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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
cantkeepawayforever · 19/10/2018 20:39

Hersules user here, too.

cantkeepawayforever · 19/10/2018 20:40

Hercules, sorry! DS has a series for lots of different instruments - they are really flexible with 'spikes' for e.g. a clarinet on a saxophone stand etc.

se22mother · 19/10/2018 20:47

We have a stagg clarinet spike

Doubleup · 19/10/2018 21:17

Congratulations Romany and good luck to *littlelad• for tomorrow.

littleladsdad · 19/10/2018 21:50

DS has arrived home for the 2 week half term without his warm coat & raincoat and with one pair each of trousers, shoes, socks & pants. He has one hoodie. His suitcase was full of mutes, textbooks and music. A super start to the hols!

littleladsdad · 19/10/2018 21:51

Thank you Double, DS & I will hopefully be talking to each other again in the morning!

littleladsdad · 19/10/2018 21:52

Thank you as well string.

catkind · 19/10/2018 21:59

Congratulations Romany family! Darn, there's no bubbly icon. Bear, Wine to romany and lots of Cake to the new mum.

We're bumbling along cheerfully. DD in particular is really in love with her music at the moment, each new piece is "ooh I really love this one, I think this is my best piece ever".
Her half term plan apparently includes piano practice before breakfast and two violin practices. I'll believe anything happening before breakfast when I see it!

Even DS is putting in a little effort for screen time bribery and touch wood discovering it's more fun if you can actually play the pieces.

AlexandraLeaving · 19/10/2018 22:24

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AlexandraLeaving · 19/10/2018 22:25

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MomOfTwoGirls2 · 19/10/2018 22:29

To the viola player moms!
Dd1 has loan of viola for the year. The case isn’t very secure, zip broken and 3 snap type locks, and no neck restraint. She wants me to buy new case, as she is nervous of viola falling out of case. Any recommendations of ok low end viola cases?
And we need new viola bow! She is currently using her violin bow! Any viola bow recommendations?
She might only so viola for 1 year. Will need to make Choice on either violin or viola next year.
Only 2 lessons to date, jumped from grade 3 last lesson to grade 5 tonight. Lots of practice needed this week, as that is quite a challenge.

Floottoot · 19/10/2018 22:29

Good luck to mini Littlelad!

littleladsdad · 19/10/2018 22:33

Is that for the audition Floot or for when I find out what else he's left at school! Grin.

Doubleup · 19/10/2018 22:43

Sounds like he needs a packing checklist for next time littlelad Grin. Has he got any clothes to wear for the audition?

littleladsdad · 19/10/2018 23:07

Good idea Double - would just need to find a way to get him to use it. He'll be auditioning in jeans & t-shirt as that's all we have.

Trumpetboysmum · 20/10/2018 06:26

Littleladsdad good luck for today . That’s all ds wears anyway !! That is such a teenage boy thing to do though - it made me smile ( though I’m sure you weren’t smiling when you discovered what he’d packed !!) You’re lucky that he wears a coat though - ds has maintained since starting high school that coats aren’t necessary!!

Juneharmony · 20/10/2018 06:56

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Juneharmony · 20/10/2018 07:07

Ah. silly me... I posted here instead. It's meant to be for Floot. I'll delete this post asap but will be hanging around here for a while. So here you go, my plan to be more thoughtful and careful with what I say had gone... I am very very sorry if I made some people feel uncomfortable again.. I can't believe how dump I am. Sad

Trumpetboysmum · 20/10/2018 07:09

June / Patrick !! I’m glad the performance went well . Of course you still worry ( it would be more worrying if you didn’t !!) I’m sure he’s in the right place and will do just fine - more than fine - just remember nothing is set in stone - but what you have given him is an amazing opportunity to see where his music might take him . Smile Hope to hear from you soon

Trumpetboysmum · 20/10/2018 07:11

Oh good cross posted - didn’t want you disappearing!!

folkmamma · 20/10/2018 07:28

@Juneharmony really, there is no need to disappear!! It was just a moment in time and we are all friends here. X

stringchild · 20/10/2018 07:28

Little dad - sorry but I had a giggle st your face when you opened the case🤣

June/Patrick....dont go x

Juneharmony · 20/10/2018 07:39

Thanks all. You are very kind. I'll be back at some point, of course. As I said it's hard for me to be away too long. Smile

se22mother · 20/10/2018 07:45

June Patrick hope you don't go x

folkmamma · 20/10/2018 08:02

Noo is doing a solo performance at her first open house concert at JD today! I'm sure in time it will all feel very normal, but today we are both feeling a few butterflies...

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