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.

Gosh, I can't imagine what some of that would be like (playing something in the style of a different composer).

We found the music bag! It turns out that my son had left it at school (but had been adamant that he'd handed it to my husband). So all is well.

Ha ha, yes, think that might go over people's heads at your average primary school kutik! He'd probably still win the talent show but they wouldn't get the joke. Perhaps he should start a youtube channel, I could see that catching on in musical circles.

Kutik I love your ds's sense of humour ( definitely would go over other primary school pupils heads though !!)

Cru if it makes you feel any better, I've just realised I've left a bag containing ALL the girls' music for Saturday's festival at work (took it in to copy parts for adjudicator). Noo's violin teacher is arriving in about 5 mins 🤯

ARGH! Will the teacher have spare copies?

Oh no folk ( that's the sort if I thing that happens here !!) hope you can get it sorted .

catkind I'm also not that big on "authentic". Especially playing Bach on the piano. For me I just do as I like. I know what you mean about rubato. When I was young I think I like rubato but now I'm old I'm understanding more the importance of pulse. Come and chat over at the instrument players thread!

I went to a stand-up comedy once and the comic was a trombonist. She went around doing Trump impressions with a trombone. She was hilarious.

Here you go, DS's career plan is sorted.

Superstar colleague from work dropped the music off for me so all was well! 😰

Although Noo decided to adopt the face of one whose toenails were being extracted with pliers throughout her lesson. Grrr...

OK - I paid special attention to DS1's cello practice and he played Bach without vibrato. And even more or less keeping time.

This thread is moving fast already!

I have DS2, 15, trombone, organ, piano. Also former chorister still singing in the Cathedral choir (and being paid sometimes!).

DD 18 (just, birthday last week) whose main focus is A levels just now. She plays saxes and really hopes to carry on at uni next year., like her older brother who is at uni and still plays lots of brass.

They both play in school groups, and local music service. DS2 also plays in County Orchestra, and with a local jazz group.

Last school concert for DD is next week, can't quite believe it!

Last month there was a question about musical instrument insurance which, with DD1 heading abroad with one of her instruments in ten days, is suddenly relevant now...

For the value of the instrument, do you tend to report the value and add the cost of expensive cases, mouthpieces etc. to that? DD has a fancy case that costs £180 to buy, and at least one mouthpiece at £70 a time. I'm not sure if I should put 'silver plated instrument with Eastman case and Vincent Bach 3 mouthpiece' as the description or if that's silly? On the other hand, if the fancy case isn't mentioned, presumably an insurer wouldn't pay to replace it should the need arise.

I listed a shoulder rest and a case along with a violin, simply because it's also 'a fancy case' so cost a lot and the shoulder rest added only 50p to the insurance fee so just as well listed. Only the items listed will be replaced.

Never and Cat my piano teacher once spent much of a lesson on the dangers of rubato!
Kutik your DS is a true creative type - and just adorable!
SE13 our cello case is a bit trashed so I'm regarding my cello plus case valuation as being all about the cello now and I'm resigned to stumping up for a new case. Next year I think I may need to up the insurance a bit but it doesn't travel far at the moment!

SE13Mummy Yes, I’d probably give as much detail as you can (including make and model). Do you have receipts for the stuff still?

My dd’s have found quizlet handy for theory, and there are other sites that have free quizzes etc.

NeverEver, from what I observed, DS plays Bach with vibrato, not a lot, prob like cat. But NEVER pedal for the piano pieces. I mean, when he is not acting the silly confused composer game.

CruCru & folk, glad your precious music returned to you safely.

Talking about musical comedy reminds me: has everyone seen Bill Bailey's remarkable guide to the orchestra? Sheer genius. Bonus points if you can remind me if it's too rude to show the kids...

I can show DS the cow bell one.

catKind,
I don't think he is making good progress, atleast no where in comparison to kids on this forum.

Japanese,
Is ABRSM app only for particular grade or we can use it for all grades. we are using Lina Ng books for theory( without skipping any book) but was looking for additional free app/site where he can learn more.

Kutik73,
I found one site classicsforkids.com but haven't tried it.
Trumpetboysmum ,
I also intend to make him skip grade 6 or grade 7 so there will be maximum 4 exams till grade -8 ( long way though). Grade 5 seems to be milestone so I guess we will slow down after this as studies in Middle school will be more+ other activities.

Teacher mentioned that ABRSM standard for each grade are highers so she suggested trinity if we want grade-5 this year.

mom - the ABRSM app we have is for Grades 1-5 (there is a separate one for Grades 6-8 also costing 7.99). Each Grade is set out separately. So for example, at the moment I am doing Grade 3 exercises with DD and Grade 2 with DS - all within the same app. The exercises are arranged by type so there are sets of each type but then you can also choose the option 'one of each type' and the app will run though one of each, a bit like a mini mock test.

Mom 17 the Abrsm app covers 1-5 and then 6-8 so you could cover all the work without doing the exams ( I often go backwards with mine before working in the current grade stuff - probably essential if you've missed lots of grades out which Ds has done ) I don't think Trinity is easier ( pieces for trumpet are often the same ) and the mark scheme for Trinity pieces is harsh I think it depends what you want . Trinity for brass covers stuff that's kind of essential for brass players that ABRSM don't do. However the aural is very different - so it will depend what suits there's no singing in Trinity for example . It's basically listening to a piece of music and then answering questions/ discussing it which certainly made more sense to ds . There's a good cd and book to go with these The singing in the later stages of Abrsm is hard be I think focussed on a particular style of teaching and classical training . So Ds might choose Trinity for grade 8 so he doesn't throw away marks !! ( which I think would be highly likely with Abrsm though I do need to get him up to speed on these bits for auditions )

Kutik Now that I think of it DS2 plays Telemann on the violin with vibrato. But I do use the pedal a bit in some parts of Bach, but not so you would notice.