September 2018 Music Thread

[folkmamma]

Hi all! Our lovely host Waffle is away at the moment and has asked me to start this months thread.

Here is a place for us to share stories, ask for advice, and generally support one another through our DCs (and in some cases our own!) musical journeys. All are very welcome, from the early beginners to the very advanced. Some people have been regular contributors for years, but we also have a lot of newcomers and love welcoming new contributors to the MN Music Thread team. I became aware of this group about 9 months ago via the NCO 2018 thread and I now spend more time here than on Facebook... .

Over here, I have Noo, just turned 11, violinist, violist and pianist. She is playing at aroud G7 standard on violin (first study) and is starting JD this month, eek!. Noo is also an associate member of NCO and this year joined the Pro Corda ensemble training programme, which she loves above all else! She is also very into musical theatre and regularly performs in professional and semi-professional shows - it is a challenge to juggle it all, but somehow we do. This month is a biggie for Noo as she starts secondary school as well as JD.

DD2 is Moll. 8yrs old and plays cello and piano. She is a very different kettle of fish to big sister - every bit as able, but some self esteem issues, together with a slightly quirky personality, mean her journey is not often quite so smooth (and mine completely turbulent!). Working towards G3 cello this term (although she doesn’t know it yet) and will go for a consultation at Noo’s JD sometime this term also.

I’m sure Waffle will drop in to update us on Goo, Rara and her own musical self once she gets back from holibobs.

Good luck to everyone with back to school, changes in school, new routines and audition prep! I predict September will be a busy month on the thread!

Over to you....

Druid - good points re fitness and I will stay on dd’s Case about it for sure; conducting - how fantastic!

No need to worry there for Ds he's really sporty - though chooses not to play on teams because of the trumpet but fits in lots of football at lunch with his mates !!
Thanks Romany good to know that this is pretty similar to his current options ( plus his extras) hope your dd feels better

Lovely to hear from you, druid. to your loss of loved one. And great to hear druidboy's upcoming challenges. He is entering a new chapter academically and musically. How exciting!

I head of the importance of building strong body and regular exercises for musicians. DS is sporty also like Trumpet's boy. And he says he is not only one at school. He met quite a few footy boys there. Weekly swimming is compulsory at school too. And of course he'll do lots more at weekend.

I'm back, dd gone to sleep for a while. bless
The lack of PE at dd school and of course not always time for team sports when everyone is free or enough in the year to make a team, has resulted in these people coming in, not sure which dd has been given yet.
www.musicalimpact.org/fittoperform/

Thanks for the timetable Romany. I really can't see DD keeping up with that much. I know she's little now, but I think you have demystified it for me. DD would have to show me that she really wants nothing else but music to be able to enjoy it. At what age did your DD start at the school?

owlm

My dd started in y7 but had been planning it since 8
she left school to practice and so we could travel to more ensembles, rather than having to fit it in after school.
It was our plan to get feedback, that's all. I said she could audition at 13 to start in y9, but they offered her a place.
She said if I stood in her way she'd never forgive me.

The timetable I showed you is for a Y10 child, it wasn't like this in y7 and for juniors it's even less.
But it is a lot of music, they do need to want to do it. but as I regularly post, some kids go onto lots of different subjects, so destinations aren't always music or conservatoires.

Wow you have a determined DD who knows her own mind. That's what you want though, for them to be persistent not the other way round!

DD has told her friend she is going to music school. But I think it's too much Enid Blyton books

She hasn't even been to an open day so I think it is just the idea that she likes. I'm not taking her seriously as she doesn't exactly lovvve practice. She also wants to be a pilot

owlm

She told us at three she was going to be an opera singer, she used to dance and when the accompanist played "O mio babbino caro", she learnt the words and would sing along. much to the annoyance of her teacher.
I spend a lot of time looking for discounted tickets and we do see most of the Opera North productions.
We also had to go to Verona in the holidays to watch the opera festival there, it was amazing but not something I can afford every year.
I think this year is a cheapish stay in London, hopefully with friends and we can catch the performances here.

Wow, you know how to support her. I do try to take Dd to performances, but haven't been actively looking. She's never been to an opera, I think she'd love it.

I know she'll be a musician in whatever form that takes. We'll see if she's still as passionate at 10yrs.

Can't wait to see DS tomorrow! Finally managed to sort out his travel to & from JD - it's not easy from 200 miles away. & they keep them so busy that it's been a struggle to contact him all week. He's going along with a sixth former so my mind is somewhat at rest. Hope you all have a great weekend!

For all the drummers- Sky’s Arts 9pm tonight The Art of Drumming- 4 part series I think!
Also available on Now TV

Sorry to hear about your loss druid

Glad everyone's DCs are settling in well to their new schools.

I have just done this quiz on the BBC. I got violin (which I have never touched) and DD got piano: www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/bbd3a255-1196-43ec-a374-92ce28af5712

DD is starting in a Sat morning orchestra from tomorrow do we'll see how that goes. Other than that quite a lot of theory going on in the melting household in between all the homework - DD's new secondary are really piling it on - bit of a change from Year 6 .

littleladsdad

what an adventure and the start of a new chapter, I hope he loves it and I'm sure he'll be ok.
It doesn't stop us worrying or being a bit apprehensive.

owlm
We're lucky that the other 2 are grown ups, I'm not sure if we could have managed it at any other time just due to circumstances and time in life etc.
We aren't rich, in fact far from it, but I hunt for offers and bargains when I can.
Verona was no bargain and she knows she'll be paying for the next.
Her brothers do spoil her though, buy her latest trainers when I say no.
I seem to have no control at all, not that I'm controlling in any way.
We all appreciate how lucky we are and right or wrong dd knows that the tax payer is funding her education. There is absolutely no pressure but at the same time don't take the michael. I'm sure some wouldn't think of it this way, but we do.

hello! Been lurking infrequently and not posting. Busy here with grade 7 prep on 2 instruments and settling into new school and new routine.

Question for Littleladsdad - why specialist school and JD? What is there at JD he’s not getting from the school?

We’ve decided against JD for now as the travel would be impossible for a 9am start whilst keeping ones sanity!

Good to read everyone’s news!

Romany you are not taking the mickey at all !! Without CATS scheme funding music would become the preserve of the rich and our music industry would have a much smaller pool of talent to draw in . In areas with grammar schools the super smart can choose to try and go to a free grammar school your dd is super talented and chose to try and go to a specialist school . Granted specialist schools have higher fees but it costs the government to pay for the education of all of our dcs in state education .
Druid sorry for your loss hope you are ok

I like your thinking Romany. Your DD sounds like she's in the right school for her. What are big brothers for if not to spoil her a little

I took the quiz melting, I am a drummer. My favourite instrument aswell

Apparently i should play tuba!

[flowers]@Druid: I am sorry for your loss!

We have piano lesson today and violin tomorrow. I have to squeeze all in weekends. Just couple of years ago I had a strick rule that weekend is family bonding but that has gone. Its mainly because the teacher availability. We have been playing Bach pieces from one of our Bach book so today is just polishing the piece.

Ha same here Druid- signed up just for that

for Druid.

We have had a trying week, with everyone having a cold and DS2 very tired. We are both struggling with the early mornings, and I’m glad we have a routine decided so not too much thought required. DS2 has been very heroic and doing his best and wants to do as much as possible,, but I had to reduce or cancel a couple of practices so he could get through the day. I think he is ready for the Nco audition, and I’m glad we are getting it over with. But I do wish we had more practice time!

No evensong yet, but they have had three concerts last week (two late night) with another two next week. He is enjoying being back to choir, but missing last years leavers.

Sorry it is a bit me me me. I hope everyone is doing ok. It is lovely to hear all the positive news on the thread about exciting new adventures .

How are you getting on floot? I hope you are feeling a little more positive and that cat’s DS also settles down.