hope minidouble is enjoying her audition tomorrow.

We have been very LAZY, and the worrying is we LOVE it.

Prada, hope miniPrada is recovering and no temp today.

Fleur: exactly my house needs deep cleaning too and I am risking having nothing to wear to work next week as we havent had ironing done for a month. We are out door both days with the girls and we cant complain. (Meet Petra today while running after the mad 3 yrs old on the dangerous scooter)

Ealing: I aways consider my children as worse off and I am unfortunate as both of us have to do long hours to maintain our chosen lifestyle. The only good thing probably is I could avoid the school gate "crash", so I dont have any chit chat, no competition (and at the same no information. Now, this happens with my friends circle so much that I avoid chatting about 11+ or any thing risk increasing competition. Its natural that everyone wants to do better, especially come to our precious darlings". The more insecure usually is being the meaner. Its great that we dont feel insecure and not (yet) have to be mean and just get on with our life. So, ignore them Ealing and many congrats on MiniEaling swimming!

To anyone who has children loving alittle of space, time travel, physics..,all these science topics, do you have any book you would recommend.(we love how it works recommended by Drummers however its only once a month and it was drilled within couple of hours...too fast.)

Doubleup · 21/05/2017 21:25

Amazingly DD1 managed to practice tonight - and the audition piece was sounding almost as good as normal. So it looks like tomorrow should be do-able after all.

Fleurdelise · 21/05/2017 22:44

Well done minidouble good luck tomorrow!

I'm entering week two of stressful GCSEs, English x2, maths and physics stressing DS out this week plus geography but then a well deserved break for half term followed by two more weeks of exams.

By then we'll have dd's exams date also which should send me into a full buzzing mode on top of DS's ones. Grin

I am tempted to count how many times a day do I mention exams, in real life or in writing here and on the support group. 😂