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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

July Music Thread

999 replies

Wafflenose · 01/07/2017 00:12

I was celebrating the end of a VERY busy week with a glass of Wine 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.

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Noteventhebestdrummer · 21/07/2017 21:33

Thanks! ARSM is the most fun exam any of my sons have done, gets to the heart of music making and invites thoughtful construction of a programme. The examiner seemed to like it but one is never sure until the results come in!

Doubleup · 21/07/2017 21:34

Noteven, your DS is just showing off now! Excellent!

As Kutik says, you can play two pieces by the same composer as long as they are contrasting. DD2 played two from the same Michael Rose bassoon book - a waltz and a tango - for the U10 audition.

DD2's last day of the school year today and she came out with the little cup that is awarded for music in Year 5 each year. She was very happy.

Kutik73 · 21/07/2017 21:35

Well done to Noteven's DS! StarStarStar

I agree, half Bach Double wouldn't sound right. But DS's teacher didn't seem to think it's a problem, although it's not that he was recommending to do so. We had this conversation last year.

stringchild · 22/07/2017 09:07

Double up - yes definitely contrasting; and things they love 😀

Trumpetboysmum · 22/07/2017 11:00

Just popping in to say 'hi' struggling to keep up with the thread this week - end of term madness plus trying to organise moving house in a couple of weeks time! Keep forgetting that I also need to take ds to his NCO course next weekend before we actually move ( fingers crossed it all goes to plan) ds has been unwell this week I think his crazy year has finally caught up with him ! But he's still found time to practice his purple patches which arrived very last minute and involved lots of transposition Shock anyway think he's there with those now whic is good as he says he wants to audition with new pieces in the autumn so he needs to get on with learning those now ! I have pointed out that he has perfectly good grade 7 standard pieces which he plays really well which he could use but he's always into learning the next thing !!

LooseAtTheSeams · 22/07/2017 11:02

PaulWeller DS1 uses Rockschool - he did at grade 4 anyway. Since then, he's not really done the exam syllabus although he's checked he can sight read the pieces on the higher grades.
He did grade 1 with Trinity but it was a long time ago! I think the advantage of Rockschool is that the drum, bass/guitar and keyboard pieces overlap so you can do duets etc. On the other hand Trinity offers a lot of percussion options - more than ABRSM - so it could make sense to do all the percussion exams with one board. DS1 does ABRSM for tuned percussion. He does not enjoy the aural section!

Minimusiciansmama · 22/07/2017 12:09

We are London bound today. RCM & proms tomorrow, then ballet summer school at Pineapple for the week. Dance bag full to overflowing, half a suitcase just of instrument & piano & clarinet music... one outfit of normal clothes. Packing according to my kid.

Mendingfences · 22/07/2017 12:23

I'm still ironing and sticking on labels. They'll still probably lose stuff but hey ho.

Music wise they are happy to practise but strangely resistant to remembering musical terms in English...... maybe time for some serious bribes or i could just out off the ice cream supply until they can all identify minims, crotchets and quavers....😆

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 22/07/2017 12:31

mini sounds like a lot of fun! DD2 is a ballet fan too, she's heading to Tring for a week at end of month. Her first residential!

Icouldbeknitting · 22/07/2017 12:48

I'm going to be home alone all week as DH and DS will be day attenders on a residential music school. They vanish before breakfast and come home to sleep. This is the week where I get to grips with the back of the freezer by eating up all the odd bits of leftovers.

Has DS looked for the piano part for the piece he intends playing at the midweek concert? No of course he hasn't, it's ages away. Has he considered that he's not going to be home to look for it? No of course he hasn't. I have no idea when this will sink in but I have a good idea who it is that will end up ploughing through the piles of loose sheet music looking for it.

stringchild · 22/07/2017 17:22

Mini - we are priming tom too!

Trumpets- match you poorly child but sounds like you have made more in roads in purple patches than us; notes and Ruthin fine but they are so fast!! We are moving house too in next few weeks - also behind on that!

stringchild · 22/07/2017 17:23

Rhythm!!

se22mother · 22/07/2017 17:27

We are promming tomorrow too Grin

Paulweller11 · 22/07/2017 17:49

Thanks loose- I got her a Trinity rock and pop gr4 book but it seemed so much easier than Rockschool, and there were no technical exercises either (which seemed odd).
Think we will stick with rock school till she starts school in Sept and see what they say?

Ollycat · 22/07/2017 17:57

Nothing like the successes of some dc but dd has passed Grade 3 violin with a solid merit at 125. Really proud of her especially as she didn't play her best piece anywhere near as well as her normal standard. Best of all she's thrilled with her result Smile

Original poster
Wafflenose · 22/07/2017 18:05

Well done MiniOlly! Lovely mark.

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AlexandraLeaving · 22/07/2017 18:09

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Trumpetboysmum · 22/07/2017 18:09

Only that's great . String some of them are really fast ( and some very scary trumpet solos which I'm hoping they share out/ duet on like they did at easter )
My house now looks a total mess and I have no idea how I am going to be sorted in the next week 😆 Mind you we are buying a house to do up so I guess I should start to get used to that !!

stringchild · 22/07/2017 18:50

Trumpet - snap! we are going to be living in chaos for at least a year, and prob much longer; i am not so good at chaos!

Waffle - has Goo got the purple patches up to speed?

Miniolly - well done :)

we are doing the 6pm Prom tomorrow

stringchild · 22/07/2017 18:52

Trumpet - meant to say all the pieces are amazing for all parts of the orchestra which is great, but yes those trumpets are going to be in the spotlight Grin

se22mother · 22/07/2017 18:52

String snap re tomorrow

Original poster
Wafflenose · 22/07/2017 19:19

String I really don't know. They were great a week or two ago, but she has been doing sod all recently (last week of primary and very chaotic) and when she did practise, it was Hypnosis only. She's really stacked off since I put my foot down about no grade 8 next term, and is now at a sleepover. I will get on her case tomorrow.

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Trumpetboysmum · 22/07/2017 19:31

Waffle ds has been messaging his friends from NCO and I think the amount of practice that has been going on is very variable !! We did get a nice note with our purple patches when they sent them out saying that they knew it was very late to be handing them out and not to worry too much if they didn't have much time to look at them . I think it is going to be a very hard working week when they are all away !!

stringchild · 22/07/2017 21:07

Yes I think the fact most won't have had lessons will be taken into account.....

Doubleup · 22/07/2017 21:13

Well done to miniOlly!

A bit hit and miss here with U11 purple patches practice. DD2 is excited that they will be playing Pirates of the Caribbean though Smile

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