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!!

DD (flute) has sprained her finger, and can only currently play Bb, B, C and C#.

I'm due to sing Brahms Requiem in 12 days and I have a throat infection.

Luckily DS2 (clarinet) is still going strong.

drummers! What? Operation?? Are you okay? Have you a speedy recovery.

And the same to TheSecond household.

I went to the dentist today for a regular check-up, DS told me he had a tiny cut on his thumb, and DH just showed me the bruise on his leg which he has no idea how he got it. That's today's health news from Kutik household...

Oh goodness! Wishing very speedy recoveries to drummers and Second - and MiniSecond!
Hope you can take it easy for the next few days?

DS2 has been offered a place on one of the NYO Inspire Brass residentials in February. Yay!

He has also got a date for having his impacted canine tooth removed from his lower jaw, which is less good but necessary!

Grade 6 Theory tomorrow. Good luck to the other DC taking Theory exams.

Get well soon Drummers, Second household and the Kutics

Hot toddy TheSecond - whisky, honey, lemon and hot water. Shame I'm not so keen on the whisky as I could do with one myself. (I was trying so hard not to bark like a sea lion yesterday at the South Easterlies concert!) Chesty cough heading towards a chest infection the way it's going, but it's that time of year.

Quick recovery to drummers and both TheSeconds.

I've managed to cancel DD's flute lesson this week, I think she needs to wait until the swelling & bruising goes down before playing at all, let alone for 30 mins.

Good luck to all the music theory candidates.

Some of you may remember that I couldn't sing in the last concert due to pneumonia. I'm trying to take it as easy as possible this week (will try a hot toddy) so I can actually sing this time.

Well done to your ds raspberry!

drummers and second sending love to you both.
Hooray miniraspberry

Great news raspberry!! Oh no drummers and theseconds wishing you all a speedy recovery. Good luck with the theory mini rasberry

Wow! To Miniraspberry - very well done!

Gosh lots of injuries and illnesses...

DD sprained or broke (hospital not sure) her wrist on Sunday, ice skating. Lots of pain but no fracture evident on X-ray, they think it might be the scaphoid which can be hard to see. Have to go back for a CT scan if it's not better by mid week :(

Thanks all. I do need to point out he hasn't auditioned for this though, he just filled in a form and answered questions (three things he wanted to improve, favourite music experience type). And on the website, late trombone applications are still being accepted. But we are pleased he has a place (especially as it's free!)

Misti your poor DD! Hope it's not too serious.

Hope all that are under par speedy recoveries too, and that wrist outcome is not as bad once the scan results are back Misti.

Well done to your DS Raspberry. DD was not so successful, but they wrote a nice note back, stating that places were primarily allocated to state-educated musicians who have fewer opportunities etc. Not sure if her application was that strong, but she at least does still play at school quite a bit and we have a few concerts coming up in next two weeks.

Ice skating and musicians don't always mix well Misti. Hope the injury heals quickly.

PoorMinimisti that sounds painful! Best wishes for a very speedy recovery!
DS1 managed to get to drum corps practice and percussion lesson last night so GCSEs not spoiling his fun this week!

Oh no misiti hoping for a speedy recovery.
So ds got an exciting invitation last night to have a short masterclass with Harken Hardenburger ( famous classical trumpet player) on Friday. By some miracle my husband has managed to get the time off work and so ds can go . Quite gutted that I will miss it as I'm at work . Oh well I'm sure he'll tell me all about it. He's also part of the band for the school show all week ( including on Friday after the masterclass) it never seems to stop at the minute and half term seems a long time ago

I can't spell ( or rather it gets auto corrected) it's Haken Hardenberger!!

Hello,

G5 theory today! Dithering over which brain enhancing snack to give DD after school as I drive her to exam.

I'm thinking galaxy chocolate, her favourite. She was only 10 last month, and this is her first experience of formal exam setting, as her village primary doesn't do that sort of thing.

Good luck to others sitting!

I was wondering if it is possible to take her to Easterlies regional concert in Cambridge next weekend? Are these public events, or closed to family? If she could go, I am wondering if it is a good idea, as she obviously may not get in for 2018. But on the other hand, it may spur her on for the future..

thesecond hope your throat is on the recovery. I'm lucky I'm not supposed to sing as they managed to really injure my troat with the respirator tube and I can't even swallow. Also quick recovery for minimisti and minisecond!
Great news raspberry and trumpet, a ray of law light between all the illments and injuries

I don't know Niggle maybe phone the NCO office and ask . If you do decide to go let me know and I'll keep a look out for you. Good luck with the theory today

Sorry, Drummer, respirator tube? That sounds serious.

Not to worry, Niggle. I think it's common practice when they put you under GA, to make sure nothing blocks respiration. I just don't think you're supposed to have open wounds in your throat the next day! Or maybe I'm just a delicate flower which my mother always says I am
DS is learning Gershwin's Preludes on the piano. J'adore!!! He also has his first jazz concert at jd this weekend and I must remember to try on his black trousers this evening.
loose glad he's managing to keep up music. We mustn't let GCSEs take over our lives...
ealing we also lost on an Inspire place for being at an Independent school last year. I think it's fair, as generally the music provision tends to be better. Althouh some state schools have great music departments.
Good luck with theory - everyone!

Re, NCO concert, suppose anyone can go as long as you have a ticket. But all the tickets for our regional concert were sold out weeks ago so that'll be a problem. Maybe ring up and ask if there is any ticket left?

drummers, suppose you are talking about the same event as DS will also be in. It's gonna be his first performance at jd too. He just wore the black trousers for the NCO concert last weekend, so I assume he hasn't outgrown yet!

What is Inspire? What's the age range? Do you think it's something I could consider for DS?

Great kutik see you there!
I would send you link but I'm not at the computer. Google NYO Inspire days.