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January Music Thread

634 replies

Wafflenose · 01/01/2018 00:21

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.

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Minimusiciansmama · 28/01/2018 10:22

folkmamma we have had issues with the move to music school. She’s joint first study. On one instrument it’s been amazing, on the other we are really quite disappointed and concerned. However, as others say positives include the consolidation of it all into one day, the addition of dalcroze, theory lessons and loads of performing opportunities that have given her a lot of confidence. My overall opinion is it’s been worth the risk but I say that slightly hesitantly as we haven’t yet broached the subject of our uncertainty at the teacher!

double congratulations to mini!

youtube channel I’m hoping to get the new one set up next week now the email and previously channel have been disabled.

In other news, little one has had a great run at the first festival of the year. She entered 7 classes, worked so hard and had a brilliant time. She’s learnt some important performance lessons- like that invaluable one about confidently picking up when you stumble in a performance dThe fact she placed in them all is nice but of less consequence to me. Though she’s very pleased to have three shiny new trophies of course.

folkmamma · 28/01/2018 10:40

Thanks Mini. The consolidation of everything into one day is the main driver if I'm honest (something has to change!) and I like the holistic approach and the fact she will be surrounded by like minded kids. So on balance, I think it will be a good move (assuming she gets in!!!!). And I must confess to being a teensy bit proud that we are even considering it!!!

stringchild · 28/01/2018 11:08

Folk - it’s very usual to have some trial lessons before or after the audition; it’s best to do it soon though as timetables get fixed over the summer and it dan be hard to change slots later without chasing with ensembles etc in our experience

folkmamma · 28/01/2018 11:59

Thanks string. Seriously, you guys are all awesome 😚

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/01/2018 12:06

DS1 was playing in a concert last night and had a good time with his friends. He was amusingly surprised when people praised the drumming because there were MISTAKES! It's so complicated to listen to, I suppose ordinary mortals can't tell!

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/01/2018 12:06

DS1 was playing in a concert last night and had a good time with his friends. He was amusingly surprised when people praised the drumming because there were MISTAKES! It's so complicated to listen to, I suppose ordinary mortals can't tell!

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/01/2018 12:23

sorry - no idea why that posted twice!

stringchild · 28/01/2018 12:44

Loose - dd was in a concert last night too. Sometimes I wonder if we all know each other without realising it!

Mendingfences · 28/01/2018 13:39

Pretty sure i don't know any of you Wink being exiled in the frosen north.... but you are all huge mine of useful information and support.

No concerts atm, there is a festival type thing for dd1 and dd2 in february and after that we will see. Dd2 was been suggesting she might like to play the double bass in the festival..... she's had 3 lessons Confused Grin thats confidence for you i suppose

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/01/2018 14:34

Stringchild at some point we should all try to meet up!
(Did your concert include six drummers drumming?)

stringchild · 28/01/2018 14:57

No alas but there were 4 amazing percussionists in one of the orchestras thAt dd was in - plus the pianist doing v snazxy things with the piano strings! I must admit I love a real good wind orchestra with the full number of instruments/members. The repertoire is just amazing!

Kutik73 · 28/01/2018 18:58

Taggie, we haven't got an official offer yet so can't negotiate the fee! Grin To be honest the school is spoilt with many able and talented candidates whose parents can pay the fee so I don't think there is any space for negotiation. But I'm not sad about it. I'm actually very grateful that we have a good state option. Apparently it's a good school. Well, we'll find out very soon!

drummersmum · 28/01/2018 19:09

waffle many thanks for the zapping!
I was at a Wagner gala, the whole of Das Rheingold whithout intermission! At a certain point they bring out nine percussionists to play some hammers to emulate the sound of forging the ring. It was so cool. And that was all their job. After doing that a couple of times they just left. They had seven harps!!!! We were lucky to be invited I think the ticket for the seat I had my bum on was about 300 pounds...
folk I wouldn't draw conclusions for just one teacher... but avoid him/her!
mending I'm sure I've told you that being exiled North has been my fantasy since childhood. Kufos to your DD.

drummersmum · 28/01/2018 20:32

Kudos - blame the phone

TaggieOHara · 29/01/2018 07:33

Well done to mini! I so admire all you manage to do with your amazing dancing/clarinet playing/supermodel(!) DD. I don't know where you find the energy Smile

kutik sounds like you are very happy with all the school options open to your DS, which is great! Most independent schools have entry points also in year 9 and the L6, so you could always re-think in a couple of years, depending on your circumstances and mini-Kutik's developing interests.

Right - hope you don't mind if I have a little grumble... can't talk about this stuff irl as it is all either self-inflicted or my own fault. Whole weekend was a fiasco. First, DS forgot his violin at school, so I had to make arrangements to get it back (very stressful, scary experience of ringing headmaster on his mobile- although he was super nice and understanding!) and he missed two days practice. Then he played in his first festival this weekend. Rather randomly (or perhaps lack of practice) he played the first piece at half speed and reverted back to bad posture, which I have been trying to correct for years! He recovered himself and played his second, much harder piece well. But not surprisingly, he didn't do brilliantly - although he did get a commended certificate. Then DS was late for choir (really 'not done' and big fail for the choristers to be late, esp y5's who need lots of practice). Then, I had forgotten that there was a super long and popular evensong and I couldn't get a seat, which annoyed DS, who likes to see his 'fan club' when he sings. Actually, if I had realised about the long evensong, I would not have entered him for the festival as it was too tiring. Then, I got confused on the way home and failed to navigate round an accident so we didn't get home until after 9pm and DS had crisps and an apple for supper in the car - which is all I had. And we nearly ran out of petrol. So today, poor DS is exhausted, I am exhausted, and we have another super busy week ahead.

I am beating myself up for being a rubbish teacher (poor choice of festival piece, persistent bad posture) and a pushy violin-mom (exhausted child, no real reason for doing any of this) and disorganised (no petrol, no time to fill up, marking not finished). Boo hoo Sad.

Thanks for 'listening'. Nice to get it all out, as it were.

Paulweller11 · 29/01/2018 08:07

Taggie- I wouldn’t worry too much. Sounds like you just had a bad weekend- it happens x
We all have them Smile

folkmamma · 29/01/2018 08:25

Taggie, bless you.a very tough weekend. I'm sure we've all been there at one point or another, I constantly fear 'breaking' my kids with all that they do, but you get through it. Try and snatch some rest (for both of you) where you can and don't beat yourself up. And remember, there are very few highly successful people who didn't have someone pushing them along in the background 😘

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/01/2018 09:37

Taggie - no, you did brilliantly - you were brave and phoned the headteacher, your DS had the resilience to bounce back in the second, harder piece in the festival (probably all thanks to you) and you had the presence of mind to keep him going with apple and crisps. We've all been late and embarrassed at one time or another - life happens. You're not responsible for the length of evensong - it was tiring but he'll know now that mum can't be held responsible for everything. You did far more this weekend than most parents achieve! Thanks

LooseAtTheSeams · 29/01/2018 09:55

To make everyone feel like they are better parents than me, I was just excavating food wrappers from the Batcave (DS1's room) when I found drugs. Not illegal ones but the antibiotics he was supposed to take when he had a chest infection. As he doesn't like capsules he'd decided to hide them behind his bedside table. I reckon it's about 3 days out of a 7 day course!

Trumpetboysmum · 29/01/2018 10:50

Loose Ds would do the same !! He hates taking tablets. Taggie we all have weekends like that and folk I am quite worried that all that ds is doing ( plus self inflicted pressure about school exams) is pushing him close to breaking point at the minute. But as long as we are aware of how they are feeling and coping and they know that they can say if they need to stop then they will be fine - I know that ds will bounce back and all will be fine once his school exams are over- though I will feel quite drained by the drama of it all 😀
Taggie if it makes you feel any better I've sent dd to school today even though she's not all that well - ok but not great- because we have no bathrooms currently and probably no toilet at home for much of the day today !! I told her to try and excuse herself from swimming if she feels dreadful but explain that I had sent her in because if the lack of toilet- half expecting call from the head later about sending her in but I really wasn't sure what else to do !!

drummersmum · 29/01/2018 11:46

taggie none of it was your fault. Regardless, we've all felt like this at one point or another. It's really unfair because we forget how many times we get things totally right, we support, we remind, we fight the odds, we take the nerves, we're there for a cuddle, we're there for a push.

ealingwestmum · 29/01/2018 11:54

Flowers to Taggie for her mind blowing weekend. You really are not alone, and have many nodding heads on this thread to your story!

Lots of good news being shared - well done to those who are coming to the end of entrance exams/auditions etc. The choice part is just as hard, but hope you all get the outcomes that match your DC.

All relatively quiet here due to no exam pressure this term. Waiting to hear if shortlist made for seniors music comp and general prep for forthcoming concerts; orchestral and ensembles. Her biggest dread is being asked to perform in Year 9 assemblies due to a handful of alpha boys being particularly unpleasant of late, and attempting to destroy her confidence on all things music related. Doing my best to make her see that her not following the herd is their key issue with her, not her music per se, but it's a rocky dialogue at the moment and asking her to hold her nerve is easy for me to say, I know.

Urgh - teenage life. But whilst some things are worse e.g. the narcissism/change in engagement created from SM, some things never change, so hope she can believe me that the odd bad eggs really do pale into insignificance in later life.

Trumpetboysmum · 29/01/2018 12:03

Ealing Flowers for your dd its tricky being a teenagers

drummersmum · 29/01/2018 12:47

ealing they don't only pale, some actually rot!

ealingwestmum · 29/01/2018 14:16

Thanks Trumpet; Drummers Grin