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.

Cat - DS2 started when he was 6.5 and was barely grade 1 at 8! I didn’t let him do anything ‘advanced’ (i.e. beyond grade1/pre test level) until he was really solid on keeping a straight bow, which took a loooong time. I’ll post a little clip on the channel...

Hello. I always love reading about everyone else but don't always check in myself! I have two kids. DS is 10 and plays trumpet. Very dyslexic so reading music does not come naturally and plays mostly by ear, which becomes very apparent when he has to do any sight reading! Is currently working towards grade 2 but not sure the scales will ever stick!
DD is 8, started the clarinet last September and has just done her stage 1 (county equivalent to grade 1). Struggles a little with the size of the instrument and covering holes properly but in a year or so I'm hoping that she's going to be more in command technically. She is desperate to start singing lessons at school, but I'm holding off for now because of extra expense. Also not sure how much practice is involved. Is it the same as an instrument? Am not a singer myself so not sure what we would be getting into!

Dd(11) is currently off at brass academy with her trumpet, complaining about all her parts being too easy. She’s switching to trumpet from cornet for g6 (trinity) in October as she prefers the trumpet excerpts to the cornet ones. Plays cornet the rest of the time...except when she’s playing viola (distinction g4 this summer huge boast!!!) or violin.

Probably aiming for g5 viola at Xmas then g6 violin sometime...although I’m very tempted to move her to trinity rather than abrsm just for the flexibility in exam dates!! Did you know you can just go online with trinity and book an exam date??? It’s amazing!!!

I am a first generation musician in my family, and come from an extremely deprived background. I saw hard work as my ticket out of my situation, and did well, all considered. My DCs are doing much better than I did though!

Misti Goo took her Grade 8 last month and came out a couple of marks below a distinction, which is FAB but it seems that she lost a few marks for something stylistic... which was actually correct. Also one mark in sight reading which she doesn't agree with, and a total of six marks for technical facility, even though the mark sheet is overwhelmingly positive and does not explain where or why. Her teacher has had a few Grade 8 distinctions recently and reckons Goo's performance was definitely up there too. I thought she might get full marks for her unaccompanied piece, but she lost five marks there for (we think) the stylisitic issue (double dotting). So we shall see - there should be a firm decision by mid-September. It sounds like your DS is doing absolutely AWESOME!

We appealed a G8 as his teacher was really unhappy with the merit. The mark sheet wasn't exactly helpful and several of the other candidates had not got the marks that the teacher expected. It's a long time ago but I think the outcome was that he could take it again at reduced cost (it might even have been free) which he didn't take up as the timing was all wrong with GCSEs. I told him that if he ever was in a place where the lack of a distinction was a problem then he could take it again but once he could wave a diploma then he didn't feel a need.

I've been through a few name changes but I've been here for years, DS is 18 and a brass player.

Hi taggie - can't get cluster to work here in back of beyond but I'll have a look when I get home. Maybe I can get DD to do a violin video too! She's technically been playing violin for 3 years, so is maybe more comparable to Suzuki kids starting at that age, I think she'd be fairly average there. Definitely work in progress with straight bow! But really I don't think we can sensibly compare stages so young, it's so dependent on circumstances and many of the kids who'll later be brilliant haven't even started yet at this age. Main thing is they're having fun :)

I do play myself (violin/viola good amateur, bit of piano but I'm going to have to practice that much more if I want to accompany kids much longer, the Brahms Waltz in suzuki is defeating me already), which is a big help for young kids learning. Though annoys DS no end as I interfere with practice when he's not doing it properly. Perhaps that's why he wanted to play the horn!

I would absolutely not classify myself as a musician but i do play cornet/flugelhorn (took it up again 5 years ago after an 18 year hiatus). Being able to read music has been helpful to support the kids practise, but i think the most important thing has been treating their music making as 'important'- making time and space for practise, acting as a taxi service, and encouraging (read demanding 😉) a good attitude (turning up on time, being prepared etc). Im convinced that my kids have got a lot of oppotunities through being 'reliable' rather than because of being particularly good or talented.

Of course i think my kids are brilliant but hey im their mother

Cat - I hope the little video of mini-DS2 will inspire some of the little ones to share their music making on the channel! I’d love to see your DD. I bet she’s really good, having you to supervise her practice .

We are super lucky that my father is an expert pianist, so DS2 does not have to suffer my piano playing!

Thanks for the thread waffle.

Dd is also a summer holiday baby but is now 10. She loves that (like Noo and The Boy) she will leave school at 17. She plays violin and clarinet and sings. This summer holiday is ridiculously packed with music courses ,

Hello all again, so good to get a refresh of where all the minis are at.

DD is 13 (not for long) and hopefully will be doing grade 2 piano autumn, has started grade 5 violin preparations and is slogging through grade 5 theory over the summer ready for November. Doing the theory now for a few reasons: helping with music GCSE, doesn’t clash with school exams and also doubles up as a skill for her Duke of Edinburgh bronze. She also plays in the school orchestra and sings in the choir.
I am not at all musical but full of encouragement!

I’m not musical though I’m a dedicated taxi driver and pa. I’m also very much curious in anything I don’t know so I prone to make time for researching and studying till I’m satisfied which may have helped understand DS’s world and managed to support him somehow (I hope). I also appreciate Arts in general and as a child I was fascinated by classical music/ballet/musical and biographies of artists (and lots of not so famous but interesting historical people). So I’m genuinely enjoying supporting DS’s musical journey. I won’t be sitting in his lessons from this Sep which I’m rather feeling sad actually.

Bit the bullet and signed dd up for nco auditions on both instruments...eek!

Helloooo! Intermittent poster here, but hoping to get more involved now DS's first year at secondary School is over.

DS is 12 and has been playing cello for 3 years. I'm another parent beating their DC through grade 5 theory this summer, as DS hopes to take grade 7 cello in the spring. He started piano lessons last September, which has been helpful in getting him to read treble clef.
He's a music scholar at his school and thriving. He won the year 7 music award and has just got into the county youth orchestra as their youngest player. He may or may not audition for NCO this Autumn...!

I also have DD, 14, who started singing lessons last September and got a merit in grade 2 musical theatre last term. She's interested in drama more than music.

DH and I are both professional musicians - we met while playing in one of the well-known orchestras. I'm a flautist, he's a percussionist, but neither of us have musical families.

Lovely to hear so many DCs are enjoying summer music courses and tours!
Good luck with the grade 8 review, Waffle.

Waffle the stylistic thing must be really annoying. I got marked down on a grade 3 piece (so in no way comparable!) on a stylistic point and my teacher was outraged on my behalf! As I was nowhere near a distinction and a bag pf nerves anyway it really didn't matter in my case but it does show how unpredictable these things are. I hope Goo prevails but as Knitting says there's always the diploma!
DS1 is absolutely loving his bass diploma lessons, especially as he gets to do a bit of double bass as well, but when he reports back the best I can manage is 'well done, that does sound complicated!'

Waffle good luck with the appeal - that's so annoying - though an amazing result anyway .
Ds's teacher has said this about his marks for both his grade 5 jazz - it didn't make a difference to the final grade awarded but the comments and marks didn't seem to match up . Hopefully they will just remark the exam as they record the trinity ones rather than offer a free retake (if this was ever offered to ds I know he would be like err no what's the point in that !!)

I never managerial keep up on these threads but anyway, will try! Ds13, a slightly reluctant piano player. Looking for something other than Abram to help motivate him. Dd11 piano, recorder and oboe. Hoping to audition for NYOS junior in autumn, our first ever experience. Am treating the audition as a learning experience, not expecting she will get in. ( But still a tiny bit hopeful!) Dd8 piano, recorder and wants to do bassoon. Just need to source an instrument! I play double bass and absolutely do not model good practice habits to my children! I also run a recorder group at school, will be starting to look for new repertoire soon, I love that . Love hearing about others achievement s, very few of their friends play.

Hi, I love hearing about all of your wonderful DC's and your collective wealth of experience. It's really great for newbies as the music world is a minefield to me. DD is a violinist 8yrs old and I just follow her really. Learning as I go as I am not musical at all. That's what lead me to thsee threads, trying to keep up . She got her result for the gr4 exam last week, distinction, which has shocked her as she really struggles to sight read. Haven't seen the mark sheet yet. She's working on the reading and we will speak to her teacher about NCO next lesson. Thanks for having me on here

Owlm great result !! And trust me the sight reading will just come with practise

Thanks. She's been on a high since she got her result and has asked for sight reading pieces, which is a first. She just needs a bit of confidence. You are right Same here Soursprout she doesn't like making mistakes either.

Many congrats to mini-owln that is a splendid result! Glad to hear you may go for NCO. There is loads on the training orchestra on Facebook, and they seem to be having an amazing time

Wow, 7 years Waffle! I think I've been on most of them, though it's becoming less and less so now.

She still creates music, just not in the league as most DC on here but enough to not have her scholarship called in. 15 in Sept, going into Y10, with G8 violin scheduled for the coming autumn session to try and get it out the way.

Holidays is practise time here, Been nice to get passers by comment on the piano sounds from within (windows open of course in this heat), and my next door neighbour in particular who doesn't mince his words saying she doesn't sound like a broken record anymore, getting half decent with her oblivious. Massive compliment from a man who hates kids, and walks past her because he no longer recognises her from next door

I posted on Waffle's very first thread, under a slightly different name, and have been here ever since. I can't believe it's been so long though!

DS2 has a couple of friends round with guitars and they are having fun together.

Yay, hello ealing and raspberry! Goo is 13 this October, so I reckon it was November 2011.