February Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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).

Doubleup will be great if the two can meet! My DS2 U10 is also doing south easterlies with his cello.
First rehearsal was last weekend, went very well he loved it :)

On the spot offer! Woohoo!!

Congrats to minifolk !

GI I will speak to my friend and her dd before the next rehearsal and will pm you.

Both DD are off for the day learning to make reeds. Could save us a fortune if they ever manage to master it! Both now about £20 per reed. DH is playing tennis for his local club and I am slowly catching up on the mountain of washing after half term's skiing holiday. First holiday for two years which was very welcome, but still suffering the effects of jet lag and altitude messing up my sleep patterns. Might just have a sneaky lie down while everyone is out......

Yay Folk! Are you going on the Easter course? Sorry - you probably told me already. If so, we'll meet there

Yes Taggie, Easter. 😊

Yes Taggie, Easter. 😊

Brilliant

Disorganised- I hope your DS is ok. I have no direct experience with Autism so no wonder DD's of advice I am afraid. I do have friends with children on the spectrum so understand the challenges you have

Well done minifolk! Wonderful.

Waffle - I love Samoyeds - especially white ones (for obvious reasons ) Leonbergers tend to have short life spans so every year will be a bonus.

Kutik - yes a dogflap would just be a door here Dogs are wonderful for teenagers, especially boys. I do run my own business FT so it is easy for me to manage the dog and work. We chose this breed for many reasons; we knew of the breed - it is very calm and gentle so great with kids around; we needed a dog to put off trespassers on the land without it looking like an obvious guard dog; they can also live outdoors quite happily if required; Giant breeds tend to need less exercise so less commitment required for a working mummy! And also this breed sleeps 20/24 hours per day so not particularly active and happy to be left alone if necessary - we leave him for around 5 hours max but are blessed with great neighbour's with tons of dogs (next door has 12) so they can take him in for the day if required. It is a tie though, so where we might have gone to see a show, dinner, exhibition on a whim it requires more planning. On the upside, we do more walking as a family. He is a very loved member of the family now though.

*words of advice

Ealing - cavachons are sooooo cute!

Yay to miniFolk!

to disorganised... Generally I would let DS drop any activity/club if he is not enjoying it. But it's because he is already much busier than I wish for a 10 years old so I am more than happy to cut down his commitments (but he doesn't want to cut down...). Your DS seems to have plenty on his plate also, so it may be OK for him to have a break? I understand your dilemma though.

Prada, what's a lovely life you have! Your puppy sounds so so adorable (I think I used this words too much)!

I used to have a doberman as a kid.

After all the dilemma of whether we should keep DS's 3/4 violin, I'm starting to think that we may say goodbye to it when we welcome our new family member (=4/4).

I really like the sentiment of handing it down in family. But DS said his children may have a different taste and may want to find their own violin so it'd be better passing it onto someone who could enjoy playing it NOW rather than keeping it for someone in future who may not like it.

Hmm. I think it's a good point.

Even if we decide to let his 3/4 go, I thought I could keep the 3/4 bow or shoulder rest as a memento. But DS said he wouldn't need to keep any of them as the best memento for him would be music he played on the violin.

OK, that's another good point (and very practical as it doesn't take any space to store)...

But I think I am prone to keep a memento. I have lots of mementos physically and digitally. Not great for moving house.

Kutik "But DS said his children may have a different taste and may want to find their own violin so it'd be better passing it onto someone who could enjoy playing it NOW rather than keeping it for someone in future who may not like it."

What a wise DS you have!

We haven't kept any momento of any past instruments. But DS1 is very much attached to his current cello so we'll see what happens if he wants/needs to upgrade in the future.

Alex great news on the clarinet day!
I am pretty sure DS1 would actually swap DS2 for a puppy. His main description of DS2 is ‘so annoying’...
We have some snow! Not a lot, mind you, but there was some excitement here!

Congratulations minifolk and second .
Alex the clarinet day sounds fabulous! Must be a reasonably rare opportunity getting that combination together.

Well my mini had a glorious time at her first NCO and said it was “even more funner then she’d ever thought” and “how soon is the next one”. she’s already rather determined to work her butt off for the 2019 auditions aiming for nationals haha!

I know next to nothing about dogs but jeez, that's a big one Prada
minifolk great news re Procorda and alex still a big fan of your DS!

Double, GI, Taggie - I also have an U10 doing Southeasterlies. She is writing to Waffle’s DD but also keen to meet people in person so if anyone would like to meet up at the rehearsals let me know!

Well I have just purchased the Gewa Bio violin case as part of miniprada' upcoming birthday gift. She doesn't know so will b thrilled. What Rosin are we all saying is the best one?

That would be great Trumpet! We will hopefully be joining in in April, as DS2 has a concert on the day of the March rehearsal.

Ooh case envy Prada!!! Lucky Mini!!!! I hope she is thrilled 😁

On the subject of Rosin, I just went to check which premium brand we use to find it seems to have gone missing. Slightly less than amused! However it was almost too sticky so it gives me an excuse to try some of the recommendations below...

Fab lesson here tonight for Noo, nice new pieces to get stuck into! Mozart Sonata KV301 and Salut D'Amour, which I just love!!! I just hope she does it justice 🙈

For anyone with a child preparing for exams , especially on multiple instruments, do you have them do all scales/dominant/diminished/arpeggios separate and slurred on all instruments daily of do you do a mixture. There simply aren't enough hours in a day

folk lovely pieces. I uploaded mini-Taggie's Elgar to the channel. Audio only, I'm afraid