(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!

We haven't been to a NYO concert, but DS2 loves the NYO Inspire days, when you play alongside some of the current members. They rehearse for a day in sections and orchestra, then do a sharing performance. Last time we had Enigma variations.

They always say the NYO kids aren't sprinkled with fairy dust, they have just worked hard and taken advantage of any opportunities.

10 of us rolled up to watch Goo when she was in under 10s, because I had family nearby. Just the four of us today. I am wearing blue and white trousers and top.

hi Trumpet we will be a random group scattered across the Hall as have had to buy disabled and non disabled seating - Trumpet think i spotted you last sunday now you have described yourself! so excited to see them but also to get dd home :)

I will look out for you we live all very the country but have used this as an excuse to meet up ( plus as our family live all over the place they don't often have a chance to see either of my dc perform ) off to find a park now so the children in the group can run off some energy.
NYO inspire sounds great I think he's a bit young yet but I'll look into it in a couple of years time

String I was probably the very tired slightly stressed out one last week !! Blackpool is a really long way from Suffolk and we were in the middle of moving house! Now in the new house so are taking them both back to their new home after the concert

Trumpet thats lovely; if you are in cars i suggest the Botanical Gardens (you have to pay) or Cannon Hill Park as v close and easy. both have cafes and excellent 'play grounds' :)

Thank you

I'm feeling old - '67 baby here! Still, I haven't grown up yet!

2 x 4/4 violin are still here with me. I have no car this weekend as DH took it to have a boys' long weekend in Warwickshire. So that's my excuse why I haven't returned them yet (the dilemma is still alive after all the wise advice...).

At around 10.15pm last night, I received message from DH telling me about their action packed first day, then now DS was having tea happily. DH was probably proud to show me how hands-on he was, but I wasn't impressed with the late night supper. My other half has extra-ordinary energy level so always plans crazy schedule, especially when I am not around. I hope he send DS to bed earlier tonight, especially if he is going to have another crazy day tomorrow....

Minimusicians, DS was a bit like your DD. He was super energetic (like his daddy) and could tackle so many things with high concentration. So naturally he achieved well in wider areas. However, I felt the time to make a decision was fast approaching around this time last year.

2016/2017 was quite a year for DS, juggling all the high requirements. He liked all he did so he dreamed to have 10 days a week or 48 hours a day so everything would be fitted in. But a week will always stay as 7 days only, and at last very recently he had to make a conscious decision, well, at least for now, to be able to make most of the opportunities he is given.

He will still does all the activities he has been doing (apart from Saturday schools and cubs as they clash with JD and orchestra), but hopefully no more crazy commitments in a team sport, at least next two terms as JD is starting and we need to find a balance for the new schedule. He is still young, so this decision is not permanent obviously and can be reviewed again. I hope you will find a good balance for your talented DD. As you say, her "Duracell bunny" skills will keep taking her far and further.

Alexandra, good to see there are more of us approaching the magic version 5.0

Loose, you going first? Unless you have slipped through the back door?

alexandra you bet!
I just left DS at residential. Roomate his age happens to like the same jazz band and they talked for an hour non-stop before being joined by 3 others and then they all started talking jazz and you wouldn't have been able tk tell that five minutes before they didn't know each other. It was formidable to behold. I in turn made friends with some parents who happen to be jd parents at the jd DS is attending in September so that was extra nice. A gret day, I feel happy leaving him there and now waiting for my train...

In fact DS and his roomate have so much to discuss I doubt he'll get any sleep

ealing it was back in March...
drummers what a lovely thing to happen! You're right, though, they won't get any sleep. But it's worth it!
Hope everyone's had a lovely day and managed to connect with each other -although I'm sure the random trumpet mum suspects she's missing out on something good!

Loose me too!

I've been wondering how the concert went too. Have a safe journey back everyone.

Loose - it was amazing😀 Kids worked so hard and the music choices were so good.

Great string !

Hope you ladies managed to find each other and the minis had an amazing time. The u12 photos look fab on FB, sounds like they did a great job! We will go watch the u13 concert in a couple of weeks as she's getting rather excited by the whole idea of "going on a holiday to do Orchestra for a WHOLE WEEK!!!"

I met the lively Trumpet and also a few randoms - but I didn't start any more embarrassing conversations! More news when my two monkeys have gone to bed.

They're in bed. Finally.

I upgraded to version 4.0 a few months ago, and haven't encountered any glitches so far. It seems to be working out OK.

It was nice to catch up with friends new and old, and particularly nice to finally find Trumpet, although she actually found me in the end! Sorry Rara was uncommunicative. That's her default setting, but she might have waved if I hadn't upset her half an hour earlier. She was in a foul mood, but is OK now.

The pieces were brilliant, the venue was fab and made a huge difference. The conductor was energetic, enthusiastic and really pushed them all along - there was no nonsense, everything was played up to speed and so tightly. I thought the children were way better than even back in April - they have matured and improved so much! My favourite piece was the Conga!

It's nice to have my loud, emotional, sarcastic, sociable, sensitive Goo back. She had fun socially (although some kids decided to talk about her behind her back and then ditch her - nobody on here or close to anyone on here, I don't think. Gah! Girls!!) and loved playing the flute lots. She intends to try out three more times, and is hoping for Under 12s again next year, but interestingly she is saying she no longer wants to be a professional orchestral flautist. I think it has dawned on her that that is what the rest of her life would be like. I can imagine her doing law. She is quick, precise and has an argument and references for absolutely everything. We'll see!

The girls spent the journey home arguing, squealing, trying to out-sarcastic and out-pedantic each other. It was very wearing!

Lovely to see you again Waffle; I too was amazed how far they have come since April. We are still buzzing here! Really was a treat to be there today. Now dd Is v excited to look at your bass pieces tomorrow! Maybe we will record them for you if she anywhere near masters them 😀

Oh yes please! Nobody has played them yet, even me. I can't remember at all how they go. If none are suitable, I'll think again.

Waffle great to meet you today ! Back in our new home now ( think that's gone ok with the dc they have gone to bed anyway!) concert was fab and ds says he is definitely trying out again for under 13s next year

I can't believe you had to move house while all that was going on! I hope you love the new house.

Oh that sounds fabulous and you all met each other! !!
I just watched the whole NYO prom on bbc catch up. They're so good.