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!

Just watched it! Definitely agree on the winner - especially on the last piece - but I also loved Alexander and am absolutely sure he’ll be back in 2 years!

I always enjoy DS's practice. When he was away with DH it was so quiet I suddenly felt so depressed by the thought of him one day leaving us and the noise he makes during practice would become a thing in the past.

DH, on the other hand, wears headphones and asks DS to close the door ALWAYS. I probably don't have sensitive ears or wear massive rosy tinted glasses.

Glad it wasn’t just me Drummers on Odessa. Funny I heard him play it on the radio earlier today and thought it was a bit flat. Maybe that is why they edited it down.

We watched the first two only so don't know the rest yet. But I quite liked Toril's voice piece. I'm not very familiar with snare pieces so was simply amazed.

Percussion got DS watching too. And we liked the winner best this time! Inspiring stuff.

Im not sure im living in quite the right place for support with a marimba..... our district culture leader apparently thinks the violin is an unusual instrument...

Well done double's mini!

My parents got my old oboe out whilst the DCs were staying with them the first week of the Easter holidays. Apparently there was much ooohing and aaahing. Am toying with the idea of getting some reeds so I can play it for them but am not sure - reeds were always the bloody bane of my life. I never got good enough at making my own to have a reliable supply and would usually stick with one favourite until it fell apart. I remember doing Grade 8 on a lipstick encrusted half split reed as I couldn't bear to part with it .

Laughing at the “crap car, great instruments” comments. My DDs clarinet with the bits we’ve recently added to upgrade it is probably worth more than our rubbish car and she’s not even on a “good” clarinet yet- though it will likely be the one she does her g8 on. The piano is definitely worth more than the car! Same goes for cameras too.... Im a photographer by trade and my camera is worth well over double the price of my car.

Crazy

That's nothing. I have a violinist friend in Sweden whose violin that he bought 20 years ago is now worth more than his house. Something like Euro 500,000! When he got divorced he sold it to a charity foundation who have granted him lifetime usage rights.

So many talented parents here. I didn't know you are an oboist, Japanese. Amazing.

heart, hope something similar will happen to DS with his violin we are about to buy in 20 years time...

kutik - was an oboist. I haven't played in years. I studied a joint degree as an undergrad - Music & French. I took a different path as a postgrad though which took me away from music. Am enjoying getting back into it now though through teaching the DCs!

Kutik, have you decided on a violin now? The last thing I read was that you had two hidden under your bed....

Japanese you sound like my dd with reeds. She will keep playing on the same one or two until they give up the ghost and then announce that she needs another now! We seem to spend a fortune on reeds between her oboe and her sister’s bassoon. Reeds can be pretty variable too.

OK, a joint degree is another impressive thing, Japanese. You said you were not Japanese but you sound like as modest as Japanese!

Double, we are almost there. We ended up having a busy day yesterday so I only showed DS those two violins this morning. He's been playing since then as if he cannot have enough of them. A good sign!

kutik - in my year at university there were 3 of us studying French & Music, 2 doing German & Music & 1 student doing Japanese & Music. Now he was impressive. He did his year abroad a year earlier than the rest of us. Those studying Japanese did their year abroad in year 2 instead of year 3 so that they became immersed in the language more quickly.

I mentored a very not Chinese (relevant!) nursing student the other day who I noticed was writing everything useful I said in his little book (nursing students do this) in mandarin ‘to keep his hand in’ and was also a very talented pianist, some people have too much energy!

Talking of such people, I enjoyed this interview with Stephanie Childress: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/cambridgegirltalk.com/2017/10/26/whos-that-girl-in-conversation-with-stephanie-childress/amp/
Sounds like her mum put a lot into her activities (understatement!) but she seems extremely down to earth. Was actually googling to see if we could go to see her play but no dates on her website.

Japanese was that Royal Holloway by any chance? I did Music and Psychology there, but had friends doing those combinations, and Music & Maths.

Waffle - yes it was!

When were you there?

I was there 1994-1998 with the 3rd year in France.

1995-98. We have some other alumni on here!

SE13 that's great about the medal, well done to her

Ooo, we must have done our final year & graduation at the same time! We might have been in the same classes!

Such a small world.

I was also fascinated by Stephanie Childres's vast amount of intelligence and energy. Yet she is so humble.

After hearing on BBC last night that percussionists need to be versatile and play a range of instruments I’ve been thinking if changes should be made to the other categories. In strings violin is not enough. Must show versatility by also playing cello and maybe something on double bass or harp. Ditto piano is not enough. Need the versatility to play harpsichord and organ.

Japanese yep!

I was quiet, studious and a worrier. I didn't socialise much but did know most of the people in my year. I did mostly composition.