(Mostly) August Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Here's a new thread for August, but we're starting it a few days early, because you lot have managed to be super chatty this month! I wonder if things will slow down in August due to people going away... maybe or maybe not?

I'm Waffle, a teacher of woodwind - mostly recorders and clarinet, but I have a couple of flutes currently, and teach saxophone, piano and theory when required. I am determined that the music threads should be open to ALL, including complete beginners and adult learners. It's a good place to discuss lessons, practice, concerts, exams and our generally hectic lives!

I have a DH who plays the guitar for pleasure (no lessons) and two girls. Goo is 11 and has her Grade 7 Flute (March 2017) and Grade 6 Recorder (December 2015 and now pretty much stopped ). She has been learning the piano for 15 months, is refusing to perform in any way, shape or form, but will probably take Grade 5 next year. Rara is 9 and has Grade 3 Cello (July 2017), Grade 3 Recorder (December 2016 and also ceased) and is working towards her Grade 3 Clarinet... probably next spring. Goo is off to NCO Under 12s on Sunday, and we need to pop out to get her some shoes and general supplies in a bit.

I have just realised that we will probably have Grade 8 Flute and Grade 3 Clarinet going on in the same session, Spring 2018. Oh dear! If Rara bothers with Grade 4 Cello, we'll probably have that at the same time as Grade 5 Piano, next summer. Double oh dear!

niggle pollution in London is so bad now I worry everyday about what's going into DS' lungs. If the Heathrow plan goes ahead I will seriously consider moving. Your DC have had a great start xx

Niggle we live in London and it has lots of perks. However dd spent last weekend visiting my sister in Somerset doing simple this like making grass whistles and sitting In a field watching tractors. She was so relaxed, she could have stayed forever I think. Your dd will have a great start

Se22 we are in Somerset, near the M5. Pop in next time you're close!

thanks waffle

Wow, so many of us having similar experiences in the same time period! Another city victim here with DH in equally precarious profession, but I left it all behind 3 years ago. People who knew us would pre-empt a conversation with a nervous laugh and question are you both in work right now? We passed the redundancy baton between us so many times. Such was the nature of 2 x parents in high risk silly jobs, now all lies on the shoulders of one.

My only throw back now is occasionally donning a pair of Church's shoes when I do venture out (how do you ladies do heals for work?!).

No such angelic music stories here of DD when young. I went back to FT also after 14 weeks, planned but also so ready after 3 months of her having dreadful reflux. Those that know the condition will understand a baby only sleeping 20 mins only during the day and endless walking the streets in all weathers as the only reprieve. BUT, once on solids, her personality completely changed from an angry, really angry baby to a singy songy happy thing, with lots of excess nervous energy (many called it hyper back then). We still didn't officially start music lessons until 7 yrs but she took to both instruments well and developed quickly.

I am convinced her early angst is what helped her have boundless amounts of energy now to be so active across lots of things.

City or burbs/rural, it's a tough one to call which is the better option, it so depends on where you and your family are in life also. I miss the salary of my previous world, but it's also been an eye opener on how effectively one adjusts. My life is so different now as a sole trader. But whether you spend 20 mins or 20 hours a day with your kids, it's the being present that counts. And they know. Green; hang in there, you are doing a grand job

waffle I'm heading to Somerset tomorrow for DS residential! But I won't have a car.

Waffle, for some reason iI thought you were over East Anglia / Lincolnshire way! That's really surprised me!

ealing now that I am a wise middle age lady (50 next year you babies) I know that boundless amount of energy is a gift for life. Being able to get up early to swim like your DD and still put in hours of school and then be playing that night. That's the kind of capacity that takes you far in life.

LOL Can't ! DH has family in Lincolnshire and it's a monster drive... but not as far as Fleetwood, Lancs, where Goo is currently.

Thank you drummers.

Aah, another 1968 here. I can see you planning your Cafe de Paris or similar venue preparations as we speak. If I didn't know you better I'd say to hell with it, let's suffer as a duo, and do it. And then, maybe not, as I plan to be in bed by 10pm

For all of you with residential music camps still to go, hope your DC enjoy. Mine misses hers terribly, but has a swim one to go late aug...lucky her. Though the sloth permanently lay on the sofa may not think so...

You're just a lot closer than i thought you were - we're a bit further up the M5!

ealing '68. A good vintage, uh? The world was turning upside down and we were in nappies. Haha, Cafe de Paris. More like my kitchen and a good wine. Let's make plans!

loose it's interesting about your two boys taking to different instruments. When I see Sheku Kanneh Mason's siblings, all strings and piano, I wonder if it was the parents decision very much and they weren't guided towards wind, brass or percussion at all. Or they're just similar.

Niggle: I am sorry to hear your story, I wish your plan will turn out well.

Prada, Ealing, SE22, Alex, Drummers, all: thanks for sharing yours and your friend's.

Drummers, Ealing: we should have a SW gathering for your special yr next year(everyone else everywhere else is well come to join too). Ealing: my 9yrs old had reflux too, she just sicks all the time, even now she cant read while on the train or car. When my second was born I was so happy she didnt have it, then from 2nd night till 4 months she just cried day and night with her colic. The good thing during these times was I lost the 20kgs I gained within 2 months(life is easier now and I start gaining them back).

Many of our Kiwi, Aussie, SA colleagues did go home as £ hasnt been strong and pay has been squeezed. We earn the same, I am slightly higher as I went to banking straight away right after graduate while my husband did practice and qualified before joining. We are in mid 30s, no family here and started from Zero in London so staying at home hasnt been an option. Hopefully in 15-20 yrs time(or at least when the mortgage is paid off).

Kutik: we paid £3.5k for the full size violin back in Xmas and felt in love with it, it took me long to decide to return it as the sound was beautiful, its so pretty and my daughter wanted it. It was too big for her and we need a 3/4. She doesnt remember it 1 bit now. I think they have to play it alot to feel attached to it. I wouldnt go for it now as having an unused expensive instrument is a waste and risky!!!

We spent our day in Hasting today for a tasting violin 1hr violin lesson. Surfing a little bit then now sitting in RAH for a prom.

No music lesson until next term. We will start having clarinet too, she is very excited about it.

Drummers our piano teacher is Sheku's parents' cousin. Can't remember Mum or Dad. I'll ask her who chose!

Well DS has done a fair bit of Grade 6 theory, and some buzzing on this trombone mouthpiece.

The lady who runs his jazz group picked him the other day to distract him with some jazz vocals for their upcoming gig. And has asked him to go and help her on a Gamelan and electronic music course she is running next week at a local Day Services centre, so he's still managing some music.

Alexandra hope the Boy had a lovely day.

Did anyone else go and watch the NYO at the Royal Albert Hall last night? Those kids are super talented (although the music they played wasn't to my liking at all).

Not last night unfortunately we are currently in Birmingham as going to see ds in nco today. Seeing them perform at the snape proms a year ago was amazing and is really what spurred ds on. He had never been to a full on concert before ( he's been to many more since) and I really wasn't sure how he would react. He was totally blown away and said " I want to play with them what do I need to do to get there?" Good to have ambitions I suppose. no idea whether he will achieve this ambition or not but he's having a great time trying !!

drummers I ageee with you about the boundless energy- I have one such absolute bundle of bounce and nonstop enthusiasm. We couldn't do the life we have if she didn't. Dance was her first love before she discovered music and she's still as committed to her dance as she is to her music so music practice happens at 630am as she's dancing 4/5 times a week plus music lessons, band and orchestra. Music gets increasingly more of her time these days.... she's a bundle of drive and determination. She refuses to ease off on either at the moment, and is making brilliant progress with both. That said, think after this coming year we may reach a point at which we have to chose which is going to be her focus, when we see outcomes of auditions for such as NCO and the Royal Ballet associate classes come round. But her "Duracell bunny" skills definitely serve us well!

I will try extra hard to find you (and not some random trumpet mum) Trumpet. I will be wearing The Shoes and a pink flower in my hair! I'll be with my tall, dark haired husband, my little mum, and Rara, who is short with light brown hair and a fringe. I think we are in row N.

I think NYO will be on TV tonight, will check.
It's always interesting to hear how dcs pick their instruments. The only one both of mine were interested in was the double bass. That could have been complicated! DS1 still thinks it's a 'cool instrument' but says he's put off by the portability issues! DS2 preferred cello once he got to try it out.
DS2 was very ill as a baby until his heart operation at 9 months - couldn't eat much, didn't sleep unless I was holding him. Thank goodness he was transformed by the op! Mind you, the challenge now is to get him to wake up in the morning...

Rara was a puke-tastic baby. She threw up several times a day until she was 1, and at least once a week until she was 7. We still have problems in the car - even when we are going to her swimming lessons in the next town. Goo doesn't have the same issues, but threw up spectacularly on the way to NCO. She scoffed loads of fruit and smoothies, then fell asleep hunched over in her hit hoodie in the hot car. I had to wash the hoodie out when we got there, and my car smelt of smoothie for some time! She didn't want me to tell you, but there you go!

Hot hoodie!

Midlife: we were there last night. My daughter was very impressed. The woodwinds played wonderfully and blew the audience away in the second section. It was a great inspiration.

Thanks to everyone sharing their stories on here. It's good to hear what you've all done to give your kids a good musical start. Sorry to those who have had tough times! We are living the kiwi dream after many years slogging it out in UK academia. I gave up on academic life as I couldn't get a job here, but also because I had realised that I honestly no longer cared at all about my area of academia. I had always cared far more about music, and it no longer seemed right or honest to be forcing myself to pretend to love my academic career when it was taking such a toll (trying for grants, temporary jobs overseas, etc) and other people were desperate to do stuff I just couldn't be bothered with. So now I have no career prospects at all, but I am happy as I have DS and DH and the mental space to think about music as much as I want to, and the time to do music and teach DS. I embarrassed myself today by almost crying with happiness when DH said he would love to get my old student violin fixed up so he could learn enough to play trios with me and DS in future. DH is far more musical than I am so will no doubt overtake me pretty quickly!

Waffle I will be in a large group of 10!! we've had a family trip to watch him. I'm short and blonde and will be in her jeans and a blazer !!