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Extra-curricular activities

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

September Music Thread

665 replies

Wafflenose · 01/09/2017 01:01

Hello, and welcome to a new thread for September. This is a lovely, calm and supportive corner of Mumsnet where we can talk about everything to do with music lessons, exams, practice, auditions, and whatever else you like. Contributors of ALL standards and ages welcome. There are lots of experienced music parents on here, but we also have a steady stream of beginners, and the collective knowledge on here is impressive.

I'm Waffle, teacher of woodwind - mainly clarinet and recorder these days. My DH plays the guitar for fun. We have two DDs - sensitive, highly strung and accident-prone Goo (11) who plays the flute and piano, and starts secondary school next week, and laid back, funny Rara (9) who plays the cello and clarinet, and is also a reading machine.

There's not too much going on for us musically this term, apart from auditioning for NCO in October. My main priority will be getting Goo settled in a much bigger school, with a longer day, and she's getting there under her own steam, eek! Luckily for us, we don't have any music exams or secondary school entrance stuff going on, but I know that lots of you do. I am anticipating Grade 8 Flute and Grade 3 Clarinet next term, and Grade 5 Piano in the summer term. I've no idea if Rara will do any more cello exams after the drama of the last one! At the moment, she says she's sticking to the odd numbers. Nutcase.

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Fleurdelise · 08/09/2017 11:02

Thanks drummers!

Since the cuts it is sixth form that suffers the most in most schools, at least that's what I've been told, we received an email a few months back stating that the facilities of sixth formers will have to be cut back due to the lack of (enough) government funding.

They do have books in schools but a limited amount of them and they asked the kids to buy them if their parents can afford them. As I have no other reason not to buy them other than being shocked at the price of them even if I can afford them I will buy them while wishing Mr Gove "all the best" (not really).

gillybeanz · 08/09/2017 13:53

Hello all, and sorry to do this on your thread waffle, but needed to post this as the post I had removed didn't give details apart from I asked for deletion.

I have been extremely foolish and posted something without having the full facts which ended up with me in trouble. That's as much as I can say except to apologise to any parents who were upset by my post.
I know the people upset weren't regular posters, so not blaming anyone here, there are lots of lurkers Grin
Please be careful what you post on here and even if you don't mention your childs school, make sure your facts are true first.
Hands severley rapped and apologies.
As you were folks.

Wafflenose · 08/09/2017 14:03

Sorry you were in trouble, Gilly. We all make mistakes.

Something just turned up at school... it looks lovely! I still can't believe that any child of mine dared to pick a Yamaha clarinet, but hey, it'll match Goo's flute. I must admit that the case is very nice. It's Buffet and Azumi all the way for me!

September Music Thread
September Music Thread
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se22mother · 08/09/2017 14:42

It looks beautiful waffle, lucky Rara. I don't dare show the photos to dd as she is chasing a new clarinet but due to cash flow will have to wait three weeks for a new one. Can any London based clarinetist please recommend a good shop for wind instruments in the London area where we can pick one ?

Fleurdelise · 08/09/2017 14:55

What a beauty Waffle! Lucky girl!

se22 have a look at Howarths.

Wafflenose · 08/09/2017 15:12

se22 This was just over £300.

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AlexandraLeaving · 08/09/2017 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

se22mother · 08/09/2017 15:26

Thanks everyone. I will start research

se22mother · 08/09/2017 15:27

Alex we are south London so Croydon is accessible

Fleurdelise · 08/09/2017 17:43

I like the fact that Howarths does the "take it away" scheme, I always thought I'd go there when it is time to upgrade dd's clarinet but Hanson does sound really good.

catshavestaff · 08/09/2017 17:59

Have had a couple of recommendations for Dawkes from music teaching friends, easier to get to than Just Flutes from round here.

LooseAtTheSeams · 08/09/2017 18:31

Lovely, shiny new clarinet Waffle! Bet Rara is pleased! She is very cute on the video!
Nearly sorted out with music lessons -DS1 will have percussion lesson after marching band, which means later finish but much easier to drop him off. Guitars and drums as usual, think piano is same slot as before, so that just leaves cello at school to work out now we have school timetable! Teacher is really good at cooperating with school so DS2 doesn't miss crucial lessons.

Xennialish · 08/09/2017 21:15

So excited to unpack a new instrument Grin. We've decided to lease or borrow a 3/4 cello while we see how she grows but will certainly be in the market for a very sturdy case as a result!

Fleurdelise · 08/09/2017 22:06

11+ exam tomorrow had a tearfully girlie but hopefully I did put her mind at rest.

Greenleave · 08/09/2017 23:04

Best of luck to miniFleur on her exam tomorrow!

And love Rara new video, she has grown up compare to the previous one just couple of months ago.

And happy instrument shopping everyone!

Trumpetboysmum · 09/09/2017 07:25

Good luck to mini fleur today I'm sure she'll be fine Smile

Xennialish · 09/09/2017 07:31

Good luck, didn't realise it as so soon!

Kutik73 · 09/09/2017 08:29

Good luck to miniFleur. Sending lots of good vibes!

se22mother · 09/09/2017 09:04

Good luck to mini fleur

Wafflenose · 09/09/2017 09:57

Good luck, MiniFleur. It will all be fine - she has a potential school place already, doesn't she?

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Fleurdelise · 09/09/2017 10:25

Morning ladies! Yes she does know where she goes already but for some reason she is still finding it stressful. I think I said this before dd is a perfectionist and reacts really bad under any sort of pressure even if you tell her it doesn't matter.

Grade 5 piano exam showed us this and now even worse even if I reassured her that if she does really bad only I'll find out and she is still going to her brother's school.

I am now thinking that I can't shelter her forever so we're using this exam and the music ones as preparation for the really important ones so she gets more exposure and hopefully she'll get used to it.

drummersmum · 09/09/2017 10:54

Ah, the blasted 11plus, poor minifleur, sending lots of courage.
waffle that IS a beautiful instrument. Does it have a name? Who was here giving names to instruments?

stringchild · 09/09/2017 11:27

Good luck minifleur

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/09/2017 11:55

Good luck to MiniFleur!Cake

AlexandraLeaving · 09/09/2017 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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