August Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Welcome to the new music thread for August - a place to discuss anything you like to do with learning instruments/ singing. We have child and adult learners on here, and all standards from toddlers experimenting with music to the very advanced.

It's coming up to 7 years since I started the first thread, and I have been flagging a bit lately due to a long illness. When I started the first one, my daughter Goo had just turned 6 and was about to take her Grade 1 recorder exam! She is now 12 (13 in two months), has done her Grade 8 Flute (result currently under appeal), is thinking about Grade 8 Recorder next year (having not played since Year 6) and is learning the piano. Piano hasn't gone well this term. Her teacher has been going on lots of last minute holidays and also has another job now, so Goo has only had two piano lessons since Easter. Teacher has now decided to retire from teaching, so we need to find a new one. Goo has never, ever performed on the piano and hasn't taken any exams either. She has been learning since she was 10, and was recently learning pieces by Bach and Chopin, although I have no idea what she is practising at the moment.

I also have Rara (10) who plays the cello, clarinet and recorder at a good Grade 4 level. It doesn't come naturally to her at all, but she's more inclined to work at things... when it suits her. She plays the clarinet most, but swears she's in love with the cello. Her bass clef reading definitely seems stronger. We have started and stopped theory three times. I think she is more than capable of doing it, but she's distractible, longwinded and feels the need to reinvent the wheel. I have decided to wait until she's ready to do the whole lot in one go... hopefully when she is a bit more mature and developmentally ready. Goo had it done and dusted at the same age and I find it hard not to worry about Rara at times, but in many ways she's just as able... but on her own timeline.

I usually have 80-90 woodwind pupils on my books - mostly recorder these days, although I'm a clarinettist really. I currently have a clutch of little clarinets, a couple of flutes and a good saxophone pupil, so plenty of variety.

The new art GCSE is far too heavily skewed towards analysing your artistic journey, as it were, rather than producing artwork, and it's an insane amount of work. I would steer clear unless you have a real passion for it and spend lots of spare time doing it already. It also needs a very organised art department that understands the marking criteria because it turns out it's quite easy to get it wrong!

On way to Dorset.

A couple of patents I know have shifted their interest to Pro Corda from NCO claiming Pro Corda provides more detailed teaching and attention due to their focus on chamber music. They said NCO was fun but too large.

Interesting that NCO has introduced chamber music this year. It's our first year so don't know if they always did but I think I read somewhere it's a new attempt. If NCO can provide both worlds (chamber and orchestra) that would be great.

I spoke to DS yesterday and he said he would not be playing in the chamber concert but we are going to attend the concert anyway. It'll be nice to see how they put all together for such limited time.

I think NCO are trying new things out this year which is good . I think whether NCO provides detailed teaching or not depends on the instrument and the tutor . This time around especially Ds's trumpet group all got an individual trumpet lesson where they focussed on technique he seems to have learnt a lot throughout the week with regards to warm ups technique etc as well as learning how to play the pieces !! Might be different for violins as they always have such a lot to cover . Also I think as with most of these things what you get out of it depends on what you put in and what you take on board and remember . Ds only took part when he was older so maybe he was more ready and able to assimilate all the information ? Pro corda is also very good and rated by my friends and their children
Enjoy the concert and your holiday !!

Hi Patrick! As you know, we are big fans of Pro Corda over here. Aside from the parents choosing it over NCO, lots of the kids do too. We know several members of both who if forced to choose would do Pro Corda.

The tuition is excellent on Pro Corda, Noo's playing seems to shift up a gear with each course. We recently discussed what she wanted to do next year as we struggle to fit everything in, and also to afford it all. She has decided not to do NCO next year and to focus on her first year at JD plus Pro Corda. I didn't influence this decision at all! (In fact, I'm a bit gutted she doesn't even want to do Regionals...).

They both offer very different things though - I would recommend giving Pro Corda a go (Noo and DS will be on the same course! 😘) and then letting him choose depending on whether he enjoys the big orchestra vs chamber music. They are both wonderful organisations.

Tabby, I have no specific knowledge of GCSE music but I would say that for a student who is good at maths/science/subjects involving logic, then music theory really shouldn't be an obstacle.

Re art GCSE, the most talented young artist I have ever known (and I studied fine art at a big name London art school) got an 8 ... she has professional-level illustration skills and is almost certainly a better artist than the person or people who assessed her. That sort of randomness in marking makes me think that music may be a better bet.

Loose, it must be tough having to narrow down your studies at such a young age. So much easier here in France where there is a core curriculum across the different baccalauréats and you don't have to close any doors. DD did a science bac but all her higher education applications were for humanities and social sciences.

druidsong* yes indeed! the only thing is the sixth form will have to agree to him changing but I'm pretty sure they will.

with most of these things what you get out of it depends on what you put in and what you take on board and remember
Totally agree. One can learn from anything if one is willing and ready to learn.

folk, interesting to hear from someone who knows both organisation. I agree both are good organisations so won't go wrong whichever you pick - it may simply be down to personal preference and what you are looking for out of those residential courses.

Ideally being able to do both would be great but we also have to make priority due to the limitation of time and money. DS seems to have had amazing time at NCO and is keen to go back next year. As Pro Corda goes up to much older age, he may try it once he reaches post-NCO age (as long as his keenness on NCO lasts). Also, I would like him to do some orchestral work outside of school as his new school has fabulous chamber music but not full orchestra.

We had lunch at a lovely pub after today's concert. Can't believe it's finished already... We changed our holiday plan so are back to London. We'll be here for a few days, then go to Lake Annecy for a week. It'll be our final family holiday before DS sets off to his next adventure.

Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone! I think she’s going to go for music because the workload seems more manageable and predictable. She loves composition so I think that element swayed her - her and DD2 make quite a team for improvisation and composition (their musical is coming along nicely...). Music, triple science, Spanish and Latin also seems like a better variety than her previous plan - which was German in place of music. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise...

Lovely concert at U11s today and glad I saw you again Patrick, if only briefly. DD2 seems to have enjoyed herself even more than the last 2 years. I think she is getting a little more confident and talking to more people which bodes well for the change to secondary school. She’s told us more about this week than we’ve heard about the others.

Patrick, make sure you go to Annecy itself. The old part of the town is beautiful. Have a lovely week.

On the GCSE front, DD1 is doing both music and art. Trying to keep out of it and not nag her to get on with it, but it can be hard.

Tabby

DS did music (and is doing A-level); DD does art.

Neither could have done the other's choice - DS is hopeless at art, DD is not interested in music - but guiven the choice between them I would DEFINITELY go for music, especially if your DD does some kind of music anyway.

The workload for art is bonkers. DD is very good, and her teacher raves about her work, but to get enough done to the right standard she spends every weekend in term time and pretty much every day in holiday time working at it. On the other hand, if you are already doing a bit of music practice fairly regularly, and like composition, then music just doesn't have the same level of 'over and above' workload.

Glad to hear your DS enjoyed U11s patrick.

Interesting discussion about pro corda/NCO. DS2 did Both this summer and had a great time. His playing has come on hugely. Unexpectedly, he arrived back from NCO with his technique improved rather than full of bad habits (thanks to a great tutor). The sensitivity of his playing improved from Pro Corda, but the parts were very simple so not much scope for technical development.

So both had different benefits! And I don’t know which he preferred. He will audition for NCO this year and we will see what happens, also in terms of holiday choir commitments. We already know he can’t do pro corda at Easter

Tabbytigger that sounds like a great combination!
DS2 will be choosing his options this year and definitely wants to do music. He already does a bit of composing for fun, whereas DS1 came to it a bit late, so I think he will find it easier in that respect.

Ds has chosen his options already so he's doing music and drama plus RS . I'm secretly hoping that he will be allowed to drop at least 1 ( probably RS) so he actually has time for music practise . He has now decided he wants to go to music school to focus more on that and less on other subjects !! I'm hoping school will be a bit flexible so that we get to keep him at home for longer - also much kinder to our bank balance !!

Goo went to the head of music in year 10 and asked to put her name down ready for year 10! She is going to do double English, triple science, Maths, RE (she has to do those), music, French and either history or geography. So she says! She's 12... She could easily do art or ICR but would rather keep them as hobbies.

Glaring typo! She went in year 7!!

And ICT. I will give up now...

It was lovely to see you again Double. Yes, we'll definitely go to the town.

Taggie, I am glad DS liked NCO experience. I thought he may say 'enough'. A lady at DS's new school said coming to their school would be like attending NCO residential course everyday. DS can't believe his luck that it'll be his everyday from September.

Massive well done to those who have finally come out of the other side of GCSEs. Hope everyone received results wanted and now relaxing and enjoying the rest of the summer.

Patricks DS is definitely relaxing! He doesn't need to enrol in sixth form until next Monday and starts the week after.

After having gone through all the worries for 11+, I can't face to the fact that GCSE is so so stressful and that it'll be only a few years away (well, 5 years...)....

and to Loose and all the parents.

Patricks thanks so much but remember your DS is going to have a blast at his new school! Best of luck to him!

Patrick - It sounds like your DS is really ready for his new school. I can’t wait to hear how he and all the other DCs get on. I am dreading all the 11+ (Pre test) drama next term . At least we don’t have to worry about scholarship auditions yet.

Thanks Loose. Yes, I hope he'll blast off to the Moon.

DH reckons DS will enjoy the first week and possibly the second week also but once the reality starts kicking in the novelty of being away will soon wear off and DS may feel differently for the whole thing. DH is planning to rent a tiny place near the school if DS starts missing us terribly just to be closer to him, or change him to be a day pupil if his homesick gets really serious.

DS reckons he will be fine. Let's see....

It’ll be fine Patrick’s- if he needs you, you’ll know and you’ll sort it out. You know him better than anyone- mini will be fine.

Thanks LouieLouie. As you say we will sort things out as needed so yes all should be fine. However, DS has a habit of surprising me with his unpredictable action (him wanting to go to music school was so out of his character for instance). Hope it won't happen too often so that I can catch up and can deal with any situation in time!