June Music Thread

[Fleurdelise]

Hello all and welcome to the June thread! Waffle did me the honours of asking me to initiate this thread as she has no access to Internet while on holiday.

This thread was first initiated by Waffle when Goo was 6 and now she's 11. It is a thread for all the musicians, big and small, to share their love (and frustrations ) during the long path of learning an instrument. I first joined when dd was 7 and in the process of preparing for grade 1 piano for moral support. If you read the ending of the May thread you'll realise I am still a nervous reck here we are now, two years later, Dd is 9 and preparing for grade 5 piano and grade 3 clarinet, the exams are in exactly 13 days. I also have DS 15 who is in the middle of his GCSEs at the moment, he has no musical interest.

As I couldn't leave Waffle without an introduction, below is a quote from the May thread. The only correction is that I believe Rara has now turned 9.

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!

Icouldbe, there are several languages I would like to learn one day. But every time when I mention it, my DH promptly reminds me I must master English first! He wants me to speak like Audrey Hepburn...

drummers, thank you for sharing the phenomenal piano performance. We are so looking forward to seeing your DS in September (we will try our best not to disturb /embarrass him)!!

earling, thank you for sharing the story about your DD and also your views on competition in sports/music. I enjoyed reading (with heartache at some parts). In fact I always enjoy reading your posts.

Green, I wish I could answer to your question but I don't know anything about the exam syllabus - sorry... DS hasn't taken any violin exam so he doesn't really reserve being named on your 'children above G5' list!

only, you hadn't been around for a while. I'm so glad to hear from you again. I like reading your posts!

DS had a wonderful birthday party yesterday - we were out with boys all day in THAT heat. Unusually organised kutik brought many bottles of frozen water which were greatly appreciated by all.

Well he managed to injure his hand 30 min ago by getting up from the piano too fast and hitting it against the marimba! Afterwards he couldn't play anymore so I told him to make an ice pack (the age when you tell them to do things rather than doing them yourself....).

Waffle

I can remember the stories of clumsy Goo, bless her. It did seem like the poor girl was jinxed for a while back then.

I Have spoken to dd tonight and leg only hurts walking up steps as it's on the creases. I told her to rub some cream in and see nurse if it becomes red or green and drops off
She's busy learning some difficult vocal arrangements, with not much time and her teacher has given her lots of new songs in addition to choral work. That'll keep her occupied.

Norwegian language sounds great and not a popular choice I would imagine. I think it's great that people try to learn the languages of the countries they visit.

My dd friends who are in NCO say they absolutely love it and she says she always questions if she did the right thing giving up violin, but the answer is always yes. It does sound brilliant though, and I imagine close friendships develop, especially for those who return for several years.

waffle is rara going for it? Would be fab if a few of our little clarinetists ended up in u10s together

The jury is still out, Mini. Her main instrument is cello, but a few months ago, the teacher wasn't at all encouraging about her chances, and has now gone on holiday so I can't ask her. She's only been playing the clarinet since October, so isn't very far along. At least her friend has had 18 months, and a lot more experience.

DS is also incredibly clumsy. His clumsiness is so famous among friends... But somehow he doesn't get injured during sports (touch wood!). Well, he gets some minor cuts and bruises but nothing major. I sometimes wonder if his clumsiness is due to concentration....

Green, reserve = deserve!

Just picking up on the sports/music and learning about failing or not being as good as one thought.
I do think there are comparisons, but agree with the music exams and rarely failing.
However, you can fail an audition, not get the chair in the orchestra you expected/wanted. Not do as well in a competition/festival, or concert.
I know that dd has been disapointed with her performance many times and I think it's normal and agree it's one of lifes lessons.

I think a good analogy came from one of dds mentors, a famous musician himself He said at this school there are two types winners and also ran. I was when she told me, but i know what he was talking about.
I suppose it's the same in sport, there are winners and also ran.
Not sure if others would agree though.

Oh, not sure that was an analogy neither

drummers oh no! Let's hope it is ok by tomorrow morning.

Ealing I enjoyed your post, all so relevant!

Dd did no music practice tonight as she finished her lego creator set that she got last Saturday. She worked on it for the last three days, the level of detail is impressive and we didn't help at all. It is 16+ also so I was expecting DH to actually build it for her but no, she managed on her own.

Ealing, does dd use prescription goggles? I have in the past ordered them online, but problem is that dc can't try them out.

We haven't found as they are great for young people learning to swim, but not so good as performance googles, which DD goes fair few. She's nearly -5 that's (just starting to stabilise), but keeps her specs poolside during training to read the white board and relies on friends to count her in if she can't see the clock. But meets are more of a struggle as you know, the waiting in marshalling, not knowing the facility etc.

But, she's just over 4 years away from being able to have laser surgery (unless it can be done sooner than 18? I don't know). Crikey, put like that, it's not only a scary thought on many counts, but at least there is a solution ahead

goes through, sorry. No prizes for where she gets her eyes from...

Ealing you are not very helpful
I also have bad eyesight. The few times I swim casually I wear my glasses as i feel so "naked" without them.
I certainly can't see dd coping without prescription goggles. As you mentioned especially in unfamiliar pools, she would get lost, literally and figuratively....

I know, I'm sorry found

I'd seriously try them. I think mine's just being a meh teenager. I offered them to her recently for water polo as her script had stopped moving. Unfortunately, they're not allowed to wear googles it seems, (I did double-check). On this occasion, she was actually right.

Ooh where in Norway icould? Anywhere near me? As for summer courses my three will be having a week in the uk - not only fun and good for music but it will force them to speak English too....

If you have enormous great cruise ships going past your window then it's a possibility MendingFences. I think we may be returning as independent travellers next summer which is when I would like to be of the standard of being able to read signage.

Prescription goggles - I'm short sighted, I can't see the pool signs or the lifeguard so I have prescription googles. Once upon a time these were massive amounts of money from the optician but now I get my glasses from Asda and they do cheap googles as well as cheap glasses.

We went to a Uni open day last week for a music course. They said it was most suited for people who weren't ready for being "pigeonholed as a performer" at this age.This is not the course you are looking for, young one.

Mine has been wearing Ortho-K the last 3 months. Main reason we couldnt do French sport trip or music resident this summer is her Ortho-K. Since starting wearing it there has been 3 times her eyes were fiercely red and we had to stop for 1 day. Last night she didnt fit the right one properly then this morning her eye was very red. I found out about Ortho-K when her eye sight deteriorately in a speed of light(6 months and from -0.5 to-2.5 in 1 eye and from -0.25 to -1.75 in the other and there is hope that it will stabilised her prescription. The advantages so far that she has 20/20 eye sight without wearing glasses during day light. We dont know how her prescription is changing till the next check up. Its quite costly too: £699 up front and £59 monthly until she doesnt wear them anymore

Thanks for your advice. We tried our youth orchestra, even DD is too young, but they still gave a chance to audition. DD is very happy she can get in.
Last weekend we took part in local festival. She played violin and piano. but only piano was selected to play in the last concert. Scarlatti K1 & Giddy girl.

icould I look forward to hearing every detail of your music uni search trail!
Yep, I agree with fans of ealing posts. An insightful intelligent lady.
Also enjoyed the club of clumsy musicians in this thread and nominate goo the absolute winner after all these years.
Double I was thinking about the thieves not taking the instruments. Apparently in Baghad the sellers of the old book street market leave all the books in the street during the night and nobody touches them. There's an Arabic saying that goes: "Thieves don't read and readers don't steal"

DD passed grade 2 piano with a merit, happy but hot little girl yesterday. Relieved and proud parents - phew. She did really well in her pieces and aural, safe scales and as expected sight reading (12)!

Off to a hot drum exam later today!

It is incredibly hard to be good at something and put so much time in for something to go wrong. I do feel for miniealing.but hopefully this is just a hiccup. I realise now how easy it was to be put off things as teenager.
I really love hearing about MiniGreen too!
Drummers ouch! that's exactly the kind of thing DS1 would do. I hope his hand is much better now.
On exams, I think they generate nerves but you can retake so the trauma is a bit different to auditions where it's all or nothing for that year!

Makes sense Green to use as you caught your DD early enough to make it worth while. I had never heard of Ortho-K before you talked about it! We would have been a bit too far gone, so went contacts instead for day wear.

Hope your DS's hand is much better today Drummers, I bet his ice pack didn't stay very icy for long last night!

Well done Minimissy and best of luck with the drum exam - impressive in this heat!

for littlemissy!