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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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Minimusiciansmama · 06/07/2017 19:46

Ohhhh no Shock ShockShock have you seen the second skin dressings with silver and stuff in them? Might give him the movement, and drug him up to avoid the pain?!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 06/07/2017 19:52

I don't think you have anything to worry about, Mini. I have never known anyone close to her level in KS1 on a wind instrument, and I've been doing my job for a long, long time. My friend's son is the same age, started just before Christmas, and is playing Grade 1 pieces. I've reassured her that he is firmly national standard.

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 06/07/2017 19:53

Aargh drummers just read your post! Oh dear, he really needs to rest up! I'd probably take him to the GP, or maybe the practice nurse, and see what they can do.

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stringchild · 06/07/2017 19:55

MiniMini - dd was way below that level when she got into u10s on clarinet:)

Drummers - oh no! we use second skin when dd has finger pads falling off (always happens when least need them); its ok as a temporary fix. Good luck!

drummersmum · 06/07/2017 20:12

Thanks for all the advice Flowers

Greenleave · 06/07/2017 20:19

Well come to all new joiners, I will need to read the posts in details to remember once I am back home.

Alex, watched the Boy playing piano and his expressions are so so funny, I remember the story you told about a fallen teeth during a concert :).

Drummers: oh no! Definitely bring him to GP to see. Could it be rescheduled, ABRSM must allow for an injured/sick child to have few days delays.?.

Icouldbeknitting · 06/07/2017 20:30

drummers Oh no! What excellent timing (not)

Nigglenotes · 06/07/2017 20:42

Could you use one of the spray gel plasters to keep it clean but so that he can move it? Doesn't take care of the pain though.

LooseAtTheSeams · 06/07/2017 22:33

Drummers no! Sounds horrid - main thing is to get it dry and pain sorted. I would go to GP as well.
DS1 returned very happy from Music For Youth in Birmingham - feedback sheet for the drum line is glowing so there's an outside chance they might get through to Albert Hall. Whatever happens it was a great experience!

Trumpetboysmum · 06/07/2017 23:26

Oh no drummers wishing your ds a speedy recovery

Fleurdelise · 06/07/2017 23:33

Oh no drummers! I hope all goes well with the piano exam!

Welcome Nigglenotes!

Our school used to be music focused until dd was year 3, they used to have a music concert where the choir and instrumentalists would show their skills. They only had choir but they acknowledged that a lot of pupils had private lessons and were offered an opportunity to perform. Then the head teacher changed and music is now gone. There's a choir but no concerts. Sad

That is the reason for which I am happy to move her to Music Service lessons as she'll have the opportunity to perform both in the wind orchestra and individually.

AlexandraLeaving · 07/07/2017 00:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doubleup · 07/07/2017 07:44

Ouch Drummrs! Hope it heals soon. Always a balance between drying up and staying supple. Sad

woolleybear · 07/07/2017 08:20

Can someone explain the what age/what orchestra thing to me for the NCO?

Dd is 10, 11 mid September, would she be in U11 or U12? I don't think she would get in but hoping it would be a good experience.

Nigglenotes · 07/07/2017 08:43

They have changed the rules, it is the age on 1st Sept like school. So I think 10s. It would make your DD one of the oldest auditioning for that age group. Hopefully someone else will be able to confirm.

Nigglenotes · 07/07/2017 08:44

Sorry, 11s. Didn't read the age properly!

Greenleave · 07/07/2017 08:55

Missed the wonderful news on miniString grade 8. Many congratutions to miniString. This is our aim and we hope to follow you too. MiniString rocks

cantkeepawayforever · 07/07/2017 08:58

Hello! haven't been here for a while. I'm always astounded by the musical talent demonstrated on these threads.

Anyway, DS (16) plays clarinet and alto saxophone. Mainly a jazz player - does Trinity jazz syllabus - and only takes exams that are 'passports' to particular groups he wants to join. Has apparently agreed with his teacher that, having done the 2 Grade 6s he needed to get into the county jazz band a little while back, it would be sensible to do both Grade 8s before he leaves school, as they might be useful proof for post-school music making. I THINK some of the pile of music he's currently enjoying in post GCSE freedom are the Grade 8 clarinet pieces ... it never becomes clear until quite shortly before his exams, as his teacher believes in continuing to play a wide variety of music all the time.

Anyway, went to a concert to see some of his friends play in the county youth orchestra last night ... which has cemented his ambition to up the classical part of his playing too, so he'll audition for that in September. May or may not get in - there are better clarinettists around in the county system - but we shall see.

In December, he becomes old enough to drive... which may relieve te strain on the parental taxi (also have a dancing daughter, 14, so the taxi is extremely heavily booked on a daily basis!)

Also starting Music A-level in September ... as he's staying on in his current school, and they don't have a lot of people doing A-level music, they've chosen the Jazz option within the syllabus with him in mind! Happy boy!

musicathome76 · 07/07/2017 09:19

drummers can you get the exam postponed? This is always my fear when combining sport and music. Hope he recovers quickly.
MiniMistry enjoyed her performance, she has progressed so quickly. Loved the boy's Alexandra cheeky smile when little and his jazzy pieces on the clarinet now when older.

Wow end of a VERY busy half-term! I'm amazed at how differently children (even within the same family) approach/take exams. We are done for this term with exams. My middle DS (9) sat his G5 theory (waiting for his result) and he also had his G4 horn. He was super chilled, convinced his examiner will love him, did not bother/had much time because of tennis, on the last 2 days to practice. But it was not a problem for him-love his attitude for the moment.

Icouldbeknitting · 07/07/2017 09:29

How's the hand this morning drummersmum?

DS had his year end concert at music centre last weekend. It was a good programme and I really enjoyed it. On the way home we were working out whether DS is the old hand at music centre and I think he probably is. What made him think about it was that the leavers who were being presented with certificates started the year after he did. He's been there longer than most of the ensemble leaders too.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/07/2017 09:52

Morning all.

VERY used to juggling sport and music here. Goo isn't especially sporty, but she's enthusiastic. Unfortunately, she's also very clumsy, and manages to hurt herself before every big musical event! I hope Drummerboy is a bit better today.

New NCO age groups (the new rules only affect autumn borns - they will now go down a year, compared to previously, but I do think it will ultimately help a bit socially... Goo was one of very few Year 6s this year and nearly everyone else was at secondary):
Going into Year 9 - Main
Going into Year 8 - Under 13
Going into Year 7 - Under 12
Going into Year 5 - Under 11
Going into Year 4 - Under 10
Going into year 2 or 3 - Training for string players; Under 10 for everyone else.

I think we have quite a few on this thread applying. Goo got her application in on day one! We also seem to have lots of little clarinets - I am hoping that one of my 9 yr old pupils will have a go. I don't think she'll get in yet, but the experience will be good for her, and she might make regionals. She recently got into South West Music School. I also have an extremely promising new beginner who is currently 10. She works hard and is also technically perfect, but I think she has left it a bit late to make the cut nationally. Not sure she'd want to try though - she competes in a sport at county level and trains 4-5 times per week.

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/07/2017 09:54

NOOOOOO I missed out a year! Gah!

Sorry. It should be:
Going into Year 9 - Main
Going into Year 8 - Under 13
Going into Year 7 - Under 12
Going into Year 6 - Under 11
Going into Year 5 - Under 10
Going into year 3 or 4 (plus year 2 in exceptional circumstances) - Training for string players; Under 10 for everyone else.

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drummersmum · 07/07/2017 11:08

11 am. He's still sleeping! I'm waiting to see if he can practice.Flowers

Mendingfences · 07/07/2017 11:20

oh drummers, that sounds really nasty. Hope it heals quickly

and for those of you who do flutes: should I /how should I label a flute for a residential music course? Child in question oscillates between paying detailed attention to everything and total residence in cloud cuckoo land - this weeks highlight may have been falling off/down a rocky outcrop/cliff having taken a dolls pram for a hike......(and no, I have no idea why a 9 year old needs a dolls pram on a hike but apparently the grandparental protestations failed to convince her to leave it behind...)

Kutik73 · 07/07/2017 11:30

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