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!

Taffeta this is absolutely the right thread to say this on and I think you are absolutely right about being an enjoyable activity in its own right.

My older two would fit into that category, except they insisted on exams, despite DD making herself I'll over them.

Congratulations to your DD.

Congratulations to Goo too!

Resist not result!

Well done to Taffeta's DD and Goo!!

And thanks folk for the info! I'll go to his facebook!

DS said he was slightly distracted by the examiner munching sandwiches while DS was playing pieces. It's ABRSM. Is it acceptable? His violin teacher was cross...

A merit at grade 8 for any age is amazing waffle - especially at 12! You must be so proud.

And well done to taffeta’s DD. You’re absolutely right about keeping it fun - my girls love the scales/aural/sight reading elements of the exam (and practise their pieces very little - they often find that feels a bit like dull rote learning) so trinity would probably ruin their enjoyment. It’s so great that your DD has found an exam system that works better for her - definitely continue pushing it!

Taffeta I think you make a very good point about exams and chasing grades etc. I'm really glad the experience with Trinity was so positive! I have to say DS1's G5 percussion exam was his last encounter with abrsm and he's only done 3 Rockschool exams since, but DS2 might enjoy a switch to Trinity.
Patricksviolin I am shocked at the sandwich munching in an exam!! They are supposed to take a lunch break! I know this because DS2 and I have both been delayed in the past by waiting for them to come back...

Ds 's teacher reckons that some of the ABRSM examiners forget that they are examining children in their quest to maintain high standards. Trinity he says seem to manage this whilst creating a positive experience . We have no complaints about either board but I'm totally with you taffeta about music being enjoyable above all else. I actually tried to talk Ds out of doing his grade 3 trumpet because I had hated exams so much as a child , he seems to get on ok with them though , but definitely not the main reason for learning

Rara hates exams - she has three Grade 3s but is only planning to do her 5s and 8s in the future. In a very long time!

Goo has always needed an incentive to practise!

Waffle dd definitely needs that incentive too

Well done goo

DS will have done 6 exams in all, across his entire 'music exam taking' life, and across 2 instruments.

They have included the 'necessary' ones for e.g. county music ensembles (so has 2x Grade 6s), the 'exit' ones (2x Grade 8st) and two 'well, you seem to have reached a reasonably good standard by now, do you fancy doing some exams'?' (a Grade 5 and a Grade 4 in the 2 instruments)

His teacher, except for the Grade 8s - which they decided together were necessary for conservatoire applications - has always adopted the 'you are at X standard now - fancy doing the exam?' approach, rather than the 'learn by working through exam stages'. All but 1 are Trinity jazz syllabus, as the first one he took - Grade 5 clarinet - was a standard Trinity syllabus.

Now has to go back and take grade 5 theory, as one conservatoire requires it for the jazz course...summer job!

DS1 did 5 and 8 on the two instruments he still plays, but did Grade 5 piano before stopping, and Grade 1, 3, 4 and 5 in trumpet before he switched, There was a bit of a problem with school lessons, in that the school had a special visit once a year so exams fitted in with that.

DS2 is the one who may well take music seriously. He only has Grade 3 trombone, now playing around Grade 8 standard. He and his teacher decided on a no exam approach. It hasn't stopped him accessing ensembles though. I suppose he may need to take Grade 8 at some point.

Piano has been more exam led, 1, 5, 6 and 7 with 8 approaching.

He has done Grade 5 and 6 theory.

Can't keep ds's teacher takes the same approach to exams . He's done 3,5,7 and grade 5 jazz . Unfortunately you can't go higher on trumpet than grade 5 for jazz he will do grade 8 but as he's likely to take it quite soon when he's 13 or just 14 I don't think it will have much of a bearing on any future music study plans . Though I definitely think it helps to have it especially if you don't have a "well known" teacher. I would much rather he just played lots and lots and took the exam when he was more than ready . Much less stressful and less boring that way too, as he should have lots of pieces to choose from and shouldn't have to practise them for ages and ages as they will have been learnt already . I'll tell him about the theory requirement for further jazz study though - that should motivate him

Trumpet - only Leeds needs it. But since jazz performance courses are not plentiful, not having one of the pieces of paper required for one f them is something of a pain. But with ASs and 2 Grade 8s in 2 terms, something had to give...

Yes now you mention it I did know that Leeds liked them to have theory - though I do know someone who is going in September who doesn't have it - but has music and music technology A Level - so it might be worth seeing if they will move a bit on the theory requirements ( not sure if she's doing the jazz course though) Your Ds has done very well to fit so much in

Ah, that's interesting - I have been nagging him to ring Leeds to clarify (he will have Music AS when he applies, and A-level when he leaves school) so that might be a sensible nudge for tomorrow's 'to do' list.

Wow well done to all the DC who have all done really well in various exams. Interesting to hear about the differences between ABRSM and Trinity.
Still awaiting piano exam results for DD.
Trumpet our DC must be at the same school! Only had one text to say she had arrived in Germany which means she must be having a good time

We already have tickets patrick.... xx

Oh what a shame Ds is away performing- he's only at home for a week and a half all summer holiday !?! ( though we are going away ourselves for some of that !!)

We have tickets too - hope you get to go?

Found buyers. x

I'm still not well. Grrr.

Sorry to hear that patrick I hope you feel better soon!

Interesting to follow the exams discussion. I only did grade 8, and the DCs haven't done any until this session, so I don't know much about them. I do think that it is counterproductive to lurch from one grade to the next year after year, but the occasional exam is probably useful for motivation and gauging progress.

And... I just heard that DS2 got a distinction in his grade 2 piano! It is only grade 2, but playing the piano doesn't come easily to him and he worked very hard. He is thrilled

Oh congrats to Mini-Taggie!!!!

And get well soon Patrick