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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

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:
Original poster
Wafflenose · 27/10/2018 17:39

I was a clarinet player with train tracks for nearly 3 years, elastic bands, power chains, headgear, extractions... you name it! I was referred at 10, discharged at 20 and back for two jaw surgeries later. Goo played the flute through blocks braces, palette expander, train tracks and retainers. Her sound suffered for ages, and I reckon the NCO problem last year was either about the train tracks, or just giving some of the huge number of other flautists a chance. Rara will jump straight to train tracks, but she has hardly any teeth at the moment. There are 4 baby teeth left in there (including 2 at the front!!) and she had to have one extracted yesterday because the adult tooth had been pushing hard on it and had cracked it into little pieces.

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stringchild · 27/10/2018 18:04

Waffle - you are so much nicer and more supportive a musicmom than me; if dd doesn’t get in I will just assume the others played better on the day. I am poss too blunt with her 🙃 🙃

Se22 - no not London but I think someone else on here has had a similar experience in London?

littleladsdad · 27/10/2018 18:04

I've mentioned before Alexandra that our ds needs to have braces too but we are currently doing nothing. Our dentist is not very helpful. We will at some point have to meet this head on and do something about it but I still don't know what. We investigated the Invisalign system but it's terribly expensive (£3K) on top of everything else! Not only that but I think it needs to be regularly checked and adjusted, not ideal when our ds is away at school. Is this what you've found to be the case string?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 27/10/2018 18:15

I would have said that, string, if I hadn't heard the entire audition last year.

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folkmamma · 27/10/2018 18:40

if dd doesn’t get in I will just assume the others played better on the day....

I'm afraid the cynic in me has, over the last couple of years, come to the view that this isn't necessarily true with NCO. Don't get me wrong, we love being a part of it. But I think some of their decisions are questionable at best... This doesn't come from sour grapes as I'm very realistic about Noo and her place in the pecking order. However, having seen a number of the kids play who did get full membership in the years she didn't at regionals and other places, I have to say I've been rather disappointed that she lost out to several of them. And having heard Goo play some fabulous solos throughout regional rehearsals this year has totally cemented that opinion!!!

Floottoot · 27/10/2018 19:24

Knowing what I know about how professional orchestras audition and trial, and ultimately appoint, I'd say that playing ability is only one part of the equation.
There are so many other factors that come into play, and I'd imagine that's even more complex when you're trying to put together a whole orchestra, not just fill one position in an existing orchestra.

Isn't the saying along the lines of, "You can be the sweetest, juiciest peach...but there'll always be someone who doesn't like peaches"?

hertsandessex · 27/10/2018 20:23

DS just had final baby teeth removed and train tracks fitted. He went kicking and screaming. He mostly bangs things so no music issue but super conscious about looks when performing. Told him if still on and gets through to BBCYM next time (unlikely but he can dream) we will pay to take them off for a month or two Smile

AlexandraLeaving · 27/10/2018 23:03

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hertsandessex · 27/10/2018 23:08

One thing I would say is not all train tracks are the same. My DD had them two years ago and was in a lot of pain and her lips/mouth were visibly different and she sounded different as well. My DS on the other hand says doesn't hurt at all and his mouth and voice are the same. I think one was having teeth pulled in and other more straightened if that makes sense.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 27/10/2018 23:09

I don't know of anyone who has had as much orthodontic work done as I have, and the horrible headgear is largely a thing of the past, fortunately! The blocks did a similar job for Goo and she didn't need the fearsome contraption!

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Floottoot · 28/10/2018 09:16

DD has just had train tracks removed from her top teeth. She had them adjusted every 6 weeks of so, and she was lucky she didn't need to have teeth out as the whole purpose of them was to close up a prominent gap in her front 2 teeth.

I can't think of many pupils of that age that haven't had to have some kind of orthodontic work done, and it generally messes up sound for a while but as long as embouchore adjustments are made, issues can be sorted.

cantkeepawayforever · 28/10/2018 09:26

Waffle, DS's 'functional device' was a last ditch alternative to jaw surgery (I was quite amused to hear words like 'severe overbite' bandied around, because mine is SO much worse than his and is entirely uncorrected). Luckily it has been very successful, so the proposed train tracks are much more about straightening the teeth cosmetically now the jaw realignment is well in hand.

DS doesn't really care about the overbite but does want the straightening done ... but perhaps not started 4 days before his first choice audition....

Floottoot · 28/10/2018 10:16

Cant, if you've waited this long to have them fitted, another few months to make sure he's done his auditions won't do any harm. Definitely NOT a good idea to have them done so close to his first choice!

cantkeepawayforever · 28/10/2018 10:25

Floot, I agree, and am just hoping that the orthodentist is happy with delaying it as well. As long as he keeps wearing his twin block thing religiously except when playing / eating, I think it will just mean everything stays the same until the train tracks are fitted.

We are just hoping to have everything finished before he goes off to uni. Spent a LOOOONNNNGGG time on NHS waiting lists until we just decided to go for it privately with someone with a good reputation who could see a possible non-surgical approach which preserved his teeth (as I say, the only other approach suggested was breaking his jaws into a few pieces and sticking them back together.....)

Crazygirlmama · 29/10/2018 05:59

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catkind · 29/10/2018 07:04

Crazy I can just picture her. Must make all the logistical efforts seem worthwhile!

Floottoot · 29/10/2018 14:08

That is so lovely to read, Crazy. I'm sure your DD will get to enjoy regionals ( at least) again next year - she sounds perfect for NCO!

ZakStarkey · 29/10/2018 18:19

She looked like she was having a lot of fun Crazy- very sweet!

woolleybear · 29/10/2018 20:18

That's lovely to hear Crazy, it's such a good feeling when they are clearly loving it.

woolleybear · 29/10/2018 20:30

So, odd messages from DD clarinet teacher today about a possible upgrade of clarinet as she knew if one for sale, followed after her lesson by an apology, she had mistakenly thought DD had a plastic clarinet and there was no need to upgrade just yet.

So confused as DD does indeed have a plastic clarinet. I don't think we will go for the one for sale though as although it's the next step up we were hoping to jump a step by virtue of buying a new mouthpiece for the instrument we have. Anyone know any more or have any thoughts?

RomanyRoots · 29/10/2018 20:36

Floot

Your point about auditioning for orchestras is interesting.
A while back on the feminist board somebody was talking some adopting a blind approach, not seeing the auditionee.
I never heard anymore or whether it took off. It was a couple of years ago, or last year, maybe.They had to play behind a screen iirc. Could you imagine if it was compulsory.

crazy
I'm so pleased for your little girl, it sounds like she loved every minute.
I hate saying this, as I don't like it myself but...... You must be so proud Thanks Grin

Braces really aren't bad, I've known a few who all say they had no problems. Just a bit more practice to begin with to overcome the change and a bit more when they came out. I've known one carry on through grade 8 with and diploma, 6 weeks before exam and was fine.
My dd was fine, she was allowed to take hers out for practice, lesson, singing, but she had to choose wisely as only allowed up to 2 hours a day.

Brasstacks · 29/10/2018 20:37

woolley, why not go and try it and see?

Brasstacks · 29/10/2018 20:39

I found playing clarinet with braces utterly miserable - but then my mouth was shredded by them even without playing.

RomanyRoots · 29/10/2018 20:48

wholley

You can't beat a Buffet without paying serious money imo. I'm learning Grin If you can find one second hand it will be a good investment.

woolleybear · 29/10/2018 20:59

Thanks, she has a Buffet B12 at the moment, and the one for sale is a Jupiter 750. A step up certainly but not a “final” instrument. Hoping we may get away with just a new mouthpiece for now and then a more serious upgrade in a few years.

The new teacher is going so well, and has asked dd to join a clarinet quartet she is putting together outside of school which is positive.