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!

It sounds fine, se22. Rara has the cheapest John Packer one available, but we'll surprise her with a £400-£500 Yamaha or Buffet through the assisted purchase scheme (with an added discount upon showing her recent exam certificate - kicking myself for not knowing about that when we bought Goo's flute) later in the year. We won't get her anything wooden until she is 13-14, because she's tiny and very slight - verging on underweight.

Here she is, by the way, being a snail last weekend. She's sitting in her shell... obviously. Note headgear.

Hahaha she's adorable Waffle!

Mine had some empty boxes at the weekend, she poked holes in them for head and arms and made herself into a robot, she then decided to jump on the trampoline like that, my neighbours must think she's a bit crazy. (Or I allowing her to do that).

Dd had a Hanson student model (HE1-it cost £215 when she was 7) until 2 years ago ( she's 14 now) .. it was very good .. and she still plays it occasionally now.
We were offered a buyback/ trade in for her new T5 but she'd become too attached!🙄

great pic Waffle

Thanks everyone. I was thinking about upgrading to a better plastic one. Maybe I will look into a buffet when we manage to sell a rental property and get some spare cash. Unfortunately we aren't eligible for assisted purchase but it looks like a great scheme..

I love the snail waffle. Especially the heatwave head gear, and the shell. She looks so relaxed and comfortable

The hat was to stick her antennae into!

Naturally

Buffet b12 here too, that I got brand new for £80! Her first Eb was a cheapy John packer. We are getting her a new ligature and mouth piece for the b12 which her teacher says will extend how long we can stick with this one. She's also tiny so will be a long while before she's on a wooden one x

Jeez so many clarinets in this thread. And cute snails playing them too. I wish the snails in my garden made music rather than devouring my plants.

drummers!

cute snail photo - like Drummers I very much prefer this style of snail to the garden ones.
I do love the hat very much!

It's DH's hat. In fact, for some reason he has two the same, so Goo can often be spotted wearing one of them.

DS is on a week long school trip. I miss him so much when he's not around. We both do

On Sunday after music practice I wanted him to pack quickly so we could spend some time together. But first he wanted to shower, shave, etc... His favourite mode when not at school is "rallentando". I was getting impatient. He calmly turned, looked me in the eye and said: "Procrastination is the key to salvation".
So now you know, ladies.

Love the little pretty snail and the cute hat!

Drummers: I cant never think of sending my to boarding for that reason even I know there are so many pros over cons.

loving the hat!
dd1 is partial to wearing a woolly hat regardless of weather/situation. In fact her last school report was fairly glowing apart from a comment which roughly translated to 'I refer you to the school rules regarding the wearing of headgear, this is a matter of respect'

Can I pick your collective brains about residential music courses and packing? Apart from the obvious concert clothes and instruments what should I be packing????

Mendingfences my top tip is that when you've sorted out what to pack for the course you send the list to yourself in an email so that you have it to hand for the next one. This is the list I have which serves for July and October which is why it has both a coat and suncream.

toothbrush
toothpaste
face scrub
shampoo
tissues
antihistamines
antiperspirant
comb
towel
soap

trousers
pants
t shirts
pjs
slippers
socks
coat
hat
jumper
trainers/sandals

music stand (named)
audition piece
pencil
passport photo
instrument
black shoes
black socks
white shirt
tie
black trousers
timetable for the week

money
kindle/book
tech stuff and charger
watch
phone and charger
sunglasses
suncream
pen, notebook

When he's been away they usually have a tuck shop and a pool table so he takes a bit of cash for that but as it's been a residential course they don't go anywhere where they could spend any money. He's going away this summer on a wind band tour and there are a number of days where they have to buy their own lunch so obviously then he'll need more money on that week.

Lovely cello and violin play from your boys musicathome!

I'm going to have to limit how often I visit the channel because it's so tempting to hit replay on all the DC' clips. Or maybe not, there's worse things to get waylaid with?

Oh Drummers, such profound words of wisdom from your young man! Think nearly half way through the week already...

icould nearly identical list here except no comb needed!😆
He has taken earplugs in the past as some kids actually snore at night. DS can hear a fly yawn...

dd had her flute exam this afternoon and came out with a big smile on her face . I'm so proud of her! Thanks again for your support, and good luck to those who have their exams coming up soon.

Have just come across this thread and thought I would join in. DS2 (10) is taking his grade 1 violin exam in a week's time. He is learning through school (group lesson) so I don't really have any contact with his teacher and so I don't know how good/bad he is really. He has also been playing in a junior strings orchestra once a week since the start of this year which he has really enjoyed. I can see some issues with his bowing which can go a bit wonky at times and he isn't always cleanly playing but he's pretty good at rhythm and is a quick learner. He hasn't done enough practice recently and had cub camp over the weekend and I am worried he isn't going to pass but I can't really remember how good you need to be to pass.
I am hoping that his teacher wouldn't have entered him if she didn't think he was ready. Just hope that he doesn't go to pieces on the day.

He is also learning keyboard at school which he picked up very quickly – I would like him to start piano lessons but we are moving in the summer so there isn't much point finding a teacher until we have moved.

My background is that I got to grade 4 on piano and grade 3 on cello but this was 30 years ago now! I inherited a piano a couple of years ago and have been trying to pick it up again but it's slow progress. I'm particularly rubbish at scales, my fingers have forgotten what to do. I would love to do some more exams if possible. And I would love to learn another instrument (I gave up the cello as it was such a pain to carry around).

DH doesn't play anything and so it's down to me to be the strict parent who makes him practice and tells him when it's not right.

Well done, minidappled, that sound great! Do get her some fun books now.

Welcome, Louey. Mostly correct notes and mostly correct rhythm, with an attempt at varying the dynamics and bowing will be enough to pass Grade 1. The aural tests are pretty easy, and scales are easy marks if he can nail those.

Thank you icould!
very useful

Well done minidappled!

Welcome Louey and good luck with the exam!