Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Extra-curricular activities

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

October Music Thread

486 replies

Wafflenose · 01/10/2017 01:18

Hello, I just fell asleep in front of a very long film that DH wanted to watch, and woke up in October! I couldn't resist starting the new thread before going to sleep properly.

The monthly music threads are welcome to ALL, and we really like hearing from new contributors and beginner musicians. We have all levels on here. It's a good place to discuss instruments, lessons, practice, exams, auditions and anything else that you want to.

I am a teacher of recorder, clarinet, saxophone and flute, and have two daughters. Goo is 11 and plays the flute and piano. She is planning to do exams on both next year, but none just now because she's just started at the secondary school 2 miles down the road, which has a great reputation for music and sport, and is extremely academic. They study four languages in Year 7 - Goo has just finished her unit on German (by the end of three weeks, they could write three substantial paragraphs - I couldn't believe it!) and is now embarking on Mandarin.
She's thrown herself into choir, orchestra, steel band, flute group and the gym. Rara is 9 and has been playing the cello since the age of 5, and clarinet for a year. She enjoys both, but is happiest when she's reading or cutting up paper/ making things out of paper! Rara has plenty of free time because she attends the village school five minutes away, and hardly gets any homework.

Goo attends South West Music School, which is the nearest thing we have to a JD in the south west. Rara is just about to join! Not too much on musically this term (and not a lot of practice taking place, quite honestly) apart from auditioning for the NCO. Goo has been in it for the past three years, and is hoping for Under 12s. After a wobble about even auditioning, she seems quietly confident now.

OP posts:
Nigglenotes · 16/10/2017 10:41

Happy Birthday to Goo!

Kutik73 · 16/10/2017 11:04

Happy Birthday Goo! WineFlowersWine

Mistigri · 16/10/2017 11:59

Happy birthday Goo! My birthday too as it happens, all the best people and all that ;)

On the music front I came very close to confiscating DS's guitar twice yesterday .... practice is all very well but after multiple hours and at 10pm it gets wearing.

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/10/2017 12:21

Happy birthday to Goo and Misti! Cake

Wafflenose · 16/10/2017 12:47

Happy birthday Misti! I hope your son gives you a bit of peace and quiet today.

OP posts:
Minimusiciansmama · 16/10/2017 12:51

Happy Birthday misti and goo xxx

Pradaqueen · 16/10/2017 17:59

Happy birthday to Goo and misti! 🎉🎈🎉🎈

Greenleave · 16/10/2017 20:29

Hope you are having a grear birthday, Goo and Mistigri!

Kutik73 · 16/10/2017 21:01

Happy Birthday Misti StarCakeWineGlitterballFlowers

stringchild · 16/10/2017 21:12

Hapy Biryhday Goo and Misti!

TheSecondOfHerName · 16/10/2017 22:25

Happy birthday to Goo and Mistigri

DS2 has now listened to every piece on the 2018-2021 syllabus, has chosen three pieces he likes and his teacher has approved the combination. I went to order the sheet music: £30! And two of the pieces aren't even in stock so will take 2-3 weeks to arrive.

Doubleup · 16/10/2017 23:49

Hope Goo and Misti enjoyed their days.

Second, I share your pain. Constantly seem to be asked to get new music and it is all in separate books.

Kutik73 · 17/10/2017 10:55

We've already bought 6 books since DS started with his new teacher. We really needed to buy 3 more books but managed to get a copy for each section needed. DS's first lesson was 23rd September.... I'm glad no music purchase is required for orchestra...

drummersmum · 17/10/2017 19:53

Happy Day-after-Bday goo and Misti Cake

Misti what your DS is having is what's commonly known as teenage guitar fever. And it's fabulous.

drummersmum · 17/10/2017 19:59

Aj almost forgot our happy news. DS is through to the regional finals of a national drumming competition. He has less than two weeks to prepare and I have that same time to practice my cool-it-mum heartbeat control.

TheSecondOfHerName · 17/10/2017 20:27

Well done to drummer!

LooseAtTheSeams · 17/10/2017 20:50

Brilliant news drummers - I’m sure he’s going to do well! Star remember his MN fan club is backing you both! WineSmile

Kutik73 · 17/10/2017 21:05

Fantastic, drummers!!! I'm waiving a massive flag of the fan club!!! StarStarStar

Mistigri · 17/10/2017 21:15

Splendid news drummers, well done to your DS :)

We've had about 3 hours of guitar this evening, I might have to start hiding the power supply to the amp.

Icouldbeknitting · 17/10/2017 21:32

Congratulations drummersmum. I'm sure you can play it cool and unconcerned after two weeks intensive practice.

Mistigri · 17/10/2017 22:05

Who are the pianists on here? My piano teacher lent me a pile of books last week with the suggestion to look through and decide what I fancy playing next. I have book 1 of the Well Tempered Clavier, among other stuff. Which of the preludes are approachable? (apart from no 1 obviously)

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/10/2017 23:26

Stringchild we were very impressed. Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

Drummersmum brilliant news.

stringchild · 18/10/2017 06:58

Drummers- fantastic!

Xennialish · 18/10/2017 07:42

Stringchild, I have a y7 cellist (2nd study) if you’d like to ask anything about that.

Raspberry, did you pop over to see the organ?

Doubleup · 18/10/2017 07:42

Well done to the drummer Drummers!

Swipe left for the next trending thread