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.

Oh Kutik It will be ok. Just sling a few things in a bag, Cornwall is not the end of the earth, if else fails, you will be able to purchase emergency supplies when you get there (says the queen of last minute packing!). I sympathise with the early exam date. But Mini Kutik is awesome and he will totally own this xx

kutik - I hate packing too. Loathe it with a passion. Wine will ease the packing pain. And your DS will be absolutely fab.

Thanks folk and Japanese. I hate unpacking (and washing) after the holiday with great passion. If I think of it, packing doesn't seem that bad...

Just realised he has two more lessons not one - so again it doesn't look that bad.

Wine seems working.

Kutik

I've been packing since 3 pm, and was making lists for hours before that. Pretty much done now... DH is loading up car and will be pottering until about midnight (possibly needlessly). Girls are in high spirits and being silly. Goo is complacent and keeps ignoring my requests to pack stuff/ double check. I won't have any sympathy if she discovers something is missing tomorrow afternoon. Feeling pretty good today - first time in ages, although I know I'm looking at potentially a six month plus recovery time. I'll take today as a win.

Waffle
Kutik and Japanese it will be fine
Dd has got 11th June too - which is good for us
Ds has no date yet so it must mean it's the following week so he may end up not doing it at all - he has tickets to see a very famous jazz trumpet player and we've said that that's more important than the exam if it clashes - I guess we'll find out next week

Gosh this thread moves fast.

Have a lovely half term to all especially those having a holiday.

Enjoyed reading all your news and deliberations around specialist schools and the ‘pushy parent’ discussions to all.

Big row with DS tonight. Sigh. Long story but I have deleted fortnite from the laptop. Another big sigh. This always seems to happen just before a holiday.

Waffle have a fabulous, well-deserved break! You've earned it many times over!
Good luck to the exam minis - they are ready, I'm sure.

Waffle I used to be like you, making detailed lists prior to packing, and invested enough time to make sure all was packed. I don't know when and why I changed. Actually I was a last minute kid, then became very much organised in my 30s and kept honing the skills which eventually made me almost OCD level of organiser, then lately I started going backwards... I am kind of fed up with organising every corner so quietly holding a strike against myself perhaps..

Japanese

The cottage we are staying doesn't have wifi. DS was devastated. We are taking lots books, DVDs and our lovely telescope to entertain our night there.

Fortnite yes it ( and the computer in general ) causes lots of arguments here too you have my sympathies Japanese
Ds has already asked if our house in France has wifi this summer ( I think it does but I said no so he doesn't go into a bad mood when we arrive and there isn't any or it's rubbish - given that we're staying in the middle of nowhere quite likely)

Glad you had a good day waffle hopefully that bodes well for your continued recovery. Minor chaos here as some road works destroyed the fibre cable and we lost our internet and severely hampered the mobile signal. Annoying but also a music problem as dd2s flute homework was to learn a piece by ear ...... net is now back so jan Garbarek my song can be download and listened to 😊.

Dd1 is ready for her audition apart from the acompanist, she hasnt played much accompanied and she is very twitchy about playing with an unknown accompanist.

Mending can she listen to it on YouTube with the accompaniment? We find that that helps with the entry points etc - now that your internet is back...

Glad you are feeling a bit better Waffle - hope it continues.

Enjoy half term everyone and those dc with exams will be fine I’m sure!

DD1 is off at a music camp this weekend and sleeping in a tent so I hope the rain/thunder storms are not as bad as forecast!

Audition day is here! We are London bound. Noo is in good spirits and I am trying to hide my nerves.... keep your fingers crossed for us guys!

Go, Noo Go!

Mending, the same here about playing with accompanist. DS hasn't done much of it. I'm hoping to arrange a rehearsal but there is only a week to the exam after coming back from Cornwall...

Everything crossed for Noo!

Good luck Noo!

Best of luck Noo!

Good luck Noo

Go Noo!

pompoms for noo! And for good camping/holiday weather.

Good luck Noo

Wine knocked me down last night. Boys have left to Wembley (footy) so I shall continue my packing, making phone calls and tidy up the house which I have no idea where to start (too messy!!!!).

It seems we have lots of rain in our destination. I have already booked a surfing instructor for Mon & Tue afternoon so poor DS MUST go in the sea whatever the weather... I'll be in a warm cafe watching him from distance probably...

Hope waffle and kutik enjoy Cornwall!

folk hope you can relax now! I feel as though this is cocktail kind of weather. Do they give you feedback straight away or is there a wait?

DD and I went to the early music shop in Soho today recorder shopping. I naively thought it would a be a bit musty and empty. But it was packed! Great to see so many people there - just goes to show what do I know!?!

DD tried about 6 descant wooden recorders in our price range and then we went for one of the cheapest plastic trebles they had as she has not tried treble yet (and the wooden trebles started at £200). So, we came away with a pearwood Kung descant and a Japanese plastic treble. I ended up buying 2 cases as well as it was her green recorder bag that she was most self-conscious about at the recorder day last weekend! . I think I am going to buy myself the aulos yellow bag recorder which Waffle and Alexandra recommended and then see which one is easiest to get the top notes on.

Still on the search for an accompanist for a Grade 2 recorder exam. DD wants me to do it but I think I will be too nervous and I will feel terrible if I stuff it up.