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!

Yes Get well soon Patrick
and great result Mini Taggie - well done

ABRSM website says theory exams coming out tomorrow 🤞🏻😬

...

Well done to everyone's DC on exam results - DS took Grade 8 Trumpet on Tuesday (Trinity) and got 90% Distinction. We can now spend the summer getting him up to speed with theory - oh joy!

Very well done to Taggie's DS2 and to littlelad's DS! What fantastic results!

Hope you feel better Patrick!

We are going to Kew the Music tonight to see 2Cellos. Am hoping there isn't going to be an anti-Croat backlash from cross football fans. DD thinks they're crazy as they play the cello standing up.

Update on German tour - we're not going. It seemed like a huge expense to catch the final two days of the tour and we've been offered a partial refund. The place has been offered to someone who wouldn't have been able to afford the full amount and the music service is matching their contribution. A good outcome.

Sounds like a good outcome for all and fantastic news for your ds for his amazing grade 8 trumpet result !! Yes we ( I say we because I will be heavily involved otherwise it won't happen!!) will have to do some serious theory work over the summer too !!

Tell me about it Trumpet! DS will sit down and appear to work diligently through the books we have but it doesn't seem to stick - learning isn't taking place. Today we were singing The Circle of Fifths to the tune of The Circle of Life in an attempt to commit this to memory!

Well done mini littleladsdad that’s great news.
DD also working on her theory. Has been ploughing her way through the books and now half way through grade 3. Oddly her teacher said to do the Trinty books even though it’s ABRSM as the books are better. Hopefully by the end of the summer holidays she’ll have finished the books

I've recommended these before, but the 'How to blitz' books are really good - kid friendly and with some really helpful tricks and tools....

Just checking in to say dd got 138 in her grade 4 viola having got the viola at Easter!!!! Hugely thrilled...and v grateful to the aural teacher too!

Oh and for theory we remembered it as fish, chips, garlic bread and dips, anchovy eggs and beans!

Don’t ask why but it sticks in your head!!!

Massive congrats to mini-Petra and littlelad!!!!! A great week for team MN xx

Great work taggie's DS, Petra's DD and littlelad!! Go team MN!
Also totally nicking fish chips etc.

Great news Petra - I love the fish chips etc!!

DD took her grade 1 violin earlier this week. She was very nervous and doesn't think she did very well, I'm just proud of her for getting through it! Just waiting on results now!

Fabulous work by littkelad and Petra and well done on taking the exam minicricket!
We had our annual treat of listening to DS and the borough Concert Band yesterday at Wimbledon Tennis. They had a very appreciative crowd! It's set them up nicely for the tour to Germany. Otherwise things are quietening down on the music front for DS2 except I have had to order grade 4 books for guitar - it's the end of term next week so I couldn't exactly see the rush but if it helps distract him from the computer over the summer it's a good thing!
DS1 is also learning guitar but to my great relief isn't using the grade books and is focusing on technique - although of course he thinks (in the useful absence of evidence) that he's far more advanced than DS2!

Violinists- what strings/combo of strings do your kids/you use?
All dominants here, but toying with idea of changing the E to a Gold Label E.

Massive well done to Petra's DD!

And well done to cricket's DD for getting through the exam - it can be so nerve-wracking, can't it?

Loose - exciting for your DS to be playing at Wimbledon!

2cellos were flipping brilliant last night. A bit jaw-dropping what they are able to do with those cellos!

We've managed a little music on our travels with a café concert at the Helsinki chamber music festival, which was just brilliant.

Dd has evah pirazzi gold on her violin zak

Casting call that some of you may be interested in!!!

mailchi.mp/jessicaronane/auditions-news-c3yh3gsd4i-1245297?e=59f8278f40

DD has inherited a violin with Evah Pirazzi on. I'm very impressed and think they're worth the extra for less squeakiness. At least for DD who doesn't practice much and does grow a lot so one set will probably last her till next violin!
Well done cricket mum's DD and fingers crossed for a nice result as a bonus. My DD has been playing some grade 1 violin pieces just for fun, now we're all wandering around singing the Muppet theme!

Woohoo! Merit for G5 theory!!!!! Super proud!!! And just a little bit chuffed with myself for getting her through it....

Well done folk mamma! No results here yet - school entry...

Well done to your dd folk - and also to you