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!

Congrats Alex!!!! Brilliant news!!

Back on my after a mad few weeks of festival performances - DD achieved 6 first places in total on piano and clarinet and played in the finale concert.

Now back to exam work ABRSM grade 6 clarinet and piano and grade 3 singing in the summer term and she’s just announced she wants to do Grade 6 theory in the autumn! And RAD grade 4 ballet this term too! And her last term at primary school!

Lovely to hear her starting new piano concertos tonight - Mozart and Shostakovich! Going to enjoy her learning those!

Congrats to all the minis with exam results and jd results. Good luck to those off on various courses over the hols.

*mn not my

Another ex-suzuki parent agreeing with Folk. Dd thoroughly enjoyed the friendship and courses

That is a good point (about it being useful to observe the lesson). I have heard of people asking to sit in on the lessons - perhaps I'll do that for my son when he's next back in school and has a piano lesson.

I agree with Folk too, rapid progress here due to my sitting in on lessons and helping with practice. Though she’s willing and able to do it alone and does when I’m not here. It’s nice having that time to share music and practice being something to enjoy together, right from age 4 when she started piano. Rapid progress makes them more willing to practice too in the early days when they can perform pieces with a couple of weeks practice, they see the point of practicing.

practice being something to enjoy together ... still waiting for that Wind!!! Lol!!! 😂

practice being something to enjoy together hahaha!!! DD always wants me to go and 'help' her. This results in massive strops and rudeness if I dare to make any kind of suggestion. I think what she means by 'help' is just sit quietly in the corner and listen so that she can demonstrate how marvellous everything is. I have pointed out that I can hear her throughout the house and I could easily be getting on with other things whilst listening - but this is apparently not the same. We used to play lovely recorder duets together though when she was about 6 - I'm not allowed to join in anymore as I go wrong too often! She has been on a mission since September (when she started boarding) to prove to herself and everyone else that she could organise her own time and practice - which she has done really successfully - so I am certainly not needed now, she just likes an audience!!!

Alexandra it depends how young. Year 1 (and year 2 if teaching more than 3/4 children at a time, or any reading difficulty/SEN) Recorder Magic 1, which starts off the stave. Year 2 (individuals/ very small groups) Recorder From the Beginning book 1 (half struggle from page 41 onwards) followed by Play time 2 to bridge the gap to RFTB book 2. But the Play Time books seem to be going out of print and take months to arrive, so I might write my own alternative 'book'. I use Vamoosh for supplementary and concert material.

Hapsburg, * "This results in massive strops and rudeness if I dare to make any kind of suggestion. I think what she means by 'help' is just sit quietly in the corner and listen so that she can demonstrate how marvellous everything is*...."

YES YES YES!!!!!! I get this twice over with my DD's. Good to know I am not alone 😂

DD1 (15) has been entirely independent with practice since she went to secondary school. She will wander through instrument in hand to ask how something sounded - and does need to reminded to make time for practice.

DD2 (11) is a bit hit and miss as to whether she wants some input, and even when she wants me to sit in, isn’t always gracious if I suggest something! She did take me by surprise this morning when I suddenly heard bassoon playing. That will be because we currently have two on approval after 5 hours(!!) in the shop yesterday...

I have DS (8) who hates my inputting into practice because I tend to suggest he looks at the notes and plays what it says on the page rather than making it up. Parents are SO annoying. DD (6) is capable of sensible practice on her own but would rather have company if I'm there.

We're still in early stages but am expecting DD to do some serious catching up, her sight reading is already better and she also practices more so everything is moving faster.

PS ex suzuki pupil here. It was probably good for me and I enjoyed the individual lessons but the group classes bored me to tears. Same pieces for literally years on end. DD is doing suzuki pieces but not suzuki lessons. They're surprisingly nice pieces when not on eternal loop!

Folk and Hapsburg re massive strops both of mine are like that it's definitely better if I stay out of it !!

Aww...had a nice surprise today. DS1's music teacher sent me the recording of an improvised jazz piece DS1 and his friends did. I think they're going to use it as their GCSE ensemble piece as it starts with names and candidate numbers. DS1 needs to write down the chords for the moderator (at least I assume that's why) over the hols. To my untutored ears it sounds very nice indeed.
Also, I think I've found a teacher for the bass music performance diploma, once GCSEs are out of the way. He's going to carry on with his current teacher in the Summer term, along with drumkit lessons. Just glad he doesn't have any grade exams!

Currently sat in A&E with an injured Noo... right little finger. Most inconvenient.

Oh crumbs - is it broken?

Not sure yet.... waiting for x-ray 😔

Oh no folk! I hope it isn’t serious. Poor noo

Oh no folk! But fingers heal quickly. Actual break might be quicker than tendon damage. Fingers and toes crossed it's nothing bad.

Not broken, phew!

to Noo. Can she play violin?