March Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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!

Horribly stressful just before an exam Anne and well done to your dd for getting through it. The worst we’ve had was the accompanist forgetting to come to DD1’s Grade 7 exam last week, but at least we had her teacher there to play - even if it was one handed through one section (the whole reason she had suggested an accompanist in the first place!)

Hoping the snow stays away as DD2 has a concert this afternoon. Always good to finish the term properly after all the work they put in.

Trumpet

No, she hasn't and grade wise it's held her back.
They usually have it entering the school or soon afterwards but it's taken her 7 years from when we first started with her.
She's the only one at her school in her year who hasn't though, and they haven't pushed or pressurised her, just let her do everything else to get to the required level.
She has been ready for grade 8 on both instruments since she was 12.

It will hold him back, does he really not like it or is there not a lot of time.
Just a little and often should get him there in a shortish space of time.

gilly, can she take musicianship or jazz g5 instead if theory is holding her back grade-wise (and if that matter to her). This way she doesn't need to study theory for the sake of taking higher grades and instead she can study on her pace? My memory may be wrong but your DD plays jazz? So jazz exam may be an easier option for her?

Kutik

She could have done, but they wanted her to hold out for theory as she needs this for conservatoire entry, which is another worry for her at the moment. Not the theory as she's finally ready, it's the flippin new GCSE's. Let's put it this way she needs a min of 3 GCSE's old A-C, it doesn't say including Maths and English, so she might be lucky. Then min 2 GCSE's old A-E, I'm sure she'll manage that, but hoping they honour the low criteria when it comes to it.
I feel so sorry for her at times, I've been there, and it's horrible.

sorry, min 2 A levels not GCSE's

Gilly At least one of the conservatoires is looking for five GCSEs (A-C), another wanted three and another didn't mention GCSEs at all. None of the ones DS looked at required theory, they test their theory knowledge when they start and teach accordingly. I went to a presentation where one head of department said that he didn't care what knowledge of theory students came in with because they would teach them what they needed to know.

I wouldn't worry about them moving the entry point before she gets there, entry has always been EE and audition. If she doesn't get maths and english on the first attempt she can take them alongside A levels. I know that many apply and few are chosen but it's all about the performance and that is what she's good at.

Anne what a horrible experience for you both. We've been late once because of the weather but the examiner was even later so that worked out just fine for us.

Oh Gilly I really feel for her but I'm sure she'll be fine and well done on her for sticking at it . The reason Ds hasn't done it yet is mainly because him being very good and so whizzing through the early stages took us all by surprise !! I should have made him do it in year 6 but school was horrid with sats prep. Last year he just needed to settle into high school and so now he's in year 8 . I'm aiming for November then he has a choice of exam boards for grade 8 . He can do Abrsm at school which would work well as they have a very good accompanist who Ds has worked with a lot . But Trinity aural tests ( and pieces ?) might suit him better we shall see but he still needs the theory anyway to go to conservatoire . Which is his plan at the moment I think !?! I'm in no hurry for him to take grade 8 I'm sure he could be ready next term but I just wanted a more relaxed year this year with lots of playing an less pressure

Icouldbeknitting

Many thanks for that, it's helped me breathe a sigh of relief.

Poor kid asked me what would happen if there was somebody at the same musical standard and they only could take one of them and the other person had much better results.
I told her I thought they wouldn't take this into consideration, but on reflection I wasn't sure I should have.

Actually I think by waiting he also instinctively understands it more and so hopefully he will be able to pass based on understanding not just randomly learning it which is what he would have done in year 6 ( he had only had a year of 15 minute lessons at that stage and so knew very little !! He could just play the trumpet )

Good news about the theory Icould !! Gilly they will only be interested in how well they play I don't think academic results will come into it much - I see the EE at A level as rather a token thing because it's a degree and so they have to have an A level prerequisite.

Am just catching up on the thread.

Well done to minidouble on a fantastic exam result!

And Anne - what an exam experience for your DD! Just think - the next one has to go more smoothly!

Am feeling as though we have been quite busy musically-speaking lately. We went to the music shop at the Barbican this morning to size DS for his first viola as a total beginner. He announced while we were in the shop that he might like to try learning the French horn in 'about a year' . So, we have a viola now but still no teacher. The music service where DD has her cello lessons is still trying to track one down.

I have been teaching them the recorder for a couple of months now and they are just getting to the point where they can play a few simple duets together which is very cute - and also hilarious.

DS has his first piano concert next week. Am a bit worried as his teacher has given him a piece which (in my opinion) is far too difficult for him. Am afraid he is going to come a cropper in front of lots of people and it's really going to put a dent in his confidence. But am trying not to get all control-freaky over it and learn to let it go and trust that the teacher knows what's what....

We are also busy working our way through the theory books. Am a bit surprised at the jump between Grades 2 and 3 in terms of the new keys to learn and having to know both melodic and harmonic minors. I had always thought that only came in at Grade 5 but obviously not!

Trumpet

Thank you very much, I can't wait to tell her and the token A level makes sense now.
I'm pretty sure she will manage German, French and Music GCSE's and maybe Art, I'm not sure.
It's just the core subjects, especially Maths.

I think you are also right about holding off the theory during Y6 and Y7, they are busy years with enough pressure and fitting in. I'm sure that's why they didn't push dd as well as the fact she struggles.

I think the school that she goes to sound great Gilly. Really supportive . I also noticed that they say they like them to have the theory by 6 th form ( if not before) which sounds sensible, there are so many different paths to becoming a musician. Taking music grades in order on lots of instruments plus theory is not the path that they all take . It's just one way , though I will need to remind Ds of this lots in the next few weeks before he goes on his next NCO course as I think he's kind of the odd one out with no grade 8 ( or indeed many grade 8s ) and no theory - not that it makes him any less good as a trumpet player

Oh and not everyone gets English and maths at an old style grade c . One of my friends never did get maths and has a very successful career working at a Russell group university!! At the other end of the scale I work in early years with lots of great staff with no English and maths at grade c they are currently taking functional skills as it's more relevant . They are all very good at their jobs . You can only do what you can do , work with that and find a way to hopefully find a career that you enjoy

Thank you Trumpetboysmum

I thought I was derailing poor waffles thread, so started another one.

Gilly Well done to your DD on making such great progress with her theory, especially if it does not come not come naturally! I hope you find lots of support on the new thread!

Gilly I honestly do believe she will get the core subjects for GCSE. It's great she loves her languages, too.
We seem to be doing theory very slowly compared to others on this thread but I've worked out DS2 should have grade 5 theory by the time he actually needs it and before he starts GCSE music so I'm happy for him to plod along as he is!

Loose Ds hasn't done his theory yet and he's 13 and has already taken grade 7 ( Trinity!!) He now sees the point as it will help him with orchestral transposition I couldn't get him to do it before then . Just want it finished now though it's been very hit and miss

Thanks Loose
I wish I had your faith . I'm definitely going to speak to HOD for English as dd has improved so much since this teacher taught her in Y7, if she has all the recent info and still says she wouldn't manage Drama I'll accept it obviously.
To cheer her up I've bought all the books she has asked me for, she loves Eng lit so I got An Inspector Calls, Of Mice and Men, and 1984.
It would be much easier for her if they separated the English at least she'd be sure of one GCSE.

Seems this latest snow fall is causing problems. DD's friend who had several LAMDA exams back to back today has been cancelled as although she turned up the examiner couldn't get in. Two examiners managed it but not hers and they said she couldn't swap to another one as it's like a proper exam like GCSE they were told so has to have the right examiner. Poor things and probably lots of others affected too. What a nightmare!

Gilly is she doing english literature and language as two separate subjects or as one? It was the case (don't know if it still is) that a pass in literature counted as the "english" pass.

Band practice was cancelled this morning because of the snow, the secretary made the decision nice and early so we could all stop in bed.

minidouble very well done
Gilly at jd, DS is being made to take Theory g6 this June. I have never asked why, I don't know whether they are preparing them for entry to conservatoire or just generally improving their musicianship. After that they have the choice of continuing with Theory grades 7&8 or switching to composing, conducting, improvising or historical studies. But I trust Icould 's experience when she says they didn't ask for Theory for college entry. In terms of GCSEs, I am convinced your DD will get the results she needs with her languages and music. I would be shocked to hear a conservatoire cares about Maths GCSE...by the way! I meant to ask you, has he heart lately veered away from jazz and towards opera?

Can anyone near Yorkshire help this girl?:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extra_curricular_activities/3197688-Music-Lessons?watched=1&msgid=76448948#76448948

drummers

I had just calmed down. Not your fault, my biggest fear and dd's too, is with other dc being able to offer so much more than the min criteria, the conservatoires will chose those that can offer the most to fill spaces before looking at those with the minimum.

Icouldbe

I'm not sure will ask, thanks.

From info I have already unless they change it's the igcse English First Language English 0500 and the igcse Literature in English 0475.