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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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folkmamma · 30/04/2018 16:42

Kutik that's weird. I just checked the settings and you are still there! Anyone else having trouble??

Doubleup · 30/04/2018 16:46

You or her folk?

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 16:51

Both of us!

druidsong · 30/04/2018 16:54

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

se22mother · 30/04/2018 17:02

Folk WineWineWine

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 17:18

Every time there is the slightest bit of pressure. Festival on Saturday and she's not ready. We do this every time, then I pull her out rather than let her see the consequences of performing without doing sufficient practice. Do I a) pull her out and just stop entering her for performances/ auditions/exams or b) make her go through with it and watch it all go horribly wrong but hope she learns from it???? 😔

CruCru · 30/04/2018 17:26

Hmm, hard one - how old is she?

I've just found out that my husband has left my son's music bag on the bus. I'm HOPING that my son has just left the bag at school but he has sworn that he handed it to his Dad. Ugh. I've ordered one of the books from Amazon but there are quite a few versions of the other so I've asked the teacher whether it is possible to buy another copy from him (and what it is that my son is meant to be practising / learning this week).

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 17:36

She's 8 CruCru. Finds life a challenge generally which is why I tend to back out rather than push her to do it and have it all go wrong and then have to cope with the consequences!

Re music bag on bus.... 🙈

Trumpetboysmum · 30/04/2018 17:42

Cru cru oh no hope you get it sorted maybe it will get handed in .
Folk tricky . Ds is always predictably stressed before he does any sort of performance . He really puts me through it at times but I've learnt with him that it's his way of psyching himself up . Is she really not ready or is she just worried so now it's going wrong? I've never pulled Ds out , sometimes when he's been less well prepared ( or choosing to perform something brave before its polished !?! - a favourite trick of his ) it doesn't go quite to plan . He gets over it and it's good for him to see that it's not the end of the world and he's slowly learning from his mistakes - I hope !!

TaggieOHara · 30/04/2018 17:51

Folk - very sorry to hear that. How about entering her into a really low pressure class (e.g. non-competitive family duet)? If you were playing the teachers part loudly enough, she couldn't go far wrong and is bound to get a good clap! She might enjoy the encouragement and not get so het up when entering a class more suited to her talent and level in later years?

Tough though - have had similar with DS1 many times over the years. Wine

TaggieOHara · 30/04/2018 17:53

Kutik - try restarting your device. Worked for me when I couldn’t upload stuff a couple of weeks ago!

Kutik73 · 30/04/2018 18:07

folk WineWineWine

But honestly I wish DS gets to feel more pressure. He is unbelievably optimistic always and his optimism makes me feel nervous nearer to any big day. It's really like a comic! I thought it was due to immaturity (lack of self consciousness) but I start to think it may be due to the personality... It's good to be optimistic but not so good when some serious nailing work is required. He seems to be happy with 80% effort, not just music but really everything. Dangerous traits.

Such a horribly weather here in London, and it's a football day for us... I'm hoping DS will do all his sports at school once he starts secondary so no more ferrying around (and waiting standing outside). Half of me feel sentimental about all the years of supporting his sport activities but half of me JUST CAN'T WAIT IT TO BE OVER.

Kutik73 · 30/04/2018 18:08

Taggie, I re downloaded the app but still not working. Wired as I didn't change any setting on my phone/pc.

Kutik73 · 30/04/2018 18:09

Wired?? Weird!!

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 18:11

Taggie, we are meant to be doing a family trio which is really sweet. Worst case scenario she can just do that I suppose. I changed her piano piece to an easier one which is well below what she's capable of but now she can't even get through it. And her cello piece should also be easy but shes tripping over quaver passages and won't slow them down to practice. Basically if I say ANYTHING she loses it. I've suggested she practice on her own and then gives me a 'concert' but she kicks off at that suggestion too.

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 18:12

P.s it's all non competitive and extremely friendly...

Kutik73 · 30/04/2018 18:22

Ah I can relate to the anything I say is wrong situation. But difference would be it may be true that I am saying nonsense as I'm not trained like you folk!

By the way I love your family trio. So so sweet. Have you told your little DD that she has a fan here? Smile

Mendingfences · 30/04/2018 18:24

Hope the stress eases off folk

Trumpetboysmum · 30/04/2018 18:39

Folk big hugs to you both . I never say the right thing either . Ds's teacher is ill so I've had a listen tonight - we haven't fallen out yet - not that I can really comment anymore it just helps him to focus . After diner ( we eat late here !!) I have to sit with dd for piano I am dreading that !! But she got a high merit for grade 1 cornet ( and full marks for her scales and 1 of the pieces) so I'm hoping that will boost her confidence

Trumpetboysmum · 30/04/2018 18:40

I'm really hoping that she doesn't fall apart in her piano exam she has no need to and would never fall apart with singing but with piano she seems to psyche herself out Hmm

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 18:50

Brilliant results in Cornet Trumpet! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 hopefully that will give her confidence for piano.

We just played through our trio and it was really good. We have a rehearsal with pianist tomorrow so I will see how her cello solo piece goes then and make a decision. Very tempted to see it through as she could wake up on the day and play everything perfectly, it's all purely psychological! She does like to put me through it....

Thanks everyone for being so lovely xx

Didiplanthis · 30/04/2018 18:57

Folk I feel your pain.... ds has a meltdown at the slightest sniff of anything possibly performance based. He's never done one and never has to but the anxiety goes through the roof if it's even mentioned. Christmas term at school is hideous with nativity and Carol concerts - he can't even cope with the practices !!!

folkmamma · 30/04/2018 19:01

Didi I know we've said this before but I think we have the same child.....

Although I did give her the choice for the festival and she insisted she wanted to do cello, piano and trio! So desperate to live up to big sister.

This was my 'punishment' btw. She emptied the shoe cupboard. A favourite 'consequence' for my poor behaviour 😂

April Music Thread
druidsong · 30/04/2018 19:12

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