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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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Wafflenose · 25/05/2017 15:52

I thought of all our Chets kids on here too. I hope they are all doing as well as can be expected. Flowers

Goo has a new flute. She is delighted, and has gone off to practice without being asked.

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Wafflenose · 25/05/2017 16:02

*practise!! I'm usually quite good at this stuff.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 25/05/2017 17:18

FlowersFlowers to all the Chets kids.
Waffle congratulations on the new flute!
Went to the year 10 recital at DS1's school - we were all melting slightly in the heat but some great performances and DS1's bass solo went very well so that's a good sign for his exam in July.

raspberryrippleicecream · 25/05/2017 18:38

Flowers to Chets' kids and parents too. Just been asking after the older sister of one of our Choristers, who is also there.

School music finished 2 weeks ago for us, so there is a couple of evenings I don't have to do pick ups.

DS2 has decided to aim for Grade 6 theory next term.

raspberryrippleicecream · 25/05/2017 18:41

Also meant to say NYO inspire sign ups have opened for July (Birmingham) and September (Leeds) Days

Great days, free. For 13 - 18 year olds, minimum Grade 6 standard.

Minimusiciansmama · 25/05/2017 20:47

Can I ask you ladies about MDS funding please?? .... I'm completely new to this bit of it all. when a child is eligible, and has a place, is it still not a given that they'll get the funding?
We've had the official offer of her YYM place but it's definitely not something I can do without the grant. I kind of just want to steel myself in case I've a battle on my hands.

Fleurdelise · 25/05/2017 21:00

Congrats on the new flute Waffle!

Paulweller11 · 25/05/2017 21:04

It's on a sliding scale to what you earn -as from as I'm aware- so as long as you are a Uk resident then your eligible for funding- how much will depend on your income.
Anyone else, with a more concrete answer? X

Paulweller11 · 25/05/2017 21:05

Just out of curiosity what's YYM- and congrats x

Wafflenose · 25/05/2017 21:29

If your income is in the correct bracket, you will get a full or partial grant. Do check the rules for your particular provider though - funding for ours starts at age 8. Not to alarm you - they are probably all different.

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gillybeanz · 25/05/2017 22:01

Hello all, thanks for all the comments and well wishes. She's from under the duvet and went out, but it's really bad near us atm. Bomb squad with one of those robot things an arrest and raids on 2 properties near us.

Anyway this is about music and I just wanted to say thank you Thanks

This is how MDS works at dd school.
chethamsschoolofmusic.com/about/fees-and-finance/

gillybeanz · 25/05/2017 22:03

I think it's different for the jd's though.
I can remember when RNCM jd was £3, 600 and the MDS would have covered it all for us, but we were low income at the time.

How much are the fees?

Minimusiciansmama · 25/05/2017 22:30

It sounds really scary, especially for the children. Thoughts to you all xxx

Fees are £3700. Financially, we are eligible, by quite a margin. The director said she will be ok because she turns 8 in the academic year she applies. I was just worried whether it's a case of they only give a few out or if they fund those who are eligible

YYM- Yorkshire young musicians. Smile

Wafflenose · 25/05/2017 22:44

No - they fund those who are eligible.

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gillybeanz · 25/05/2017 22:53

Mini yes waffle is correct. They fund anyone who is eligible if their organisation is part of the scheme.

This shows all the organisations
www.gov.uk/music-dance-scheme

Paulweller11 · 25/05/2017 22:57

Ah of course- thank you Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 26/05/2017 06:40

Sorry just managed to catch up. Gilly it musy have been so scary for them Flowers glad she has felt able to go out and hope things start to calm down near to you now.
Waffle great news about the flute hope Goo enjoys it
We're nearly at half term happy holidays everyone Smile there will be lots of music practise here but hopefully lots of relaxing too im exhausted

Minimusiciansmama · 26/05/2017 07:53

waffle I hope Goo has a lot of fun with her new flute!

Last day then holidays!! We've got lots of fun with music workshops and dance workshops then a trip to London, plus the monkey loves her holiday music lessons!

Doubleup · 26/05/2017 08:44

Got one still in school today and one with an INSET day. A beautiful morning for den building and then a party this afternoon. Then NCO Regional rehearsals book ending the hols and a week of hard slog. DD2 is having a bit of a crisis of confidence in the lead up to the exam, but we have 5 full weeks to address it.
DD1 has end of year exams first week back and has done virtually no revision so far! Quite typical for her. Almost hoping that she will fall flat so that she learns before GCSEs. Is that mean? She can always intersperse the revision with preparation for an audition for a school music scholarship. She narrowly missed out in Y7, but everyone has to re-audition for Y10/Y11 and she has as good a chance as any I guess.

Will be trying to fit in some fun things too....

Wafflenose · 26/05/2017 09:14

Goo is thrilled. She is happily contributing a small amount of her savings towards something she wanted so desperately! She doesn't want to tell the teacher about the flute, but is planning to wait for her to notice! Grin

This time tomorrow, we will be in Cornwall. I can't wait! I have to work today and haven't started packing, but it'll happen at some point. Don't worry though, the June thread is all under control.

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Doubleup · 26/05/2017 09:55

Glad Goo is enjoying the flute Waffle. There's nothing quite like a new instrument to inspire more playing. DD1 was the same when she got her oboe. It wore off after a while 🙂 Getting that instrument was the best thing we did for her playing and sound though.

drummersmum · 26/05/2017 10:40

May half-term has always been dedicated to revision in this house since yr 7 because final exams are always the week after. This year however he's going a few days to the Hay festival with two friends and revising when he's back. I think it'll do more for his learning than being locked up in his room for a week.
waffle so glad about the new flute! A photo please? Wink

Icouldbeknitting · 26/05/2017 11:27

Congratulations on the new flute, I hope the effects of a new instrument last longer than they did here (a week). I've just got back from the repairers - DH managed to drop his cornet and DS's tuning trigger came apart. I don't know which one of them was more upset, there wasn't much to choose between them.

I've just had the details of the european band trip in the summer, the coach arrives at 3 o'clock for a 4 o'clock departure. I've forwarded the email to DS and I'm waiting for the stream of expletives when he realises that this is AM rather than PM. The plus side is that traffic should be light at silly o'clock.

hertsandessex · 26/05/2017 11:37

Minimusiciansmama Thu 25-May-17 20:47:20
Can I ask you ladies about MDS funding please?? .... I'm completely new to this bit of it all. when a child is eligible, and has a place, is it still not a given that they'll get the funding?
We've had the official offer of her YYM place but it's definitely not something I can do without the grant. I kind of just want to steel myself in case I've a battle on my hands.

I asked this exact question and the answer was yes - the offer includes finance according to MDS criteria one way or other. I was worried about quitting elsewhere and then finding out in say July or August that there was a problem with MDS finance but they said this was impossible. Worse case there was an MDS problem somehow the school would fund the place according to MDS rules. (This of course assumes you comply with the MDS application and meet criteria etc.)

drummersmum · 26/05/2017 17:24

Just heard that next autumn DS will be going on tour with the big band (to another European country) which is great fun news for him.

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