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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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Fleurdelise · 21/05/2017 22:46

I am also travelling around a country a bit lately with work, been to Leeds a couple of weeks ago, Manchester and this week I'm going to Birmingham. Anybody free for a coffee? Smile Just joking. I do enjoy it though as I drive on my own with my thoughts and I get to put everything in order in my mind.

AlexandraLeaving · 22/05/2017 07:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleurdelise · 22/05/2017 08:10

Thank you Alexandra I'll have a look.

foundoutyet · 22/05/2017 09:41

Fleurdelise, same here. GCSE, music exams, end-of-years exams....The strange thing is that even though they may do physics this week, after mid term they have physics exams AGAIN.
Hoping to get dc3 up to speed with aural during mid term....

Fleurdelise · 22/05/2017 10:30

foundoutyet same plan, we'll do lots of aural during half term. And yes, even though it is Physics on Wednesday there are still two more physics exams after half term. And two chemistry exams and two biology exams... and ... and ...

foundoutyet · 22/05/2017 10:56

2 more?? I have paper print out, but only 1 more of each of the sciences?

Fleurdelise · 22/05/2017 11:13

foundout is your dc doing double science or triple science? Mine is doing triple that's way I think he has 3 exams in each, unit 1, 2 and 3 for each subject.

foundoutyet · 22/05/2017 11:20

definitely triple.
phew, searched a bit further and found this on another thread:

For Edexcel IGCSE double award there are three exams, each two hours long - one in Biology, one in Chemsitry and one in Physics, sat in that order.

Triple science does the same three papers, then three more, each one hour.

(Source: science teacher who does IGCSE)

Fleurdelise · 22/05/2017 11:36

Oh doing IGCSEs, that makes sense then Smile

drummersmum · 22/05/2017 12:42

Hand holding for you, fleur and foundout. DS had his first and only Igcse (Y10) on Friday and I was a mess of nerves. What will I be next year? We celebrated it was over with a ready meal Blush watching Charles III on BBC catch up which was hugely entertaining.

green you've been lazy and loving it.... Well, DS has been working hard on revision for final exams, prioritizing school work and doing very little music practice. The rehearsals at his school have almost stopped bar a couple of ensembles. Suddenly I have a normal child who comes home at the amazing time of 4:45pm, does homework, has time to have proper dinner discussing politics (a lot of politics in this house) then goes to bed reading a book. No stress to be able to fit in the school work. No concerts to prepare. Suddenly he has a couple of free lunch periods without rehearsals which he's using to fit in more homework and everything is just so simple, no clash, no conflict of priorities. And I realize this is the reality for many people out there. I have a confession to make: I'm loving it Confused I know enough amateur psychology to know that I'm just loving the novelty and that if he didn't have a driving passion or music in his life I would be worrying about that, but yet...what can I say. It just feels nice for a change. Am I making sense?

Trumpetboysmum · 22/05/2017 12:56

Totally drummers. ds's rehearsals at school have almost all but stopped as well this term so I think he's enjoying doing different things at lunch ( mostly sport where I pray that he doesn't injure himself again!!) unfortunately for this household we won't get to appreciate most families version of normal
until the end of June Grin I love it when things are less busy but also love the fact that both my children have interests that they are so passionate about and I do feel strangely lost when I've got whole evenings stretching in front of me

raspberryrippleicecream · 22/05/2017 12:56

My DC also did only two exams for each science, still triple but not iGCSE. Always confuses people.

LooseAtTheSeams · 22/05/2017 12:58

This time next year I fear I'll be in a darkened room, too scared to come out! Best of luck to everyone sitting gcse exams and Ginfor their parents.
I've signed DS1 up for the rhythm studio for the May half term week. I fear I am fuelling his deluded rock star dreams but at least he will be off the computer!
drummers enjoy the normality! It's really important to have these times to take stock before it all goes crazy again!

Fleurdelise · 22/05/2017 13:28

Thanks guys! I did think I'll hide into a cave but there's no time for it. Grin

drummers for me the normality you describe should start sometimes middle of July till September. I made an internal promise that I would not care about music progress or sixth form or anything for a bit.

Kutik73 · 22/05/2017 13:44

I'm sure my version is much smaller scale compared with those with DCs at senior school. But there were times when I wondered why we couldn't pop in a park after school carelessly just because the weather was nice or because it's Friday. Why couldn't I fit something in spontaneously without checking diary. Why did I have to plan things ahead to avoid unwanted clash all the time. Why did we always have to run from A to B, then once at home going through To-Do list, and kept thinking how much time left till DS's bedtime...

It was a combination of family socials (DH loves hosting events/parties), sports and music, and also Saturday school commitment (lots homework in my language).

But I must say the feeling of being under pressure was also hugely due to my personality. I am a worrier, whereas DS and DH are complete opposite. While I was worrying, planing and sweating, they seemed to enjoy every moment and was just having fun. I am still and will always be a worrier, and I suppose I have to learn to live with this side of me. But having read some posts on GCSE, I do feel I must learn to be more relaxed about things. Otherwise I fear how I survive...

Kutik73 · 22/05/2017 13:47

Look, I even have only one child to deal with. I wish I was more capable...

Trumpetboysmum · 22/05/2017 14:25

I'm a worrier too - my family are used to it and just let me do the worrying for everyone Grin

Kutik73 · 22/05/2017 14:41

So nice to know I'm not alone. Grin

LooseAtTheSeams · 22/05/2017 15:00

It's funny, though, I love the prospect of school holidays because everything will calm down - and then towards the end of said holiday (regardless of length) I'm impatient for everything to start up again!

ealingwestmum · 22/05/2017 15:01

You're not alone Kutik. I'm just getting better at masking it in public

Drummers, enjoy the relative calm. You know the roller coaster, it needs maintenance once in a while before it resumes service Grin

Greenleave · 22/05/2017 18:26

Drummers: thanks so much for your recommendations, I have bought few, someone will be happy this mid term. And on the relaxing mode, agree with Ealing, be ready for the next ride Grin, although because we choose the type of ride we'd like so its ok isnt it. I am relaxed in music and never stressed mainly because its my/her choice to progress at the level I like and there isnt any harm of doing well/worse. To me, it always a gain. On the other note my friends ask me the other day about my daughter music, practice and I told them about the commitment/cost and they said I dont understand why you are doing it. I told them music is similar to art I have to stop myself measuring it in terms of cost/time as the result is very hard to quantify.(its a kind of art and to have an artist mind you have to be free of financial constrained...in the theory world).

Loose: I will be in the darken room with you next year. I have been so worried that avoiding any 11+ topic with anyone in real life and keep telling myself it doesnt matter, dont sweat.
On the train now and nearly home, hope to catch our piano teacher for a quick catch up, I wasnt home before 8pm most days last week.

AlexandraLeaving · 22/05/2017 19:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleurdelise · 22/05/2017 19:24

Alexandra I sorted it, went on google and found the website, sorry forgot to come back and mention it.

I...am...so...tired...

Doubleup · 22/05/2017 19:54

Just got back from DD2's audition. She managed to play and didn't sound too bad in the warm up. Won't know for a while, but she went in without real expectation of getting in, so she won't be too disappointed if she doesn't make it. I'm just amazed that she did it at all considering the state of her finger yesterday! A real trooper Smile

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