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.

Mini, fab news! And thank you for stepping up for the channel. That would be wonderful.

OK it sounds like DS may get Southeasterlies then. We applied late.

Think we had 10 clarinets In London Seniors last year! So yes I think the want to get some balance. Usually age-band members have got their 1st choice (which meant very few if any associate places in London esp for strings)?l) not sure if that will be so this year.

Mini - well done! And yes last year there were hoodies for regional orchestras orchesteas - quite rightly!

Well done Mini and Minimini!!! Sounds like you had a lot of fun and what great marks!!

Still waiting to hear on BFF orchestra offer. Her mum is now as worried as I am! They have been best of friends since they were 4 and do EVERYTHING together. More like siblings than friends. While they are very accepting of one being in U11's and the other not, being in different Regional orchestras might just be a step too far... Not to mention we live 2 miles apart and our busy lives are such that we totally rely on one another for shared transport etc, both families having to travel to separate rehearsals will put a bit of a strain on. We are hoping that if BFF is put in SE we can appeal to them to change it so that both are in the same orchestra, whichever one that may be.

Thanks for offering to help, Mini! That's wonderful. I will still leave the ozone for a few days, to try to make sure that everyone has seen the message, but I have heard from most participants already.

Well done mini and minimini! Who had hands 5 and 6?

With regard to instrument balance at regionals, they had 6 bassoons at south easterlies last year and only 2 at London juniors

I think London was available for only the age banded members last year. I don't know other instruments but violin was like that.

Well done mini.

Waffle which pieces has Rara chosen for g3 Clarinet?

well, we now have 3 Yamaha recorders in 3 different sizes.....new one sounds nice

se22 she has done the 9 from the abrsm book, 6 from the trinity book and 3 alternatives. We are going with Trinity due to her SEN side (smaller and more familiar venue, and not having to open her mouth) and I think she is going to do Skye Boat Song, Hopping Mad and Easy Street. She also loves Carol!

Waffle we have covered 6 of the Abrsm pieces. Seems like the choice is too good in the new syllabus as dd can't choose between 2 a and 2 c pieces. Sure the Trinity's is amazing too.

Am just catching up on the thread - lots to celebrate!

Well done to:

Rupert's mini on the lovely phone call

Kutik's DS on his great school results

Alex's DS on his competition

Mini's fabulous festival achievements

Folk - I hope it works out for your DD and BFF re regionals and Waffle - hope the channel stuff isn't causing too much extra stress at what sounds like an already very busy time!

Thank you everyone for the advice re cello bow and rosin. It turned out that the need for rosin combined with DD holding the bow at the wrong angle was the issue I think.

DD had her second ever cello lesson today and managed the cello on the bus ok.

We have done our exam entries now: Grade 1 theory and Grade 1 piano for DS and Grade 2 theory and Grade 2 piano for DD so just waiting for the dates allocations now for the practicals. I have told DD that she's going to have to do a bit of a scales bootcamp to be ready in time, especially as she has her Year 6 residential in 2 weeks' time. DS has also been told he will be playing a piano piece in a school concert which he hasn't done before so I think he's quite excited about that.

Thanks mini and waffle - looking forward to the new channel

I felt we were such an odd ball today... I happened to have a chat with some parents with talented young musicians and they were talking about turning down places like NCO because they didn't get a scholarship (good news for those who are on the reserve, at least three places will be available soon!). For them, it's not worth it without a scholarship. When I told them it's my DS's first year as he was on the reserve last year, they were truly surprised. My reaction last year was 'wooow, he made it!', but their reaction was 'oh poor thing, he couldn't make it!'... They asked me how come he managed to miss it (very seriously, but in a nicest possible way). They were lovely people, by the way. Just a different level of expectation from mine. I didn't know how to reply...

Kutik - crikey, that sounds like a whole other world

I know... Their comments were totally innocent. But I did felt, 'what am I doing here?!' But later on, when I saw DS happily making some noises on the piano, I managed to bounce back! We love music in our life. Such a joy!!

Makes me wonder whether the kids are making music for themselves or as an extension of the parents. They will miss out on the social aspects of NCO which is a shame. I’m not sure what it teaches the kids either.

Double I thought exactly the same . Personally I wouldn't let ds audition for something unless I knew that I would either definitely get funding or could pay for it myself. It doesn't mean he will be able to do everything every year you have to prioritise but I think to let them get in and then not take part is a bit mean
Kutik if ds had got a reserve place this year or last ( or next year) I would be thrilled and he would have been pleased too ( not all of his trumpet friends got in this year and this has made him sad and I think a useful lesson in just how competitive it is ) - so I totally get where you are coming from

Their DCs are def making music for themselves that's for sure. The parents are lovely people too. It's just that their views are a bit different from mine. Anyway we'll focus on our stuff and enjoy our own journey.

I can't wait to order this year's hoodie!

Happy Sunday.

I was looking at grade 3/4 clarinet syllabus recently.
Thinking of picking it up again, I do this every now and then and don't continue I saw Mr Ben theme song, and The Wizard theme from MB, reminds me of my childhood, have been playing them by ear on dh bass clarinet .
They are great pieces for anyone encouraging the early grades.

Oh my childhood

For You Alexandra.