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!

Hi thanks I am in London so John Packer's probably a bit far for us although it looks like a great shop! Sorry I should have said that first!
I would quite like to get her her own instrument now, as she really enjoys playing it and will often take it to play along with her cousins and friends etc. But I am nervous about just walking into a shop and not knowing what to ask.
Her music teacher is new and organised through school so I don't have his contact details. So I will also have to arrange a new teacher soon as I don't think he teaches privately.

There will be an equivalent shop in London. Take her in, tell them how far she's got and how much you're willing to spend, and they will do the rest - they'll get out a bunch of suitable ones to try. It sounds like more than time for her to have her own.

Hi elektra try Just Flutes they have been really helpful for friends with flute playing daughters. Just go in and tell them your budget and what sort of level your DD is and they will sort it all out for you.

waffle sorry to hear about Rara's upset. Hope she's ok now.

Love instrument shopping, it will be a while till we'll do it again but I love all the research that goes into it.

Tonight DS has his prom, needless to say I am a bit tearful seeing all the boys looking smart in their suits, my Facebook wall is full of pictures.

Thanks, that's helpful, JustFlutes looks good and is not too far to travel.
As to budget - I have no idea!

I hope Rara is feeling better now Waffle!

Re: instrument shopping: we need to rehair our bow and buy a spare bow so that is something I am looking forward to after the violin exam.

I cant make mine to practise neither could I make her to stop in the middle of a book. Someone cant practise past 8pm while is still up now and refuses to go to bed.

We got dd's clarinet from Just Flutes, they were very helpful indeed as we were all complete novices at that time.

Sorry I have been absent from this thread, some rubbish to deal with but hope to keep up better with the July thread.

No instrument shopping for us either, as dd point blank refuses to entertain the idea of ever getting a new clarinet. I think she will get a new mouthpiece for Christmas. And I'm not sure we will ever be investing in a bassoon!

Music practice tonight: 1 hour and a half but at least 40 minutes arguing and refusing to repeat scales and exercises when they were done once. The same arguing over both instruments.

Hope Rara feels better

Woolley I missed you, and was wondering how you were earlier.

Hi Woolley! Did you ever sort out whether your dd will keep playing bassoon?

Been a bit rubbish lately, but hi to all the newcomers - and returners- and well done on all those results coming in.

DD1 is happy today as she has made it through to the final of the school music competition, beating several existing music scholars on
the way!

DD2 on the other hand is not so happy with the exam looming. She is doubting herself and convinced that she is likely to fail so I am having to jolly her along. We are all exhausted emotionally. Roll on the weekend!

Thank you Alexander, I was racking my brain without going through past threads to remember who else's children played clarinet. If I remember Gilly's also, and sorry if I've missed anyone else's. Lovely instrument.

Double, best of luck with forthcoming exam.

Hope the boy's prom went well fleur!

DS2 plays clarinet but it is a borrowed clarinet (from a friend) and I can't think what it is offhand. It is also nearly 40 years old.i shall look tomorrow.

Welcome to all new people

It's been great to sit and catch up on all the news on a quiet moment this morning. Well done to all the positive exam experiences and successes. Ds has his on Saturday I can't wait for it to be over now. Need to phone the Rep later to make sure he can have a seat to play rather than stand as he's torn the ligaments in his foot !! And while he can hobble around he can't stand for a period with the correct posture. Hopefully that will be fine ( otherwise he's just going to have to pretend it doesn't hurt I think) he's also got a really bad cough but seems to be able to play anyway so fingers crossed. On a more positive note dd's show was fantastic last week and she thoroughly enjoyed a singers concert at ds's school this week ( I must sort out singing lessons for her) and ds has been suggested for a solo spot for some local concerts though I think it will clash with a music course- but nice to be asked
Waffle it might be worth another chat with the school SENCO on the new school year and further assessments- not nice to hear that she's struggling and getting upset and there are lots of techniques that teachers can use for issues around slow processing sometimes they just need convincing to use them !! It sounds like you're doing a great job though letting her be herself and encouraging her at the same time - I'm sure she'll find her voice given time

waffle has Rara had any speech therapy? Might that help?

My (non-musical) DS had some speech issues as a child - difficulty finding the right words, a "fluency" problem (not a classic stammer, but he would repeat words or parts of phrases and be unable to complete his sentences), and selective mutism. He is also naturally very reserved and not particularly sociable. He saw a speech therapist for a year when he was around 4/5.

With time all this has improved - he will never be the most eloquent person, but he is no longer hampered by crippling shyness. In fact this year (hes 14 and just finishing the equivalent of Y10) he has suddenly become a proper teenager and has an actual social life! Invited to back to back post-exam parties at the weekend, never though I would see that ...

Anyway on the subject of music, DD did her final end of term performance last night (Faure piano duet + more Debussy). Not a perfect performance but I finally got a video which I will put on the YouTube account.

One interesting observation last night was that of DD's conservatoire piano class (these are all students selected for aptitude, if beginners, or on the basis of audition, if not beginners) the three students with the most obvious potential were all late starters, one of whom has just completed his "third cycle" (diploma) at around 16 after two years of piano!!! Puts DD's progress over the last two years into perspective ... Wonder kid from last year (Chopin études, Liszt and Rachmaninov at 9 years old) has moved to the big city to study with a big name, and there is no similarly talented younger student to take his place.

Morning everyone
What horrible weather. We are going to an open air theatre performance tomorrow . A week ago I was thinking picnic blankets and a toasty evening and looking forward to how lovely it would all be. Now I'm thinking it will be huddling in raincoats and blankets with drippy noses.
Alexandra we've had the same experience with both our Hansons. Dd said everyone always asks to have a go and all her clarinet teachers think it's a lovely instrument. Have you been to the workshop? Had a tour? Such outstanding service! Lol-I always think the owner ( when you return for service with one of his instruments ) behaves like you are bringing one of his babies back home... it's lovely .
I hope minitrumpets exam goes really well on Saturday and that he can rest his leg
Interesting stuff re the talented youngsters misti
Looking forward to having a video catch-up on channel later

Hope the prom went well fleur
Bless you- I would be tearful too.
We are moving down south in 2 years time after Dd finishes her GCSEs ( her school only goes up to 16) . She will do 6th form down there..so it will be the end of an era in many ways for us all. I will be in bits.

I have read a lot about Hanson clarinets when looking for a beginners one and I'll definitely want to go to the workshop and chose one when the time comes.

Misti that is a very interesting note on progress, I do think some people just have it and if they love their music making they will progress really fast.

Trumpet good luck with the exam!

I am tired today, DS had his prom (they all looked so smart and grown up that I had a tear in my eye yesterday) then a party close by our house so I ended up with a few of them sleeping over.

Hi

DD has a 3 hour band rehearsal tonight in preparation for their summer concert in the park next week and that is it for official clarinet playing for two months. I had been hoping to find a summer camp or similar but all that I have seen have been too expensive. Ironically there is a day one, very close to home that I may have stretched to and it is running the week we are away!

Hopefully practice will continue but dd is away 4 weeks out of 8 so it wont be as regular as we would like. Still potentially Grade 4 next term.

Her last free bassoon lesson is next week, we are on a waiting list for lessons but we are unlikely to hear until September. Dd is having to give up other hobbies to do these so I would have liked to have heard before I paid out for those!

She is working on some Grade 2 pieces but when I asked last week if Grade 2 was likely next term or the one after the teacher stated this may not be possible due to the difficulty of some scales, so I think we will have a look at those independently over the summer.

Worst case scenario is that we miss next year for lessons and she continues to play in the band. Her current teacher teaches at the dd's top choice for secondary so we may then be able to pick up again.

We are still debating music scholarships, though I don't think she would get one for her top choice of school.

Good luck to all the minis with the exams to come this week!
Fleur, I hope prom went great.
woolley my wee clarinet is willing herself to grow faster as she can't wait to get started on bassoon

I finally managed to watch minitrout's Hurlestone and miniearling's beautiful singing. Such a pleasure to watch!

DS is playing Rhapsody in Blue in his orchestra. He said he really loved the sound of clarinet at the opening. He has been telling me his interest in flute and clarinet. But he has to give up something to make time yet he cannot let anything go! So it is not and won't be happening....

Green, when is your DD's exam? If you are planning to have re-hair done, I would suggest you have it done before rather than after the exam. It improves the sound.

Today we went to see state school no. 3. It was much better than my expectation and DS liked it (but he likes everwhere...). They have tiny percentage of science aptitude entrance. It seems very competitive but DS may try this route with this school. They have a good music department too (they also have music scholarship).

Kutik, exam is in 2 weeks time and I am away next week. I'd better do it this weekend. Do you know any shop in South West London you could recommend please. Thanks so much Kutik.

I have wondering if speech therapy would help. She spoke early and well, taught herself to read at 3, reads all the time and is very articulate... but I know that speech therapists do sometimes cover issues that one might not expect. I'll find out.