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....

Just the mouthpiece. Very very quick swill, then leave it standing up on some kitchen roll to dry out. No kind of stick or pull through cleaner can get to the part which gets grubby/ blocked.

Also, cover the 'window' and give it a hard, silent blow through to get any water out afterwards.

Thanks - I'll give it a try!

Waffle, I hope NCO wants him!!

His heart says he likes to try again, but sometimes those auditions/exams/performance opportunities have to take a back seat to move forward... He may choose to focus on what he has to focus for now.

Romany, school is not against and they would give support when they can, but they don't seem to think it's necessary. They are like, if it won't crash with school's timetable then you are free to try, but we won't particularly encourage and totally fine with you not doing it.

We bought him a new pair of footy boots on way home from NCO. He quickly finished his Maths homework and now he's out trying the boots with his dad. He's supposed to do some individual practice but not sure if he has enough time. He has lots of temptation at home (all his toys, games, books, movies are staring at him in the room he practises!)...

He was saying he would need quite a lot of time for homework this weekend. But now the weekend is nearly finishing, it's change to 'if I finish Maths at least, as the hand-in is tomorrow, it's OK and I can do the rest at school'.

Patrick, it must be extra hard not to have the luxury of lots of free time to enjoy DS at the weekend when he's been away all week. I really do feel for you.
I'm reassured, if not sad, that others are also finding secondary school juggling a challenge. I definitely agree that playing in so many ensembles gets the question why? if it leaves no time to practise, and it also worried me that technique may go out of the window in DS's case - he needs to work on his bowing arm and also vibrato, both of which I can see going out of the window when he's bashing through symphonies etc.

Have you had Goo's exam review back yet, Waffle? Sorry to hear both are unwell - lots of nasties going around, it seems.

Patrick, you'll get used to homework being done according to due dates - so different from primary when it might have been one of two short pieces per week, done on the day they were set!

Floot, Thank you for your kind words. I am still pretty miserable (inside), especially now I have him back and can see how differently we are feeling about the new life. He is surprisingly fine. He probably missed his home (so he said), but not us! He seems so grown up just after one week. He told me the hectic schedule didn't tire him at all and he enjoyed everything every subject every activity. It's great, I know. And I am very happy for him that he is adjusting so well. But I feel like I've got redundant... I know it's not true and the change is very healthy, but still!!

Hi everyone!

Floot - sorry to hear you are having a hard time juggling things. Perhaps try getting DS to rank the different ensembles in order of those he enjoys the most and then you rank them in order of those you think he gets the most from. Compare lists - it might help you focus on which ones are most important in case you need to cut back??? Also, writing out our schedule and jotting in 'spaces' for practice has helped us. We may not always stick to it, but at least everyone can see where the space is??

Patrick - sounds like DS is settling in well, I think it's always harder for us than them in these situations!

Our news - we have been violin shopping this weekend and have two great but very different violins on approval - one new, one old. Noo and I are split in opinion but both of us are trying to keep our minds open to both very credible options. We are also awaiting the arrival of a third which is another old German around the same age as her current half-size. We've also got some very good bows although she is completely in love with one already!! At least that was easy....

Thank you, Folk, that sounds like a good idea. Given the choice, I suspect DS would like to give up choir BUT all music scholars are expected to attend (and actually, I love seeing him sing and think it gives me something different to playing). I'm not sure he'd be allowed/encouraged to forego anything by the school, unless he's really struggling...which he's not, he's just feeling it's all a bit relentless (as am I - his late returns involve a round trip of an hour or more in the car for me in rush hour traffic). I will see how our lists compare and use that as a starting point for a discussion with the HoM.

How exciting to have 3 violins to choose from! Are you planning to match the bow to the final choice, or are you going to choose the bow on its own merit? We haven't got around to choosing a bow, since buying DS's full size cello - I know we'll need a whole day to go over to Bristol Violins - the lovely chap there told us the bow will choose DS, a bit like the wands in Harry Potter! 😁

Good luck with the violin choosing folk

Dd had a rather negative violin lesson with the new teacher today. I could see her virtually dissolve into tears. The new teacher just wanted to change/ correct technique and bowing across the board. In the end I had to speak to the teacher in her mother tongue (which I speak but dd doesn't) and tell her that dd is a sensitive soul.

DD1 is having a hard time in year 8 too, really feeling the pressure of juggling academic work and music commitments. That, plus a few social niggles that are hard to escape from in a year group of only 20. She's not phased by her instrumental ensembles anymore, it's literally just time and having to manage her practise herself whereas she's always got by on the timetabled sessions. I read a thread on MN years ago where a long time poster counsels the OP against accepting a choristership specifically at our school/ Cathedral due to the ludicrous schedule and I am beginning to see their point! Her relationship with her cello teacher is really good at the moment though and sh has her lovely accompanist back who always inspires her to perform well, so not all bad by any means.

I think the bow is decided... as you say, bit of an Ollivander's moment! It sounds great on both violins actually. I'm less inclined to challenge her choice of bow as it really is so very personal, but if needs be I will 'exert my parental authority' over the choice of violin. As much because of the financial investment!

floot no, it should have been by last week. I have had words with them though!

recorders in the dishwasher??? Hm, no, not going to try that one out. We are not good in cleaning, but will ones in a while wash them in washing up liquid (never tried my old wooden one but maybe I should try it....).

This thread moves so fast! to Druid. It’s great to hear you and DCs have so much going on around you though and are keeping up with it all.

And I’m very impressed at all the audition preparation!! Auditions never get much prep in this house, everyone’s far too laid back...

Music-wise here we’ve not had a lot, just getting back to the school grind. DD3 is still crazily enthusiastic about the violin.

But on the subject of juggling - I was wondering if any of you have had to force a DC to quit something? I nudged DD2 into quitting drama/choir/gymnastics and cutting down trampolining but it was mostly her decision because she decided she wanted to focus on dance and that was the best way, but now I think she (like many DC on this thread - i definitely empathised with floot’s recent posts!) has taken on far too much and something is going to have to give, but I know she’ll resist. Any advice on how to broach? Currently she’s doing a total of 30 hours of extra curricular activities a week, not including music lessons and school lunch/form time netball and music ensembles...

Meanwhile Act 1 of the musical has actually been performed to me now so it’s finally coming together a little. I’m sure it’ll be on the west end by 2020

Wowzer, Tabby , 30 hours is a huge amount!!

gosh - 30 hours is a lot tabby. All credit to the parents for managing to administer it!

swaying sorry to hear your DD is having a tough time in y8. There is a big pressure on y8 choristers whatever choir they are in, I think (assuming girls, like boys, leave at the end of y8). Has your DD made up her mind about auditioning for a y9 instrumental place at her school? Great to hear she is getting on well with her cello teacher.

Romany our minds were put at rest, he was on good form and looked as though he'd been eating & sleeping.

Windmum Quite a number of pupils head for the JD's at the weekend.
DS had been at a conservatoire before specialist school so JD was something he was keen to do. It's a change of scene for him at the weekend - we didn't know before but his new friends are mainly weeklys, so its worked out well. He doesn't have a lesson at JD but does play in brass ensemble, classical orchestra & sinfonia. All great experience and lots of playing!

Good luck for the forthcoming NCO auditions to those participating. I have DS booked in at HT but not sure if we'll go. A bit like your DS Patrick, I'm not sure that his focus is going to be on these 2 pieces at the moment and I'm not around to help him knock them into shape. He did get a real test of his transpositional skills at JD on Saturday though, so no worries on that front!

Trumpet sounds like your DS is doing a good job on his own! I feel partly to blame - DS was assigned to the Easterlies but Shropshire to Cambridge via Watford was never going to happen!

Gosh tabby, 30 hours! Is that including practice time at home or literally 30 extra hours out of the house? I'm feeling tired just thinking about it.

littleladsdad

I'm glad he's settled so well, it sounds like he's having a great time.
I was thinking ony yesterday that now there's a few of us at specialist school we might even meet up one day, who knows.
I know those at NCO and other national groups have met since being on this thread.
not sure about the none orchestral players though

Romany - yes indeed, quite likely at some point. Maybe at BBCYM one day? :) One can but dream.

After having DS this weekend, I feel much better and feel stronger to get over my miserable state. I can see we are getting into a new routine and I feel very positive about it. It was a bit all about 'family-time' this weekend, but next weekend is probably more exiting for DS as he can see his friends at jd on Sat and also he's meeting his old friends from primary school on Sun.

By the way, I may become a fan of a young pianist at DS's school. You know, once in a while, you encounter someone who owns undescribable gravity, someone who is not just great/impressive, but owns some sort of special power. I won't be surprised if he ends up appearing in BBCYM one day (and I declare I become his fan before he gets to be known!!).

Oh that's a shame littleladsdad dad I'm sure they would have enjoyed playing together - but that's a crazy journey they were expecting you to do !!
Yesterday went fine I think