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....

Thanks Green and druid. We do Manuka and lemon but never heard of the grapefruit drop! It's on my shopping list! I probably need the power drop too as I always get a cold when DS has it.

It turns out to be one of those weeks I'm starting to work for a new client.... I can cancel an appointment with a physio or a bank but not this one. I'm so hoping DS will be back school tomorrow!!!

It's October, I've just realised - time for a new thread?

Patrick, so many nasties going around. Hopefully, a day of mum care will make him feel well enough to go back tomorrow. Xx

Get well soon to mini Patricks 💐 bad timing but hopefully he will pick up soon x

Get well soon Mini Patrick !!

I am so sorry to gatecrash your musical thread, but I reckoned there would be someone here who could answer my question.

Dd, just 9, plays the flute. She's just started at a London Saturday Centre (CYM), where they've put her in the main wind band, which is quite challenging for her. She's brought the music home and is too embarrassed to ask either the wind band leader or her teacher (it's all new to her and a bit intimidating) what the sign that looks like a set of steps between two notes is...

It's probably something really obvious, but I'm finding it hard to google for her what she should do, and she's worried about going in next week and playing the wrong thing. It looks like the zigzag line that goes down the periodic table - but I can't think how to describe it so google understands.

Can anyone shed some light? We're not musical experts here - I play the piano a bit, but never took any theory exams so I'm about as much help as a chocolate teapot to her at present. I'm sure she'll pluck up courage to ask at some point- but at the moment she's still too scared to point out that she can't see the conductor over the music stand so, er, small steps I guess. She just wants to look vaguely competent!

Thanks

Is it glissando? Google glissando symbol for a picture

I’m not sure - but there will definitely be someone who knows !! Or I can ask ds when he gets back from school . Hope your dd settles into windband and the other CYM activities - I’ve heard good things about it !!

Mine is a brass player so I'm not much help but maybe google "musical symbols" and pick the offender from the line up.

Thanks!

Looks like that but it's squarer - perhaps that's just the font? Perhaps Youtube will furnish her with an explanation of how to do a glissando on a flute (she's just taking grade 3 and it hasn't come up!)

Hi @minisnowballs ! You are not gate crashing, that's what this thread is all about!! That sounds like a Glissando to me - basically sliding from one note to the other.

Hope Mini enjoys CYM!!!

Thanks so much - I've found a Youtube video to show her tonight that explains how to do that.

And thanks for the kind wishes. So far so good- but it is definitely a big step up for her- ensemble work in the local music service was a very, very different ballgame! She's exhausted by the end of the morning, but I think it's a 'good' kind of exhaustion. Feeling on top of this piece of music (it's a West Side Story medley - which I think she'll love when she gets the hang of it as she adores the music) will help loads.

Minisnowballs - It sounds like your DD is doing really well if she has gone straight to the main wind band!

In the future, If she feels a bit shy about asking an adult for help, perhaps she could have a chat with her section lead or stand partner. It is great experience for senior/advanced players to mentor the little ones.

I was going to guess at a gliss ( glad my music brain is still working somewhere!!)
Your dd sounds like she’s doing really well and I’m not surprised she hasn’t come across it yet . You are so lucky to have access to CYM as well as local music stuff but yes I’m sure it is a different ball game - but in a good way which hopefully she’ll enjoy when she’s settled in

Minisnowballs dd does ensemble only at CYM. The adults in charge of the groups all seem lovely. I'm sure one of them would be more than happy to help and wouldn't judge. Dd also adores the tick shop sweets at CYM

se22mother - you live near me too i suspect - judging by your name. I think the sweets at the open day were a deciding factor in dd applying!

SE think tuck shop is the highlight of all music courses isn’t it

For those that may know there are several other Guildhall CYM Saturday centres - Norwich, Peterborough, Saffron Walden and Taunton. They are a bit of halfway-house in terms of activities, level and cost between normal activities at most schools and a full music college JD.

*may not know

Yes we went to have a look at the one in Saffron Waldron it was really good - AYM is however much closer to our house

Welcome, minisnowball! I can still remember very well on the fist day of DS's orchestra rehearsal. It was the fist proper setting out of his comfort zone of school music for DS so he knew almost nothing from etiquette to musical jargon. I also remembered we had to check up something on Youtube just like you! It's still a year and half or so ago, but he is a totally different person now. He looks comfortable and knows what he's doing (well, most of time...) in rehearsals. It's amazing how quickly young people can get the hang of new things/settings, especially when they enjoy the activities. I am sure your DD will feel more comfortable and confident week by week. She's just started a wonderful journey!

Thanks all! I'll be delighted when we can master the geography, quite apart from anything else - her timetable is very tight.

But yes, I think it is brilliant. I love seeing all these musical children wandering around - and hearing music coming through every door, instruments everywhere. DD thinks it is quite magical. I'm in awe of you all with your children who play so well and from such young ages - dd only started flute in Year 3 - we tried piano before that and she just had huge tantrums, so we left it. Your children must be so focussed!