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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

March Music Thread

626 replies

Wafflenose · 01/03/2018 10:56

Welcome to the new thread for March! I am typing this from home rather than having to go to work - snow days all round. We currently have 1cm, but there are red warnings for wind and for snow later today, so it's going to be horrendous.

This is a place to talk about all things musical, whether you or your DCs are learning. We have lots of followers, from beginners to advanced, and everyone is welcome!

I am a teacher of recorder, clarinet, flute and saxophone, and have two DDs. Goo is 12 and having a fabulous time at secondary. She is Grade 8+ on the flute but not taking the exam until braces are off (and I think her teacher is holding out until she thinks Goo can get full marks or something) and around Grade 5 piano - no performances or exams yet and terrified of anyone hearing her, so that's getting to be a slight problem. Rara is 9 and between Grades 3 and 4 on both cello and clarinet. She's taking Grade 3 Clarinet this term so that when she goes off to the NCO in the summer, she doesn't have to tell other children that's she's only done Grade 1!

OP posts:
Emerencealwayshopeful · 10/03/2018 12:26

I found the bridge for the 20 year old electric violin that my brother gave my son. Given the local music shop guy had never seen anyth8ng like it I’m hoping that I can make it work. From memory it was actually a good quality instrument/had a great sound. If we can resurrect it then we can 1. Stop paying to rent a just-ok 4/4 from the school and 2. Possibly avoid having to purchase an electric guitar as green electric violin possibly cooler. Plus I can possibly convince impossible child to dress up as chagall’s green violinist? Maybe.

Mazal tov to all who have recently passed exams.

Group theory/aural lessons would be fantastic. We are lucky that our primary school has an emphasis on music so there are two lessons a week each, but it’s not really enough for anyone who is supporting children beyond the bottom few grades.

Other exciting (for me) news is that it seems that our local council supports a youth orchestra and while there are too many flautists (sorry secundus) there are not enough cellos and they would really like primo to come try it out. They are currently learning Beethoven’s 1st and parts of grieg’s mountain king. I’ve been trying to find somewhere for primo to play in a group for a while, so I’m hoping this works out and both challenges him and gives him a peer group of people who actually practice music and take it seriously.

Wins this week: secundus and girlchild held a playoff with all the pieces that she’s playing on the violin and he also knows on the flute. Secundus added singing practice to his afternoons with no encouragement. Bridge was found. Many practice points were earned with little nagging and despite girlchild’s violin being lost for two days we had signs of progress during her lesson. I’m choosing to ignore the fails.

Paulweller11 · 10/03/2018 12:43

Thanks Loose- yes it’s just for practice. She has an acoustic kit too. Thank you x

folkmamma · 10/03/2018 18:28

String players... what grade (roughly) would you say Salut D'Amour is?? E major version... Nia's playing it at a festival and I'm worried it's above the range for the class I've entered her in!

Xennialish · 10/03/2018 19:59

The Abrsm forums are great for this...do they cover the e major version in this thread? Not read it all I’m afraid (nor would I understand!):
www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=24505

folkmamma · 10/03/2018 20:03

I saw this one - although there seems to be some confusion about the one previously on the G5 syllabus vs the original (which we are doing). I think it's around G7 and she's in a G4-6 recital class 🤔

Xennialish · 10/03/2018 20:06

Yep, I read further and the consensus is that it’s harder, but only ‘harder than grade 5’. So if it’s never actually been in a grade pieces list and you don’t have to show that it was for the festival it should be ok?

TaggieOHara · 10/03/2018 20:58

folk it's grade 7, I'd say. It's a lot harder than than the D major version. However, I'm sure it's 'within error' for the grade 4-6 class, especially as Noo is very young for the grade 7-8! We haven't entered, but I would have entered DS2 playing the Elgar without any qualms.

folkmamma · 10/03/2018 21:14

Cool thanks! Hopefully we will get away with it... (p.s. Taggie, sad you haven't entered, but glad our DC's won't be playing the same piece in the same class!!! 😘)

Doubleup · 10/03/2018 22:06

DD2 also doing a festival tomorrow. Her teacher it the entries in for all her pupils. For some reason she has entered the other pupils around DD’s age in age group classes, but DD is doing the G8 class Sad. DD is always being stretched and never able to feel truly comfortable and on top of things. No doubt I will be trying to prevent a meltdown tomorrow....

TaggieOHara · 10/03/2018 22:13

•Folk• yes - just as well! I remember playing in set piece festival classes where everyone played the same thing. One time we all played Chanson de matin (sp!) Strange experience!

I didn't enter DS2 because he needs to concentrate on his piano a bit more and get a good mark in his grade 2. My fault he is behind - I do so much more violin with him Smile. We can only really do one big instrumental thing a term, I reckon.

TaggieOHara · 10/03/2018 22:14

oh - and good luck mini-double. Good to have an ambitious teacher, but I hope the pressure doesn't get too much!

hapsburg · 10/03/2018 22:27

Festival here tomorrow too - thankfully only one class. Good luck everyone Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 10/03/2018 23:37

Double that sounds like Ds good luck to mini tomorrow
Folk if you type the piece name and grade level into google it should direct you to the edexcel difficulty chart for gcse and a level that has a very extensive list of pieces for all instruments and roughly what level they are .

gillybeanz · 10/03/2018 23:49

Good luck with the festivals and there must be lots of musical kids in your areas to fill all these classes.

I went to see dd in the woodwind concert today, it was absolutely amazing. I love hearing all the different pieces for various ensembles.
She managed to get her usual sniggers from the audience, in a nice way.
I'm not saying why, I can't, so if you know, don't say, just giggle. Grin

raspberryrippleicecream · 11/03/2018 00:41

Good luck to festival people today.

Ours is next week, DS2 has really cut down on his solo entries this year. He is doing 2 piano classes and the organ class - first public performance on organ! Also some ensemble entries with school and music service.

I usually really enjoy the week, but for various reasons it will be quite sad and not the same this year in the ensemble groups.

For the first time this year all the DCs classes are in the evening, which means I can get to them all but will be a busy week - four evenings!

Kutik73 · 11/03/2018 00:53

Had a lovely day today! We enjoyed DS's performance in a quartet at jd, then I went out with girlfriends and we chatted and chatted over tapas and nice wine. After all the busy weeks this was what I really needed! I feel like I'm recharged and ready for another busy and demanding weeks! Oh and, tomorrow (well already today technically) is Mother's Day. DS and DH are planning a surprise apparently. Can't wait to wake up!

Anyway, I've just uploaded DS's piano again. I couldn't work out the pic with sound thing so I asked DS to let me film his hands instead. It's the same piece as before so nothing new - sorry. But I suppose this can stay a bit longer as no face is displayed! Smile

Japanese · 11/03/2018 06:06

Happy Mother's Day one and all!

Good luck to everyone playing in festivals!

Kutik - I have just had a listen to your DS - what beautiful playing. He plays so maturely - I would never say just from listening that he is as young as he is!

I have a question please for string players/teachers. I was having a chat yesterday with DS (9). I had said once he had sat Grade 1 piano he could, if he wanted, start learning another instrument. He first asked about the harp but when I explained about transportation issues (we don't have a car!) he is now expressing an interest in the viola. My (limited) understanding is that most viola players begin with violin and then transition to viola in time. Is that correct? Or would it be possible for him to start with viola straight away do you think? Thanks!

catkind · 11/03/2018 08:37

Japanese yes some people switch later, but you can start on viola too. He'd be very popular with ensembles! Round here seems to be some violinists also teach viola, all violists also teach violin. They usually start on an appropriate sized violin strung as a viola, though I think you can get purpose made mini violas too.

LooseAtTheSeams · 11/03/2018 09:44

Happy Mother's Day!
Gilly I bet it was a lovely performance. I'm intrigued by your description - sounds like dd is a natural performer!
It just occurred to me I don't know any viola players and there must be quite a demand for them. I think one of the violin teachers steps in and plays viola sometimes but that's about it!

folkmamma · 11/03/2018 09:51

Good viola players are in high demand!!! Noo is trying viola on the Pro Corda course, I'm hoping once she realised how many doors it will open she'll be enthused to take it up alongside violin...

Kutik73 · 11/03/2018 09:59

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks, Japanese. Smile

I agree viola players are def in demand so would be a great choice. There is nothing wrong with starting viola straightaway. But as you said many viola plays can play violin too, and actually I think it's quite useful to be able to play both. If you can play violin at high standard, you can pick up viola pretty quickly. DS's friend who is a g8 standard violinist picked up viola last term as he needed 2nd instrument for a music scholarship application. He is already taking grade 5 this term (in a couple of days!). So your DS won't wast any time by learning violin first?

Viola is also much heavier and bulkier so in general violin is more accessible and easier to start for young children?

However, I know a few great viola players who didn't learn violin first so if your DS is very eager to learn viola now it may be better to let him follow his heart as he would enjoy the learning more with the instrument he is most interested.

folkmamma · 11/03/2018 10:29

Ps I believe Gilly is referring to the "that's completely amazing / what the hell are we doing here?" snigger... we've not often been on the receiving end, but I very often use it 😘

Original poster
Wafflenose · 11/03/2018 11:32

I would jump straight to viola. He will be in huge demand! I used to play (badly) and felt special because I was the only one in my school. I started in Year 11 and passed Grade 4 by the time I left school. Haven't played for about 20 years!

OP posts:
violinandpiano · 11/03/2018 14:57

My DD did not learn viola with teacher, but she takes part in a viola club and only be taught how to read the notes. Now she can play viola. She felt bored at her school orchestra to play violin. Then she asked the conductor if she can viola in the orchestra. Of course they are very happy she can join viola part because only 2 violas in this orchestra but have about 20 violins.

Kutik73 · 11/03/2018 16:53

DS's friend I mentioned above also hasn't taken any lesson. He just had to get used to the alto clef. Of course I would recommend to get a teacher and learn properly. But my point of mentioning the boy is violin and viola are so compatible. So starting violin first and switch to viola (or just play both) later won't be any waste but do start viola now if it's clear DS's passion and interest are there.