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.

I know the accompanist thing can be tricky . Ds has now got some sessos booked with one we know just to run through pieces for a performance he may or may not play with him on the day but it's helpful. Jazz luckily they use a cd and when he does grade 8 if he doesn't at school they sort it !! Hope it all works out Kutik . We may also have to take time off work so really hoping we hear soon .

Well said!

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/12/letters-restore-music-to-our-childrens-lives

Thanks Japanese and Trumpet. I totally forgot about the secondary school transition day. Another thing to watch out...

Taggie, thanks for the link. Great article. Just thought they could have picked a photo of children looking more enthusiastic or excited...!

We finally settled with the pieces. The piano part for one of them is quite important so rehearsals prior to the exam date would be recommended (according to the teacher...). Normally how many rehearsals you guys arrange? Is one enough?? Do you pay per rehearsal or pay for a package which includes a few rehearsals + exam?

I am so envious of those who can play piano for their DCs! It woud be much easier for DCs but also would save quite a lot of money!!

I’m on my phone so couldn’t see the pic!

Kutik - I’d think a couple rehearsals supplemented with listening to the pieces with the piano on Spotify or YouTube, while following along withthe music... what is he playing (if you are allowed to say)?

For the performance that Ds is preparing for I have booked one but have left enough time for another one if need be then I'm guessing he will have a run through in the day with whoever is booked for the performance- might be this guy or the other accompanist they use who Ds has worked with a couple of times at school . I second doing lots of listening with the score too

That's absolutely amazing, Alexandra. Would you mind PMing me her details? Initially we were thinking of a pianist at jd but her schedule is insane in June. The merit is arranging rehearsals is easy, but the demerit is she is more likely unavailable on the exam date! I am now thinking to ask DS's piano teacher. She is more flexible than the jd pianist but again it depends on which date/time we are given.

We've been naughty today. A friend introduced us to a nearby outdoor swimming pool that is beautiful and really cheap to join! So we sacked off practice in favour of an afternoon at the pool. Was lovely to see the girls screeching with laughter with their mates and it meant I had an easy afternoon!

Well done to raspberry's DS on the bursary!

I went with DD to listen to/watch our borough's training orchestra rehearse this evening. She is going to join in from next week and I think she's quite nervous as it will be her first ensemble experience. But I think it will be good for her and she is excited about it - just very apprehensive!

Bursaries of any kind are good, so well done to raspberry's ds for that.

The latest musical news here is that having been first reserve for oboe for the county youth orchestra for this year, one of the oboists has now pulled out of the tour at the end of July, so DD1 has been offered the place. She's very pleased and it's taking her mind off her GCSE tomorrow - hopefully not completely though!

Two more days of SATs to go, but DD2 seems cheery enough.

Thank you for all the well dones!

What a good idea folk! having sweated through the day in London, mainly in delayed tubes!

Congrats to double’s DD1. I bet the confidence boost will help with the GCSE exams

japanese - I’m sure your DD will do just fine! It is likely that the pieces they are playing are much easier technically than she is learning

Great news double
It's really good for them to get playing in ensembles Japanese
So Ds has added yet another activity to his schedule today and has now joined a brass band mostly adults but some younger players too ( who Ds knows so that's good) Its quite full on I think but He loved the playing and I think it will be a great experience

I'm enjoying reading about all the festivals and other activities. Currently I'm waiting to hear the date of DD2's grade 3 exam - for the first time I've not booked a separate accompanist as DD2 was so happy performing at the Brass Academy camp competition, including in the final which was in front of everyone, that she doesn't feel she needs to meet the accompanist first. I'll take the 8-yr-old's word for it...
Meanwhile, DD1 is abroad with one of her ensembles and seems to have spent 8 hours rehearsing today!

That's great news Double 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Folk - sometimes we need to have a day off practice and come back to it refreshed the next day. Good for you I say!

Japanese, that's great your DD joining the orchestra. Every time DS had a chance I just dismissed the idea thinking 'he is so busy already!'. But finally I let him join a local youth orchestra this time last year. I can't believe I left such a fantastic opportunity till this late... He absolutely loves it and gains have been so much, musically and socially.

Fab news for Doible's dd1 and good luck to dd2 with SATs. DS is still poorly but surviving! He skipped footy (mon) and swim ( tue) because of his endless runny nose and horrible sour throat. He may miss another after school activity this evening I'm afraid.

Double!!!!

Congrats Minis raspberry and double. Exciting!

We had a lovely weekend with DD playing in a posh, invite only JD showcase - she’s their youngest so they asked her to open the concert and she ended up being asked to introduce it too. I’d been at work all day so missed the rehearsals etc and only just made the concert. It was lovely seeing her delighted face when I walked in & she played her duets beautifully.

In other news her piano teacher has finally announced she can start preparing her g4 exam work. It’s probsbly going to be next term, along with her g5 clarinet. Not ideal but there’s no way she’ll tolerate 10months preparing g4 piano and waiting til March 19. She’ll be so beyond ready by then.

We are in the middle of trying to work out a plan with county orchestra for her- there’s actually three county music services we could be involved with because of our location but her age and standard combination is proving problematic across the board. There’s one that’s g3-5 that won’t even entertain having her til y5 (she’s y3). There’s one that’s g5 that wouldn’t take her til y7. There’s another one that’s g3-5 won’t take her til y7! She’s in a 2-5 band but it’s possible it’s going to clash from September. Argh such a permanent battle!

Crazy we are having similar issues with two groups where there standard is advertised by grade but in fact there is s hidden age criteria . In one case dd is playing 2 grades above the grade band for the group she is in. She likes the social side but is demoralised that children she knows playing at a lower standard are in a higher orchestra. We aren't sure if we can wait till year 7 for her to move up. We joke that she will be moved post grade 8. Sorry rant over and well done to your dd on the jd concert

Good news on the Brass Band front Trumpet. DS plays flugelhorn in county youth band and Foden's Youth Band and loves both.

Crazy there's an age-related pecking order in most of the ensembles that ds plays in. I've (almost) stopped stressing about it and just go with the flow!

That’s super news, Double.

There isn’t a lot going on here. I have a piano lesson tomorrow so need to finish off a few things before my teacher comes over. He’s got me to compose a bit of music and I’ve made it a bit too difficult. Hey go, my son liked it.

On Monday I sat in on my son’s piano lesson for the first time (they happen in school). It was really helpful to see how his teacher teaches and has given me a few ideas for enthusing him for practising.