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.

Kutik you will have a lovely time whatever the weather . I often feel that we can experience all the seasons during a weeks holiday in Cornwall. We are staying put this week and Ds has AYM but our local fair is here so the dcs are enjoying that ( though probably would be cheaper to go on holiday ) I still have my yellow bag recorder - over 30 years old now and it still works just fine !!

Good luck Noo!

I’m rather jealous of all the people off to Cornwall next week. I have been to Cornwall but only for a wedding so I’m not sure if it counts. Our half term doesn’t start until 9 June.

Thanks for all the well wishes! It seems to have gone well - accompaniment was a bit fast but she coped. I had my ear pressed against the door and it all sounded pretty good. They asked her to do one scale only, there were no aural tests (which I was expecting) and the 'interview ' was just a few questions which she happily answered. Sight reading ok (she played something at least!). I guess it's now a question of whether or not she is on standard, which is totally out of our control! Fingers crossed for news soon 🤞🏻

Yay folk! Did they say when you will hear?

No, just 'we'll be in touch'...

Glad it went well folk I'll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully you'll hear soon

Just downloaded the app for MN but it's even worse than accessing on a computer! Has anyone ever suggested moving to Facebook? Wanted to 'like' so many comments when (labouriously) scrolling through!

Anyway, off to Bristol for a few days & going to see the CBSO at Colston Hall on Tuesday evening. Went to Vienna at Easter & saw... the CBSO! Might see them again in Birmingham at some point. (assuming BBC Young Musician doesn't really count)

Brilliant kids policy at Colston Hall btw - just paid £1 for ds ticket. Bravo!

Sounds like it went well, folk.
*
Kutik* were your boys supporting the winning side at Wembley today? If so I'm sure they'll be in high spirits

Glad it went well folk. Hope they won't keep you waiting for too long.

Well done for getting through it folk! Sounds like Noo did very well. DS2 set his watch to think of her at 3.20!

folk glad it went all well. Did Noo enjoyed it?

se22, yup, I'm sure I'll struggle to make them have early sleep tonight though we are supposed to get up early tomorrow morning.

Echoing everyone else's thoughts,so glad it went well. Did she have a run through with the accompanist first or was it straight in? Had you heard that there wouldn't be any aural?? And final question,was it very busy with other auditions going on?
I was at County Orchestra with ds today but we had a major breakthrough in that ds had originally asked me to stay for the day which was 10-4 😩. I told him I was going off site (it was at a boarding school about 45 mins from where we live) to have a coffee with a friend. By the time we got back it wasn't really worth going all the way home so went back to friend's house who lives much closer. Texted the co ordinator who told me he was fine,Happy,chatty and coping with it all. Got back at 3.30 and could see how happy he was. He was trialling a friend's full size violin too. He came out v happy and said how much he enjoyed it. Hurrah!!

Disorganised

Disorganised she had a 20 min warm up time, during which we could spend as much of that with the accompanist as required. He was very good and sight read the Mozart sonata perfectly! A lovely man that really put Noo at ease. We expected there to be at least some aural but they didn't do any. And she also only got asked to play her favourite scale. It was fairly busy and a little bit chaotic when we first arrived as there was confusion over rooms / accompanist but it was quickly sorted.

Druid, lol as you've clearly noticed the pattern!! I know, I just need to chill out and let her get on with it 😂

And Taggie I love that Mini-Taggieset his watch, that is beyond sweet! We thought of him too today, as we went to catch some of Evensong in St Paul's. Beautiful, but the acoustics in there are terrible! 😂

druid

I remember DS's audition at his current jd. All the violinists and pianists had to go through staged auditions. He got unwell on way to the first round of the audition. He spent sitting outside for fresh air until he was called for a warm up. And he ended laying down on the floor in the rehearsal room rather than playing with the accompanist. It was his first choice so I felt very sorry for him. However as soon as the audition finished he recovered and returned to normal. It didn't happen for the second round audition. I still wonder if it was nerves. He said he was not nervous though.

folk it sounds like Noo did fab!!

Hope you have safe journeys waffle and kutik.

As druid hope your DS is coping with the pressures of GCSEs! At least he’ll have the best summer to make up for it...

DS likes Real Madrid, Alexandra...

Glad it went well Folk. DS2 recorded in St Pauls last year, which I gather the choir doesn't usually do because of the acoustics. (He's not a St Paul's chorister).

Happy holidays to all. Were doing a few day things with DS2, but DD's A levels start after half term so deep into revision.

Big treat yesterday, DS2 had a NYJO workshop which he really enjoyed. The sharing at the end was fab, and had the NYJO ensemble performed a couple of pieces too

Japanese, I like the sound of recorder shopping! We have a houseful of reliable aulos ones, as well as other similar plastic ones. I run a recorder group so have dozens! Wooden would be no use as you can't dunk them in Milton! I would love a wooden one some time but can't really have time to play it just now. Dd2 has a surprisingly lovely Yamaha blue clear plastic one which looks like a toy but plays really nicely!

Had a call from DD1 last night around midnight in th middle of a thunderstorm as, not surprisingly, she and her friend couldn’t sleep in their tent! Mind you, neither could I. Different thunderstorm I think.... She’s having a great time though tackling Shostakovich’s symphony no. 5 over the weekend.