July Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

I was celebrating the end of a VERY busy week with a glass of and realised it's now just past midnight, and therefore July! Have a new thread!

The music threads are for ALL musicians, young and old, beginners and advanced, and every style of music!

I have two DDs, Goo (11) who is currently stropping and eye-rolling her way through her last few weeks at primary school, and Rara (9) who is funny and creative. Goo is working towards Grade 8 Flute, and has been playing the piano for just over a year. She is refusing to take any exams or perform on it though. Rara has her Grade 3 Cello exam coming up soon, and is just moving beyond Grade 2 Clarinet now. Both played the recorder from age 3/4 and got to a really good level, but other than helping out with my school groups, they don't really play any more - they are particularly obsessed with the flute and clarinet.

I am a teacher of woodwind - currently about 80 recorder pupils (many group taught) in two schools, plus two private flute pupils and six private clarinet pupils.

Generally, dealing with 9-12 yo is challenging for parents as hormones kick in and they become a resident in the preteen world... Once I was advised to set a routine BEFORE then, as trying to set up any new and productive routine during those years would be hard and only causes more quarrels. I can't nod hard enough as I live with a 10 years old. Anyone agree?

Quickly wanted to say I'm sure Rara will be fine and sail through - cello grade 3 is a challenge and she should be very proud of getting to that stage already!
Fantastic news Louey
Also completely agree with Fleur about different attitudes to music. I know some dcs where they take lessons on an instrument because it's part of a whole range of activities they (or parents) want to try and they tend to not be too bothered about practice. At some point it just becomes too much of a pain to keep going like that and they stop.
DS2 is like that about tennis - very happy to go once a week and have a group lesson and that's as far as it goes!

Not sure about music needing practice at home and therefore "more difficult" to do. Music practice can be a 10 min here and a 10 min there. While having to get up at 6am to spend training is often more of an effort (and I don't just mean for me). For out of the house sports you can not just cancel training because there is a party. With music practice you can postpone few hours.
But I can't really talk, as although dc may be the most advanced (in music) grades in their year, they are nothing compared to dc here on mumsnet. ...

Ahhh this thread is impossible to follow. Loving the music journeys. only great news!

Yes, foundoutyet, I think sports is harder, with longer hours including travel. Also more heartbreaking, when there are winners and losers. With music, every performance is a win, to me anyway.

The wrong size violin was my first and only Dirty Dancing moment in life; no one gets away with giving DD a 1/4 size violin that is too small!

I like that there are more advanced dc and musical parents here; it really helps when you are figuring out how to do things.

Sports is definitely very hard specially when you start trailing the country for competitions. What I meant is that when people choose activities for their dcs they don't think they'll become proficient and compete at county/national level.

They choose swimming (as an eg.) where they think "a lesson a week will teach dc how to swim". And that is correct. Or "a tennis lesson a week will teach dc how to play tennis". Again correct. Not to compete in nationals but to be able to do that activity.

Music is different. A lesson a week will not get you to play the piano. Or it will but in about 3 year's time you'll be able to play something below grade 1 level. Which is disheartening for a child.

Soo..... today dd had grade 5 piano. She wanted to play pieces first, starting with "Cool" as that was the piece that she was most confident about. Started really well, then an almighty STOP in the middle!!!! We all looked at each other aghast, then she continued. Other pieces were fine, scales not too bad but slow. Sight reading not her forte (but at least she didn't stop!) Aural ok ish :-) She came out smiling (good sign) and said that she had forgotten to pull out the 3rd page of "COOL" which is why she stopped. (The extra page was photocopied so she didn't have to turn a page). Aghhhhhhh its amazing the things that go wrong that you don't even consider. The examiner could see what happened and said carry on, don't worry. So fingers crossed. I was amazed that it didn't throw her though so that was great!!! School performance tonight then wine for me!!!!

Fleur, when DD is not as enthusiastic as I would like, we discuss her next incentive. A wall chart she can tick off for buying something she really wants (small items). I am not to proud to bribe her.

And this works and she kind of forgets about the incentive once she is back up and running, which becomes a nice bonus.

Even as adults we all need little treats.

Daily, in my case, just to get through to dinner...

YAY!!!! Letter just came. Gr 8 Piano is a Distinction with 95/100 He got full marks in two of his pieces!! So happy for him.

drummers yaaaay! That is so brilliant! he must be thrilled - and especially after his injuries. Awesome!

Fabulous result - despite hand injury! What a star!

...I try to avoid the word proud, don´t know why, it´s always made me uncomfortable. But today as I look back and realize he´s done 3 gr8s this year and finished it with 3 Distinctions out of pure grit, and I would've never dreamt he would do it, what the hell I am going to shamelessly say I feel proud of this boy and drink myself into full shame. Apologies! I would only say it in this thread!

You have every reason to feel absolute pleasure over his achievements. Grade 8 is the end of a journey!

Drummers I think you have every right to be proud of him - incredibly proud. And my word you deserve tonight!

Bask in a warm glow of pride in your son's achievements drummersmum Bask away to your heart's content. What a star your boy is. What a fantastic achievement. Very well done to him indeed.

celebratory

So glad your DD is enjoying NYO Niggles I was worried about my DD when she went off at the same age. (just the one text from my DS who went off to a music course on monday- but then he is twice the age of Niggles' DD. Still, I was pleased to read that he had remembered to take all his things off the train and the double bass had got there in one piece)

getting a grade 8 with an injured hand???? That is indeed amazing in it self.
Fleurdelise, again I don't quite agree . The less you practice to less you will progress, whether it's sport or music. Some are happy with little practice and little progress.
All 3 dc are aware that they have spread themselves thin and that they won't progress as much as if they had spent time on only few activities. It's their choice and what they are happy with

and swimming....with 30 min hour swimming/wk it is taking DH a looonnng time to learn it....

Drummers amazing!!! Must be such a relief after the trauma of the past few days! Ah I am really pleased to hear that. Big well done to him for all 3, that is rather incredible.

Well done Onlys little one.

Fantastic Drummersmum- Congrats drummersmum drummer! You should definitely be proud of him- an amazing achievement!!! X

Drummers that's amazing and yes you are definitely allowed to feel proud and
Waffle I'm sure she's done just fine and to get to grade 3 at her age is a really great achievement in itself ( as I know you already know)
It's very quiet hear without ds who is definitely going through that tricky 12 year old phase but strangely we do miss him !

Your boy is just. amazing. Be VERY proud Drummers, and proud to use that word with him because he so deserves it!

And congratulations to only, Louey waffle and all the other results I may have missed.

I am following all, but unable to post properly for dull reasons, but just to say, interesting debates going on as ever. Good job too - I have saved you all from my lengthy drone ons for once...

drummers you have every right to be proud, I know I would be, definitely a fantastic achievement! He's such a !

foundout it's fine to disagree I was talking from my own personal experience, dd learnt how to swim on 30 min lessons over 3 terms. Now obviously she isn't part of a swim squad as this wasn't our target, we didn't go extra to the pool (except the normal "let's go swimming" once in a while) to practice her swimming. On the other hand I wouldn't have expected dd to learn how to play the piano on only 30 min a week without any practice.

Obviously if I would have wanted dd (and she would have shown aptitude and passion) to become an Olympic swimmer she would have had to put in a huge amount of extra practice.

callme good to hear all went well in the end.

Congratulations drummer

callme, your examiner sounds like they won't make an issue of the small mishap at all...well done your DD for remaining calm. Enjoy the concert!