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Extra-curricular activities

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

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:
Doubleup · 20/10/2018 15:00

"girls shouldn't be going to all the extra drop in sessions, because that might indicate an issue."

Floot - what planet is the head living on?! If teachers are offering drop in sessions, then why not use them? I think I'd be asking serious questions.....

druidsong · 20/10/2018 17:06

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

MeltingWax · 20/10/2018 17:15

I am starting to think about a couple of festival entries for early next year. Am thinking about entering DD for the recorder category where the entrant needs to have been playing for less than a year. And hope that she doesn't stand 2 feet taller than a group of 5-year-olds! 😬

Just wondering whether it's best to go for an unaccompanied piece or an accompanied one so she feels a bit less exposed...

ealingwestmum · 20/10/2018 19:27

floot; good plan, Cake and Flowers for your DD and you. DD went to a GDST up to Y6 and decided to move to co-ed from Y7. Her current school recommends around 10 hours per week (Y10 too) and to spread it, not saving all for weekend. And none over these 2 weeks of half term It’s really disappointing to hear your head’s strategy for “success” when they put a MN sponsored thread asking what parents look for in a senior school.

Your DD’s Head should perhaps read it!

littleladsdad · 20/10/2018 20:04

Your balanced plan for half term sounds pretty good to me Floot. DD & DS attended GDST so I'm familiar with the demands often made. I'm glad that I was able to remove ds before the hardcore revision for CE began.

I normally retire to a safe distance when ds is auditioning but I couldn't avoid hearing him this morning. It went well, I hope. We were all very surprised that his transpositional skills went untested in the sight-reading and he wasn't asked to do any aural tests. Shouldn't complain, I suppose!

catkind · 20/10/2018 20:11

Momoftwogirls I feel like I should answer your viola question but not sure if I have a super useful response. I got my viola case by taking viola to the shop and trying out cases until I found one that fits both viola and shoulder rest, as you probably know violas can vary quite a lot in shape and size. If it's just for a loan viola for a year I think anything you buy new will last the course so I'd just go with cheap!

Re bow really depends what budget you're thinking. What sort of level is she playing violin cos she'll quickly catch up? Viola bows are only a tiny bit heavier than violin bows so you may find carrying on with a good violin bow is better than moving to a cheaper viola bow. Has her teacher expressed any preference?

catkind · 20/10/2018 20:37

Well done littlelad and noo!

And melting, I'd go for accompanied if it's not difficult to arrange, definitely a confidence boost to have company on stage!

ZakStarkey · 20/10/2018 20:55

Went to see the English National Ballet - Manon tonight- very good- first ballet the kids/I’ve seen. They liked looking at the pit during the interval 🤣🎶.

se22mother · 20/10/2018 21:59

Interesting to hear about GDST Floot..... that is very different to their marketing.... thanks for sharing. We have looked at a couple of their schools recently

PetraDelphiki · 20/10/2018 22:07

Dd is using a carbon fiber violin bow for her viola - she feels really comfortable with it! Avoid the Tom and will cases - they are made for big violas and have no padding for smaller ones!

Wafflenose · 21/10/2018 08:37

NCO South Westerlies concert today! I'm so excited to see Little and Large Waffle Woodwinds on stage together! Rara has loved her year with the orchestra and is looking forward to it. Goo is turning into a teenage grump and is underwhelmed. DH can't make it, but I'm bringing my mum and her husband, plus a friend and her DD who's auditioning (I taught her until very recently). I think this is the end of the line for us as a family with the NCO, but I have some pupils who might try in the future. I intend to enjoy every second today.

OP posts:
catkind · 21/10/2018 08:55

Ooh, have a fab concert waffle! Are neither of them wanting to do it this year?

AlexandraLeaving · 21/10/2018 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mendingfences · 21/10/2018 09:09

Enjoy the concert waffle, whether it's an end or not these are definitely moments to savour.

My 12 year old is currently grumping that her siblings are taking part in a weekend long halloween themed music / drama / dance / art workshop next weekend (they're both doing music) and dd1 can't because she's got jd on saturday..... its all made worse by the fact that ds has been invited to take part even though he's not officially old enough and the band mentor being a proffesional she has worked with before and idolises....

CoffeeTeaChocholate · 21/10/2018 09:12

Hi everyone, I have been lurking on the thread, feeling a little intimidated (but inspired) by how dedicated to music your children are and how you manage to support them.

We have 3DC, DD1 is 9, just auditioned for the NCO u10 on violin, but I am not sure went - we had some hickups to say the least. DS (8) loves music, but loves sport more and DD (5) seems to like her recorder. I just find it completely exhausting trying to fit in practice, school work and sports. I am inhaling all good ideas on here.

Just wanted to wish waffle the most amazing day. My oldest managed to get into the Training Orchestra last year and I am beyond excited to watch the London concert next month.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 21/10/2018 09:21

Enjoy the day waffle always lovely to see siblings playing their instruments together 🙂 They may even enjoy it so much they decide to go for it again

folkmamma · 21/10/2018 09:23

We will be at NCOSW today too! Noo hasn't auditioned this year so we will be savouring every second in case it's Is our last one (although I think she will want to try next year as lots of her new JD friends are members). Looking forward to seeing family Waffle!

Floottoot · 21/10/2018 09:49

Ealing and SE22, I have been very tempted to comment on that GDST post.
I suspect DD's head is the issue - she seems very old school and not at all flexible. We have ongoing issues with her attitude to SEN ( " we're a selective school, not a 'special school' " was her response to requesting reasonable accommodationscand exam access arrangements for DD) and her persuit of top spot in the he GDST league tables, at least, seems relentless. DD has just started having 'coaching' from the school counsellor, who let it slip to us that the school, and particularly the head, is not really MH friendly/aware. They go through the motions - counsellor, mindfulness course, 'heads up' week etc but it's no more than lip service.
I do have a friend with a DD in the Clapham school an I understand the ethos there is quite different.

Floottoot · 21/10/2018 09:51

Have a wonderful day, Waffle! So special to see both your DDs on stage together.
Is Goo not auditioning this year? It's a difficult age, if DS is anything to go by, so if not, hopefully she'll reconsider next year for mains.

littleladsdad · 21/10/2018 09:54

Hope you have a wonderful day waffle & folk.

Hello & welcome coffee.

Doubleup · 21/10/2018 09:56

Enjoy the concert Waffle!

Doubleup · 21/10/2018 10:00

And folk - hope you enjoy it too!

ealingwestmum · 21/10/2018 11:31

Hello coffee; welcome!

LooseAtTheSeams · 21/10/2018 13:38

Have a wonderful day Waffle lovely to see the girls performing together!

harrietm87 · 21/10/2018 13:46

@Floottoot and anyone else..haven’t RTFT but saw the first page. My DH is a professional musician and I used to be but now in a different career. We’ve just had a baby and would love to encourage a love a music. We do lots of singing and percussion with him - would you recommend anything else? And what age do people recommend starting to learn an instrument? DH and I are both from non musical families so came to it “late” (9/10). Thanks and sorry for thread hijack!