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Extra-curricular activities

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

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!

OP posts:
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hertsandessex · 13/04/2018 14:12

I hope they do - more the merrier :)

drummersmum · 13/04/2018 15:48
Grin
hertsandessex · 13/04/2018 16:01

Actually really want more people to see and be interested in marimba especially It is wonderful instrument but rarely seen as a solo instrument on the UK concert scene as people don't know about it. In Japan for example much more widespread and there is a xylophone or marimba in almost every school including primary much in the same way we have a piano in the UK. Perhaps one day a BBC YMOTY winner can create a bit more buzz about it.

Mendingfences · 13/04/2018 16:48

7 year old ds wants 'one of those' which would be a marimba Grin

Mendingfences · 13/04/2018 16:48

My bank balance not so much ....

drummersmum · 13/04/2018 17:11

mending that would be so cool. Any government scheme to help with the cost in your Nordic culture supporting paradise? Our marimba was only purchased because DS won an award from the local council to buy it which really helped. In fact, it turned it from impossible to possible! The other miracle was to find a rosewood marimba at a really good price because a store had a surplus. It is now sold for almost twice the price. So we had two miracles happening. Halo You never know...

Kutik73 · 13/04/2018 17:23

herts, that's very right about availabilities and opportunities of xylophone, marimba and loads other instruments such as timpani, organ, accordion in primary schools in Japan. I was educated in the country and although I didn't have any private lessons so didn't get trained formally nor classically I did play those instruments twice or three times a week at least. And they were all free. I think quality of group teaching was high also as everyone learnt how to read music no matter if you liked it or not. It was part of basic skills expected to obtain like maths and language.

hertsandessex · 13/04/2018 17:24

Mending - you can always start with a xylophone which you can pick up for less than £1000 and can even get a cheaper 4 octave marimba for less than £2000. Great that he is interested at 7 years old :)

Trumpetboysmum · 13/04/2018 18:49

Looking forward to it drummers Smile Would be great if percussion got through to final , always a treat to listen to . Plus percussion, especially marimba, is one of the few instruments that dd will actually listen to and sit still for !!

drummersmum · 13/04/2018 19:07

Your DD is right trumpet. A very special captivating sound.

SE13Mummy · 13/04/2018 19:17

Collected DD2 from what seems to have been an amazing week away at Brass Academy. She's very pleased to have come home with a medal for being a finalist in the playing competition!

hertsandessex · 13/04/2018 19:23

OK my money is on Meadow Brooks tonight or maybe Matthew Brett. Not long to go.

Paulweller11 · 13/04/2018 19:45

Watching percussion BBCYM now- Dd (9-percussionist) very interested! She likes the first boy so far although that’s all we’ve seen so far.

folkmamma · 13/04/2018 19:58

BBCYM - These kids are amazing! (Although Drummers I'm not sure I could put up with that piece with the digital voice... Confused)

hertsandessex · 13/04/2018 20:04

Yes that piece was bonkers. Poor choice I think. So many good snare solos that would have been better.

Paulweller11 · 13/04/2018 20:11

Dd likes the girl now- just for the stick throwing and catching Grin

drummersmum · 13/04/2018 21:09

It was Alexander or Matthew. I saw so many familiar faces from percussion world! I actually liked Toril's snare piece!

hertsandessex · 13/04/2018 21:15

Matthew Brett was brilliant. Loved the last drum piece. Crime of the century editing Odessa marimba piece down to 30 seconds though. That is a great piece.

Xennialish · 13/04/2018 21:30

Watching now, can’t believe the first boy was self taught to grade 8...did he also say that he started at 14?! Loved over the rainbow and thought the vibraphone piece sounded like Gong (no bad thing Grin)

folkmamma · 13/04/2018 21:35

What a great show! Rightful winner, but that 15yo was amazing! Can't wait to see him back in 2 years time....

folkmamma · 13/04/2018 21:36

Ps as a performance piece 'Stop Speaking' was great, I just wouldn't have wanted to live through the practice 😂

folkmamma · 13/04/2018 21:38

Although I did already live through a year I'd 'Twinkle'...

drummersmum · 13/04/2018 21:39

DS jumped at the Odessa editing!!

drummersmum · 13/04/2018 21:41

folk i agree with practice point... headphones? Grin

se22mother · 13/04/2018 21:50

Folk I can relate