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.

Luckily I think ds's teacher is going to step in I'm not sure that the sibling relationship would survive one teaching the other at this stage

2nd we also have a set of very strange grandparents when it comes to DD's music. They have never been to a performance - and there have been a lot of opportunities - 5yrs of NCO, NYCO, numerous school concerts and events, county ensembles, the odd festival etc. A number of these have been within very easy reach of their home - they are not particularly old and are very fit, active and capable of driving to things. There have been occasions when we have been arranging for them to come and stay and they have ruled out coming down when they find out DD has a concert, as 'you will be busy'.
I have got used to this - after all classical music is not everyone's cup of tea (although other family members put this to one side as they just want to support DD). What still really really winds me up is my dad, who if DD is practising will go round the house closing doors, turn up the television and ask how long 'it' is going to go on for. With 2-3hrs practice a day it is all I can do to remain civil. I am far from a tiger mum - this is what DD wants and needs to do - it is not enforced by me and I do not suggest the practice (she is pretty diligent most of the time, so actually a couple of days off whilst grandparents stay would not be then end of the world, but she always says she has things to work on - I think she is just trying to escape them!!) so I don't think it is that they think we are pushing her into things. Neither mum nor dad are remotely interested if DD comes to ask if they would like to hear something - she has given up asking now but when she was younger my dad actually turned the telly back on in the very very brief pause between movements of a piece - when she started to play again he said 'ugh....I thought you were done'.
Although she is used to their ways now, DD was very disappointed last year when they did not come to her very last NCO concert - she is not stupid, she knows where Symphony Hall is and she knows where granny and grandpa live - it is not far!!! She also knew I had offered to buy tickets.
The worst thing though is that she doesn't want to go and stay at their house - she doesn't want to be without her instruments for long but won't take them with her because of my dad's comments.
I am pretty sure they disapprove of DD's school and probably the JD she is joining in Sept as well. She has never had so much as a 'well done' for any successful audition, exam or performance.
Sorry that was long - maybe I should go for therapy - many unresolved issues of my own as well!!!! Thanks if you have read this, and 2nd you are not alone.

Well, that's it! Last violin lesson before auditions, tick! Teacher happy, mummy happy and most importantly, Noo happy. Now just to keep calm until it's all over... 😱

Wow folk! When is the audition? I'm sure Noo will ace it. Good luck!

Thanks Kutik. One on Saturday and one next Thursday...

Which one is her first choice? DS auditioned two places also and he did his first choice after another one. So it was as if he had a practice run.

Good luck noo and folk x

Aarrggh dd1s audition date came through and it clashes with school camp, so that will be an eight hour round trip home-audition-camp location -home. Although thankfully it's the first day of camp ør the trip would be Even worse.....
Sympathies for those of you with grandparent trouble and unhealthily competetive friends

We're still not really sure which is the favourite Kutik, probably Saturday by a nudge but only on reputation as we haven't even been there yet. We could walk in and totally hate it (although I suspect not....). Hopefully her teacher will be with us, which will be great as he can deal with the rehearsal and warming her up while I pretend to hold it together in the corner 😂

Ooh Mending, what a nightmare! The things we do for our kids... What is her audition for??

It's for a sort of jd equivalent i suppose, folk it is still somewhat unclear if the local district will pay their contribution (as per the requirements) but they have okayed her application so we'll worry about that if she gets in ......

When is the audition? Best of luck to her - do let us know how it goes! (And fingers crossed with the fees too xx)

Good luck with the auditions.

DD had her last sax lesson today, or at least the last one paid for by us. Another era ended! She has a final music service concert in July.

I've signed DS2 up for a free Sampler Day of folk music next week with (I think) the English Folkgroup and Dance Society, which will be something different. He also has an improvisatin workshop this weekend, run by NYJO. I like to keep him busy!

raspberry, the improvisation workshop sounds fun. DS has just started learning a bit of improvisation in his musicianship class at jd. It used to be very much theory focused so more paper work than playing instruments. But he was moved to a different musicianship class this term and the new one is more improvisation focused. DS says it's actually a lot more challenging than doing theory papers but he is absolutely loving it. I thought he was preparing for g6 theory, but it seems not now!

Mending and folk, I feel high tension and excitement from you guys! I am sure your DDs will smash it and it'll be a great experience. Sending you good vibes!

Good luck with the auditions mending and folk

Lots of luck for Noo and mini mending!

Thank you to Waffle and Alexandra for the recorder advice!

DD enjoyed her half-day's playing yesterday at the recorder day - although I think she felt a bit out of her depth. On the website it said that pre-Grade 3 players were invited to come along to the afternoon part of the day. But it turned out that she was the only one to go just for that half-day. And there were some pretty serious recorder players there. I was talking with one Mum who had brought her son all the way from Bristol. And we thought we had a bit of a trek from north London!

DD managed to join in for 3 of the pieces although she said she got a bit lost in one of them. But this was her first ever ensemble playing experience so I thought she did well to give it a go!

I really enjoyed listening to some of the deeper recorders as I do find the descant can sound a bit shrill sometimes. Or maybe that is just me/DD

And DD said the others had 'very posh' recorders with 'posh cases'. She said she was the only one who had a recorder bag where you just sort of shove the recorder in in one piece - complete with cleaner .

I said I would treat her to a new recorder so we are going to have a visit to a shop on the weekend I think.

DD1 (nearly 16) has been given a loan of a viola this evening from her violin teacher. She also had her last lesson for this term this evening.
On recommendation from teacher I have purchased Mary Cohen Viola quick change book. I also added Suzuki book 2 to the cart to help her get started over the summer. Lessons won’t start until Sept.
She excited to start a second instrument.

Yay for the viola Momof2!!! Team MN will hopefully be responsible for a viola revival!!! Petra had some great recommendations for books. Enjoy!! Xx

At the training orchestra rehearsal we went to last week in our borough there were no violas. Not one.

10 first violins. 4 seconds. 3 cellists, 2 bass players. No violas. DS has only had 3 lessons so far though so he's a while yet from being able to join!

Good luck with all the auditions!!

And well done to your DD for going along japanese. Is she planning on doing some more ensembles now?

And honestly - I’m confused about the difference between viola and violin. Is viola just bigger and therefore slightly deeper? Or have I got that all wrong? Maybe I’ll need to get DD1 on the hype (or not, she definitely has no need for another hobby).

Can I sneak in and say that the closest county music centre to me has recently started up an adult learn as you play wind group. I am NOT a wind player (well, not past recorder when I was at primary) but plucked up the courage to sign up - on clarinet, so DS can help me when I got stuck.

I've been twice ... and it's BRILLIANT. I am beyond bad, but it is SUCH fun!

Just skimming through quickly. Lots of congratulations due - as usual - but too many to list individually. Good luck to those with auditions and well done to can't. Sadly our local music centre doesn't offer that.

In non-music news, we found out today that DD2 is one of 150 regional winners from 39000 entries in a national competition for young writers. Not bad for a child who doesn't think she can write! If she gets through the next round to the last 10, her story would be read by David Walliams (this year's celebrity judge), but she has to wait a while to find out if she gets that far.