November Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

New month, new thread! This is a place for musicians and parents of musicians, from complete beginners to experienced and everything in between, to talk about everything to do with music! Previous threads have covered exams, practice, scales, instrument hire and purchase, theory, composition, aural woes, auditions, scholarship preparation and much more.

I started these threads when my 12 year old daughter Goo was 6 and preparing for Grade 1. I never thought we'd still be going, 6 years later! I appreciated all the advice I was given back then, and try to repay that when I can.

Goo plays the flute and piano (she has been learning the piano for 18 months but has yet to perform - ever) and has no exams lined up at the moment. I also have Rara who is 9, and working towards her third Grade 3, on the clarinet. The other two were on the cello and recorder. She's more interested in art and reading, and currently swims five times a week.

I am a teacher of woodwind, and Wednesday is my day from you-know-where... full-on from 6.30 am until 10 pm, and about to get worse!!

Double - my DD is also expected to be in choir as a music scholar and she hates singing. I agree though if she wasn't aware that is a bit rough.

Congrats to the successes of trumpet and drummers!

Double don't wait for parent's evening, talk to them now. Commitment isn't the issue, time constraints are. You will have other things to talk about at parent's evening, don't waste your precious time slot on this.

After all the non-exam talk, DS decided to do it next term. His piano teacher suggested DS may want to take one before starting secondary - basically while he still has time! We wanted to avoid any exam in the summer term. Weather is nice, so many fun activities will be planned almost every weekend, sport commitments get heavier, and it’s the last term of his primary school so he wants to enjoy it without any exam hanging around. So it’s gonna be the next term! Wondering if anyone is planning to do any piano next term and which piece.

DS has an audition on the horizon (two actually but he may withdraw from the second) so he's practising every day. It makes such a huge difference, he's sounding really good. I know that once he's on the other side of this his practise regime will drift back to what it was before, he's full of good intentions but it comes last in the line of things he wants to do rather than first.

Icould are these his auditions for next year ? Good luck to him
Sounds a bit like ds and music theory full of good intentions but at the end of his list of priorities!!
Kutik that sounds a really good idea to get the exam done before the last term of year 6 ds did one in the spring if year 6 too which worked out well then he had the summer term to focus on fun stuff and the move to high school . Which exam is he doing?

DS did an exam in a summer term in the past and it was a true nightmare. DH becomes (even more) out of control with his huge desire of doing lots stuff outdoor in summer, and he always wants to involve DS in. DS tends to represent quite a few sport events in the term more than any other terms too. Then those lovely summery events that are hard to avoid... So, no exam in a summer term, that's what I learnt from the experience!

DS is doing ABRSM grade 7 piano. One piece is already decided thank to miniearling.

Those who is doing the exam this term or next term, would you mind sharing your chosen pieces? Chopin is a nice piece but the piano teacher is not very keen on the arrangement. Apparently it's irritatingly different from the original, so she prefers DS learning the original to the one set for the exam (hence she wants DS to do other pieces for g7). I don't know the difference.

trumpet you have been suitably vague enough to get an answer, yes these are for September 2018. I am all for vagueness as this is has now reached a point where DS is potentially identifiable. I'll let the other me report back on progress at a later date.

I prepared a short summary of DS's musical activities to send out together with required forms and references. I didn't need to make it into a file nor booklet as his musical history was short enough to fit in A4 paper (single sided!). It's like a cover letter rather than CV.

DS has a history of being bizarre in his answer to questions. For instance, when he was asked why he applied for JD at an audition, he started telling them his great interest in composition. He applied as a violinist. They had to double check if he applied correctly.... So hopefully, this short summary helps DS who is not brilliant at answering/explaining and fantastic at making people feel confused...

Feel silly to ask you such a question, but what shall I write for the title of the summary? At the moment, I just wrote ' Summary' with underline at the top. Any better word can you suggest? My DH is away this week so I can't ask him to check my English! I feel very much insecure with my choice of English...

I posted about this on my other thread, about parent participation in music groups, sorry just to leap in with this.

But it may be time to think about something different for DS.

He's 5, in Y1, really wants to be a rock star (he does a mean air guitar) or play the trumpet. Loves dancing, makes up routines, but I'm a classical musician so would like something we can share.
May have mild SEN. Not very coordinated and takes a while to settle in to activities. Also a bit small for his age.
He loved his singing group but it's folded and it's hard for me to take him to the replacement.
Very slow to settle in to his new recorder group but proud of learning new notes.
In an ideal world, what would you suggest we look for as an alternative group or lessons? A choir? Drums? Piano? Ukelele?
I have not had any success teaching him recorder or piano at home without lessons.

Hello, drspouse. Your son sounds so sweet. I am not an expert, but I think piano is always very useful to learn. So when you don't know which to start, then until he discovers his real passion, I'll start with piano. Trumpet def too early for 5 years old, I guess? I heard guitar doesn't need to start early neither. Having said that, 5 may be still too young for piano, I think depending on the child. Singing and recorder seem to be always great for younger ones. How about dance class if he likes dancing? It's great for developing good rhythmic sense.

He does take tap which he loves!
I think it's possibly more for me - to be honest - as I'm the musician between me and DH and I wanted to have something we did together. So maybe a bit selfish really?

drspouse it would be worth looking out for anyone running percussion or general music-making for little musicians! If you’re in London check with your borough music service; otherwise I imagine it could be a county music hub or local private one.

Drspouse hi!
I think loose's suggestion is a good one . Definitely too young for trumpet ( i know some start v young but where we live the county won't offer school lessons until year 4 something to do with their teeth development) as a guitar player I would think 5 might be a bit little for that . dd got v frustrated when I tried to teach her at a similar age but she's picked up the ukelele quickly now she's older

Icould I should probably be a bit more vague about ds ( though some on here know who he is from nco) he knows I post though and I hope that nothing I say about him will come back to haunt him

ICould very best of luck for the auditions, I’m sure he sounds great!

Yes I know they offer guitar at school but only for much older children.

That's a great suggestion, thanks, I'll see what's on offer.

Kutik how about "(name) - summary of musical activities"

I don't think the title is going to impact on his chances in any way, it's all going to be fine.

Icould, thank you!!! I know it's the least and last thing to worry about. You can see how insecure I am with English! I don't enjoy all those 'filling-a-form activities...

drs my ds started drums at 5, he's now 7 and still loves it. I think the Main thing is to find a teacher thats comfortable with the young ones

My yr 1 5yr old ds with poor coordination and dubious concentration does African drumming and loves it. It relaxed and informal but great fun. He hasn't got the concentration or focus for anything more formal. Dd started violin at his age but was very mature for her age which he most definately is not !!

Kutik - I came on to say 'musical life' or 'activities & achievements in music' then list what exams he has taken, results, music festivals etc plus extra curricular activities.

Re: piano mini Prada is prepping for G7 in the summer term. Easter term looks unlikely. Not sure which pieces she has chosen but I know she has made a start on two. I'll report back.

They are also good ones, Prada. Thank you!! I'll report back about g7 pieces too.

My friend's DS started 1-1 drumming lesson at 4 or 5 years old and I think he did on and off for a couple of years. He liked it but didn't practise so didn't improve much (but still liked it) so his irritated mum cancelled the lesson in the end. He might go back to music one day but at the moment he is into ice hockey and goes to international camp every school holiday and is enjoying his life in a different field.

Drums! Oh dear my poor ears. But yes that would be very popular.

We may have found a children's choir, it currently clashes with swimming but either he or DD will be moving classes at some stage.
I think we'll see out the term but then I'll skip my group at the music centre till the DCs are older and can do proper lessons.

😁 yeah, ours is not a quiet house!

ah yes, but that is the joy of the percussion group - the noise stays there! Percussion is a huge spectrum anyway so not all really noisy. Also if you end up getting a drum kit there are electric ones with headphones to consider...
DS1 showed me the snare drum music he’s learning at the moment - he was trying to explain it to me but the rhythms look so complex I was only able to say ‘that looks complicated!’ Apparently his teacher puts a special cover on the snare to make sure the wrist action is perfect and he can’t rely on ‘bounce’. DS1 seems oddly happy about this!
Cello scales are nowhere near perfect but DS2 is now practising them and there is a definite improvement.