December Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Have a new thread for December!

This is an ongoing chat group for musicians, parents of musicians and anyone interested in music. We talk about practice, scales, theory, instrument hire and purchase, concerts, exams, auditions and loads more. Newcomers and beginners are extra specially welcome - yes, a lot of us now have children who are getting quite advanced, but we all had beginners once. I started the conversation when my eldest was 6 and working towards Grade 1, and we now have learners of all ages and standards on here.

I am a teacher of woodwind, and have two daughters. Goo is 12 and in Year 7. She loves her new school, and has grown up fast since she started. The first few weeks were overwhelming and confusing. She loved the challenge of new subjects, new faces, lots of different sports, etc. Unfortunately, she is a poster child for complacency, is now finding it all very easy, and doing the bare minimum again, sigh. She extends this approach to music too, putting in a bit of effort at the last minute, and often making an eleventh hour bid to change piece for important performances. She is gregarious, intense and obsessed with her phone. Oops, I forgot to say, she plays the flute and piano. Grade 8 flute is pencilled in for some time next year (teacher is campaigning to wait until train tracks come off) and she hasn't performed on the piano or taken any exams yet.

Rara is 9, and a completely different kettle of fish. She likes music, but she likes reading, art and making things even more. She's talkative, eccentric and highly creative. I have no idea how her mind works. She is in Year 5 at the village primary, and couldn't really care less about academics. She plays the cello (working at an early Grade 4 level) and clarinet. Some of her clarinet pieces are Grade 4, but she is having some technical problems at the moment, mainly due to her size and incorrect placement of her fingers. So the next exam she does will probably be Grade 3.

Both girls are members of South West Music School (Rara starting next month) and both auditioned for the NCO. Goo was very pleased with herself, but Rara had an absolute disaster. She bounced back within a day though.

[callmeadoctor]

78% in grade 5 theory, beyond excited

[callmeadoctor]

First big exam so really chuffed

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Brlilliant news Call me and congratulations Japanese.

DS2 has 84 for Grade 6 theory, very pleased

[Wafflenose]

Well done everyone - lovely news!

I am now waiting for ten exam results.

[woolleybear]

Well dome Japanese dd!

[woolleybear]

And callme and raspberry ripple! Some excellent results!

[callmeadoctor]

Thank you all xxxxx

[Japanese]

Brilliant results callme and raspberry!

[Trumpetboysmum]

Excellent results everyone 😀

[Minimusiciansmama]

Brilliant results- well done all!

[Doubleup]

Great theory results for your minis.

[Floottoot]

Lots of fabulous results - wonderful!
Fingers crossed for your lot, Waffle - do you teach theory on its own, or in instrumental lessons?
I teach theory as part of lessons, but have only ever entered pupils for grade 5 - I'm wondering if I should enter the lower grades too? Are parents happy to pay for the extra exam entries, in your experience?

[Floottoot]

Just realised you may mean 10 instrumental exam results, not theory results, Waffle.

[TaggieOHara]

Brilliant theory results - well done all!

[LooseAtTheSeams]

Well done on fantastic theory results and good luck to Waffle's students!

[Japanese]

Floottoot - I did Grades 1 & 3 theory when I was a child and then 5 & 8. Although I have no memory of doing the lower grades at all! I only know I did them because my mum has kept my certificates and showed them to me last time we were visiting.

I teach my own DCs and am planning for them to sit all the graded exams up to 5 (or until they want to stop) partly as I think the exam practice doesn't do them any harm. And partly, to be honest, for my own benefit. I am very rusty on theory as my own knowledge is now years old. So, I wouldn't have the confidence to teach them straight to Grade 5 and I need to do it incrementally!

Good luck waffle for the waiting!

[Nigglenotes]

Well done to all minis with theory results! We are still waiting for DD's teacher to let us know.

G5 violin went well yesterday, I think. DD was happy with it, so we'll wait and see.

Her teacher confirmed that she doesn't want DD to do grade 6 until next December (which kind of makes getting g5 theory done this year a little pointless).

The reasons have ranged from; possible burnout (she is at state primary in Year 5, so 15 mins homework a week), and apparently the children who get to g8 early are often sorely disappointed as they realize that's it. She didn't mention that DD wasn't capable. I really don't understand why she is taking this approach. Back in August there was a brief falling out as she didn't want DD to do g5 theory and practical.

[Kutik73]

DS's piano teacher goes through aural only once or twice prior to an exam just to make her pupils aware of what would be asked in an exam. She says once or twice would be enough as you should've gained the skills along the way by playing instruments. This explains why DS hasn't got much input on this side from her - because he doesn't do exams usually! The teacher has the same attitude to theory also, so does bear minimum prior to the exams and doesn't enter anyone below grade 5. So DS did only grade 5 (again without much input from her). It worked OK with us, but I do feel younger DCs would benefit from starting lower grades just to get used to the exam setting. DS (and also I!) was not prepared for the situation (lots people in a huge room, people left as they finished, etc).

The piano teacher's son is very able and very much a self-learner. I sometimes think she sees others based on her own son without realising her son is actually quite special!

[Kutik73]

Well done to all who's got fabulous results and also who's done exams!

Niggle, interesting your DD's teacher thinks children feels 'that's it' when they reach grade 8. We've been always made to think grade 8 is 'the beginning' of real learning.

[Wafflenose]

They were practical exams. 4 distinctions and 3 merits so far, and possible grounds to appeal one. Excellent results though!

Niggle many children take 2 years to bridge the gap to Grade 6, so exploring repertoire and waiting one year is definitely wise. It's the biggest jump of all.

[Nigglenotes]

Kutik, I don't agree with this either. I always thought that getting to the end of grade 8 means you can concentrate on musicality and the artistry of your instrument, and in many ways is more exciting that going through the grades. The technical tools are in place and it is then time to see what you can really do.

I'm not even sure the teacher really believes this, so I wonder why she said it.

[ealingwestmum]

Great theory results! And well done to woollley's DD for going ahead.

DD's G7 piano came through at a painful 113 (for her). Her previous lowest was a 127, she was really shocked (doesn't have the breakdown yet) and I did have to remind her that she wasn't well; was actually really prepared this time, it's still a good pass and to move onwards and upwards.

Thankfully she doesn't dwell as much as she used to and easily pacified with an ice-cream

[Nigglenotes]

Waffle, we'll wait and see what the results are.

Brilliant results for your pupils! As their teacher, do you get nervous about results?

[LooseAtTheSeams]

ealing she did fantastically well - I remember how poorly she was!
Yay! To Waffle's students! You must be very proud!

[Nigglenotes]

Ealing, that's brilliant. I remember too, and she was very under the weather. G7 piano is very demanding.