April Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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!

Hi Thistly
Polly great advice I shall also tell Ds when he returns from the under 13s that he isn't the only state educated non jd or specialist school attending pupil in under 13s
We will have exactly the same discussions as you when he returns . I'll second what you're saying about this being a tricky age too it's really hard on them . They are trying to figure out who they are and balance the demands of school and practice ( Ds will always put practice first though not always as efficient as it could be !!) . They also have to frequently put themselves out there to be judged ( auditions , performances, exams etc) when they are feeling quite vulnerable . I think you're right that they will come out the other side either still wanting to be muscicians or not , but having had lots of amazing experiences along the way - and they'll still be pretty good at playing whatever they decide !! Wise words and advice from your teacher too , d's pretty much says the same thing . Your county set up sounds great / it always clashes with NCO or AYM for Ds ( though at AYM they work on lots of different stuff as it's not an orchestral set up) I think I doubt myself most because as a music loving non ( well a bit ) muscician I can't really help anymore.

Trumpet - I love your comment re not being the only state-educated, non jd, non specialist school member of the U13s as my DS also has that impression about himself! I shall be telling him the same thing! As for not being a non-musician parent... that could be a positive thing as I have just got DS through Grade 5 theory and am still recovering emotionally from the whole experience! ( Although I daresay he is too!) It sounds like our instrumental teachers are both saying the same sort of thing which is reassuring.

Welcome Polly and Thistly!

Thanks for all the kind words on my tiny problem with the piano teacher. I don't think I can discuss openly with her. I did before but it went all wrong so I learnt it's a big no-no with her! I probably have to make a quiet exit.

I have a 10 years old dreaming about going to a specialist music school so I read 'Polly's posts with great interest! I was, and still am, against the idea, at least at his age. But DS never stops talking about it so today I looked at their websites!

It seems around 2-3 individual lessons a week for the first study is the norm. On top, 2nd study/aural/theory/chamber/orchestra and other musical classes are scheduled so plenty musical opportunities. But, 2-3 individual lessons a week doesn't really sound a lot.

DS has 45 mins at jd which the teacher says 'disaster' as apparently DS should have had a longer lesson but I didn't know so I didn't request any extension (you have to make the request a way advance). I requested 15 mins extension for the next academic year so his lesson will be an hour from Sep. But if you like, it can be extended to two hours. DS's JD offers musicianship, choir, chamber, orchestra and 2nd/3rd studies on top. OK it's all packed in one day, and there aren't as many musical activities as specialist schools can offer, but by purely comparing how many hours you get for private lessons, I couldn't see a huge benefit of narrowing down to a specialist route, at least until GCSE kicks in.

I am sure for those who live in a rural area where there are no many musical activities happening, attending a music specialist school will be a massive plus. But for those like DS who get plenty musical activities at jd, school and places like NCO/Pro Coda etc, I just couldn't see the absolute benefit, especially in return to making such a big decision. I can see the benefit of obtaining manageable timetable though.

Am I missing something?

Well, in March I briefly mentioned about dd going on a music residential this Easter. Unlike most of the dc here on these music threads she isn't as music driven, and more of a sportsperson than music person.
She hadn't quite expected playing whole mornings, afternoons and evenings....
Nevertheless she did talk about going again next year. Oh, and she is going to save up for the bass version of her instrument...

Polly and trumpetboysmum my son is also a state-educated non-JD U13 musician!!! Maybe they'll all get together.... I dropped him off a day late yesterday and two of the boys in his room had electric guitars and amps... my boys eyes lit up!!

Alexandraleaving Bernsteins Mass was a great experience for him to be in. On the way to the NYO course last week I suggested we listen to it in the car and he switched it off after a few minutes. Yesterday he put it on in the car and sang along to almost all of it and played air cello! I think it was an immersive experience, full of energy, musically and socially and that's why he loved it so much. (Not sure if you can see the picture... all 450 people on stage/in choir stalls... musicians, singers and dancers).

Found great news! There are so many benefits to playing no matter what the standard, so finding a course she wants do again is such a good result

Polly... "I have just got DS through Grade 5 theory and am still recovering emotionally from the whole experience! ". It's good to know recovering is possible! 😂

Hi all
(I’ve had a name change BTW.... my tiny girl is the little clarinet & pianist with the nickname that was inconvenient with the whole identifying children as mini x or y!.... so now she’s just minicrazy which describes her perfectly!)

Sending love to all of you facing big decisions.... it’s a one hard trying to feel confident that we are doing the right thing with our children’s musical development. I guess all we can do is the continued careful research along with the handholding & encouraging of these tiny humans as we try get the balance between leading them and following them on it.... We are feeling increasingly that we haven’t got it right with piano yet, so we are keeping a watchful eye on things there.

We’ve had the most amazing musical week. There has been a big music festival this past week in our town. She’s done a three day singing course with a fantastic coach and pianist. It ended up a small group so they got loads of individual attention. They worked on stuff that’s useful across her musical work- for eg she’d just begun to think about the sight singing with her aural teacher for her g5 and then did loads of it this week. The pianist taught them about the process of songwriting. They wrote their own song, which DD came up with the main melody theme for so was very proud. Their course was during the “warm up” days of the festival and their performance was the opening concert. They were accom

Oops.... caught post! They were accompanied by her favourite pianist for the concert so she was extremely delighted by that. I’d been asked to chaperone the kids course and ended up being asked to sing in the performance too.... argh! We stayed for the concert that followed which had some fantastic stuff including a brilliant narrated piece written for a one act jazz ballet that I’d never heard called La Revue du Cuisine which was really fun. The next day was their family concert which had some brilliant stuff in it. Over the week she’d gotten lovely friends with one of the violinists sons so they’ve had fun together. Saturday was absolutely amazing. They did a musical takeover of the town and we went to 10 concerts in 10 different unusual venues, including a barge, the luthiers and wine merchants, the Masonic lodge... it was really a special day. We ended the day going to the festival ceilidh where her and her new friend danced away, charming everyone! I then went to a brilliant performance yesterday to end the week, a staged performance of a piece about TS Eliot & his wife Vivienne. It was very compelling. Such a great week!!

musicdoc and polly I wonder if they will ever find each other at under 13s ?!? Last year was ds's first year and I think it was all a bit of a shock / eye opener for him but he's made lots of really good friends and loves it . Unfortunately I do just about know enough to help with the grade 5 theory polly even if he might end up doing Trinity exams ( I think his teacher favours them) ive told him he has to get on with it before the end of year 9. Though now he's a bit older he does seem to be managing it much better himself .
That sounds like such an amazing experience musicdoc . I know me and Ds went to see NYO a couple of years ago and he was blown away ( and in typical Ds style said ok what do I need to do to play in that orchestra !!)
Kutik I was surprised that jds only offer 45 minutes as a standard lesson length . I think even upping it to an hour makes a difference in terms of what you can cover . By the sound of it your ds is getting loads of music . They are all still so young I think it's worth holding off on the whole specialist school thing if we can - especially if they love sport as well .
Alex I've also been buying lots of concert tickets recently ( and my dh wonders why we never have any money !!)
The music courses sound great crazy and found . I know when Ds did the brass academy Found he liked that they did sport every afternoon . I wasn't sure how he would react to NCO last year - but he's back there again so must be ok !!

Musicdoc I think I know who your DS is! One of the aforementioned guitarists is mine! DS was thrilled that they were going to be in the same room and told me he was coming a day late.They know eachother from regionals.
Trumpet - I think from you've said, our two may be Instagram friends.

Folkmama- time is a great healer!

Polly yes they probably are instagram friends - it'a been a really good way for them all to keep in touch ( though I would like it if Ds wasn't surgically attached to his phone the whole time - not like me of course but I am on holiday this week ) The electric guitars sound great !!

found, what you described your DD was my DS a couple of years ago. At the time he was known as a sport crazy yet I signed him in for a 3-days music workshop. It was not a residential yet I wondered if he would last each day - he'd never done so much music in one day. He absolutely loved it and didn't get bored for a second which surprised me. He'll have his first residential music course this summer. He is so looking forward to it.

Musicdoc and crazy, what's a fab experience! crazy, was the festival on where you live? We would love to move there. Sounds just amazing!

Trumpet, yes the teacher said it's just not enough even to cover bear minimum. I didn't know 45 mins would be too short as DS was having 30 mins lessons with occasional 40-45 mins at school before jd. DS doesn't get loads of music yet as he goes to a non-musical primary school. But it will change once he starts secondary as music is a very important part of their everyday life at the school apparently. They have strong connections with a local music centre and a conservatoire and live music every morning (so lots of performing opportunities). What's more, they have good facilities for sports too!

No wonder why they have shiny facilities for a state school - they ask minimum £250 per term contribution from each family... I just found out last night.

Musicdoc I think I know who your DS is. One of those guitarists is mine! He was thrilled to be sharing with your DS and said he was coming a day late. They know eachother from regionals.
Trumpet- I have a feeling our two might be Instagram friends from what you have said.

Sorry I have no idea why that has popped up twice! Must have been over keen!

Aargh - at what age do DCs become sensible and responsible about their music? —probably age 4 for most of the awesome families on here!—

I was somewhat horrified to find DS2 playing with his violin around his knees at Pro Corda - with knock on bowing problems. You can see it on the channel. Got started on some practice today to find that his shoulder rest deflated (air filled cushion that sprung a leak). And he couldn’t get his chin rest cover on, so he wasn’t holding the violin properly. He needs the chin rest cover as he has very sensitive skin, so will slide the violin down rather than let it touch his neck.

The irritating thing is that place was stuffed full of violin teachers, who could have sorted him out in 5 minutes, but he ‘forgot’ to ask. Makes me wonder about sending him back, to be honest. Maybe he is too young

Anyway, we are going to focus on piano for the rest of the hols as he has his grade 2 coming up. Onwards and upwards...

Taggie - daughters about 11 with occasional lapses but for older son still waiting :) I am hoping will be responsible by 18 but not convinced.

Taggie we had a couple of undesirable habits creep back in through the course of the week too (old bow-hold has re-appeared much to my despondence). But they were concentrating so hard on other things and playing for SUCH long hours, I think it's kind of inevitable that they default to a few old habits in the circumstances. I'm sure you will have him back on track in no time at all. Think about all the positive benefits of the week - they had a wonderful time and Noo certainly learned bucket loads. x

Hi mini with the name change... you realise we're going to end up calling you crazy for short?!

Kutik I would let him go to music school. I don't know what I'd think if the roles were reversed and someone told me to do that for Goo, but it's CALLING him and I think he will have to go at some point. Additionally, there are lots of gifted kids on this thread, then there's miniKutik, possibly in a league of his own. Our local one is pretty academic and very sporty, so that might be a good fit?

Gosh, sorry I just read about the amazing musical, sporty, state school. That might serve him equally well for now then!

Yes your local music school waffle sounds great - it's just such a long way from us . Though I had wondered about it for Ds ( especially as they have different music pathways ) as he would get his sport fix too !! Though realistically he would have to get a specialist place with CAT funding to make it viable - and I'm not sure if he's up to that standard or not . They do have a fab brass department though

Polly and trumpet great that they all know each other! Do you think they'd be mortified to know that we have been talking about them on mumsnet? 😂

Trumpet my boy has certainly been inspired to go for the G8 distinction needed to get in to NYO.... but I'm not sure how long that will last! He's due to take it this summer, but never quite practices effectively (or for long enough) to go from the merit (which he has had from G5 upwards) to a distinction.

Taggie my two have been playing 6 years and at 10 and 13 still need to be told to practice. The 10yo (a girl) practices more effectively than the 13yo on her own but usually more gets done when I'm supervising. As a single parent that is about 1-1.5 hours out of my evening most evenings.... one day I hope they will take more responsibility for themselves!!

kutik, I think your boy could walk into any specialist school at ANY time you think the time is right, especially before GCSE coursework starts if you needed to before 6th form. You have had such a busy year with the school shopping, that it's easy for us parents to continually keep planning for our DC, without actually letting them live in the moment. And as previous posters have said, the 11 - 13 age period is so fast moving and fluid, that you tend to get a better picture of their real aspirations after that's calmed down and they feel more settled. Senior school is such a big change, with exposure to many different things, that they need to experience before being more assured of their potential avenues, that for a boy like yours, could take him in any direction he wanted.

We are missing music playing dreadfully here. Normally, holidays are a major time for practise catch up, but DD's had a week's school trip to Greece, followed by a 10 hour London turnaround before heading off to Cyprus for a week's intense swim camp. I know. Ridiculous. But as least she's actually missing us. I think. Or it may be it's just the puppy