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Extra-curricular activities

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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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Trumpetboysmum · 27/04/2018 20:48

Cru cru some children start on p trumpets - lighter as they are plastic but quite good I think. Ds had a backpack case for the trumpet he takes to school which makes things easier

Kutik73 · 27/04/2018 20:49

Am I only one who is intrigued to know more details of the banana incident....? I'm no stranger to spot mysterious marks and dirt on my child's clothes though. Grin

ThreeAndUs, thanks. I think that was what the teacher was telling me. No way I put my name on the certificate!

folk, it's ABRSM g8 violin. Grade zero to grade 8 - such a jump. Could have done a lower grade at least once for familiarising though the teacher said 'no point'. No complaint as this must be the most economical route! Exam fees are so expensive...

Just paid for a violin (finally) and now have to think of bow. Wondering when we can have a break from paying for something. It just keeps coming next to another....

se22mother · 27/04/2018 20:50

Wow grade 8. Congratulations kutik

Kutik73 · 27/04/2018 20:59

Thanks, se22. But he hasn't passed yet. Grin

Trumpet, when your DS took a backpack case to school how he carried school bag? DS will soon start taking his violin to school alone. I like him to carry the violin on the back so that he won't leave it on a bus/tube. But then he has to carry school bag with hand?? School bag is pretty heavy, isn't it?

CruCru · 27/04/2018 21:06

Hmm. Actually, a backpack would be really useful for me (as I will end up carrying the trumpet on the bus). Thanks, I'll look into that.

ThreeAndUs · 27/04/2018 21:11

Hey Trumpet (and anyone interested in plastic trumpets!). My son and one of my trumpet pupils started on ptrumpets 3 years ago but they are clunky, the valves were/are terrible. After a year we moved them both to tromba trumpets...also plastic but they have metal valves, so much better! Plastic trumpets (and plastic cornets) are great for especially younger beginners, you can encourage good posture with them. My son then moved to his intermediate Yamaha trumpet a year ago and has managed to maintain an excellent posture even though he's still only 9 and petite for his age. Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 27/04/2018 21:51

Interesting to know about the p trumpets / Ds started on cornet instead . Kutik Ds also carries his bag sort of on his back - not good for posture. When he also had his pe kit ( and food tech ingredients!!) I take him in .
Grade 8 is very impressive ( even to consider taking it !!) Smile and I'm sure he'll do more than fine

crazygirlsmama · 28/04/2018 07:25

Hello all!! Haven’t caught up fully on the news yet but sending love to you all.

Big day here- exciting dance auditions most of the day (eek, please think of my little crazy!) and then she’s playing in the celebration concert for music festival. First outing for a new piece. If she brings her A-game (or to be specific, if she counts the rests...) it will be beautiful. So here’s hoping.

Lots generally going on. Her school orchestra teacher seems to be embracing having a strong first clarinet section and has given them the main part for a fantastic Greatest Showman arrangement and written a new solo part for their arrangement of In the Hall of the Mountain King for their summer exhibition, so DD is very excited about that. As youngest in her JD she has been asked to open a showcase concert in a couple of weeks with her duet partner. A few days later we have another important dance audition. Life is very busy but exciting!

Trumpetboysmum · 28/04/2018 07:41

Crazy I have no idea where your dd ( or you) gets all her energy from !! Good luck for the auditions and concert today . Hope she enjoys it ( and remembers to count the rests !!) Smile

folkmamma · 28/04/2018 08:37

Good luck mini crazy! Star

druidsong · 28/04/2018 09:26

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

folkmamma · 28/04/2018 09:48

Same here Druid!!! I've only called one of the winners so far, it must be very different in the room.

Kutik73 · 28/04/2018 09:50

Haven't watched brass final - that'll be tonight's entertainment for us.

Good luck to all the challenges mini crazy!

Trumpet, hmm so it'll stay unsolved for us... DS should be fine as all other kids are coping in the same condition (or worse for heavier bulkier instruments). But I like to minimise the possibility of him losing his violin during journey fro and to school so hopefully I can work out the best way for him to carry all the things with minimum discomfort. His journey involves 10 mins walk at the both end of public transport also.

folkmamma · 28/04/2018 09:56

Kutik, I think it's more likely he'll lose everything else before he loses his new soulmate.. 😘

Good luck with the G8 prep! Big exam for small person, but I know Mini Kutik will smash it! StarStarStar

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/04/2018 09:58

Druid I switched on a bit late so missed the first performance. I liked the second trombone player's first piece a lot and I was very impressed by the trumpet player. Looking forward to the piano final next week.
The semi finals are going to be very interesting - I hope it goes well for the percussionist because I'd really like to see him get to the final!

ThreeAndUs · 28/04/2018 10:34

We haven't watched the brass final yet either, that's tonight's tv! Smile

Kutik73 · 28/04/2018 10:40

Well, DS already made some marks on the violin as he hit the inner line of the c-curve with bow while playing... It may fell apart before he has a chance to lose it...

Re, g8. As long as he tries his best that'll be good experience I suppose. He usually enjoys intimidating situation such as audition, exam, etc.

folkmamma · 28/04/2018 11:54

He's just putting his personal stamp on it Kutik 😘

Trumpetboysmum · 28/04/2018 12:35

Luckily Ds new trumpet already looks worn because it's old so that means he can disguise new dents . Once it's been to the workshop to get fixed up it will be a different story . His other trumpet also has many dents but this is the one I let him take to school - less costly if it gets lost and I won't stress so much about it being buried under a heap of instruments in the music cupboard . Ds uses the same mouthpiece for both trumpets - so he just needs to make sure he has it with him !!

Mendingfences · 28/04/2018 12:42

Ooh crazy in the hall of the mountain king is one of dd1s favourite pieces. It really evokes the landscape of Dovre as well (it's dovregubbens hall in norwegian)

stringchild · 28/04/2018 15:21

Druid - trumpet for us!

Sorry am very absent st the moment - lot going on. Dd also at the MFY nationals in July so there seem to be quite a few of us!

Kutik73 · 28/04/2018 15:31

Ha ha, you just gave DS a good excuse of his mischief, folk! He would love to think he put the personal stamp DELIBERATELY. Grin

Trumpet, we don't have any money left to buy a cheaper spare for school so DS has to take good care of it. At least we bought a tough case which should survive in the music cupboard at school!!

Kutik73 · 28/04/2018 15:40

We had to go ahead with the purchase of the violin without the teacher's final approval as it was during holiday. DS's lessons started today so we showed her what we got. And, we got a big thumb up from her. She really loved it. Yay!! It sounded lovely at our home but even nicer at the lesson room, even with DS's crappy bow. So glad we stuck to ours 'no compromise' approach to the violin hunt! To be honest it was exhausting so I don't envy anyone who is starting the journey now... Feel like I need champagne tonight!

Mendingfences · 28/04/2018 15:44

It's so nice when it all comes together and the effort is worthwhile kutik

Trumpetboysmum · 28/04/2018 15:55

Great news Kutik .
Ds doesn't have a special school trumpet - I just haven't got rid of his old one - mainly because I think his sister might use it as well . Though i was tempted to try and sell it . It's a good trumpet - just not as special as the one he has now which looks old and worn and needs work but sounds amazing !!
We won't watch the brass final till tomorrow I'm intrigued by people's comments - especially as Ds knows the French horn player