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).

[raspberryrippleicecream]

SE22 a mixture. For piano, our teacher works out a chart covering them all over a several days, with a mix on each day. Of course he can do more than one group!

Other people on the thread use scales jars. All the scales go in a pot and get pulled out randomly, if ok they get put on a second jar and do on until jar is empty. Rinse and repeat!

[foundoutyet]

Ha ha SE22, regarding the scales practice. 3 exams (2 Dc) next month. Today I only heard arpeggios in 1 of the 3 instruments. In fact dc1 did not practise at all today (usual practice is maybe twice a week, that's for Grade 5). I must admit I forgot to nag her today.....

[Kutik73]

SE22, def a mixture! DS's piano practice happens 2-4 times a week, up to half an hour each. So there is no way he can cover all the scales at one go, I think even weekly is a challenge...

He knows them well as he usually starts his piano (deliberate) practice with them and just does them systemically. Unfortunately they don't sound neat and shaped though due to carelessness and low level of fondness.... He finds them utterly boring and useless!

[Kutik73]

Just realised you are talking about multiple exams. DS is doing piano only.. He is not a keen exam taker (though he doesn't mind taking) so I don't think juggling several exams will ever happen here.

[Minimusiciansmama]

I do it like the examiner- choosing so that she does a balanced combination of all the requirements and mixing her strengths/areas requiring work depending on her mood that day! Occasionally then we have “scale challenge” where go right through the list and see how many are perfect first time ( she loves seeing how many stickers she can earn with that haha). she’s got technical tests at JD, no exams this term, but the technical work prep is like exam prep.

[se22mother]

Thanks for all the ideas

[LooseAtTheSeams]

The one time DS2 did both exams the same term, the scales definitely suffered a bit. I think I have the sort of child who has to be pushed to work on scales anyway, though.
Rosin is out for delivery - once DS2 has had a go, I’ll report back!

[violinandpiano]

folk, My DD and I really want to watch all your DC’s playing. May I know how to get in the channel? Thanks.

[folkmamma]

Hi Violinndpiano! I have sent you a message with the link :-)

[violinandpiano]

folkmamma, thanks.

[Pradaqueen]

Folkmama can you send me the link to? Thank you!

[folkmamma]

Hi Prada, I've just sent it 😊

[Kutik73]

folk, me too please!

Bought Gewa Air today! I liked BAM SLIM too. But it didn't fit DS's shoulder pad so no more wondering and just snapped Gewa Air. Very happy with it!

[Kutik73]

But I don't know how to reset the combination lock.. Anyone knows it? Floot, have you reset your DS's?

[Kutik73]

Now we have a glossy case, we really need a violin to put inside! Still hunting... We are in Cardiff today. Tomorrow DS has a school visit in the morning, a luthier visit outside London in the afternoon and orchestra rehearsal in the evening. Violin hunting is eating up lots of time that DS has very little time to practise yet he has a concert almost every week this term...

[Japanese]

Hope your Cardiff trip is going well kutik - exciting news about the case!

We had piano exams this morning - Grade 2 for DD and Grade 1 for DS.

There were tears from DD in the warm-up room beforehand which were a bit tricky to manage. Her nerves definitely got the better of her & she says she 'totally messed up' piece C.

I took them for lunch afterwards before taking them back to school. I said to DD, 'well never mind, you'll never have to play that piece again if you don't want to'. DS announced he was really pleased he would 'never have to play D major scale again'...DD and I looked each other and I said 'do you want to break it to him, or shall I?'

They have theory exams tomorrow and then it's secondary school allocations day on Thursday so it's all go here!

[Pradaqueen]

Japanese - you never know with exams. Miniprada did G6 piano. I was in the ante-room. It was terrible. Worst she'd ever played. Even her usually-optimistic piano teacher looked aghast. Ended up with a very good result. Grade 7 violin - in the ante-room it was the best she'd ever played the pieces. Examiner was not kind to anyone that day so not the result the teacher was expecting at all... keep the faith!

Kutik - sounds like your tour will yield a good result! The GEWA bio arrives tomorrow! (Weather permitting)

Folk -thank you. Hoping to get time to take a peek later.

[Kutik73]

Interestingly Cardiff reminded me my home town. I'm from a city with a castle right in the middle of the city centre. It can be seen from the busy high streets which creates interesting views of the combination of old and new. When I spotted the old castle peeping at the end of the pedestrian filled with lots of shops and cafes in Cardiff, I couldn't stop but felt nostalgic.

Prada, getting a new bag (case..) is always so exciting for girls, isn't it? What's a great birthday gift! I am also so loving the new case. I know I know it's DS's , not mine!

folk, thanks for the link. I peeped the clips very quickly. minifolk seems to have great techniques - bow distribution, intonation etc. Her play is so convincing too! miniTaggie has great intonation also. He must have good ears really. Very musical as always, and I love the special effect of the staccato... Sorry I don't know who the clarinettist is, but she is amazing. I love the way she plays. One minute felt too short.

[TaggieOHara]

Thanks kutik for the kind words on DS2's playing. I hope that at some point, mini-Kutik might consent for some of his lovely playing to be shared as well

[folkmamma]

Thanks Kutik!!! Having had to endure an intense period of drastic technique correction around 11-12 yrs I was determined she wouldn't have to go through that, so it always feels extra nice when someone else comments positively about her technique.

We are also really looking forward to hearing Mini Kutik 😊

[Paulweller11]

OOh could I have the link too please Folkmama
Gr3 theory exam here today for little percussionist.

[stringchild]

Kutik - clarinettist is mine and thank you 😀

[drummersmum]

We're snowed over so no school! DH and DS have gone sledging in Hampstead Heath while I catch up on work (evidently, that's why I'm on MN...). I'm sad, this is the first time I don't go to enjoy the snow with DS after years, but it couldn't be helped.

By the way, Cluster says it only supports JPEG, GIF or PNG images. So no MP4 videos? How do you guys upload videos then?

[folkmamma]

Drummers That's weird... if you go to the + symbol there is an option to add a video. Mine are all just iPhone videos....

Sorry to hear you are missing the fun. Very little snow here yet, apparently on the way tomorrow.

[drummersmum]

folk, yes I go to + yet when I drag the video file to it doesn't work because it's an mp4. I'm surprised as MP4 has become the standard video format. Never mind!