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.

Gulp. Just entered Noo for G5 theory on 16th June....

I have a June theory entrant too, not at all ready here!

My DD is doing G5 theory on 16 June too! I have taught her most of it myself - will be glad when it is done... Good luck to Noo.

Warning - theory can sometimes be addictive. You've reminded me I need to confirm that my son can be entered for grade 8 theory ...

This week's outing though is to York for
www.ncem.co.uk/composersaward2018

The workshop experience and meeting other composers is going to be great I think!

and more grade 5 theory here...

Same here Trumpet. Feeling the weight of responsibility!! Still have transposition and composition to go (I've saved the worst until last 🙄). Then we are going to blitz past papers.

Good luck to all the fellow theory crew!!

folk ditto. DS2 is doing his theory exam with a few others at their school on 16th June. I am leaving it to them to get him through it!

python DS1 loves theory and is very good at it. But I can’t see DS2 succumbing to that particular vice . Huge congrats to mini-Python on the ncem results!! I come from York and I have happy memories of performing the Bach A minor in a children’s concert associated with the Early Music Festival, over 30 years ago!

Sorry, didn't introduce myself with new thread...serial name changer here with a 12 year old chorister and cellist at specialist music school with a few other thread members' children. Just had the bursary assessment company lady leave having dissected our finances, desperately hoping that they make their recommendation in time for us to be considered at the May meeting of the Choir Schools Association so that it's in place for September's school fees.

And hoping that they give us some money full stop

That's lovely about your DS's new friend kutik! What a coincidence to have the same pair of talents.

Good luck to all the theory learners! Is it a summer term thing? Reminds me I ought to poke DC in that direction again. I'm not sure either of their teachers have properly explained key signatures, they may be assuming I have

#folkmamma I don’t think they have to do the composition bit in Grade 5 anymore 😀

SwayingIn Time- hope it went well

Taggie I’m from York too! Played at music centre for many years from age 8- 18!

DD addicted to the theory thing too Python wants to grade 6 in the autumn - we shall see as she’ll be at a new school by them!

folk I don’t think the past papers will be much use as its the new syllabus! It only came in this year and I understand from others that it’s very different.

Windmum I believe some sections have been made multiple choice, and they have dropped the 'copy out this passage of music' sections. So I'm working on the basis that if she can pass the old past papers, she'll be ok with the new format! Plus we do have some sample papers and the most recent exam, which was the first of the new style. We will do those last. She's not particularly academic and I have discovered she has a knack of getting the right answer but writing the wrong thing down (not just in theory, but in her practise SATS papers too!) so the more practice the better I reckon... Although she hates it and can't wait to be done!

Paul OMG I think you are right! Just looked at the syllabus again and no mention of it!!!!!!! That makes life soooo much easier and means we are nearer to the end of the syllabus than I thought!! (A bit annoyed it's still in the workbooks though, I deliberately bought the newest edition!)

Paul you have made my week!!! No composition required!!!!! Woohoo!!! Unfortunately no short score / open score either, and I was banking on a few easy marks there as she is good at that (singer!). However, overall it's still a win... so, cadences and transposition and then we have covered everything. Phew 😅

And more good news, she just got awarded some funding from a local charitable trust to help with the second Pro Corda course. Double phew 😅 😅!!!!

Ha, no problem.
Congrats on the funding too

Yes definitely no composition or SATB - it was nice just to skip those sections of the workbook. Also DD likes that the musical terms questions are multiple choice so she has still got a chance even if she doesn’t remember them! We have the past papers in the new format but didn’t realise you could get last term’s paper - will have a look for that. Where did you get it from? Thanks.

Windmum - small world! I played in the music centre but only for a year before I went to boarding school.

We might have been in the same ensemble Taggie!

In case anyone in West London is looking for a small friendly saturday school, Questors' Young Musicians Club is having an open day on Saturday: www.facebook.com/events/2052484591661772/

C&P in case you don't want to click:

Would you like to learn a musical instrument? The Questors Young Musicians Club is a friendly Saturday Music Club for children up to age 18. Come along to our free open day and try out some instruments! May 19th from 10-12:30 at Little Ealing School, Weymouth Road, Ealing W5 4EA. The open day is for children from Year 1 upwards. Pupils who already play instruments are very welcome to join our ensembles, singing groups, orchestra and music theory lessons.

www.qymc.org
www.facebook.com/qymc.org/

Windmum - beginners strings c. 1983? It was a terrific Organization. Some of the recent posts about music services being shut down are really sad.

Never - we are not in the London area, but it is great to hear about music making being supported at the earlier levels. It is fascinating to hear about the Jds and specialist schools, but these settings are only suitable for only for a very few children. If a love of classical music is not fostered for all, who will be around to appreciate and enjoy it in 10 or 20 years?

Right. Off my soap box and back to work...

Taggie you are younger than me!! I did Junior band, junior orchestra, concert orchestra, York area orchestra (YASSO) and York area concert band (they were short of clarinet players so did both for a while!) then county orchestra between 1980-1991 and a year before in the Harrogate music centre clarinet choir. Loved my time at music centre and so sad this is becoming a thing of the past. Music centre was certainly ‘music for all’ without it where would I and others like me then and now play? I was no where near JD or NCO standard (besides I’d never have had the confidence to even try). Local provision for all regardless of standard or financial background needs to be preserved.

Taggie I agree - there are a few saturday schools near us that are friendly and encouraging rather than for those who are more motivated and advanced. There is a place for that, but there is also a place for encouraging an enjoyment of music and attaining a standard good enough to be fun.

I too will get off my soapbox and do what they pay me to do.