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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!

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TheSecondOfHerName · 17/04/2018 21:50

The re-audition process is for several reasons:

To check if there's a problem with your voice, which would mean referral to one of the singing teachers / vocal coaches and then a chance to re-do the audition.

To check if your range has changed, which would mean moving sections.

To check if the 'colour' of your voice has changed, which would mean sitting in a different area of your section.

Kutik73 · 17/04/2018 22:05

Socks and mugs seem to be a popular item. By the way, I LOVE THE XMAS DECO IDEA! How merry it would look a tree covered with all the miniature orchestral instruments (with fake snow and a bit of glitters)!

Love the clock too, folk! I mean, I love your girls' entire music room really.

DS has just recently started drinking tea with his breakfast. It used to be hot lemon. Only a quick dip of tea bag so not strong at all. It seem to make him feel a bit grown up (though he can't drink without a dash of Manuka honey Grin).

For those who want to avoid caffeine, have you tried Barley tea? It doesn't have any caffeine and instead full of goodness. It's so gentle even baby can drink. You can drink hot and cold.

catkind · 17/04/2018 22:15

Loving the musical things, specially the Christmas tree decorations Alexandra! My favourite musical thing is my t-shirt which says "Statistical analysis suggests that I'm probably in tune with somebody" (I work with statistics).

Kutik73 · 17/04/2018 22:28

The Christmas tree should have a conductor on top instead of star/fairy.

I have bought a couple of musical themed t-shirts for DS which are going to be one of his birthday gifts. His birthday is June, plenty time, so I am going to add more items. I may have a look at socks!

ThreeAndUs · 17/04/2018 22:39

Hey everyone, trying to catch up with this thread but it moves fast! Good news this end, DS (9) received merit for grade 5 piano and distinction for grade 4 trumpet!! Next goals are grade 4 theory in the summer term and possibly grade 5 trumpet. Have been working on tone/stamina/air flow over the Easter break so lots of lip/mouthpiece buzzing and long notes. NCO Sunday and I really hope they give us the next dates! Have also been enjoying BBCYM. Smile

folkmamma · 17/04/2018 22:46

Kutik I went a bit wild here at Christmas if you're looking for gift ideas...

www.musicroom.com/gifts/

folkmamma · 17/04/2018 22:47

three - super well done to your DS!! Star

TaggieOHara · 17/04/2018 22:59

Well done mini- three! Looking forward to meeting you this Sunday. DS was excused from evensong so we will finally make it to NCO!

folk - great to hear how well Noo is doing with the viola. Very exciting! The trios she and DS2 played at Pro Corda are also available on the internet with violin 2 as the viola. Cello part might be a little tricky for mini-Noo though?

Trumpetboysmum · 18/04/2018 06:32

Fantastic news three !! Smile

TheSecondOfHerName · 18/04/2018 06:50

Well done to your DS ThreeAndUs

Doubleup · 18/04/2018 07:23

Well done miniThree Smile

Taggie or anyone else going to South Easterlies - can you confirm what time it is? This is the first one DD2 will be at this year and I’m taking two others too.

TaggieOHara · 18/04/2018 07:30

Double according to the email, the rehearsal starts at 1.30 but arrive early to set up (from about 1). It’s our first time as well though, so others may be more knowledgeable about the practicalities. Glad that DS2 is not the only one who has missed the first couple of rehearsals!

folkmamma · 18/04/2018 08:04

Epic Mum fail. Just turned into the screaming banshee from hell over piano practice 😔

ThreeAndUs · 18/04/2018 08:09

Thank you everyone!

Double and Taggie please remind me what instruments your children play? Yes rehearsal starts at 1.30pm but get there earlier to register and set up, bring pennies for coffee break. Smile

PetraDelphiki · 18/04/2018 08:30

I’ve given up going anywhere near practice...I just have to walk through the door and the tantrum starts!

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/04/2018 09:10

Congratulations Three and both the Seconds! Star
I've had a few epic Mum fail moments so totally sympathise!

Doubleup · 18/04/2018 09:38

Three, dd plays bassoon and will be in U11s. I am bringing an U10 cellist too who is at the same school and another U11 bassoonist - same teacher.

Kutik73 · 18/04/2018 10:10

folk, you had epic mum fail at 8ish in the morning?! Presumably Noo started her practice before 8am then. What's a good girl. Please share your tips how to make it happens!

Overseeing DS's timetable is my job as he keeps taking up every opportunity that seems fun to him without considering consequences. He brought back lots homework yesterday - on the day one of this term... It will be like this till SATs is over. But the amount of homework will be even greater at secondary school (1-2 hours per night from day one apparently). On top, he will have lots clubs and scholar's duties and 45 mins one way journey everyday. It's so clear he will have much less free time. So we have to think of his practice schedule smartly.

But I haven't come up with any good solution yet. Two instrumental practice after school doesn't sound doable really. Prob violin will be prioritised over piano like now already, but even more so then. But DS is keen to keep up his piano so needs to make time somehow somewhere. Could be before school?

Those who practise before school, would you please tell me the breakdown of how you manage?

Currently DS wakes up at 7.30am, then reads book and has breakfast which takes almost an hour (!), change clothes, wash face, brush teeth and comb hair (Grin) takes another 20-30 mins! At secondary he has to leave at 7.30 (and 7am once a week). Shock Help!

druidsong · 18/04/2018 10:42

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

TaggieOHara · 18/04/2018 10:44

sorry to hear that Petra. I'm sure we have all been there!

three and double DS2 plays the violin and will be in the U10s. No hoodie yet unfortunately.

TaggieOHara · 18/04/2018 13:51

Sorry - epic cross post there. folk - if it is any consolation, I was near tears myself (in frustration) about DS2’s sudden inability to do grade 2 piano sight reading. We have all been the screaming banshee from hell!

kutik DS2 does all of his practice in the morning before school. I get up at 545 do pack lunches and pack teas, then get DS2 up at 6 (bring him a cup of tea!) He has a quick breakfast, wash and youtube dose, then we do his piano until about 6.30. Then he does his violin until about 7, then they all leave for school and I go to work.

DS1 practices after school but DS2 doesn’t get back from evensong until 8pm and goes straight to bed (tea in the car). Fortunately he is super fast at homework and gets it done at school between 4 and 430, after which they start the evening choir routine.

The whole thing is quite exhausting at times, especially when there are extra choir commitments and my work is particularly full on!

folkmamma · 18/04/2018 14:07

Kutik the screaming banshee from hell was precisely because I couldn't get her to practice before school. Fiddling with a suitcase padlock and jiffing around with pretty much anything else she could find were far more important. Plus you hit it right on the head Taggie, work is a complete nightmare and I am mega stressed so I didn't handle things well. We both parted company crying Sad

Didiplanthis · 18/04/2018 14:48

I was a screaming banshee from hell over DS refusal to eat a croissant this morning because it was bent .... I thought I might burst something. Currently given up on ANY practice... totally failing as a music mummy....

TaggieOHara · 18/04/2018 15:01

Oh my goodness folk - I so empathise. I totally lost it a few days ago, when DS2 started yo-yo’ing during practice, when I was yet again trying to demonstrate how to get to the heel without total crooked bow/hunched shoulder. Very sorry to hear you are stressed at work Sad

Sorry didi but the croissant story made me smile. Some things are more important than music and The Campaign for Straight Croissants is right up there...

Kutik73 · 18/04/2018 15:10

Gosh, miniTaggie, you are amazing. While DS is taking a looooong time eating and reading, miniTaggie finishes breakfast, piano & violin, and getting ready.... I know choristers have to be mega-efficient. But what's a difference...

And druidsong, you have another mega-efficient, self-disciplined super star....

I think DS is def more related to Noo here. I mean, he has to finish his breakfast a bit quicker to do anything in the morning!

I may be allowing DS taking too much time for things he could actually speed up a bit, such as eating and resting. I mean, rest is needed for sure. But I think he demands more than normal active 10 years old. In fact, I don't think it's not his body needing a rest but more like his brain (or just being plain lazy). For a starter, he needs at least half an hour zombie time when he's back home from school/clubs. And he wants this 'doing nothing time' after each activity (even after just 10 mins homework!). So our evening after school & clubs runs out very quickly. No wonder why I feel he doesn't have enough time. He is taking a lot of time for doing nothing! Yet it's manageable now, but I think he will struggle to fit everything in at secondary.

Somehow I tend to feel bad to cut down those 'zombie time' so I always let him have plenty of them (basically as requested) but I really think he can be a bit more, I don't know, efficient? He takes an hour to finish his dinner too (and another an hour for bath/reading book). However he finishes his lunch at school within a second according to the teachers. Hmm

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