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Extra-curricular activities

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

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:
Doubleup · 08/03/2018 07:29

Glad that miniKutik now has the exam behind him. DD1 has hers tomorrow. She’s been having loads of tests at school in the last week or two and is a bit strung out by it all. She missed her last lesson last week due to the snow, but the teacher is coming over to the house this evening.

DD2 has a lesson yesterday where the teacher made her stand to play her bassoon using a harness, something she hasn’t done since she stopped playing a tenoroon 2 and a half years ago. Apparently she will be playing like that at the festival this weekend. She has been seated using a spike to support it until now.

LooseAtTheSeams · 08/03/2018 08:34

Waffle that's great news from Goo -she sounds quite chilled about it!
Kutik bet you're glad the exam is out the way. Unfortunately, DS2's exam tomorrow is at lunchtime and as I expect the scales to implode I think we'll be relieved with a pass!
DS1 has been really enjoying recording GCSE ensemble performances at school. Apparently he was in a lot of them rumbling away on his bass guitar. (Or possibly the school double bass, which got broken, fixed by a DT teacher - who just happens to have repaired instruments in a past life - and is now a better instrument!)

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/03/2018 10:17

Well done to all the brave DCs who've done their exams, and good luck to those still to go. Rara's is in 13 days, and she's nowhere near!!

Yes, Goo is indeed quick, but needed to grow up a bit, settle in to secondary and learn how to practise properly. She's still doing half of the amount that seems to be recommended at her level, but just grasps everything so fast that her teacher reckons she doesn't need to do as much as everyone else. Yet!! They spent 1 hour starting to learn the Bach last week, and Goo has gone back this week with it exam ready. She's taught herself a new piece with no help, and that's almost ready, and revived one that she started aged 11 but didn't quite have the technique for. I slapped a ban on exams last autumn, or she would have done it then. Her teacher then said she wasn't allowed to do it this term, as we were so close to getting her braces off that she might as well wait. Then the teacher was having lots of fun exploring new pieces with Goo, and made noises about waiting a few years!!! Goo isn't prepared to wait, and is even holding herself differently now she's been told she's allowed to do it.

I am worried about the transition to no braces, and the teacher going on holiday for the whole of April. But if anyone can cope with all that, it's Goo!

OP posts:
Doubleup · 08/03/2018 14:31

Oh Lord! We seem to have started a bidding war with schools for DD2! We turned down an offer of 25% off fees, plus free tuition on two instruments. They’ve now come back with an increased offer of 40% off fees plus free tuition on two instruments. Do we reconsider?......

Trumpetboysmum · 08/03/2018 14:41

Double tricky . I can't remember what the offer was on the school she was going to . Which schools seems the best fit - go with your gut instincts ( I think !!)

Paulweller11 · 08/03/2018 15:14

What made you not pick it? Obviously there was a reason for not picking it. Does the offer help with that reason, or is it unrelated.
If it is completely unrelated then I would probably stick with your original choice

folkmamma · 08/03/2018 15:41

Wow! How flattering for DD2!!

Double it sounded like you all made the decision together for very good reasons. I'd say that unless the reduction in fees will seriously benefit you in other ways, stick to your guns x

Kutik73 · 08/03/2018 16:16

I was going to say the same thing as others. It's very flattering and gives your DD a great confidence booster. The school is clearly very keen on her. But unless the money was the issue in the first place, the further discount of 15% may not be strong enough for the change of mind. If you liked both schools equally and it was really a hard decision, then it may worth considering? Whichever you decide, the fact your DD did very well should be well celebrated! Star

stringchild · 08/03/2018 16:36

Double - we had same; one School was prepared to go to 100%. But -alas!- it just wasn’t right for dd although a lively school. They were also v clear they wanted talent to build their music dept do dd wouldn’t gave had many peers to perform with (sgd lives ensembles more than solo work I think). So it was a no but I still dream if what might have been financially....

stringchild · 08/03/2018 16:37

Spoke fir wierd phone autocorrect!

TaggieOHara · 08/03/2018 17:05

Gosh - what amazing feedback string and double, whatever the decision is or was

It gives me hope for DS2 in a couple of years! We want to continue on the private school route (state schools near us are dire) but would welcome a bit of a discount, especially as DS2 gets two thirds off currently through his choristership!

se22mother · 08/03/2018 18:13

Fantastic offers double and string -at DD's school it seems to be lessons and a token amount off the fees

Kutik73 · 08/03/2018 20:13

Taggie, how about this? She is only 10 (the same age as DS)!!!!

Paulweller11 · 08/03/2018 21:05

Ah the amazing Sarah Chang- I would have loved to have seen Nigel kennedy at 10 yrs old to show dd (10) violinist.
I’ll show her this tomorrow.

AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2018 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kutik73 · 08/03/2018 22:54

Paul Smile

Here is something to share. My heart is sinking...
The quiet decline of music in British schools

TaggieOHara · 08/03/2018 22:55

thanks so much kutik - I'm stuck in a premier inn with rubbish wifi so will have to wait until tomorrow to watch it. It will be my welcome home present Smile . Have you seen her Carmen Shock? Same concert, I think!

Kutik73 · 08/03/2018 23:13

Taggie, no I haven't. In fact I didn't know her until today... Blush DS loves Carmen so will watch it with him tomorrow!

Loose, good luck to your DS2 tomorrow. Hopefully the examiner has plenty snack by her/his side so won't be grumpy nor hungry!! I am very much happy with a pass. No one has ever really asked me if DS passed with pass/merit/distinction. We had to write his mark for a music scholarship application, but that's it. So, for me, pass is pass!!

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/03/2018 08:34

Thanks Kutik! The pieces sounded lovely last night so fingers crossed they get him through the rest of the exam!

Trumpetboysmum · 09/03/2018 09:04

Good luck to your ds today loose Smile

Doubleup · 09/03/2018 09:25

DD1 sounded great in her lesson last night. I don't usually get to hear her apart from in practice, but her lesson was at home last night and they left the door open. Fingers crossed for a good performance in the exam this afternoon.....

Having a little wobble over schools since the increased discount offered. With the saving, the budget for bassoon buying would be boosted significantly! Or looking at it another way, it would pay for university fees for both dc over the course of 7 years. May contact the school we had decided on and see if they could meet it part way. Is this something anyone else has done?

Paulweller11 · 09/03/2018 15:30

Quick qs- any recommendations for an amp for a Roland electric drum kit?
Drummersmum? Loose? Anyone?

drummersmum · 09/03/2018 16:02

Quick answer pw- we don't have an amp, just headphones as its only function in silent or night practice.

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/03/2018 16:31

We do have one with the Roland kit but I'll have to check what it is - will reply tonight with any recommendations!

Paulweller11 · 09/03/2018 17:01

Thank you x