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April Music Thread

999 replies

Wafflenose · 01/04/2018 11:13

Happy Easter! The sun is shining here (at the moment) so I'm hoping spring has finally arrived.

Here's a new thread for anyone who wants to talk about music lessons, exams, practice, concerts, aural, scales, theory, ensembles or anything else music related. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to advanced and also adult learners. I started these threads 6.5 years ago when I had a beginner myself. Her nickname is Goo, she is 12 and taking Grade 8 Flute next term. I think she's finally going to do her Grade 5 Piano in the autumn. When those are out of the way, she's thinking of taking up the recorder again and doing Grade 8 on that, because flute sort of took over and she never got around to it. Her sister Rara is 9, and is currently around Grade 4 on both Cello and Clarinet. She doesn't want to do any more exams for ages, so will probably do her grade 5s in a couple of years or so. Rara is a lapsed recorder player who will be performing on it next month, and she dabbles with piano, glock and accordion. Both girls do South West Music School, although I regularly go back on forth over whether this is still the best setting for Goo. We are pretty rural and hours away from any big cities.

Please can we all be extra careful to make sure that everyone is acknowledged and assisted where appropriate... I include myself in needing to make an effort, but I'm not around all day, every day. This is a lovely, calm, supportive corner of Mumsnet but I do receive a handful of messages from people who don't feel welcome because they or their children are less advanced, or they're not in a position to consider JD/ private school/ expensive instruments and feel left out, or they wonder if it's OK to post about certain instruments/ families. I did say I would try. Thank you all so much!

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Japanese · 01/04/2018 11:30

Thank you Waffle for the new thread!

I have 2 DCs: DD aged 11 who is currently preparing for Grade 3 piano & Grade 3 theory. She has also been learning the cello for about 3 months and plays the recorder for fun. DS is aged 9 and is preparing for Grade 2 piano and Grade 2 theory. He also plays recorder for fun and is hopefully starting viola lessons soon - if we can find a teacher!

My first degree was in music - I played the piano and oboe. I teach the DCs piano, theory and recorder myself - for now at least.

My 2 are practically beginners compared with other DCs on this thread but I have always found posters on here to be very supportive and helpful in answering my (sometimes very basic!) questions Flowers.

Japanese · 01/04/2018 11:34

And I love reading about what others are up to - both challenges and successes! Easter Smile

Wafflenose · 01/04/2018 11:36

Glad you have found it so supportive, Japanese. I enjoy hearing about your DCs too.

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Mendingfences · 01/04/2018 12:06

Good luck with finding a viola teacher japanese

I have 3 kids, dd1 plays violin and piano, dd2 plays flute and double bass and ds plays drums and piano. We don't live in the uk and none of them has done a music exam (probably a good thing as dd1 is convinced 'scales' is a swear word!).

April is going to be a busy month with concerts and it has occured to me the kids need black shoes so i have the horrors of shoe shopping to tackle, i could do with clarks and their school shoes right now.....

Musicdoc · 01/04/2018 12:51

Thanks waffle for the new thread! Japanese where are you based? (In case we can recommend teachers in your area).

I love these threads and hearing how each other's children are doing and how we cope with it all! We had a very busy March with music festivals in our house, I've had to find time to recover!

I have DS(13) who plays cello - he is currently representing Chineke! juniors and playing with NYO this week - he's one of the youngest and sounds inspired by the musical magic around him. He's going straight off to NCO U13s after the concert... busy Easter for him, but glad he is loving it. Hopefully it will inspire him to practice his scales when he returns home - G8 in the summer!!

My DD(10) plays violin (G7+) and piano (working to g5) - she is playing with NCCO his week and is again enjoying being with older players. We think we've found a full size violin for her this weekend, in preparation for her G8 which she will hopefully do in the next year or so.

PetraDelphiki · 01/04/2018 12:55

japanese I am probably hunting for a viola teacher too - where are you based? We can compare notes!!! Dd’s Violin teacher is happy to cover viola for now but not sure how long that will work for!

folkmamma · 01/04/2018 13:05

Folk checking in! DD1, 10yrs, violin & piano. DD2, 8yrs, cello & piano. DD1 (Noo) currently away on her first Pro Corda course. I feel like I've lost a limb... but the few text messages I've had suggest she's having a great time! Going to be a busy month, with SATS prep, festival prep and audition prep. Hoping the sun puts some time in this month!!!

gillybeanz · 01/04/2018 13:12

Hello all, hope everybody is having a good Easter Holiday.
Lots of practise happening in the beanz household Grin as dd has assessment when she goes back.

AlexandraLeaving · 01/04/2018 13:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mendingfences · 01/04/2018 13:36

For those of you looking for a viola teacher i know an excellent one but im assuming Norway is a bit far to travel.....Grin

Trumpetboysmum · 01/04/2018 13:43

Alex Grin especially the bit about x box Ds is currently obsessed by fortnite !! All sounds very exciting and inspiring muscidoc we are also off to under 13s next weekend so see you there !! Glad you dd is enjoying pro corda folk.
Waffle I really hope no one feels excluded I really have no clue what I'm doing and this thread has been invaluable and it's great hearing about how everyone's dcs are doing.
I have two dc Ds 13 who plays trumpet and piano and dd 10 who loves to sing ( currently belting out the songs in her room !!) as well as playing a bit of piano and cornet - just done grade 1 which I think went ok. Ds is about grade 8 on trumpet but no plans to take the exam currently and is a member of NCO and AYM ( a bit like a jd but based at Snape maltings concert hall) . Dd is due to take grade 1 piano in the summer . On the whole I am enjoying a much more relaxed year of music in this house - the last 2 years were a bit manic with ds having too many exams and auditions etc for my linking !!

TaggieOHara · 01/04/2018 14:03

Thanks Waffle for setting up the new thread! I have two DSs: DS1 (12) plays the piano, and DS2 (9) plays violin and piano, and is also a chorister. DS2 is currently at pro corda with mini-Folk. I have heard virtually nothing from him, and so I am sitting on my hands to stop myself phoning the house staff am sure no news is good news!

Trumpetboysmum · 01/04/2018 14:07

Taggie I'm sure he's fine I'm expecting to hear nothing from Ds next week . When he's at AYM I message him via instagram that way I know if he's seen my messages !!

Musicdoc · 01/04/2018 14:21

Trumpetboysmum we're arriving a day late to U13s but looking forward to the concert!
Taggie no news is good news usually, but it is hard!

ealingwestmum · 01/04/2018 15:00

Thank you for the new thread waffle. Sorry that there are some that feel they may not be fully supported. I think it can be intimidating to be amongst some real high music flyers on here, but equally, having been on these monthly threads for 6 years, I think it's one of the most supportive community on MN for all levels!

I post less and less these days because my DD (14.5 yrs) is not going to be one of those that advances in music beyond GCSE but now enjoys it more as the early years exam pressure is off. Some of you are in my position, where our DC's motivations change with the teenage years that can result in cycles of varying music making and goals. We are in a good place right now where, whilst there is no where near the level of practise as once was, there's also no need for sitting exams quickly to tick boxes. The upside is that she enjoys more the things she participates in, and is more open to experimenting with wider music genres outside the traditional classical ensembles. We of course are very fortunate to benefit from excellent music making at her school, not something everyone has access to.

I hope there will be those that will get value out of these threads as I have over the years, no matter how little or highly engaged their DC, or themselves are - there is no official start or end point where music making is concerned!

Kutik73 · 01/04/2018 15:15

Waffle thank you for setting up the new thread. It's become a reminder of a new month - April already!

DS (10) plays violin and piano. He is in NCO U11, goes to a London jd and also plays in a local youth orchestra. Though he has just done a piano exam, grade exams don't play a big part in his musical journey. Violin is his first study but practically grade 0. Grin So far this approach suits him and keeps his learning enjoyable and challenging.

Recently DS was bitten by a sport bug and has become a bit of physical enthusiast (helped by a sport mad DH happily pouring oil in the fire!). Lots of sports and not much music are expected during this holiday. However, we are in the middle of a violin hunting and this side of business will passionately be pursued! DS absolutely loves visiting luthiers.

TaggieOHara · 01/04/2018 16:25

Thanks trumpet and musicdoc! I’m hoping for more than a 10second phone call today! I think he is struggling a bit with the phone, because he hasn’t read my WhatsApp messages. He didn’t have a Mobile before yesterday, but apparently owning a mobile is now the norm for his age group. It was top of the list (above instrument!!) of what to bring to pro corda Shock

se22mother · 01/04/2018 16:41

Waffle thanks for the thread. I have a 9 year old dd who plays violin, clarinet and sings. She can't take another violin exam until she passes theory so that may be some time.

Following mini taggie and mini folk with interest as dd will be there at half term. Hoping dd can master her new phone by then Confused

Trumpetboysmum · 01/04/2018 17:17

Ds got his phone in year 6 so that he could learn how to use it before high school . He knows how to use it just refuses to message or communicate with me most of the time !!

folkmamma · 01/04/2018 17:22

I've had a couple of texts that tell me nothing other than that she is alive and is happy! Oh, and she found the chocolate bunnies I'd hidden amongst her suitcase.... but no details!!!! She's pretty useless with her phone though... Taggie, if she does call I will try and find out how Mini-Taggie is doing xx

Wafflenose · 01/04/2018 17:26

I have got Rara a £7 phone for her 10th birthday next month, because of the NCO. I held out until age 12 for a basic smartphone for Goo, and bitterly regret getting it. It gets confiscated a fair bit when she fails to self-regulate.

We have a much smaller budget for Rara's birthday this year, because she saved up for two years to buy herself a laptop and I said I'd give her the last £50 as a birthday present if she reached her target. Well she then got some Christmas money from relatives and reached the target over the holidays. I gave her an advance on the £50 on the understanding that she would get less for her birthday. But I have got the cheap phone, Sheku's new CD (signed), some craft bits and a pair of goggles (Rara swims competitively) so I think she will be very happy.

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folkmamma · 01/04/2018 17:29

That sounds like a great birthday haul waffle, I'm sure she will be delighted! When is her B'day??

SE... Mini-Folk and Mini-Taggie are in the same ensemble groups!!! Purely coincidence. So I'm sure Taggie and I will be sharing videos on the channel next weekend 😂

Wafflenose · 01/04/2018 17:40

May 18th

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folkmamma · 01/04/2018 17:41

Not long to wait then!! So impressed that she saved up for her laptop 😊

Wafflenose · 01/04/2018 17:46

I certainly wasn't going to buy her one! She saved up pocket money, birthday and Christmas money, and did some extra jobs.

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