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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:
LooseAtTheSeams · 26/10/2017 16:00

Well done Rara! That's great news - and well done to Goo on her fab audition! Star

stringchild · 26/10/2017 18:31

Well done Rara😀

Waffle - dd says U12s/u13s sightreading was the same - last line was for Mains (she declined to do that!!); they told her the confusion was because there is a different set up for strings (last line is main and u13s). Who knows really but if you really have a strong preference I would drop them an email as may be harder to change when seats are full.

Kutik73 · 26/10/2017 21:22

Well done to all those who have done the NCO auditions and good luck to those who are auditioning very soon!

The 3-day orchestra workshop finished today with a great concert at the end. It was his second time to do this workshop. The first one was in Feb and it was his very first orchestra experience (after only a couple of the NCO rehearsals so almost zero experience and certainly no concert at all). It was a totally new world to him and he enjoyed it so much that he cried on a bus feeling so sad it all ended. He really wanted to go back, so had an audition for the youth orchestra run by the same organisation and became a full member. Since then he attends their weekly rehearsal. So, he had no reason to cry this time, knowing he'll be there next week for the weekly rehearsal (different music though). He was all smiley and happy on way home.

He was also the partner of the concert master for the concert. He was the leader of the second violin at the last concert so he felt he was 'promoted'. Smile Of course I was happy for him, but also it was convenient for me as I could see him very well. He is a baby one there so if he had been sitting behind someone I would have struggled to watch him!

Doubleup · 26/10/2017 22:20

Well done to Rara Waffle!

DD2 didn't make it to the workshop Kutik. My uncle passed away last week and I got back last night after a road trip of 1300 miles over 4 days to the north of Scotland and back with my sister, collecting my mum on the way. Having missed most of half term, we all went up to London to see Matilda this afternoon. Brilliant! Can't believe it has taken so long for us to go.

Kutik73 · 27/10/2017 06:30

Double Flowers

Minimusiciansmama · 27/10/2017 06:37

double sorry for your family's loss xxx
(PS Matilda is one of my favs!)

Doubleup · 27/10/2017 10:02

Thanks Kutik and Mini

Kutik73 · 27/10/2017 11:20

Just remembered it’s miniNiggle’s audition day today! She sounds super talented (progressing like a lightning) so I’m sure she’ll wow the panel. I’m sending her good vibes! Smile

Mendingfences · 27/10/2017 19:36

Great audition news! We went to a lovely concert with the trondheim soloists last night, always nice with some inspiration 😉
Ds is playing piano in a house concert on tuesday and the girls are playing in a church concert on friday, so thats some extra practice motivation

drummersmum · 27/10/2017 20:02

Congrats on all the audition success! Star

drummersmum · 27/10/2017 23:18

Just caught up again so that was for both miniwaffles.
double sorry to hear. But nice to cheer yourself up with Matilda which yes it was fabulous.

Trumpetboysmum · 28/10/2017 08:26

I'm sorry to hear your news double.
We all also love Matilda and need to go and see it again soon I think.
Went to Ds' end of AYM course open session at snape yesterday . The amount of work ( and quality of playing) that they had produced in 5 days was amazing - they spent the week looking at world music- lots of Latin rhythms and jazz so ds was in his element !! I now know why he is always so keen to go and give up his holidays and weekends he's a very lucky boy to have access to such amazing musical experiences ( and as they sort of self cater for some of the week he even learnt to make his own pizza 😀)

stringchild · 28/10/2017 09:13

Trumpet - they sounds amazing!

Double - so sorry, hope Matilda brought a bit of relief to the week

Waffle - big round of applause to Rara for talent and resilience

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/10/2017 10:56

Trumpet that sounds like a brilliant week - no wonder DS enjoyed it!
It’ll be a bit quieter this weekend. DS2 is on a school history trip to Normandy and not back until Monday night.
I’ve always wanted to see Matilda. I must organise a treat for myself!
Good luck to everyone waiting for audition news!

Kutik73 · 28/10/2017 12:58

Trumpet, sounds amazing! And yes, I too think I should see Matilda. Do you think boys will also enjoy it?

DS is off to Warwickshire with his dad for a sport mad weekend (golf, swimming, cross country, etc...). I'll be all my own till tomorrow evening. I've just received a new washer dryer as the old one had been broken. So I will spend half a day on doing all the laundry and cleaning (our home is in a horrible state after one week of off school). Then I'm off to have my hair done and have a meal & drink with my friends at a lovely Italian.

I don't normally go out for a drink in the evening these days. But after going through all the secondary school entry process (and finally it's over!) and also fighting against the horrible cold for so long, I feel I deserve a bit of treat while boys are doing boys' stuff!

Trumpetboysmum · 28/10/2017 13:23

Yes kutik they will love Matilda enjoy your night out !!

Kutik73 · 28/10/2017 13:53

Thank you, Trumpet! I'll organise a family day out to see Matilda! I'm half way through the laundry. Doing tones of laundry in an empty house is somehow peaceful and relaxing...

Doubleup · 28/10/2017 14:26

Kutik , as well as the storyline and the songs, the whole staging of Matilda is amazing. Something for everyone. Do it! Enjoy your night out too Wine

Kutik73 · 28/10/2017 15:12

Thanks Double! GrinWineGrin

Paulweller11 · 28/10/2017 19:26

Congrats on all the auditions, triumphs and grade exams- just about managed to read through most of the pages. Smile

Kutik73 · 29/10/2017 00:09

Hello Paulweller, nice to hear from you again! I’m back from my lovely night out. Charged 100%. Life is lovely!! Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/10/2017 11:17

Kutik sounds very much deserved! Smile

Kutik73 · 29/10/2017 15:22

Thank you, Loose! We laughed and laughed over lovely meal and wine, and a couple of naughty cocktails. Just what I needed. Smile

My boys are coming back from their adventure this evening. I'm therefore enjoying the last few hours of 'me time' now! I had my hair cut and coloured yesterday. DH and DS both love me with long hair and they would tell me to keep it long every time when I asked their opinion. Too bad they were not here yesterday! Hopefully they won't be too horrified by my new look!

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/10/2017 16:09

Kutik i am sure they’ll love it! How much shorter did you go?
I’m practising pieces in between cleaning DS2’s room while he’s away, definitely a more fragrant room without socks stashed everywhere! It feels a bit odd not sitting there listening to him doing piano and cello practice - I have to chivvy myself instead!

Doubleup · 29/10/2017 16:35

Is it really short Kutik? Will I be able to recognise you if I see you at the Regional concert next week? Smile

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