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.

TheSecond if she would only pay attention on the changes in pitch and rhythm questions. The always does 20 out of 20 in the higher/lower section, the chords ones are constant 8-10 out of 20 (we know that's the hardest) but the changes in rhythm mostly she's either getting it mostly right (8 out of 10) or mostly wrong like last time when she did 41 in total and only 4 out of 10 were correct in the rhythm section. It is concentration really, when she listened to it after she went "oh yeah, it was note 4 not 3 that changed".

String good luck with the cello piece, maybe we can have a recording of it when ready?

Fleur, Summertime was also your DD's favourite, wan't it? So it sounds to me both Cool and Summertime is a great choice for your DD. I prone to go for Summertime partly because she knows it inside out already, but also as you said, it's not in the book so not an obvious choice.

String, I assume the standard for piano and violin at 11+ is usually pretty high. It probably depends on school, but I presume there are plenty of G5+ pianists and violinists out there. So I would go for something less obvious if I have a choice, and also something the child is absolutely in love with. A lower graded piece played with passion will outshine a higher graded piece without heart.

Traditionally, no music practice was taken place during summer holiday in our household, as we were normally away for the whole summer travelling so no access to instruments (def no piano). However, we are mostly staying in UK this summer. For the first time, DS can experience the delightful English summer! I initially booked a week music course for DS but cancelled it at the last minute for several reasons. So far our calendar is empty apart from welcoming some guests at weekends. Absolutely no plan for home practice. It didn't even occur to me to think about it!

Fleur, might probably try that for next week. Thank you.

Mom/String: love that "let it go" string version, I only heard it on you tube and it was beautiful(I cried when I watched the movie the first time many moon ago).

We have 2 more piano lessons then off till Sept, there is 1 violin lesson scheduled for this summer in couple of weeks, that was it for us till middle of Sept( which means I have a break from paying for music lesson and the only thing that I like about no lessons). For piano, with a teacher (or knowing the teacher) then couple of months no practice is ok. So far, we could pick up piano real fast(to our standard only). Violin is my problem where I am worrying that if she isnt challenged then she will drop(do I know my child the best). Who will/want to challenge her when in the first couple of lessons when they only see a "lazy" child. Either way, I am too ambitious, I want some violin practice in the summer, before our holiday(from 2nd week in August) maybe just scales? I also might just have contributed £20 to NCO this year as not choosing any pieces until mid September (when we officially start lessons with the new teacher) and audition is beginning of Oct(05th) is just crazy...we might try again next year.

disorganised, just a thought.... mine loves to move through the music 'curriculum' very quickly too-the danger I see in it-she does not have time to absorb it properly. Physically, not mentally. Inevitably it affects her more advanced playing. Rather than moving to the next grade in one month, would it be just more beneficial to find few interesting pieces and to work on them? I have a feeling that somewhat around grades 4-5 the actual 'grading' of pieces becomes somewhat conditional anyway....
Another thing to consider - emotional maturity of the young musician. I really wanted my dd to play Bach double violin (and she usually wants hat I want :)) - as a result she played, but I don't feel she has delivered. Which is a bit said as it is a very beautiful piece.... She can play it but it is too... flat...
Sorry, just my thoughts as we are in a similar position but I asked teacher not to rush but slow down instead :)

Green, I am reading few books on behavior analyses and behaviorism principles - reward system is actually a very good thing to do, imo. Sometimes it can be a reward per action (reward for playing the piece nicely), sometimes reward per time (reward for not rolling on the floor for 10 mins for example) but it is an interesting subject to explore!

TheSecondOfHerName pieces from Frozen are beautiful! Mine played some few years ago - she was very popular with it at school!

Mendingfences cool! I loved Rybak's performance! I can imagine how it feels when you know one of the performers!

Fleurdelise, when your dd is on Eurovision I will be the first to vote!

Ladies, forgive me for the silly question, but reading about Eurovision made me to think in this direction . Let us pretend all our children became professional musicians. Given the choice - would you prefer them to be on a classical stage or a pop stage? :)

Hello everyone,

Yes, I bribe, green. Wall chart. Ticking off the days until the prize - something from Smiggle, etc.

Still no result on Grade 4. Violin teacher is away I think, so I don't know when we will get it.

After NSSO residential, DD's rhythm has improved! I have entered her for NCO auditions (under 10's), but know she won't get in. There are so many grade 5-8 violinists at such a young age. Had I known this, I wouldn't have been careless enough to leave her musical education until Year 3!

I was thinking of doing one of her new Grade 5 pieces, Vivaldi: Concerto in G, Op. 3 No. 3, which we could polish until October. The other piece would have to be slower to show variety; does anyone have any ideas for either piece?

I know they won't be good enough, as a lot of children will be playing grade 6/7 pieces. Still, it will be very practise for the exam in Nov/Dec.

Only, DD would prefer pop stage, as she sings too. I would prefer classical for her, if only because classical musicians get to keep their clothes on.

I refuse to allow either of my girls to watch pop stars who only appear to be able to sing and perform in variations of knickers and bra.

Don't get me started on the artistic licence of female singers...

Sorry, light hearted question, I know!

Nigglenotes

Hi everyone,
I hope you don't mind me posting on here. Just wanted to get any thoughts on my eldest DC's teacher situation- he is nearing the end of Yaer 7. DS1 plays clarinet, he left primary school nearing readiness to take Grade 3. He has clarinet lessons at school so changed teacher in Sept. I haven't been happy, not a lot seems to be achieved, very little set in terms of pieces to work on. In November he was set a piece that he worked on 2 years ago in the Abracadabra book. I snapped over Xmas and sent DS back in January exam ready with a note requesting he be entered into the exam. The teacher agreed and said he hadn't realised how far on DS was 😠. DS took Grade 3 in March and got a distinction. DS and I are keen to be preparing for Grade 4 now and have asked the teacher to move him on quicker but it's not really happening!! They are working on some technical things but surely this can be done alongside other pieces too. DS has time on his hands to practise. He is in two bands and an ensemble so it's not as if he is only focused on exams. AIBU at being really frustrated by his teacher? I'm worried if I change teacher he will be overlooked for playing in school performances etc, which he would really like to do.

DD got a distinction for g4! Text from teacher, 140, so a fab mark. I can now instigate my cunning plan for g5 summer hols practice.

DS - smoky jazz nightclub seems to be where he's heading....

only I would prefer dd to become a classical performer if she would be to achieve fame. More to be achieved by what she can play than her looks. But if she'd be to become famous by being a pop performer that would be fine with me also.

Seeing that there is little chance in both of the above scenarios I don't really think about it.

somethingelse I don't know what to say, I find communication is best with private teachers and progress seems to happen faster with private lessons also. There's no rush to take exams but I can understand frustrations if you believe he's ready for the next grade. Is there a particular reason for which you want him to take the next grade so soon? Teachical work is really important but you also need to trust the teacher and it doesn't sound like the teacher has earned your trust.

Niggle that is a fantastic score, well done!

Nigglenotes, congratulations! So high score. Very potential DC.

Congratulations Nigglenotes

Something else is it possible the teacher is moving him on quicker by not doing grades?

What a fantastic score Nigglenotes! Many well done to your daughter! Do not worry about grades, some players like us who appears that have learnt(may not pass) G5 however no where near 140 mark standard. I was told they look for "sparks" rather than grades.

Please share your cunning plan. My cunning plan tonight is revealing her of next weekend Smiggle treat. will report!

Oh pop stars!!! I wish mine will be an author, an author will usually wear clothes!!!if she ever becomes famous.

Well done to your DD nigglenotes that's an amazing score!

Well done nigglenotes!!

NCO tomorrow and DD and friend have already almost had tears about it being their last one; they have been in orchestras together for last 5 years. Currently shut in a room running through their purple patches. DH has drawn the short straw and is driving them up to Lancashire tomorrow!
I don't see this thread very often but looks like some great results over the last few weeks - well done everyone!

Nigglenotes wow! Totally amazing!
Think DS1 is too wedded to jazz funk to consider pop or classical stardom!
DS2 is a bit of a classical fan, though!

We have had no electricity all day, so no computers, lights or hot water! It's back on now though.

Goo is playing Hypnosis at her Leavers' Service tomorrow. They've never had a soloist perform at one before, but I'm glad she's getting a chance to play solo once more in front of a sympathetic audience before she leaves primary school. She has been turning down performance opportunities for the past six months, and I haven't been able to film her either. I will do so tomorrow! She had a huge tantrum about it yesterday, but played well at the rehearsal. When she got home from school, I asked how it went. She said, "OK. I was shaking by the end, and when I got back to my seat I tripped over my friend and nearly dropped my flute"! It didn't sound auspicious... then I started getting emails from members of staff saying it was stunning, and they had no idea how good she was!

We had a Year 6 Leavers' picnic in the park tonight, and her last ever KS2 disco.

Neither of the kids has done any music practice for a week. It's been hectic, and they are completely overwrought.