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!

The accelerated course (three years rather than four) would mean one year's less tuition fees and living expenses. I have no idea how it works, because of the impact of losing his dad his predicted grades have slipped to the point that it's no longer a possibility.

The diploma was well worth doing, that extra twenty minutes of repertoire has come in useful time and time again. He's doing one of the pieces at a lunchtime recital this week and also as an A level piece, he did one movement of a sonata for the diploma and is doing the whole work in a couple of weeks. Having said that I'm not sorry that someone else will now be responsible for organising future exams. i had nightmares over music, copying music, substituting music and have no wish to do it again.

Icould your ds has done so well to keep going and I think given the circumstances having 4 years to study rather than the pressure of a 3 year accelerated course will be a good thing.

Icould thanks a lot for your thoughts on the diploma, yes, I can imagine how it has come useful, and I wish your DS the best in these tough times. He will come stronger out the other side.

gilly I have not looked into accelerated courses but did look a bit into combined degrees. I only found RNCM-Manchester and the Berklee-Harvard. My concerns re these are:

• The amount of work, which is considerably bigger than if you were doing any of the two as a single option. I think I have been traumatized by year 11 in which individual practice has been almost impossible due to academic demands. It has been truly horrible . Does DS wish to finally free himself from that and go straight into the same situation? Don't know... The idea of conservatoire and having the time and focus to practise and get better at your instrument/s is so tempting.
• having one leg in one world and one leg in the other. You don't really belong to either, so will you suddenly feel half-way through that you wish you were full time at the conservatoire where all these fun people make music all day, or all day hanging out with the BMusic people and campus life in general without having to rush to lessons and rehearsals at the other place?

Anyway, just a couple of thoughts...

I'm glad to see some of the other colleges have the various pathways too. I haven't looked properly as still a while off for dd, but did notice one, can't remember which, only offered Opera studies at PG, so that one was out for undergrad.

Icouldbe
I'm so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine how hard it has been for you all and my sincerest sympathy
Your ds has done wonderfully well to continue as he has and is a credit to you.
The four years could be a blessing, I wonder if it includes more time for them to perform, explore other avenues.

Drummers I feel exactly the same about the combined courses and we're miles away from thinking about that yet . Interestingly Ds has already started to talk about how he will manage Year 11 and what he will do to balance things ( I can't imagine him not practicing he always fits that it first ) Some headway with school though and they may be giving him some practice time during the school day so even if it's only a token gesture it's a good thing I think

DS was put off the combined course by current students who said that they never saw the combined students - they were too busy to socialise.

That's a really interesting perspective on the combined course.
I'm certain dd wouldn't make it onto the accelerated or combined courses.

She rang me last night and asked me to book tickets for the opera at the RNCM tonight, to see Hansel and Gretel, apparently a member of staff who looks over them is starring in it tonight.
I don't mind but it's cost me £53 and they are only students
I'm sure they are very good, but I don't pay this much for Opera North tickets.
The staff member is lovely though and such a good role model for dd, even including her in recent masterclasses at the College. No idea how they wangled that one.

gilly what fun, your DD is lucky to have her. Yes those tickets are quite dear... Hansel &Gretel was the first opera DS ever saw, he was only 3 😂!

Aw, just have to say, even though I didn't go they both say it was fantastic.
Not really dh thing but he was very impressed, and has a new interest, much to dd delight.
If you know anyone in the area, there are still more performances, it's well worth the £53.

Well, Noo finally had a long awaited viol n lesson last night - it had been 3 weeks since the previous one so I've had to sub as her teacher, which both of us don't enjoy! Lesson was almost 2 hours, poor thing was exhausted! But very positive- teacher very happy with progress (so at least I didn't mess everything up!). He's coming back on Thursday for round two... feel relieved that we are back on track 😅

Great news folk and I know that feeling about teaching them well . In the run up to her cornet exam on Friday I've been getting Ds to help out with dd and its definitely better than me doing it ( and causes less arguments )

I'm envious with those who can teach their DCs or manage to keep up during a long period of teacher's absence. We can't keep up at all... DS plays and has fun with his music but no structure so he basically, just, have fun... (anyone who has seen DS's mad piano playing on Cluster would understand how it's like during any holiday periods...) Summer holiday is the worst in this aspect... We certainly need teacher's input on a regular base!

DS's previous violin teacher once described DS as a wild horse - would need reins to keep him on track... JD has already finished so he will be a wild horse for the next few weeks. He gets really really upset if I interrupt so I've learnt to let him be like that during holidays. Usually I'm okay with it but it was not easy last year as he had an audition during Easter break.

Great news Folk. I'm so glad you are reassured that Noo is on track!

Yay, DS got a distinction for grade 7 piano!

Yay for mini-Kutik! Amazing result at only 10!

Also congrats to mini-double and mini-mini (sorry dropped briefly off the thread and just catching up with the back log of amazing accomplishments!! And sorry if I missed anyone!)

Wow Kutik, that is amazing. Did someone say he is10!!! Outstanding achievement at any age but at 10 👏👏👏 😲

Many congratulations to mini Kutik - what a fantastic result! He and you must be so pleased!

Mega congratulations to the amazing Minikutik, MiniMini and just realised I'd missed MiniDouble! all round!

Congratulations mini kutik 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Sorry I missed minimini - a huge well done to her.

Thanks all. DS doesn't know the result yet as he's gone to swimming straight after school. I'm picking him up at 6.30pm then I can tell him.

We already celebrated for his good effort before the result came in so nothing special tonight. But being told he has passed safely would be the best treat I guess. I may cook his favourite meal (but then it's almost every day ).

Awwww well done Team MN!!! Never in doubt though 😘

Well done miniKutik! Outstanding!

And congratulations to miniMini too