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Extra-curricular activities

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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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AlexandraLeaving · 04/07/2017 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

disorganisedmummy · 04/07/2017 22:25

Ok thanks. How do I do that?

Fleurdelise · 04/07/2017 22:37

Alexandra I've just seen The Boy playing, he's soooo good!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 04/07/2017 22:41

Well done MiniDisorganised and Trumpetboy!

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Kutik73 · 04/07/2017 22:53

Oh no, I must not show DS The Boy's performance in case he starts nagging about letting him learn clarinet again! HE IS SO AMAZING and has the sort of cool vibes DS would admire dearly.

Kutik73 · 04/07/2017 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onlymusic · 04/07/2017 23:24

Hi everyone, looked at videos, what a pool of talents! Green, totally in love with your mini! Mine played the same piece for exam, but your dd's playing is lighter and I like her performance more!

Still no proper videos from us, however there was some sort of messing around during last violin lesson which I downloaded - dd and her teacher were playing grade 1 violin piece from ds's grade 1 exam. They played it from memory, hence not totally synchronized. Enjoy!

onlymusic · 04/07/2017 23:54

Also, Waffle, is you may remember, my dd also has certain speech related difficulties - she recently started private drama lessons - I feel it may help her. It is going much better than I expected - would you consider smth like that for Rara? Perhaps classes? Mine is on adhd side therefore classes are not the option unfortunately

Trumpetboysmum · 05/07/2017 06:09

Disorganised we looked at the place where your ds is going in September lovely people and I was really impressed. Just a long journey for us so AYM seemed a more sensible choice . I'm sure your ds will enjoy it and benefit hugely. No videos from us yet he was very reluctant before his exam and has now started on a rather long list of new pieces !! I'll see if I can persuade him at the weekend.

Minimusiciansmama · 05/07/2017 06:47

We've just had a gorgeous time watching some of the new videos, madam loved the Summertime particularly xx

disorganisedmummy · 05/07/2017 07:46

Trumpetboysmum,thanks for saying that,that is really good to know. What is AYM?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 05/07/2017 07:56

Goo has just cycled off with her friends for Day 2. They called for her at around the time that I'm usually shaking her awake! Grin

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Trumpetboysmum · 05/07/2017 08:00

AYM is Aldeburgh Young Musicians it's the same as going to a jd but based at snape concert hall and instead of meeting weekly they go away for whole weekends during term time and weeks in the holidays- they don't give lessons but help to coordinate a music package. During the courses they get to work with a variety of professional musicians on all types of music and the emphasis is more on creativity and composition ( I think !!)

Trumpetboysmum · 05/07/2017 08:02

Hope Goo has a good day Waffle !! Ds has been surprisingly good at getting up this year though as we approach the end of the year I'm finding that I have to nag more Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 05/07/2017 08:03

That's excellent, Waffle!
Just caught up with the clips and they are all lovely. Alexandra, the clarinet pieces are wonderful. The Boy is very cool indeed!
I am so jealous of Goo and Mini Misti on piano - they will spur me on to practise really hard over the Summer holidays!
DS1 has a day of music today, hopefully finishing off his blasted gcse composition. Then off to Birmingham tomorrow for a music festival.
DS2 has finished his exams. Slowly repairing his scales - I think they may be plausible by Friday's lesson.

Greenleave · 05/07/2017 08:24

Well done to Goo!

And Kutik, your littleman playing is amazing, I have no doubt why he is loving his music and is so into it, and no surprise in his recording performance. Hope to hear more of his playing.

Alex: first time seeing "mini"Alex, we should have crossed each other many times. Love seeing him playing so effortlessly and relaxed. Please stay with the Orchestra, we need more of him. I will tell miniGreen to stay and watch out for him the next time rehearsal cross.

se22mother · 05/07/2017 08:32

Alex beautiful clips. An inspiration for all our younger clarinet students

Well done trumpet- fab results

Greenleave · 05/07/2017 09:03

Lou: all the very best on her coming 11+ exam. We are not there till next year hence I am still wandering and planning. We havent started.

Trumpet: what a wonderful news, many well done to minitrumpet!

Misti: yours is one of an example where I see how a musical child is working for their passion, and I could see she will go far. And laughing on the bits you said about her booking the train herself. Mine is allowed to buy books, that is about it. I bought her a £25 phone from Sainsbury the other day as she occasionally gets home by herself and incase she needs to contact us.

Only: love the fiddling time, (and who has a beautiful hair :) )we need a violin teacher, someone to win her like my piano teacher. He now can handle her and understands her strength and weakness, she slows when he tells him so. And the main reason to bring us to music is for her learning the importance of practice, of being calm and patient and knowing how importance in repeating and aiming for better. I still havent got to anywhere with these goals yet though.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 05/07/2017 09:14

Ooh, I am going to watch some more videos in a minute!

only yes, thanks for the pm you sent me ages ago... I have just realised I haven't yet responded! Thank you. Rara has done dance in the past, now hates it, and doesn't want to know about drama either! She's happiest in her own little bubble, making things and reading.

It's Goo's second transfer day. I am pushing her to try things now, so that she's familiar with more and more by September. A few of her village friends cycled in yesterday, and invited her to join them today. She wasn't keen, but I felt that if we said no, she might end up out of the loop for ever, so I made her do it. I've lent her my bicycle lock and taught her how to use it. I've also given her lunch money instead of sandwiches, so she can familiarise herself with the cafeteria today, and two letters which need to be returned to different offices. All way out of her comfort zone right now, but good for her really. She left here at 7.45, which is unnecessarily early (we couldn't talk them out of that!) and I'm usually shaking her awake at that time!!

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stringchild · 05/07/2017 09:31

Well done to disorganised!

Alexandra - wow😀 Will try to get some videos uploaded this weekend

So G8 = merit; best piece got a noticeable low mark so I guess she either went seriously awry or he didn't like it 😆 V proud of dd and v glad exams are done for a v long time and she can get back to exploring which is what she likes best, with new teacher.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 05/07/2017 10:05

Very well done to her! I only know of one other child who passed Grade 8 Cello at primary school. He is studying music at Cambridge now. Goo can't wait for music exams to be over with. I think she thinks Grade 8 Flute is going to be the last one ever... we'll see!

I loved the new videos! Well done, mini only. The Boy is fab. I have taught two of those pieces in the past, but hadn't heard that arrangement of the Gershwin before.

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Paulweller11 · 05/07/2017 10:27

Ooh - can I have the details for the YouTube videos please.
I can stick little percussionist on, but can't put her sister violinist on (she won't let me, and neither will school haha!)
Bit delayed I know.....
All good here- nearly summer holidays!
Congrats to all recent exam takers x

drummersmum · 05/07/2017 10:34

string someone deserves a treat! Amazing achievement Star
Have not been able to watch new videos, on the road now and can't overuse my data allowance. Will try to steal time during work hours at home. Tomorrow is last day of school. DS ran the 800 meters sportsday race yesterday. Almost all other boys competing were ten inches taller from the waist down Smile He was coming second from the end. On the last 100m he sprinted like crazy to pass the runner in front of him so ended third from end. I told him that's what I call fighting spirit.

Trumpetboysmum · 05/07/2017 15:26

String that's great news Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 05/07/2017 16:04

String just amazing news - well done to mini!StarStarStar