January Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Happy New Year!

This is the new thread for our continuing (6 year old) conversation about all things to do with music - lessons, exams, auditions, theory, scales, practice and whatever else you want to talk about.

I am Waffle, teacher of woodwind, amateur composer, and unpaid consultant watching and commenting on all sorts of woodwind videos that people send my way! I am mum to Goo 12, and Rara 9, who both play instruments, do South West Music School and NCO. Goo plays flute and piano, and has Grade 8 and Grade 5 pending for some time this year. Rara plays cello and clarinet - working within Grade 4 for both, but hasn't taken a clarinet exam since Grade 1, and wants to do Grade 3 this coming term. She's way behind with Theory, so it's theory boot camp again this week. We start back to school late (Jan 8th) so that's good.

DS said he did 'super well' (he would say so even he didn't though!) and did love the experience. They apparently chatted about maths, science, sports, and more (where is music??).

Oh kutik that's so cool

Kutik that's brilliant news

Kutik that's lovely! Well done to him

Fantastic news Kutik, you must all be so proud.🤗

Thank you!

But I can't feel it's real. I shouldn't over-joy until I receive a firm offer. At least it's good that it went well and DS enjoyed it.

congrats kutik - that's amazing news!

We'll celebrate tonight as we always planned, and it'll still be a celebration for the challenge rather than the outcome!

I've got bubble for me and lemonade for DS (he has no access to fizzy usually so it's a big treat). I also got sashimi (sushi without the rice bit) as it's DS's favourite meal. DH is away again so he is not included for the celebration! It'll be tiny weeny quiet celebration.

Well done to your ds Kutik
I'm on your other thread.
We too were the stupid looking parents who didn't ask any questions.
Got home and had a million and one to ask

I think it's difficult to see the sort of questions you'd need to ask, especially when they give so much info on the day.
I'm sure it's normal and we aren't the only ill prepared parents

gilly

Kutik

Out of interest did you look at any of the specialist music schools?
i understand it's not for everyone and some would prefer not to board if this would be necessary.
It just strikes me that he would be so right for such a school.
It's dd school open day tomorrow, I'm sure the others are around this month too.
The only problem is I can guarantee if you took him, he'd want to attend the school.

gilly, thanks for the info. But I assume yours is up north and we are in London!

Yes, I fear he may ask us to let him go once I show him such a school...

Yes, ours is North, but there are those in the south too.

Wells is more of an academic school, he only one I'm aware that have an entrance exam.
Yehudi Menuhin is good, I don't know much about it tbh, but have met dc who have/do attend and it sounds the same as dd school.
Purcell is also a good school, just smaller than dd school, but similar again.

I really appreciate your input, gilly. You pushed a button I'd carefully hidden.

Our problem is, this music thing is still relatively new to our household. I only started listening to DS nagging about music a year or so ago that's when I joined this thread for advice on his newly blossoming passion in music. So specialist routes seem to be such a jump to me at this stage. Also, he is currently at a tiny primary school with limited opportunities. DS should see what secondary school can offer before narrowing down his education. He likes music but he also likes other things.

Having said that we will def consider specialist school if we feel that's a right place for him in future. It's just that I am not very sure yet. Children change quickly (DS has already changed a lot - he was not a music boy before).

The button hidden from myself IYKWIM.

Ahhhh those buttons 😘

Kutik it sounds like your DS is progressing very rapidly!!

Congrats Kutik’s little one

Kutik

You're welcome my love.
We weren't new to music, but the genre she has chosen is completely alien to both of us and we are having to learn.
I know it's not for everyone, but if you ever want any info or our experience I'll help all I can, obviously I'm no authority

Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!! MT audition on the same day as NCO rehearsal! We're already missing one due to being on holiday so I don't feel she should miss a second. What to do!? 😔

Thank you gilly. Your post re academic DCs at specialist school on the other thread is a very interesting one. I am sure lots find your knowledge very much useful. Great contribution.

folk, do they have only one day available for auditions? NCO rehearsal cannot be changed so maybe you try talk to MT to change the date or time? What's MT by the way?

Musical Theatre Kutik. Unfortunately only one day of auditions 😔. Its for a Summer Youth Project at the Wyvern in Swindon, they get hundreds of applicants. She got in last year so I'm going to plead for them to make an exception based on that and her panto experience, but I'm not hopeful... she'll be devastated as they are doing 'Oliver' this time and she's really looking forward to it!

I think you’re allowed to miss a couple of NCO rehearsals and still do the concert. Not ideal obviously, but what can you do.

I think we'll have to wait and see what's on the programme and how she's coping with it...

folk as far as I can remember they have to do a minimum of 4 regional rehearsals and one of those has to be in the autumn in order to play in the concert.