May Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Have a new thread for May... you all managed to fill the April one!

This is a place to chat about music lessons, exams, practice, aural, theory, performances and anything else you like. We have many regular and occasional posters (some of whom are learning themselves) with children ranging from complete beginners to very advanced. We do try our best to make sure everyone feels welcome!

I am mum to Goo (12) flute and piano, and Rara (9) cello and clarinet. They play in loads of school groups, South West Music School and NCO, although practice isn't going too well at the moment. Later in the week, all three of us are taking part in a big community concert, which will be lovely.

Dd loves that piece, folk

NeverEver, thanks again! I've got to check the Slovanic dances too. Suppose I'll have lots of youtube time tonight (with wine )!

folk, thanks for reminding me that piece. Actually DS played Humoresque! When DS came out of shower, I showed him the linked youtube (the dream combination of P, Y and O, thanks folk) and his old music book. He grabbed the music book and gave me a very quick concert. It was DREAMY! When DS learnt the piece his highest position was 3rd and he had just started (tiny winy) vibrato and he was on a 1/2 violin. It didn't have the sweetness and richness in the sound that is supposed to be the great charm of the piece. This time it was so different and a lot more enjoyable (with lovely sliding shift, lots of vibrato and the beautiful 4/4 violin )! I like re-visiting old pieces like this. It often gives us different level of challenge and enjoyment.

Now DS is reading a book in bed, nearly his sleep time, and soon it'll be my youtube time (and spending money time to order CDs!!).

By the way I don't think the arrangement we have is not grade 5. It's from Suzuki book 3 so I assume it's a simplified version. But it was still enjoyable for ears.

I meant the arrangement we have is NOT grade 5...

We went to the festival hall tonight to listen to Natalie Clein play Elgar's cello concerto. She was flipping amazing.

But the rest of the programme was, I don't know, a bit meh. It sounds ridiculous to say it as it was clearly an excellent orchestra & choir, very accomplished, etc. And there's no way in hell I could get anywhere near that standard so I feel guilty for saying it but there seemed to be something missing - some sort of spark. I felt my attention wandering & DS got very fidgety.

Natalie Clein was amazing though (& DD was very taken with the snazzy bright orange jumpsuit she wore on stage).

Kutik DS1 played the Humoresque from the suzuki cello book too.

Japanese, do you think it's because of the programme? Or perhaps the musicians were tired??

NeverEver, so our DSs, cello and violin, played the Humoresque... Could they play like Yo-Yo Ma and Perlman in the video one day?!

I went to DD's last ever school concert tonight. I looked at her with her Bari sax and space buns looking so grown up. But is seemed only yesterday since the 9 year old with plaits and an alto sax (which looked bigger on her then than the Bari does now!)

kutik - to be honest, I think it prob said more about me than the performance. Have had a very stressful few weeks at work & I think I was hoping for something which would take my mind off everything!

We are heading off to the BBC Young Musician final at Symphony Hall on Sunday, but which 3 of the remaining 5 musicians will be there I wonder?

Littleladsdad - us too😀 I did see the semi final though so I know.....,

Wow - you all get up to so much. My DDs just do some lessons and a few school ensembles (they’re more into dance/sport). I do love going to their end of year concerts - DD(12, Y8) made a surprise debut on the bass guitar at theirs earlier this week! She’d kept it completely under wraps - none of her friends knew either.

Have any of you got ABRSM grades coming up in summer? I’m slightly nervous that DD1 (14) has big end of Y9 tests that determine her Y10/11 sets/predicted grades etc coming up so is barely practising as she has a lot of revision.

Hope you enjoy (or enjoyed? I’m a bit out of the loop so have no idea when it is!) the BBC Young Musician littleladsdad and stringchild.

That sounds brilliant raspberryrippleicecream. What is your daughter going to do now?

raspberryrippleicecream, it sounds you had a bitter sweet evening... You must have felt so proud of her. But, the thought of DS's last concert at school age is unbearable to me. He brings us so much joy with what he does. Well, I know life will keep going, and I will keep going, but it's too emotional to think. I wish I had more than one.

raspberry .

kutik I too will be in bits when my DSes have their last concerts/evensongs. For all the stresses, strains and hours in the car, I get so much pleasure from watching them play. But my parents are re-living the whole thing now with their grandchildren, so there is 'hope' for the future

tabby Welcome! I'm looking forward to hearing more about your DCs. What exam is your DD doing? All of us on this thread are well familiar with the challenges of balancing music with everything else! My DS2 is working for his grade 2 piano at the moment. He is also doing grade 5 theory this term, but I'm trying not think about that too much...

littleladsdad and stringchild we watched the semi final too, so I know which three - didn't entirely agree with judges though and neither did any of the other audience members we spoke to!

Taggie, I had DS rather late, so I am not so young any more. DS must be hurry up to find someone if I like to re-live the whole thing!

Could I join the summer exam clan? DS is taking g8 violin. Pieces are alright, sight-reading should also be alright, aural could be gamble and scales..., what are scales? Actually I am not a big fan of summer exams. There are so many temptations not to be diligent, aren't there? DS did g5 piano in a summer term a couple years ago, and I thought never again. I just remember that now. Too late...

Proms tix on sale tomorrow at 9am. You can already book '10 pieces' Concert (we have).

You're welcome 😘

Hey folkmamma, I booked ten pieces prom tickets this morning too. We have been to every ten pieces prom so far, my son and daughter love it!

Thank you for the reminder folk

Rasberry that must be hard I feel emotional watching the current 6 th formers perform in their final concerts ( they have been very good to ds - especially the brass players)
so I have no idea how well I will cope when Ds gets there and they can all perform a solo if they wish . Time does really whizz by.
Tabby _ Hi we are also very used to juggling here and I think this terms music exams work out ok with school work stress but apparently Ds is taking grade 5 singing and grade 5 piano ? And grade 5 theory plus auditions and being in the school show in the autumn term !?!- looking forward to that one already . Grade 8 trumpet can wait till he has time to concentrate on it !!
We are also going to the Young Muscicians Final on Sunday I really hope the percussionist gets through as he's the only one that I think dd will sit still for but now from some of your comments I'm wondering if that will be the case . I shall find out tonight ( or tomorrow- swimming and orchestra tonight then !!)

Hapsburg & stringchild Rooting for Lauren the pianist here due to RBC connection (she's a fab pianist too!)

Raspberry-I feel for you. I’m dreading the end of year 6 concert, let alone the last one ever!

DD is taking ABRSM Grade 6 Clarinet in just under 2 weeks (school visit) and grade 6 piano and grade 3 singing in the summer - I’m not willing to confess to DH how much we have paid ABRSM on exam fees.....!