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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

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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Pollymalex104 · 14/04/2018 13:21

I was at Holloway too! I am obviously very elderly though - I was there 1981 - 84.( Music.)
Loved the percussion winner although I agree that Alexander is one to watch. It turns out that Matthew Brett's teacher used to teach percussion in my school - he was a RNCM student at the time and I spent half of the performance rewinding to work out why I recognised him. (He didn't stay long)

Japanese · 14/04/2018 13:25

I didn't do composition at all. I did the music & politics course in my final year. I ended up mostly hanging out with others from the French half of the course as by the time we all came back from the year abroad everyone from our year who hadn't had a year abroad had already graduated.

Am in yet another Dutch theme park today watching the DCs on different terrifying looking rides. There is a children's choir from the UK on tour here all wearing matching hoodies - am trying to get a peek to see which one without looking as though am stalking them.

Japanese · 14/04/2018 13:27
Pollymalex104 · 14/04/2018 13:30

Kutik I have had the same thoughts as you this week re a quiet and empty house.There seems to have been a lot of extra time too, although I have been in work, mostly due to not having to police homework and practice.
Trumpet - I think the programme is particularly challenging to put together so quickly - I am feeling quite nervous for ds now as there are some very prominent parts! Glad your ds is enjoying the piccolo trumpet. I think it's a wonderful opportunity to increase versatility.

Japanese · 14/04/2018 13:30

It's Edgeborough school choir in case anyone is interested! Grin

Pollymalex104 · 14/04/2018 13:34

Waves to Japanese!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 14/04/2018 13:40

Please can someone pm me the winner, as I haven’t got a TV! Thanks.

OP posts:
catkind · 14/04/2018 16:13

My violin teacher used to have a mortgage on her violin and live with her parents. She was probably late 30s at the time.

Waffle will pm you.

Trumpetboysmum · 14/04/2018 17:37

Polly yes the music is tricky and Ds isn't one from shying away from a challenge so I can feel quite nervous for him just thinking about the concert Grin Hopefully he will pull off the high stuff he did a lot of prominent solos in the under 12s summer concert so nothing can be as bad for the nerves as that ( for me !!) . He's looking forward to it I think and sounded very positive when I spoke to him on Thursday . I like this trumpet tutor though as he does swap them around a bit which gives them all a chance ( and stops Ds from getting too tired playing all the high stuff) I'm sure your ds will be fine .
We have ended our little holiday with a lovely sunny warm day and a very long walk don't really want to go back to the house renovations tomorrow, but will be nice to get Ds back

Pollymalex104 · 14/04/2018 18:08

Trumpet -if he's who I think he is he did some great solos last year! I'm sure he will be fine. They all seem to be swapping about more this year from what I can make out which is great experience.Nice that you could combine the week with a holiday. We are just on the long journey to Basingstoke.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 14/04/2018 18:38

For past 3 days our local Irish Suzuki group hosted a lovely and very talented UK suzuki group. Both sets of children played some Suzuki and non Suzuki tunes together after 2 short rehearsals. The rest of the time was spent sightseeing or hanging out with host families. It was a lot of fun.

The return trip next year will really motivate DD2 to work hard!!
It’s the first such exchange that we have participated in. Hopefully the start of many😊

Trumpetboysmum · 14/04/2018 18:44

Momof2 that sounds a really lovely thing to do . Smile
Polly yes Ds is away with NCO or AYM for at least part of every school holiday this year so we're trying to make sure that the rest of us don't miss out and that we aren't just his taxi service .

Safe drive Smile

Kutik73 · 14/04/2018 19:05

we aren't just his taxi service
We are thinking the same for the NCO summer, Trumpet, but not DURING but AFTER the camp. As we don't have another DC to consider, we would rather like to go back home as soon as dropping DS for a week of childless life in London - sounds fancy but we actually need the one week free from DS to get on with lots of dull work to be done, so it's not really a fabulous social butterfly opportunity. Grin Then we are thinking to take DS away for a week long beach holiday straight after NCO.

Trumpetboysmum · 14/04/2018 20:17

We are also going away straight after nco in the summer - to France ( it's going to be a really long drive from Leeds !!) me and Dd are also going away while he's on his course as our family all live up in that direction - sort of
A child free week in London sounds great

Kutik73 · 14/04/2018 21:42

We watched the last three of BBCYM percussion today. For my eyes Matthew was a clear winner. Obviously all were so talented and amazing like last week's strings but he just had everything to win. But I personally loved Alexander's performance most. He was such a joy to watch and listen to. He is still so young so hopefully he will come back and try again.

Doubleup · 14/04/2018 22:05

Have to agree Kutik - hope to see Alexander back in two years.
What is the feedback from miniKutik so far on the violins?

Kutik73 · 14/04/2018 22:21

Double, I think he has finally found one!!

Doubleup · 14/04/2018 22:34

Grin Kutik. Sounds promising. I think we have made a decision too Smile

Kutik73 · 14/04/2018 22:47

Oooh! So your hunting is nearly over? It's time for us to re-start all over again - for a bow!

folkmamma · 15/04/2018 09:07

We had an incredible evening last night!! My folk band hosted and supported the Urban Folk Quartet, who are just unbelievable! We see a lot of folk musicians, but the violinists are usually traditional folk fiddlers and have very different techniques. Joe and Paloma in UFQ are very highly trained violinists (Joe teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire and runs the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble - look them up!!) and Noo's eyes were out on stalks!! "Mummy, her wrist is like jelly..." It really was a masterclass in violining and in entertaining a crowd - Joe even balanced is bow and then his very expensive violin on his chin at one point as he used to be a circus performer Grin My heart was in my mouth....I will post a small clip to the channel (although not of the violin balancing, I was watching through my fingers so couldn't hold the phone).

folkmamma · 15/04/2018 09:07

We had an incredible evening last night!! My folk band hosted and supported the Urban Folk Quartet, who are just unbelievable! We see a lot of folk musicians, but the violinists are usually traditional folk fiddlers and have very different techniques. Joe and Paloma in UFQ are very highly trained violinists (Joe teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire and runs the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble - look them up!!) and Noo's eyes were out on stalks!! "Mummy, her wrist is like jelly..." It really was a masterclass in violining and in entertaining a crowd - Joe even balanced is bow and then his very expensive violin on his chin at one point as he used to be a circus performer Grin My heart was in my mouth....I will post a small clip to the channel (although not of the violin balancing, I was watching through my fingers so couldn't hold the phone).

folkmamma · 15/04/2018 09:07

Double post again. Sorry Hmm

Trumpetboysmum · 15/04/2018 09:26

That sounds fantastic folk . I love live music, any type ( with the exception of heavy rock I think!!) . Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 15/04/2018 09:27

Also it's great if the dcs are inspired . I will never forget the contented smile on ds's face the first time we went to see NYJO

Kutik73 · 15/04/2018 11:35

Could anyone kindly share the information of instrument insurance companies?

We use Newmoon for DS' 3/4 violin, simply because it was what the luthier recommended at the time. The renewal of the contact is due on 23rd April. However, we are going to do part exchange for 4/4 so we don't need to renew the contact for 3/4 but need a new one for 4/4 (haven't bought yet but we are nearly there).

Now, 4/4 will be a lot more expensive. I am slightly under the pressure to make sure we cover everything needed! Hence, thinking of shopping around this time.

Any recommendation/advice would be greatly appreciated!