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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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October Music Thread

995 replies

Wafflenose · 01/10/2018 22:17

Welcome to the thread for October, which is open to ANYONE who wants to discuss music lessons, practice, exams, auditions, instrument hire/ purchase or whatever related issues you'd like to. Newbies are especially welcome, and we have some each month, often with beginners. All of our kids were beginners once.

I have two DDs. Goo is 12 and plays the flute and piano. She can also play recorders and the piccolo, but doesn't. We've just moved her to another piano teacher because the first one retired, so it's nice to hear her practising again. She has been learning for about 2.5 years and hasn't done any exams... nor is she intending to. On the flute we have extended range scales, the Chaminade Concertino and Bizet's Carmen Fantasy at the moment. She plays in 7 school ensembles and does NCO and South West Music School, although she's likely to be leaving both at various points during this academic year.

Rara is 10 and plays the cello and clarinet regularly, and recorder sometimes. She's vaguely working towards Grade 5 on both, but it might end up being 4 on the cello because of various aspects she's behind in... we'll see. I am still teaching her the clarinet and am currently super fed up because however kind, patient and helpful I am, she behaves in such a horrible way. We can't afford lessons. Ho hum. Rara also does NCO and SWMS. Under 11s will be beyond her, but she'll carry on with SWMS for now.

I am a teacher of woodwind!

OP posts:
PatricksViolin · 17/10/2018 09:22

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littleladsdad · 17/10/2018 09:23

Good feedback and the fact that the door has been left open is a really good sign Disorganised. I'd take the practice time thing with a pinch of salt. What they will be looking for in February is some clear improvement, so basically when your ds goes back you'll want them to say 'I can hear that you've been working hard since your last visit'.

TaggieOHara · 17/10/2018 09:25

disorganised Star for you and DS for coping so well with a hard week.

I second others' caution about the 2 hours a day. If mini-disorganised is able to do 2 hours of concentrated, high quality work then it is fine. But few 12yos can do this, in addition to a full school schedule.

Otherwise, too long practice sessions can embed bad habits. It is better to focus with the teacher on what needs to be done to address any issues raised in the audition feedback. Lengthening of practice should come out of this discussion with the teacher. For example, the teacher may recommend an extra 10-15 minutes a day of scales/technical exes.

Do let us know how the lesson goes.

Flowers for all on the thread coping with family challenges, past and present.

Doubleup · 17/10/2018 09:33

Patrick, I think we can all be ‘guilty’ of getting bogged down in our own issues at some point, so that we end up in our own little bubble. Let’s just draw a line under it and move forward. Smile

hertsandessex · 17/10/2018 09:37

I wouldn't take the 2 hours a day comment too literally. I guess what he was trying to say was that DS needs to practice a lot more than he is doing at present in order to get in but if he just said that then it wouldn't get your attention. Also practice doesn't have to be the same everyday - 1 hour on a schooldays, 2-3 hours Sat and Sun, even more perhaps over holidays.

hertsandessex · 17/10/2018 09:48

Oh and Patrick might be best to talk less to some of the super-competitive no doubt tiger mums at DS's school. Well at least not worry about what they say about music. At the recent drum competiton my son was in one of the judges told everybody afterwards he felt they were all worrying too much about the others and therefore playing more aggressively (louder, more beats, faster, etc) than they did in sound-check. He said need to worry about your own playing and forget everyone else as always a better drummer than you within a hour's drive. (maybe not always true but get his point.) Always somebody practicing more, in more competitions, with a better instrument, seemingly more confident, with more of plan, more organised etc. I can understand as I do it myself although I try not to. My DS is at other extreme (too much now I think) and basically doesn't care about anyone else (in a nice way.)

littleladsdad · 17/10/2018 09:54

I'd like to recommend sarah-willis.com/horn-hangouts/

If you don't already know, Sarah Willis is a horn player with the Berlin Phil. She's also just been appointed as International Chair of Brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Her 'Horn Hangouts' make for fantastic viewing for all and, of course, for brass players in particular. DS has become a huge fan of Arturo Sandoval since watching the episode featuring him - what an amazing character he is! I can't wait to watch some more of these with DS over half term.

Floottoot · 17/10/2018 09:58

That judge had it spot on, Herts. If anyone ever wants evidence of one upmanship between ( young) musicians, just listen to what they are playing in the 10 minute warm up before youth ensemble rehearsals start...😉😂 Its very rare you'll hear any kind of scales, tone exercises, slow passage work etc - it'll always be that really high, fast bit, or the cadenza of the concerto they 're learning. 😂😂😂😂😂

I'm going to post a link about competitions and the idea of prodigy...

Floottoot · 17/10/2018 09:59

Littlelad, Sarah was at JD with me. ☺

hertsandessex · 17/10/2018 10:05

Flootfoot lol that is so true. Ditto at competitions. We were at one where my DS was first on so had instruments set up for his performance but warm-ups were still going taking place on stage. One girl (and her teacher!) went over and actually moved my DS's instruments around. My DS went on stage and moved them back to his set-up and came back to sit down. They did it again. We just gave up and let them do what they wanted until warm-ups had finished. It was so silly and pointless.

hertsandessex · 17/10/2018 10:09

Wow Flootfoot that is a great post. So true on many counts.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 17/10/2018 10:11

disorganised it sounds as though the feedback was really positive, hope mini is not too disappointed and you can enjoy half term

littleladsdad · 17/10/2018 10:14

Floot How cool is that - I'm suitably impressed!

Floottoot · 17/10/2018 10:35

My children get sick of hearing me say, "I was at college with her/him", Littlelad. 🤣
It rather comes with the territory, when you've been to a music and drama college and had a career in it - my favourite is that I was at college with Daniel Craig ( we graduated in the same ceremony!) and I'm still being paid royalties for playing on Charlotte Church's first album. 😆

littleladsdad · 17/10/2018 10:40

Floot Daniel who? Grin

littleladsdad · 17/10/2018 10:54

Floot I'm playing the Charlotte Church album now on Tidal. Happy to help - don't spend it all at once! Grin

Crazygirlmama · 17/10/2018 10:56

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Floottoot · 17/10/2018 12:19

Littlelad, the drinks are on me...as long as you only want a coffee! 🤣

Floottoot · 17/10/2018 12:21

crazygirl, your DD is definitely the exception - top marks to her! 👍👍👍

Crazygirlmama · 17/10/2018 12:25

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trumpetboysmum · 17/10/2018 14:38

That’s so funny I can always tell when ds us “ warming up “” before a concert it is absolutely always something really tricky to show off !! At first i was like why would he do that now I just laugh !!
We will definitely look those up littleladsdad

druidsong · 17/10/2018 15:50

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Withdrawn at poster's request

hertsandessex · 17/10/2018 16:15

Druidsong - oh yes I remember her being very annoying but not that one. This was the overseas one - much worse as she was quite clearly deliberately trying to cause problems and her teacher was basically instructing her.

Greenleave · 17/10/2018 17:20

Flowers for you Crazygirl, I think you have name changed because few months ago I remember it was a different name. I remember your daughter who is couple of years younger than mine. I am always amazed how you could manage it all. I remember the miniCrazygirl was very energetic. Xx

And Crazy: I hope you DS wasnt too disappointed. We tried last year as well and didnt get in(piano as first instrument and many of very talented kids were much above grade 8). It is VERY competitive. To be honest it was wrong timing for us too because I was on my own with 2 kids, no family and my husband was oversea for his treatment(plus I work long hours, plus she started on 11+ preparation). We clearly either wasnt musical enough or most likely didnt practise enough. To be honest, I think it was fair to other children for mine didnt have a place because she doesnt practise more than 20 mins a day on average, no-one in our family plays any music any kind.(If a child was brought up in a musical family likely she/he will have more exposure to it, my second child now loves singing and no new to classical music only because she hears her sister practice since she was in my womb). However you got the call(us only a rejection email, meaning that he was soooo closeee! I am sure he will get it in the next try.

FlowersLittleladdad: Can I buy you a drink too?Grin

I have a day off today and ofcourse music the whole afternoon for the Green family

To PatrickFlowers