Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Extra-curricular activities

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

Flip

1 2 ··· 11 12 13 ··· 25 26

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:

folkmamma · 12/03/2018 18:36

And thankfully, her ear is just ridiculously good, so she’s not struggling with the modulations. Some of the shifts and extensions however... She needs to go over and over them to build muscle memory but is not patient with that sort of work!

Trumpetboysmum · 12/03/2018 18:48

Good luck folk hopefully your email will do the trick . luckily ds's teacher stepped in tonight so at least she's played the pieces with a piano now !! It's only grade 1 but she's never done a music exam before and I really don't want her to be put off . It's taken a long time to get her to agree to anything as it's very difficult being ds's sister !! But she's doing just fine she just needs to believe in herself . Ds's teacher is also ridiculously busy and I don't mind missed lessons as long as we have notice . He's already warning me about his Christmas schedule so I think we will plan grade 8 to happen well after that . I know lots of dcs who have kind of irregular lessons because of teacher commitments but it helps if it's planned ( and if the pupil is a bit older so they can sustain things for longer by themselves )

folkmamma · 12/03/2018 19:38

Glad to hear DD has had her lesson Trumpet. I’ve just about climbed down off the ceiling now. PJ’s, wine and trash TV I think...

Kutik73 · 12/03/2018 23:51

Hope folk enjoyed wine and trash TV...

folkmamma · 13/03/2018 07:48

I didn't actually get that far Kutik, crashed out on the sofa 😂

Teacher update.... we have skype session set up for Thursday. Not ideal but better than nothing! Just need to get her into JD then everything will be ok.. 🤞🏻

Kutik73 · 13/03/2018 09:30

Oh, that sounds very familiar - crashing on the sofa before reaching 'me time'.

DS has been playing 4/4 since we started our violin hunting. Different violin almost every few days so not great but at least they are all 4/4 size. The teacher said he shouldn't have gone back to 3/4 any more so he hast to stick to 4/4 now. But what should I do when he has to take his violin to school? I don't feel easy with him taking a £4-6k violin which is not ours yet (though insured). Could he just survive with 3/4? It's only once a week group session and pieces they play are uually easy and simple.

ealingwestmum · 13/03/2018 10:11

Kutik; if it were me, I'd work backwards. What is your deciding criteria for selection? Pick 2/3 things (even if they're subjective, does it make your DS feel good when he plays), and definitely take to school, as his use of it in all circumstances; JD, school, ensembles etc will form the final decision between you, him and teachers.

It's insured, so don't worry! And I agree with your teacher - going back and forth between sizes doesn't have any value.

Kutik73 · 13/03/2018 10:17

Thanks ealing. In fact it may be good for him to play at school. They usually play in a large hall (as there are 10-15 kids together) so DS can test the sound in the different environment.

LooseAtTheSeams · 13/03/2018 10:27

Kutik I saw your thread about the violin search and it's fascinating reading. I have a lot of sympathy after last year's cello search - bizarrely we ended up with a lovely cello costing less than I had been prepared to pay because his piano teacher agreed to sell hers. It really suits his playing (Big Sound!) but I doubt I'd have found it in a shop or thought to try it.
Oh, and many thanks to Mending (I think!) we got the Laubach gold rosin and there's such a big difference from the cheapest one I'd got before! It was definitely worth it.

disorganisedmummy · 13/03/2018 14:25

Loose it was me who recommended the Laubach rosin!!

Xennialish · 13/03/2018 14:35

My philistine DD1 said there was no difference and was most bemused that I thought there might be! She did find it funny that I'd succumbed to internet based rosin peer pressure on her behalf though and we all love the little gold box and cloth .

Kutik73 · 13/03/2018 14:38

I got a new rosin today as I decided to experiment a few (may need to start a new thread on this). It has..., no name.... I got it from Matthew Coltmen. It's wrapped up with a pretty green clothes. I will report you DS's feedback!

Loose, thank you for reading the thread, and thank you for your kind sympathy. I hope I get tiny bits of your luck!

disorganisedmummy · 13/03/2018 14:43

Can I pick your wonderful brains please about a dilemma we're having?

I've spoken before about mini disorganised's recent set backs re change in violin teacher/county orchestra. On Sunday he was supposed to go to String rehearsals at County orchestra but had a massive meltdown again. This wasn't helped by him having a rehearsal followed by concert for another orchestra in the afternoon. County orchestra is about 45 mins drive from us and is 9.30-2. He says he doesn't enjoy it s it's too far away. He plays in firsts where as in the other 2 orchestras he is lead second violin. He doesn't want to move to 2nd's and I'm told he can play the music no problem. I think it's because it's big and unfamiliar though he has got friends there. We agreed to leave t this month but next month I will accompany him. He was happier about this. In a convo later that evening he said that he is only 11 (12 in June) and will do County orchestra but perhaps not yet.
Mini disorganised is Autistic and for the first time ever he's starting to form real,solid friendships with boys in his year. He wants to carry on with all his orchestras but not county for the time being. We've been told by his violin teacher and tutors at his string ensembles that he needs to be olay8ng at county level. I'm not sure what to do. Do we leave it and let him make his own decisions? Or do I accompany him to county orchestra every month. Will it make much difference if he leaves this orchestra till September/January? (He doesn't have to audition for it at the mo).

Thanks

Mendingfences · 13/03/2018 15:13

disorganised i am no expert on any of this but i think you know your son best. Regardless of what other think he needs to be doing or should be doing if the sum total is a negative experience for him then he is unlikely to get whatever it is that his teacher/tutor thinks he needs from county orchestra.

I think i might try and discuss with the teacher why county is so important at this stage and see if there are other options.

Trumpetboysmum · 13/03/2018 15:15

If he really doesn't want to do it I wouldn't make him . It should be about enjoying playing music - though it might be worth investigating a bit more why he really doesn't like it and coming up with strategies to deal with the things that worry him . Ds doesn't do county orchestra he does nco instead , but there will come time ; year 10) when he can't be in nco but probably won't get into nyo ( most if the brass players are in 6th form . However by then yes he should be playing in county orchestra ( and I would imagine be one if th

Trumpetboysmum · 13/03/2018 15:17

Posted too soon !! He will by Year 10 be one of the better ( best ?!?) trumpet players in the county - but he will have been out of the system for a few years and so might not get a spot - in the long run this really won't matter - he can do and enjoy other stuff instead !! Hope that makes sense . I think your ds would be fine to wait a few years until he feels ready

Icouldbeknitting · 13/03/2018 15:26

disorganised have you checked that you would be able to accompany him because if you can't then that solution is just not an option.

I wouldn't make him do it - DS is 18 now and the one thing that time has shown me is that there are many routes to the same outcome. If it is vital (and why?) that he plays at county level then he can audition at a later date.

AlexandraLeaving · 13/03/2018 17:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LooseAtTheSeams · 13/03/2018 17:27

disorganised - apologies! And many thanks! I'd agree with others and not make your DS do something if he's sure it's not for him.
xennialish you obviously didn't have the rubbish stuff we started out with! I also rather like the little gold box...

Original poster

Wafflenose · 13/03/2018 19:20

disorganised I wouldn't send him! He needs to cement those friendships and maybe guard his down time a little more now that he's at secondary. For what it's worth, Goo isn't in any county groups - she missed an audition the time before last because she was injured, and didn't try out last time because she was grappling with starting secondary school. Sadly, there isn't a weekly orchestra in our county at a vaguely suitable level, and county youth orchestra only meets in the school holidays!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Wafflenose · 13/03/2018 19:41

OP posts:

Original poster

Wafflenose · 13/03/2018 19:42

Excuse double post... weird computer crash.

OP posts:

catkind · 13/03/2018 20:10

disorganised, have you talked to youth orchestra tutors about whether they can find a way to help him settle in? They ought to be trying to go out of their way to help a child with SEN, not that they shouldn't be keeping an eye on the youngest ones anyway. Mentor, buddy up with other younger players, or maybe you could take him out for the lunch break to give him some space rather than needing to be around the whole time.

For strings, adult amateur orchestras are also worth looking at if you'd prefer a weekly orchestra. We have a steady trickle of youngsters through ours, have had as young as 10 on occasion. Depending on where you are can be a similar standard to county youth groups.

Trumpetboysmum · 13/03/2018 20:47

Disorganised Ds also plays in a weekly orchestra that isn't exactly stretching ( because it's catering to a wide ability/ age level of string players ) but he goes because his best friend and others go and this is the only time he sees them . It's really important that it's sociable

TaggieOHara · 13/03/2018 21:12

Disorganised - I love reading about the huge strides your DS is making. Making friends in his peer group (massive achievement!) overcoming his music set back and working so hard, while settling into secondary school, and keeping up his many musical commitments. I admire him hugely. I'd give county orchestra a break. He will benefit plenty from leadership positions in more local groups for now. There is loads of time for county level in a year or two once he has his confidence back

Flip

1 2 ··· 11 12 13 ··· 25 26

Swipe left for the next trending thread