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!!

I’m kind of relieved to hear mine aren’t the only ones who won’t play together in public! They don’t fight with each other but I can imagine it would get tense if they were playing music together!
I’ve never tried piano duets with DS2 but he might possibly entertain the idea if I do everything his way!

When my girls play together at home it tends to get stressy, but i did get a beautiful report from the leader of the extension/talent program they both attend. For context Dd2 was just started and is the youngest. The kids were working with a folk/jazz group learning by ear, and the group were using a neighbouring but not our local language and dd2 was struggling somewhat. Dd1 saw this and took the initiative to help her sort it out, no big Song and dance. Was very Nice from my point og view to get a lovely report og and dd1 was very proud when i printer out she had been caught in her good deed 😊

Mending that is really lovely and kind of your DD1.
Forgot to mention DS2 has been invited to take part in a special strings workshop with the music hub early next year in collaboration with a neighbouring music service. I’m really pleased they’ve got a project for the string players as they have been a bit left out until now - not ‘senior’ enough for the tour and so on. So he will lose Sundays in February but gain in experience!

Floot, thank you for answering to my rather nosy question. I often hear how anti-social the profession of orchestral/touring musicians is, so I was wondering if DS has a right personality to cope with the package. Obviously I am thinking too way ahead and he may discover another passion along the way (he already made the dramatic change from being a sport-mad to a music-geek ). But I am a licensed worrier so couldn't resist asking!

Great news, Mending & Loose!

I have a quick question about the reference for music scholarship application. I need to get at least two references and I got one from DS's violin teacher which was loosely put in an open envelope and jotted down my DS's name on the envelope. And, another one is from his youth orchestra, and this one was typed in a word file which then sent to me by email as attachment.

Well, I don't think I should submit the envelope written down my DS's name so I assume I should re-write to address the school. But should I write the address of the school as well like I am posting as it is? I am going to submit the references together with the application form so all will be in a large envelope in the end. Could I take the letter out of the envelope and put together with the application form, like layering a couple of A4 sheets.

In regard to the one I received by email, it's typed in a word file so doesn't have a hand written signature nor envelope. Is it OK without hand written signature? Should I put it in an envelope and address the school on it, or could I just layer them together as a couple of A4 sheets and put all in one large envelope??

I may be asking something very basic, but I am very confused and not sure what the right way....

No experience but i would probably put both references in an envelope and label it 'minikutik references for application x'

Stick them both in an envelope with whatever else has to be sent. The other envelope stuff is neither here nor there... it won't matter!

kutik as you're applying to some of the schools I did... I layered form and references and whetever else on top of each other and clipped it all together and sent it in an A4 envelope. Form on top of course.
waffle thanks for new thread things had gotten out of control...

kutik what I mean is everything was out of envelopes, just the sheets

Oh and forgot to recap. DS 15 plays drums piano and orchestral percussion. He's a scholar and attends jd. Did all three g8's last year and two days ago he mentioned diploma and I almost fell off my chair.
Everyone, keep us posted on NCO!

Thank you Mending, Waffle and drummers. That sounds an easy job now.

drummers, attach a belt to your chair so you are prepared to any news from your DS. He will continue bringing in.

Loose yours is certainly not the only family that does that... my two are on the cello/violin, both at G7/8 and I play the piano, violin and viola - the perfect string duet/trio? No! They absolutely refuse
One day they may surprise me, but I'm not holding my breath!

Attempting to keep up this month.....
Two ds, 10 yr old is a violinist, and 8 yr old is a percussionist. Both auditioned for NCO, but strings is crazily competitive- so who knows. Second audition for percussionist, she didn’t get in last yr, she would be in under 10’s if she does get in- so we shall see

Ha, I meant dd, just changed them both into boys hahaha

Hello again everyone, regulars and new contributors! We have a busy month coming up.
DS1 has 3 conservatoire auditions over the next few weeks so is busy preparing for that. He also plays organ in the cathedral and has roped DD into page turning for that. DS2 plays clarinet and sax and is hoping to study English with music as a minor from next year so waiting to see if he gets offers soon. DS3 decided he didn't want to continue music lessons so potters when he feels like it.
So it could be pretty quiet here if all three go off to college or university at the same time. I will probably think I've gone deaf!
DD plays clarinet and piano and is in her GCSE year.

Kutik - I made up a folder and printer out refs plus stuck in the kndbjn the envelope; we did a full cv after others told me too

string... Really...? That sounds so professional and great and impressive. Do you know how common to make a full cv...? I may be tired today. Maybe I feel I'm up to it next week after a long sleep. I don't know. I haven't done my own CV for years... What did you put on the cv? Like performance and orchestral experience and so on? This time last year, DS was just having school lessons, no orchestra, no exams, no auditions, nothing. To be honest I don't have many things to write about on the cv... Maybe three lines for the best results?

I'm having a bad day yesterday and today, so I may be being so negative. I'll try to think how to present my DS's 'cv'! Great advice, thank you string!

But kutik if it shows that he wasn't doing loads until last year it also shows that he has great potential as he's now suddenly doing so much . I am so pleased we didn't have to do the school thing hang on in there it will work out for the best I'm sure

Kutik, I was having a bad MONTH last so don't beat yourself up over a couple of days . We just popped what we had in the envelope (forgot one) with all the other forms, and got 3 out of 4 auditions. Not advocating our way, but I wouldn't also lose sleep over it.

Oct wasn't really so bad, I just needed to get my head down, even disabled my MN log in from phone so I couldn't be tempted. But, I have been keeping up with all the posts, including drummer's particularly poignant one and the responses. So much sense and resonating with many.

So not in the same league as many of your budding and very busy musicians (I LOVE hearing all the updates on NCO/JD/school stuff/performances etc)...my DD is 14, taking G7 piano this term and been at, I guess, G8 violin for donkey's years now. Sings too.

I've posted less so to not scare those with younger children, as DD's music creation is not as it was in the junior days, and school/other stuff takes over so much that unless you have an aspiring musician, you learn to mourn the old days less, and just relax in the phase you're in. I relate a lot to those with all rounders, this aspect has been a particular challenge for us, as making decisions on what to progress or cull is not easy, so compromise is our household word of the year. Reality is more like keeping as many plates spinning but not getting too upset when some fall, as they are now...

drummers I know he will keep surprising you! Actually the diploma is a great idea if he can work out how on earth to fit everything in!
ealing I’m starting to tell myself to be pragmatic if we have to let a plate or two fall. I am not convinced DS1 can handle this much music and the GCSE workload. It’s important for it to come from him, though.

Just realised I’ve got references for only one school although we applied for two.... As long as I can remember one school didn’t ask me any reference. I just had to fill a form. Oh dear. I must ring and check next week...

Trumpet, love that positivity! But I’m very much aware of that schools in general love to see the commitments, not just last six months but longer.... Let’s hope DS’s shabby application will be picked up for calling to auditions!

ealing i am aware we are living in an unsustainable bubble with the time demands of both music and dance increasing by the term.... I dread to think how we will work it all through when homework is a thing beyond a bit of reading or spelling & tables practice in the car. But she currently wants to be a music teacher/orchestral player and teach dance.... so for now I'm going with it!

Did anyone see the NCO news about the appointment of a new managing director?
Second question - which JDs do everyone's DCs attend?
Many moons ago, I went to the GSMD as a junior exhibitioner - was there for 6 years and absolutely loved it. We're nowhere near any of the London JDs, so it looks unlikely DS will go to one.