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!

Lollipop DS2 was rather similar. He was probably 6 or 7 when he started piano and for about a year just practised twice a week and made very slow progress! It reached the point where I had to say do a bit most days or stop. He didn't want to stop so he practised but he liked me to listen. He just had to get the idea that practice pays off!
Once he really started to make progress he played much more. He's just turned 13 and plays very comfortably at G5 level, plays lots of pieces he downloads or finds in books and genuinely enjoys it.

Hi Lollipop! My DD started violin at just over 5. Although she loves playing, she hates practicing! Always has. Reward charts work in our house, we have had many incarnations over the years and still do now (DD's are now 10 and 7). Initially it's hard as they aren't really working 'for' anything like exams, festivals etc which tend to focus the mind! Just the echo what others have said, keep it short and aim for 3-4 practices a week. Even set the days you are going to practice so it becomes part of a routine. And definitely make it FUN! Of you are struggling to motivate yourself (believe me, I hear you!) make the reward something you both enjoy, like a trip to the cinema or a day out. And keep checking in here... there's always someone who has been through it! Good luck 😉

Kutik were you uploading from your phone or a computer? It will only let us upload video via the app, not a pc. Also, clips have to be trimmed to the right length as it only takes about 1min. Please try again as I can't wait to hear Mini-Kutik !

Lollipop dd (9) still likes reward charts. Currently she is working slowly towards her goal of a Fitbit by earning a tick on a chart every time she practises well.

folk, I did via app on my phone - I downloaded the app for the sake. I trimmed too, as it asked me to do so on the process. All seemed simple. But once all was done the videos were nowhere. I'll try again later. Hopefully it works!

Thank you. We’ll keep going and try the reward thing as she may motivate me too. I just really want her to do it out of enjoyment rather than duty. It’s lovely hearing about your children loving it and doing different festivals, concerts and things.
As a child I didn’t enjoy it at all and begged to give up. I just don’t want to repeat the experience. You all sound so passionate about music, it’s lovely to read.

Kutik, I just saw a flash of Mini-Kutik on the channel but now it's gone!?

Aah it's back! Fab xx

Grrr, I accidentally removed it again!!! I'll try it later again. Very sorry. I never really good at this kind...

Hi everyone, could someone please send me the link to the videos please? I'm not sure what I have to do. Thanks

lollipop my girl started at 5, piano and recorder then adding the clarinet 8 months later. Her teacher always asked for “a little every day” rather than a few days a week of more. We’ve done it every day since and now it’s just part of her daily rhythm. She doesn’t hardly remember life without music and it’s not a problem to “get” her to practice. We do have issues with how she practices sometimes, but that’s mainly due to her being an 8yr old who doesn’t like mummy having anything to say on anything in her life! We have always used a practice chart, she loves to see it full and likes us to write down what other musical activities she does so she can figure out how much she’s played. She also absolutely loves stickers still. Totally mad for a good sticker! Doing it together, gently and fun has been the important thing. It achieves much more whenwe do it as a joint activity (attitude days aside) xx

I am still struggling to get my two into a decent practice routine. I work full time and have an hour's commute each way. Fitting it in around ferrying them to activities, homework and just chilling out is hard.
DS (age 9) does 3-4 practices a week, which means SLOOOOWWWWW progress. He is quite black and white about things and because his teacher recommended 4 a week, that's the maximum he sticks too. His sister (age 7) does more like 5-6 practices a week and her progress is very speedy. While I would love DS to do more, he is happy with the current set up and I am wary of rocking the boat.
Am stressing a little because both of mine have been off school for over a week with chest infections and DS has a music festival in a couple of weeks. He's too poorly to practice properly though I did get him to practice the fingering on his trumpet along to the recorded piano part today. Haven't a clue whether he was doing it right! Have had to postpone rehearsal with pianist three times now! Don't want to pull out but I only want him to play if he can do himself justice.

I love sushi hope they get better soon . That sounds like a good plan re trumpet practice. Ds will often do this when he's learning an accompaniment to go with a trumpet part

folk, I think it was my internet. Took ages to upload so I thought it wasn't working. I tried a few times and ended up uploading the same ones a few times! I deleted the duplication and stupidly deleted all... Are you with me? Confusing, right? Sorry... I'd blame on my empty stomach. Now I've had a lovely Sunday roast I can function better and finally managed to upload a few clips safely.

Yay! Glad you succeed, talented boy you have there 😍

Frustrating afternoon here. Noo went on a sleepover last night and has come back tired, emotional and uncooperative. She snivelled her way through a very truncated practice, and is now begrudgingly moping through some theory.

On top, her teacher cancelled tomorrow's lesson again. We dearly love him, but the lessons are getting more and more erratic because of his own course/concert schedule. I don't think he can come next week either, so that will be 3 weeks between lessons again. I can keep her going, but she hates it when I'm depping!

folk, thanks for your kind word. Your DD has a fab room by the way. At first I though it was at a music shop! Hopefully the teacher issues will be sorted by Noo moving to a jd.

Today is a a decision making day for us. The deadline of the indy acceptance is tomorrow, and also we have to decide whether we purchase the violin DS loves most (at the moment..) again by tomorrow as we have to make an arrangement to return on Tuesday if we are not going to keep it. Both are expensive. Not great to think of at the same time!!

Boys went to play footy this morning and now have gone to diving (pool). I am alone at home, thinking, checking and thinking.... We'll have a final meeting this evening....

Aah, the music room! Yes, they are lucky girls. Only trouble is it's right underneath DD2 bedroom 🙈

Good luck with the decision making- sometimes a deadline is needed to focus the mind. I'm sure Mini Kutik will do well wherever you choose x

Thanks for sending me good luck!

We had already decided to go for the state option. DS was happy with it. But DS enjoyed the offer holder's open day at the indy and now he thinks it may be a good option! People tell me we should go for the state option if we are not so sure, as it's free! But DH insists money shouldn't be a deal-breaker and wants to decide purely down to DS's happiness and wants DS to go whichever he wants to go. Hello darling, do you know we will be incredibly skint?! I am now wondering if he has a secret account somewhere... [hmmm]

Goo went to a sleepover too. It was hard to get her to do DT homework and piano, but she did them. Grudgingly. We were just playing a silly game involving 3 computers and she stropped off in the middle. Wish me luck with getting her to do flute later... snow disrupted play and she hasn't had it out since Wednesday. She's really very naughty.

Rara has been poorly and played absolute rubbish on the clarinet yesterday. She is well enough to practise both tonight, and I'll get videos when she's a bit better. Exam is in 17 days.

Waffle, it gives me some comfort to know Goo will also avoid practice if she can get away with it....! 😘

Hope Rara is fighting fit very soon. Xx

Folk Ds isn't allowed to practice after a sleepover ( and no sleep) it always ends badly

Waffle hope Rara is well soon. If it is any consolation DD's Clarinet exam is in 7 days . V

DS's exam is in 3 days!

I have just had a little peek at the channel to have a look & a listen to everyone's uploads.

Wow! What a talented bunch of youngsters everyone has! And Folkmamma - what a fantastic music room! You have inspired me to start eyeing-up the corner of our living-room where the piano is .