July Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Hello, I have just realised it's time for a new thread! Feel free to discuss anything musical here - any level at all, from total beginners to advanced, and adult learners are welcome too!

I am a teacher of woodwind, currently limping towards the end of term (July 24th... can't wait!) and have two DDs. Goo is 12 and plays the flute and piano. At the moment, she's doing the bare minimum, but she has won the Y7 music attainment award at her enormous comprehensive secondary school, so we get to go to an awards ceremony next week. Her piano teacher is about to retire, so we're looking for a new one. Rara is 10 and I would say is now a joint first study cellist and clarinettist - it doesn't come easily and she's progressing at an average rate, but a good Grade 4 on both. She spends most of her time reading, drawing, doing origami and swimming for a club.

I have so far managed to get through 27 music medals this term (6 still to go) and 4 Trinity exams (1 ABRSM still to go) and about half of the concerts!

Oh and he can also do pencils (the ones you refill) although not sure how many pencil kits he currently has)

I'll echo the comments about how much a personal note means to a teacher - I keep the cards I get, whereas the wine and chocolates don't last long!
(However, I must say those pens look good and also would be a lasting gift!)

Wow, they look amazing folk, will definitely bear in mind for future gifts.

DD1 has been on, and returned from, her school music tour on which she seems to have had a fabulous time. One more school occasion to play for this week plus the final JD session of the year before the summer break.

DD2 took her grade 3 horn exam today and came out saying she felt it had gone well. This is in stark contrast to DD1's analysis of exams which generally involves recounting it as though it was a disaster but coming out with a distinction or two points off! She's got one more horn lesson next week and is hoping her teacher will give her lots to practise over the summer. I should probably warn him...

Goo has taken her Grade 8 Flute exam! She played really well, and was poised and calm too. She's come out just below a distinction and we are all so pleased for her, but we think we might have grounds to appeal with one of her pieces. I know that Grade 8 Merit aged 12 is wonderful, and quite unusual for woodwind. We're going to have a think about what we want to do.

She is amazing and it's a wonderful achievement. But if you think there is a chance to appeal then do it - what is there to lose? Was the exam
Recorded??

Yes, they are all recorded. I need to see the mark sheet. I have a sneaking suspicion about something.

to Goo! What a fantastic achievement! How is she feeling waffle? She (and you!) must be delighted!

Glad your DD1 enjoyed the tour SE13 and your younger DD's exam went well.

Very well done to Taffeta's DD - fab result!

Fab pencils folk! I was feeling guilty on the weekend as I could see DD's cello teacher had been given end of term gifts and we hadn't given her anything. Although maybe the presents were from students who were finishing I suppose...

Hope all the DCs on tours are enjoying!

Goo is pleased to be safely through... and also slightly annoyed! Her school will make a fuss of her though.

Congrats Goo- well deserved!

Very well done to Goo!

Well done goo! Must be quite a boost to have grade 8 under her belt in year 7? Intrigued as to what might have gone wrong with marking that you can already second guess waffle. You ought to know if anyone though. Hope seeing the mark sheet clears it up one way or other so there's an obvious course of action.

I can't say on here. But will let you know what happens.

No of course not, didn't mean to imply you could. Fingers x'd anyway.

Boy-with-no-nosebleed did his grade 8 Saxophone today (Trinity Jazz). MUCH less dramatic than last time....predicts himself high Merit or so, now properly on holiday!

[Sorry, that sounded arrogant of no-nosebleed boy. He's a pretty accurate predictor of his own results, both musically and academically, so my guess is he's somewhere between a low Merit and a low distinction, depending a little bit on the style vs accuracy preferences of the examiner!]

Waffle that's fantastic- well done Goo ( I had a suspicion that she would take it this term ) A merit is a fantastic mark at any age for Grade 8 let alone 12 !! interested to hear if you can do anything about the mark. Hopefully Goo is getting more of her confidence back now
Also good news from nosebleed boy - let the holidays begin

Yay for no drama exams, and yay for optimism about results, and happy holidays! (You know him best, i tend to suspect people who think high merit of being modest as almost everyone who ever said that to me ended up with distinction...)

Well done Goo we were told by teacher andaccompianist to query dd’s Grade 8 merit but we didn’t - absrm so best outcome you can get it as a free retake next session and have to go through the cost of providing re ordings etc to get there. Trinity sounds a much better system - good luck if you do it; dd was just happy to be off the exam treadmill in truth

Waffle fantastic result for Goo! whichever way an appeal goes, if you make one, she has still achieved an amazing level at the age of 12 and should feel very proud of herself! Great way to end her first year at secondary as well!

well done Goo - fantastic result ! Good luck with the appeal, if you decide to go for it!

Fantastic result for mini Waffle :) :) and good luck for Boy-with-no-nosebleed!

Thanks Japanese

I just want music to be enjoyable for her. This probably isn’t the right thread to say this on, but I’ve never really wanted her to do grades. I just wanted her to join a band and have fun with it.

So much of her early schooling was competitive and I was struck at how sad it was that extra curricular activities seemed to follow suit. Chasing awards, grades, badges, county places etc is not for us, we wanted enjoyable activities free from pressure to let off steam from the demands of school. Brownies/Guides has been wonderful for this as we have a very laid back leader.

DD has chosen to do grades, but after her last flute ABRSM exam with the most horrific examiner I had very serious doubts about allowing her to continue. Surely questions should be asked when the examiner tuts and shakes their head when the child gets a few scale notes wrong? I’ve never done music exams myself and each ABRSM exam she’s been through, I’ve felt more and more uncomfortable with the whole set up.

Atrocious. I’ve put my foot down over wanting Trinity from now on!