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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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July Music Thread

626 replies

Wafflenose · 01/07/2018 13:27

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!

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violinandpiano · 20/07/2018 15:17

Thanks all of you. Do these studies book have different level?

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 20/07/2018 16:37

Hi, well done to everyone with their exam results! 🎉
My DD (13 yo flute player) applied for the NYO Inspire day in Leeds a while ago, just wondering if anyone has heard anything yet?.. We have the confirmation that they’ve received the application but nothing else x

LetLoveWin · 20/07/2018 16:50

My DD (13) plays piano (Grade V) & violin (Grade V) & sings (just lessons, no exams yet!), my DS (11) plays piano (Grade III), violin (Grade III) & drums (just signed up for lessons in September).

I'm super thrilled as we've just found out DD got a merit in her Grade V piano! It's been years of passes on both instruments (some low, some high) and she was getting a bit down, so it's very good news :) I've also just found an amazing new piano teacher, so hoping that this and the merit will provide good motivation as she embarks on Grade VI.

My DS will be taking violin Grade IV in September, so lots of practice over the summer, shame our violin teacher is on holiday!!

Boyskeepswinging · 20/07/2018 18:54

Boyskeepswinging- which age group is your child auditioning for (for percussion) my dd is auditioning for U10’s, currently in U10’s
@ZakStarkey My boy is auditioning for Main. This will be his fifth year (and last, sadly) of NCO auditions. Sorry to take so long to reply - real life getting in the way as usual! Great to hear your girl is a percussionist as they are an endangered species. Loads of DS's mates play drum kit but he's the only one in his friendship group that plays the full range. So NCO has been great for him to meet other kids his age who also love orchestral percussion. Best of luck to your DD, I'm sure she will smash it!

ZakStarkey · 20/07/2018 19:04

NYO next then? Thanks good luck to your DS too

Boyskeepswinging · 20/07/2018 19:16

Yeh, you'd think ... but he's very reticent at the mo. Not entirely sure why so something to be explored when the time comes. For now we're hoping to make it five years straight with him getting into Main. Can I just say that this is mainly due to percussion being such a niche instrument and there are never enough players to fill all the orchestras, not because he's a super star or anything. Had he played something more popular I have no doubt he wouldn't have got into age banded every year - I just didn't want this to come across as a stealth boast, just the reality of playing an unpopular instrument.

catkind · 20/07/2018 19:29

violinandpiano, I don't think not using studies necessarily means she isn't learning technique, unless you have other reason to think she isn't? You can learn technique as it comes up in pieces too. My first teacher didn't use studies but was very good at teaching technique; my second teacher did use studies and was good on performance skills but maybe not so good on technique. I also don't think playing studies on its own is going to help hugely unless guided by a teacher.

TaggieOHara · 20/07/2018 19:49

Gosh - a week away (in New York for work) and the thread has moved on so much! Welcome to boys , zak and let!

zak - our DCs will meet in U10s in a few weeks!

Well done to let on the terrific exam result! We are also having a busy summer, with auditions and 11+ looming.

boys the percussionists are always so impressive. It is a less common instrument, but I’m quite sure the Nco would rather have no percussionist than take one who wasn’t very good, as they are so exposed. Your DS must be very talented to get into U13s Smile

Regarding studies, DS does Sevjick and Kreutzer, and we have recently discovered the phenomenal Simon Fischer. DS2 loves Sevjick strangely. Hates Kreutzer though. Has anyone else used Simon Fischer? DS is playing some of the exercises in the tone book, and a couple In the warming up book. The tone exes in particular are amazing!

Sorry for all the missed news. I’ll catch up when I’m less tired!

PatricksViolin · 20/07/2018 20:28

DS has had two violin teachers so far and none of them were big on 'study books'. We purchased some when DS started with a new teacher last year but didn't use them much. Some simple exercises were introduced as needed (but not from books). Obviously he is far from perfect but hasn't been pointed any major problems so far. In fact, when we changed a teacher, the new teacher commented his unusually secured techniques for his age. Though he may be grilled to death by a new teacher in September...

I'm packing madly tonight as we are leaving for a 3 weeks and half holiday tomorrow. Scarily under preparation....

catkind · 20/07/2018 21:21

Has anyone else used Simon Fischer?
Yes me! Basics is my go to when I get stuck with something. Have used Practice too. I nearly recommended Basics to violinandpiano but wasn't sure how it would work for a child student? But it does tell you exactly what to do and how. DD's teacher and a couple of other people I know learned with SF.

TaggieOHara · 20/07/2018 22:28

Cat - hooray for another Fischer fan!! - ‘warming up’ is like a more basic basics! Ideal for younger and less advanced students, even beginners. I use ‘basics’ and DS2 uses ‘warming up’ and ‘tone’ Note though that there is a lot of ‘warming up’ that is far too hard for DS2. He is doing the straight Bowing exercises and trill exes at the moment, but not the double stop trills.

I remember trying to work on the exercises as they were published in Fischer’s Strad column as a Violin mad teenager in the late 1980s, with highly variable success Smile

gillybeanz · 20/07/2018 22:37

Hello all, she passed. just back from holiday where we saw Carmen what an absolutely brilliant experience.
All the sets are outside the Arena and we took tons of photo's. I know we shouldn't but some people were recording it, we wouldn't have done that.
Very hot though, unfortunately there were at least 5 requiring first aid and one paramedic in the first act. Sad
They should allow as much drink as people want to take in and hand it out free.
Now what to do for the rest of the holiday Grin

TaggieOHara · 21/07/2018 06:51

gilly. How wonderful! Huge congratulations to your DD! I know how hard she worked.

se22mother · 21/07/2018 06:56

Congratulations gilly

Trumpetboysmum · 21/07/2018 07:06

Gilly Smile that's fantastic great news . Today's the first day of our holidays - so obviously Ds has a concert !! He's super excited though as it's with his teacher and one of the bands that he plays in !! Then he's off to AYM for the week tomorrow while Dd and myself have fun days out avoiding the builders noise and dust . Luckily they are still working outside for the next couple of weeks and then we go away so I'm hoping that it won't be too disruptive !?!Hmm I just need to remember whilst enjoying the sun that I need to pack up the kitchen etc in readiness for phase two of the project .

AlexandraLeaving · 21/07/2018 07:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doubleup · 21/07/2018 08:45

Things here seem to be a combination of Trumpet and Alexandra’s lives. DD1 is away on her second music tour having had 5 days at home and we are also in the middle of building works and having to pack up the contents of the kitchen.

DD2 finished primary school yesterday and feels a bit stateless. She likes to feel as though she belongs to things and with all activities stopping for the summer she’s in limbo. Still, NCO purple patches to work on and the residential coming up.

Been a bit distracted with the end of term, but well done for all those great results coming in.

ZakStarkey · 21/07/2018 09:15

Congrats Gilly- well done to your dd x

raspberryrippleicecream · 21/07/2018 09:42

Lotsofmiilk you won't hear until 2-4 weeks before. DS applied too, he has done several. They are brilliant.

You will get the music with the confirmation.

raspberryrippleicecream · 21/07/2018 09:45

Brilliant news Gilly.

Congratulations to everone pnall the other good results too.

Floottoot · 21/07/2018 09:56

Re: the NCO application form - what questions does it ask about other musical activities? Does it ask about other ensembles your DC plays in ( eg county orchestras)? What sort of info are they looking for, and will it have any bearing on their application?

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 21/07/2018 10:06

Thanks raspberryripple, glad to hear your DS enjoyed it. Fingers crossed then! Smile

folkmamma · 21/07/2018 10:07

Hi Floot how are you??

The form asks about grade standard (but always did and I don't think it has a bearing), other instruments, state or private school, JD or specialist Music School, income bracket, do they participate in a local music hub, are they already in NCO, regional area, ethnicity. I imagine it's about being inclusive, so as well as ability they may look to assign places to kids from a broader range of backgrounds. But equally, it could just be to collect data....,

Trumpetboysmum · 21/07/2018 10:28

I'm hoping that it's just about looking to collect data which they can then use to widen their outreach work etc . A bit like NYO inspire maybe ?
I've had the odd chat with them over the last couple of years about them wanting to widen participation from state schools - but how difficult that is when many who go to state school and are from non musical backgrounds often pick up instruments later etc and then are not at the same standard as those from musical/ privately educated backgrounds ( like Ds I suppose - but once I realised he was quite good I was " on it" making sure that he had lots of opportunities etc where lots of parents wouldn't necessarily know they existed - I found mumsnet very helpful with that !!) The problem when they are all so young is that those who started later often haven't had time to catch up - I think things even out a bit during the teenage years . And NYO are working very hard with inspire etc

Floottoot · 21/07/2018 10:46

Hi, folkmamma, I'm good, thanks!
Haven't managed to keep up with the board recently, with all the manicness of end of year exams x2, sports days, speech days, end of term concerts etc.
What news of JD auditions?? Hope everything is going well with your 2.

DS has finished his first year at school on a high - he was awarded the year 7 music trophy and successfully auditioned for the county youth orchestra, so will join in September as their youngest member. We are chuffed, not least because the rehearsal times are more convenient than the high schools orchestra he also got a place in. 😉

I'm Keen for him to audition for NCO, but he's not...he's still behind in standard, despite making huge progress since last year.

I'll try to contribute more to the thread, now school's out for summer. 😀