Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

February Music Thread

525 replies

Wafflenose · 01/02/2018 22:06

Have a new thread for February!

This is a place for our ongoing conversation about music, instruments, lessons, ensembles, scales, practice, exams, aural, theory and whatever else you'd like to talk about. Everyone is welcome - new and older members, beginners and advanced.

I have two daughters - Goo (12) flute and piano, in a bit of a slump at the moment, and Rara (9) cello, clarinet and recorder (yes, she's picked it up again) on a roll at the moment. I teach woodwind and have my own little clarinet group called the B Flat Blues, who don't rehearse together regularly, but played in a festival this week.

I also have quite a bit of news, mostly good, but am so tired that it will have to wait until tomorrow now. Hopefully it's worth waiting for (and before anyone asks, no, Goo didn't get the desire of her heart).

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Kutik73 · 22/02/2018 20:10

miniGreen may want to diploma after G8. Grin

Kutik73 · 22/02/2018 22:29

Three luthiers contacted me today and told me they got good violins DS may like. I've been to two of them before but one is a new face. I like visiting luthiers. Their workshop is filled with so many interesting objects.

So we'll visit four luthiers including Cardiff next week. Little I know how time consuming violin hunting is (or any instrument I guess). I'm so glad we waited this till 11+ finished!

DS has concerts at each end of the weekend and also senior school visits! It's gonna be a busy week.

Emerencealwayshopeful · 23/02/2018 02:06

Beautiful video!

I have 4 children with only 5.5 years from the eldest to the youngest. Mr 6 tried violin last year but was determined not to play at lessons, though home practice was not terrible. We took a break and will probably start him on something later this year. He was saying for months that he wanted a clarinet, kept asking for clarinet videos on YouTube, argued that we had two strings players so should equally have two woodwind players. Girlchild’s new violin teacher is wonderful. And has been really nice about including him. And now he’s asking for a viola. I’m making no promises at this point.

Balancing siblings is tricky. Last year they all did dancing, partly because I encouraged them to all be at one place at the same time. The dance school upped prices and dropped communication so this year we (I) agreed to allow an activity each after school, but that’s meant a lot more driving around for me. Girlchild is both dyslexic and autistic and she works harder than her brothers for less obvious rewards. She maintains that she hates the violin and that I am ruining her life making her play, but she gets a lovely sound when she tries and she really really likes doing something well, in performance. This year she is doing a circus class, and for now this is perfect for her. No competitions, but lots of climbing, swinging, acrobatics.

Secundus (Child 2) is doing a musical theatre class (45 minutes each of singing, acting, dancing) as well as flute, percussion at school and a Yiddish drama class that both my older boys have done for a few years. Like his elder brother he is inclined to coast, happily sitting near the top of everything but sports. He’s hoping that I’ll cave to the request to add a 2.5 hour boys dance class on Thursday nights, and part of me wants to say yes. Especially because this is the one child who practices every morning before school without question.

We had massive drama last year about the cello with primo (eldest boy). He was determined not to play in the end of year celebration evening, and quite frankly I found it hard to argue with him because the ensemble was terrible. Problem was we knew he was most likely candidate for a small music scholarship and fighting with the head of music wasn’t a smart move. We managed to resolve it, but part of that meant him picking up violin at school. And as I said, he’s surpassed girlchild in under 8 weeks. He’s having theory/keyboard lessons at the moment and has taken up tennis, which is the first time he’s ever shown any interest in sport or balls. I think the specialist music high school is likely the best fit for him for high school, though we have a couple of other schools to look at. Lots of anxiety about where to next, and this is only the third full week of the school year.

We started out as a strictly Suzuki family so there have not been any exams yet. We are considering encouraging secundus to do one so he has a goal to work towards, but so far we aren’t worrying about it. If primo does get into the music school I think he’ll be encouraged to sit exams. But that’s too far away to worry about.

Emerencealwayshopeful · 23/02/2018 02:09

folk surprisingly both my big boys love sight reading. Except when it’s sight singing. But primo claims he’s auditioning for the title role in Mary Poppins and that actually he can sight sing if I’m not around.

Pradaqueen · 23/02/2018 07:07

Lovely video waffle. What a shame she's going through the 'no video' phase. It will pass though I'm sure. I'm rather glad we didn't have a video camera when I was a child though. My playing on either violin or piano was by any standards pretty awful!

Welcome Emerence - your family sounds delightful.

Folk - how funny. I think we've all thought that at some point though.

Double - sounds like you have a great choice to make. I agree distance is important though. Plus working with teachers she trusts. Moving up is such a big thing for the children, anything that makes the transition as easy as possible is a good idea.

Green - that is really shitty. As one of the only Senior women in a mainly male industry in a prior life, I was a PITA for HR. When any promotion/bonus/car was offered I used to ask what my male colleagues were being offered. In the end, they just made it the same for everyone but
this was one of the major brands and they needed to be seen to be fair. I was the first Senior who needed mat leave and the only one who asked for a 4 day week. In the end though, fighting does get tiring and I ended up starting up a business in another industry. I am much happier now although I do miss the glamour of the old industry. I appreciate finance does not work like this and when you have someone ill at home, it's pretty poor behaviour by any standard. Hang in there. And document everything. You'll be streets ahead of the firm if you ever need to be. Have a weekend of lovelieness with your family as a big FU to them.

GI2015 · 23/02/2018 12:02

Welldone to miniGreen. Green hope it gets better, it is not fair and in male-dominated world, bonuses/cars/shares, etc are not fairly distributed...

Emer welcome, I also have 3 children with 6 years oldest to youngest, all playing various instruments. It makes for a noisy house! My two younger ones do Suzuki on cello and violin and have not done any exams yet and probably not till they are close to grade 8.

My DS2(cello, NCO U10 boy) has a new 3/4 brilliantly sounding cello! We picked it up on Monday, it is antique and the sound it makes fills up the whole room. Definitely a huge step up from his 1/2 Stentor! He is a happy boy.

Doubleup · 23/02/2018 13:22

GI I have a friend whose daughter has just done a late audition and been offered a place in U10s on cello. I think she is a little worried that she won't know anyone. Is your ds doing regionals, and if so which one? Friend's dd will do South Easterlies.

TaggieOHara · 23/02/2018 13:37

We are doing U10s and southeasterlies, and DS2 won't know anyone either. But we won't be able to join in regionals until April. Nevertheless, I'm sure DS2 would love to meet others going to the U10 residential Smile

Doubleup · 23/02/2018 14:06

Taggie DD2 missed the last SE rehearsal as we were away for half term and the next one clashes with our local music festival. We hope to get her to the April session. My friend's dd went to the rehearsal last Sunday, but was so unsure of what to do that apparently she didn't dare leave her seat during break. If my dd had been there, she would have taken her under her wing as they know each other from school.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 23/02/2018 14:16

I have an U10 girl at South Westerlies. She has one penpal who's going on the summer course, but would happily write to more DCs!

OP posts:
Doubleup · 23/02/2018 15:01

Thanks Waffle, I will mention it to my friend and pm you if she'd like to do that.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 23/02/2018 17:04

Great, that will please Rara!

OP posts:
NeverEverAnythingEver · 23/02/2018 17:16

Hello!

I haven't posted here for a while - I have two DC and we have about 8 instruments (I lose count) between us ... The latest addition are saxophone and ukulele ...

But I seem to recall that there are experts on here on electronic drum kits. Can anyone recommend any particular brand? And more importantly - will it fit under a high bed? We have a high/cabin bed the same height as a normal bunk bed.

drummersmum · 23/02/2018 17:35

Haven't had time to catch up and I'm on phone but just spotted this on twitteralling Clarinettists - Yamaha Music are looking for one child between the ages of 8-12 years old who play the Clarinet at Grade 3 or above to join the #Startsmalldreambig campaign - DM for more info :) pic.twitter.com/JS4ZdnDawo

drummersmum · 23/02/2018 17:42

neverever we had to complement acoustic with electronic for night practice and have the Roland TD 11KV
As to it fitting under bunk bed I'm afraid we calculated it was not possible as it would've totally limit DS' arm movements with the sticks.

drummersmum · 23/02/2018 17:44

Twitter thing was posted by @YamahaUk

Pradaqueen · 23/02/2018 18:26

Aww drummersmum - how lovely of you to share the info. This is when I love MN and this thread.

AlexandraLeaving · 23/02/2018 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pradaqueen · 23/02/2018 21:55

Aww Flowers Alexandra. Wishing you all well xx

Original poster
Wafflenose · 23/02/2018 22:14

Thanks all! I have emailed Yamaha about Rara. It was far from easy!

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 23/02/2018 22:25

Sorry I'm joining the February thread so late - real life got in the way. Not sure if any of you remember me from previous threads, so here's a mini update.

DS2 is preparing for his Grade 8 clarinet and trying to balance this with GCSE revision. He's just done rather well in a Maths competition, so feeling proud today.

DD is working towards Grade 5 flute. She has just had twin block braces fitted and is coping admirably with them. Today she did a full flute practice with them in.

I'm still enjoying choral singing - this term we're singing Bach's St John Passion (in German). The choir re-auditions each section every 3 years and my audition is tomorrow. I'm singing Ombra Mai Fu. I have prepared and practised but not feeling very confident about my voice at the moment.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 23/02/2018 22:30

Good luck in your audition, Second!

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 23/02/2018 22:32

Thank you Waffle

NeverEverAnythingEver · 24/02/2018 08:04

drummersmum

DS has visions that he could have the electronic drum kit under the bed while he sits just outside, but I see what you mean. The kit is not as low as one thinks and he wouldn't be able to hit everything freely, I suppose.

LooseAtTheSeams · 24/02/2018 08:07

Alexandra sending hugs to the Boy Thanksbut also congratulations on his wonderful concert. That must have been a great evening.
Second good luck for the audition!
I went out with friends last night and came back to find more guitars in the front room than were there when I went out. Goodness knows what was going on after I left.
DS2 has a musical weekend lined up including an all-day workshop tomorrow but DS1 is being oppressed by GCSE revision!

Swipe left for the next trending thread