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).

[Pradaqueen]

Kutik, congrats to your DS! Great news. we had a similar choice to make last year. Academically selective Grammar (free) and economically diverse backgrounds but a lot of pressure on girls and class sizes of 30+. Music provision (or any arts) very poor. Or local indie - focus heavily on homework as not academically selective to any degree (entrance exam a formality) but good music provision and as you say, shiny facilities. But relatively expensive for the results, low A level/IB and not in the top 200 schools. Fee hike always in excess of 5% every year. Backgrounds of pupils all very similar - monied thus kids are label obsessed. School trips are to ridiculously expensive locations - netball trips in Barbados etc. Or the school she is at now, academically selective but excellence in music and all arts encouraged. Diverse economic backgrounds. Relatively low fee cost. Homework levels very low, but the results are excellent so they obviously know what they are doing. The Prep head's advice was to take the money out of equation, and choose the school that suits her best.

It is however, ridiculous to discount family finances though. I'd say really think about fees and fee increases and whether or not you can afford to allow your DS to go on the trips you want etc. Private schooling is a 'nice to have' and if you are in an area where state is not great, maybe worth the sacrifice.however, what you describe is an area with great choices and great state schooling. I guess you have to think whether or not it is worth sacrificing Holidays etc for him to attend without him feeling like your lives are always economically compromised by him attending a fee-paying school. And consider about what would happen if a change of circumstances meant you could no longer afford for him to stay. Without sounding pessimistic, that is one of the main areas parents forget to budget for.

I really feel for you, last year I was definitely torn between no fees and fees but definitely ended up choosing the right school for her in the end. Good luck to you all!

[foundoutyet]

Hi Kutik, yes they did, for some of mine it was not a difficult choice (certainly depends on child, even within one family). But they enjoy all the extra activities to have a break from their "boring" lessons....

[Kutik73]

What's great advice as always, Prada. I feel you've been there for me all the way through, generously sharing your wisdom at every crucial point. I appreciate every word of yours.

found, so glad to know your DCs enjoying their school. Yes, extra activities are one of the great attractions in indies.

DS has another life in my country. He spent most of his pre-school age in my country and now spends 6 weeks every year and enjoys lots of national sports, dance, art and music which are hard to learn/experience outside of the country. He goes back to the same teachers/clubs and is very much part of the community. It's expensive but we value the experiences and more importantly DS loves them all. We will probably have to cut down things like this to begin with if we choose private education. I am telling DH we cannot have everything, and have to make a choice.

Well, at least we should know what we are going to do very soon (due to the deadline of the acceptance)!

[Kutik73]

We visited a luthier today. He let us take one to try out for a few weeks. As we were leaving he casually said it's not insured. It's now sitting on the piano, next to DS's 3/4 violin. Fingers crossed there won't be fire, thieves, flooding nor bomb.

[folkmamma]

Morning all!!! Getting my bake on ahead of NCOSW this afternoon. Excited!!!!

[folkmamma]

Nom nom.....

[Wafflenose]

I can't wait to eat some!!!!!!!!!

Off to South Westerlies with both kids today. I am wearing jeans, a blue and white shirt, and will have a flower in my hair. I am short, wider than I should be and have long reddish brown hair. I'm also wearing boots because it's too wet for the music trainers! Come and introduce yourselves people... I am very shy and also don't want a repeat experience of last summer (running up to a random stranger and chatting away...)!

[folkmamma]

Yay! I am looking a little bit witchy... black shrug, leggings and brown boots. Very definitely too wide. Mousy brown hair and glasses. My real name is Lisa... see you soon!

[Wafflenose]

Yay!

My real name is unusual, but not that hard to find out. I post on the NCO FB page from time to time, and you've seen a photo of me.

[Floottoot]

Kutik,I'm another who would say opt for private over state. DD did a year average secondary and is now at a girls indie, while DS is at a co-ed indie, both selective.
The class sizes aren't massively smaller, and the state school DD left ranks 1st in Wales BUT the difference in attitude, pastoral care, opportunities etc is HUGE. As someone said previously, the sports and music facilities and opportunities are fantastic in both indies, and the range of residential trips is fantastic. Both schools have daily drop in sessions for subjects, extra curricular activities in all sorts of things, fantastic libraries, excellent peri teachers etc.
Exam results are really only half the story when comparing schools, IMO.

[Mistigri]

Very occasional poster now ... DD16 in the middle of mocks and (French) higher ed applications so piano and guitar not getting much of a look in. DS15 still driving us mad with hours of guitar practice every day. He's been playing 6 months now and is living proof that you get out what you put in. He practices 10-15 hours a week (during school term - he'll probably play 4-5 hours a day during half term) and is not surprisingly quite good.

Both my kids are in regular state schools - DD in a selective programme (bilingual French-Spanish) but DS in a regular class. I don't worry about whether they are missing out vs kids in "nicer" schools - it's not a race and it means they have ample time to pursue out-of-school opportunities. For eg DS spends most of the time he isn't playing guitar learning to programme, and he just placed 6th in the first round of a very popular French programming competition (that gets tens of thousands of entries). If he had to spend 2 hours a day doing homework that wouldn't have happened.

[Mendingfences]

Hope those of you at southwesterlies enjoy those cakes!

Regarding schools, if money was no object then you could do a straight up comparison, but i guess for most people the descision really needs to factor in 'what else could i do with that money?'

We have no school choice at all but there is the advantage that we can use 'spare' cash for music etc. Including summer courses and the like.

The local festival on friday was great and dd1 got through to the regional final. Dd2 played her socks off but is too young for regionals still. Ds complained (none to quietly) about the injustice of being too young for the local round, but was somewhat pacified by chocolate cake!

[Kutik73]

I wish we were in SW! The cakes and the prospect of meeting up with my dear online friends are just so appearing!

Thanks all for your input on the school choice. I can't agree more with every word of both sides. Both have pros and cons. Feel grateful to have the luxury of choices. That's not helping us much and making us reach a final decision so much harder though!

DS was supposed to attend his beloved orchestra workshop during the half term holiday but it was cancelled at the last minute. It's a shame but on the other hand it gives us plenty time to look around for DS's violin so that's good. Buying a 4/4 violin is a big deal for us so trying to find 'the one' between busy schedule wouldn't have been ideal.

DH wanted to go skiing, but it's really not great time to spend our precious money on luxury so I said 'no'. We've got golf, tennis and swimming play dates arranged for DS instead. Not as exciting as skiing but DS doesn't see the difference - the beauty of being a 10 years old!

On top, visiting luthiers is quite exciting and entertaining for DS. The last time, one of the luthiers showed DS how to make a bow and let him try some processes. It was about 6 months ago but DS still remembers every bit of the experience and calls it as his 'work experience'.

Nothing musical is happening during the holiday I'm afraid. But the play dates and luthier visits will fill our days nicely!

[Kutik73]

Oh and, we are on the hunt for DS's fun pieces. Please let me know if there is any nice violin piece to learn! Those who play violin may have good knowledge on staple pieces for young musicians I suppose? I know famous pieces that are often played on the radio, but zero idea of suitability for a child learner.

[folkmamma]

Had a lovely time at SW today, great to meet Waffle in person and Goo & Rara!!! Looking forward to next time.

Was very impressed with SW and Noo and her BFF settled straight in - when I think back to how nervous we all were this time last year (and how little the girls actually played in that first rehearsal...) the difference is quite amazing!

Kutik has DS done the Boy Paganini by Mollenhauer? Great fun but he'd probably find it quite easy... there are some great repertoire pieces in the 'Solos for Young Violinists' series by Barbara Barber. Book 2 onwards for your DS I would say...

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Hi all, just posted on the January thread. Thanks for helpful response.

We have DS(16) in Y11. Basically a keen and talented trumpet and cornet player playing in various community concert and youth brass bands. Grade 8 working towards diploma.
Friend of his has just got into Purcell so this has brought these possibilities onto our radar more.

So now thinking about applying to Purcell and/or Chetham's and wondering if we've left it too late in the year, hopefully not quite! And of course you wonder what your/ their chances are and whether it's worth a try. The boy does have both talent and potential I'm sure, and that's not just his DM speaking, though I may be a little biased!

Any advice and experience really welcome. Thanks!
Nice thread x

[se22mother]

Arghh urgent question for clarinettists: dd says her d# on Clarinet is "not going down " and no sound comes out . Any tips got a fix please- she has a rehearsal for a festival tomorrow am

[Kutik73]

Welcome, Juggling! I'm afraid I have no knowledge to pass on to you, but I have a DS who wants to go to a specialist music school. He is only 10. So I am sort of ignoring his words at the moment! We are going to review this a few years later. I think he will change his mind once he starts senior school.

folk, thank you for the suggestion! No DS hasn't done that. I'll have a look!

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Thanks for the welcome Kutik! I have popped in once or twice before so knew where to turn when advice was needed!

Seems like we could give it a go from advice kindly given on other thread. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And experience such as at any visit or audition would be valuable in itself.

Fortunately DS at a good (Cathedral) school at the moment, with a reasonably good sixth form music department, so continuing where he is ( provided some revision happens!) could also be a good pathway for him

[folkmamma]

Kutik the left-hand pizzicato section is great fun, and a fab introduction if he hasn’t done much of it before.....

[catkind]

Ooh kutik, I love a violin repertoire question. Remind us what sorts of things he's been learning so far? Schindler's list is quite playable with some show off bits, meditation from Thais, of course the Monti Czardas (though can be a bit hackneyed unless done very well indeed). I used to like Kreisler sicilienne & rigaudon, lovely simple sweet sicilienne, then the rigaudon you can take as fast as you dare. There are lots of fun Kreisler show pieces depending on how hard you want!

[Trumpetboysmum]

Hi Juggling if it's something he's interested in doing then an advice audition would be a good place to start . I know they take them in year 12 but not Year 13 . Ds would also love to go to Chets but I am also holding off at present in case he changes his mind , but it's definitely on the radar for 6th form - he's only in year 8 at the minute. Ds did speak to an ex pupil about it recently ( who also plays trumpet) he said he loved it but it wasn't for everyone and there was more than 1 path to making your career as a trumpet player . Sound advice I think

[Kutik73]

cat, thanks for the suggestions! DS hasn't done any of them on your list apart from Schindler's so will check them. I agree about the Monti Czardas. I've heard the poor version of it and it was rather painful to listen to... I'm looking for something simpler and easier than stretchy and challenging. Something DS can play just for fun, like a break from full focused studies. Meditation may be nicely slow and beautiful. But I'll check all the music you kindly suggested.

[Kutik73]

folk, I've found the music! It's in the book DS used for other pieces in the past! Will leave it on his music stand so he can have a go when he wants.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Thanks Trumpetboysmum (that could be my name too!)

Am feeling slightly annoyed with myself for not having it more on the radar, but glad to hear it's not totally too late and an advice audition could be possible.

As you say there are always various possibilities going forwards. Practice is always going to be a key factor I think!