Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Thread gallery
10
druidsong · 27/04/2018 10:20

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

TheSecondOfHerName · 27/04/2018 11:45

Congratulations Kutik to your DS on being invited to join the String Orchestra

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 27/04/2018 12:13

We had some good new orchestra wise this week 2. DD1 auditioned for local county youth orchestra last weekend and was accepted. She has never done a grade, is Suzuki student, but worked hard at sight reading this year. Her friend also got accepted for flute.

Kutik73 · 27/04/2018 13:20

Thanks TheSecond, and such great news &MomOfTwo*. StarStarStar

Apparently DS is doing his very first violin exam this term. I was asked to make the entry. I went to ABRSM website but couldn't work it out... It seems I need an account with them? I may call ABRSM (hope they don't mind...).

TaggieOHara · 27/04/2018 13:45

lots of lovely news. Well done to mini-kutik and to momoftwo. Star
I can't find Double's news (thread moves to fast). But Congrats!

kutik - I'm absolutely sure the ABSRM will not mind you calling them up. Alternatively, does your school/local music centre do the ABSRM exams? They will probably be prepared to add your DS even if he is learning elsewhere. We are entering DS2 for his exam through school, and I noticed that there are lots of sisters, brothers and teachers' kids on the list for exams, who are not pupils at the school. I think it helps drive down the cost!

Trumpetboysmum · 27/04/2018 15:09

It's quick to create an account I did this last week for dd's piano exam . They emailed me within a couple of days with the account details it was all pretty straightforward . But yes if you can find a local school doing them as a special visit that will make life easier . Ds may do his jazz exam at school even though he doesn't have lessons there . Don't they do them at the jd itself ?

CruCru · 27/04/2018 15:13

Hi all

I've been dipping in and out of this thread for the last few weeks but haven't had a whole lot to write. My son's school have a really long Easter holiday (they went back this week) and neither he nor I have been great at practising (in my defence, we have had a lot of houseguests). So my piano teacher spent quite a lot of yesterday's lesson getting me to correct some bad habits I've got into.

On the other hand, my Mum got me to clear out her loft and gave me my old trumpet and my brother's old (1/2) violin. My son's school have said that, although he is a bit young, they'll give him a trial trumpet lesson once he is in year 2 (he'll probably start on the cornet though).

Some of the valves were a bit sticky so I took it to a place on the Hampstead Road to get it serviced but the man there said that all it really needs is a good clean (which I can do myself). He loosened a couple of the parts that I couldn't do myself and sold me a couple of brushes, valve oil, grease and a new mouthpiece. So I guess that will be my job for Monday.

Congratulations to kutik's son and MomOfTwo's daughter. I'm loving the thread about choosing a violin.

TheSecondOfHerName · 27/04/2018 16:43

Quite relieved to hear that DS2 and his clarinet teacher have decided to postpone his Grade 8 exam until November/December.

Initially the plan was for him to take it this summer, after six weeks of GCSE exams. 😲

foundoutyet · 27/04/2018 16:50

Kutik, not too difficult to set up your own account. Have only few times had to enter my dc, but it still comes handy once in a while. You also get email updates eg when a new exam syllabus etc comes out. And you get the results earlier....

dc has had her first lessons in her new (third) instrument this week....she is excited about it

Kutik73 · 27/04/2018 17:18

Thanks all. Managed to register now. Can't make the entry yet though. It seems to take a couple of days for me to gain access.

Trumpet & Taggie, I'm afraid jd only organises theory and musicianship and all the other exams have to be arranged outside. DS's school doesn't do exam so I am going to enter individually.

TheSecond, DS's exam could be a couple of weeks after SATs though it's nothing compared with GCSE. However, for his class teacher, SATs are more important than A level apparently!Shock

druidsong · 27/04/2018 17:19

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

AlexandraLeaving · 27/04/2018 17:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

druidsong · 27/04/2018 17:30

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

folkmamma · 27/04/2018 17:39

Thank crunchie it's Friday...

Kutik it will take a couple of days for your applicant number to come through but then as others have said, happy days. Which exam is he doing??

Not really much news here, except we have started to learn some unaccompanied Bach on the viola for forthcoming auditions. Both JD's would like to hear her play something on it (even though she will have had it for just 5 weeks...). Talk about a baptism of fire!

Right, one last practice session today (Noo, violin) then it's feet up and BBCYM for me!

cantkeepawayforever · 27/04/2018 17:46

DS is at MFY in Birmingham twice (orchestra and smaller ensemble), so it sounds like there could be a MN Music thread party there... we should have badges....

cantkeepawayforever · 27/04/2018 17:48

(Conservatoire Thursday, Symphony Hall Saturday)

JugglingFromHereToThere · 27/04/2018 18:49

He's in a Youth Brass band and I gather they are going to Music for Youth in Birmingham sometime soonish, sorry as usual not too sure of dates at the moment.

But a Mumsnet music meet up sounds good!

cantkeepawayforever · 27/04/2018 18:51

Dates and times are here:

Click on the 'Programme' tab

folkmamma · 27/04/2018 19:02

Yay!! Looking like we are off-music for both pieces in time for our festival next weekend and 4 weeks before auditions! 🤞🏻

Trumpetboysmum · 27/04/2018 19:04

Alex Grin that sounds like the sort of thing Ds would do !! I remember him ruining a lovely top last year because he had had a coke fight at band !?! Glad the exam is getting sorted Kutik . Great to hear about all the dcs doing music for youth .
Ds is at AYM this weekend so a quiet one ( well with decorating and ds's homework project !!) for us

Trumpetboysmum · 27/04/2018 19:06

Cru cru how exciting to find old instruments in the loft . Good news your ds can start lessons in year 2 both of mine started on the cornet - just a bit easier because of the size . Dd says she doesn't want to learn trumpet anyway !!

Trumpetboysmum · 27/04/2018 19:09

I shall have tthe wait till Sunday for the brass final Ds will want to watch (I could watch it twice I suppose )

CruCru · 27/04/2018 19:17

Well, that sounds pretty sensible TheSecondOfHerName.

Yes, it was pretty exciting Trumpetboysmum. However, carrying the case on the tube has left me with callouses on my hands (I’d forgotten what a bulky instrument the trumpet is). I don’t suppose there have been any advances in cases for brass instruments so they are lighter, have there? I’d forgotten about carrying the trumpet to and fro - I used to envy my clarinet playing friend as the case fitted into her school bag.

ThreeAndUs · 27/04/2018 19:56

Hi kutik, when you enter your DS for his exam you should be able to enter his teacher's name to go on the certificate if you wanted.

April Music Thread
LooseAtTheSeams · 27/04/2018 20:32

Alexandra that's hilarious! Sounds like his general appearance is very similar to DS1 who has somehow evaded the wearing school blazer rule for so long that it's now actually far too small for him!
DS1's marching band were at Birmingham last year and had a fantastic time - I'm sure it will be brilliant this year!