October Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

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!

Yes, Folk, she needs to increase her practice time(I have always been wishing for 30mins:)). We used your chart Folk, she knows the bits she needs to focus on and love it xx.

Oh dear Patrick! Hopefully seeing his friends might boost his energy. We always have cold beginning of any season as a family :(.

Exactly, the other day the roisining took 5 mins and she just did a scale and that was it. I said, is it it? “Yes, mom!”. Things have changed a little the last couple of weeks, she was given this study from our teacher and she seems to be on it. I have no idea what it is, it just mixed of extremely fast play and extremely slow play at the same time.

Don’t worry owlm - that little girl is not representative of the U10s! Mostly, they are about the level of DS2. Also, things will change this year because they are integrating in the younger players from the training orchestra age group.

As folk says, well played grade 3/4 pieces at your DD’s age is exactly what they are looking for. They are interested in quality, not high grades.

Feeling like a prize twit today.

Mentioning no names, but after a revelating pm last night when I found out we weren't all rich/poor sahm's and indeed some of you are indeed fellas I'm mortified.

I have absolutely no idea why I presumed this, and certainly no problem that some of you are Dads. Hoping I haven't said anything too embarrassing especially as i pm a lot.

Patrick
Hope mini Patrick is soon fighting fit, my dd said she's not the only one to have had a hacking cough, most have had a cold of some description.
I'm sure air con doesn't help either.

Oh Romany - I work outside the home but feel mostly that my role as a university academic is my nice easy hobby, and being a music mum is my real full time job .

Romany...I had presumed the same oops

Sorry minipatrick isn't feeling his best. I guess it could also be adjusting to the 'new germs' of the new environment. Plus this time of year, there are always colds flying around. I hope he feels stronger soon. I think it is great that you can just pick him up. You are very much still needed Patrick and doing a great job.

There's a bit of a clue in my name Romany

Ha! Brilliant. littleladsdad you are awesome for braving the sea of oestrogen that is Mumsnet!!!

This moniker is gender fluid but mostly male :)

greenleave 😂about the roisining! That’s exactly what my youngest does.... by the time he’s roisined, put on the shoulder rest and taken it off a few times and tuned there’s only time to play a few bars!!

littleladsdad

Even I managed to work that out
I'm more surprised at myself really, as I don't presume these things on other threads.

Thanks for the kind words for unwell DS. I just asked DS if he would like me to come to pick him up earlier as I have managed to rearrange my work for this evening but he said 'no, thanks'. So I assume he's doing alright.

Talking about dads and mums, I am currently a mum but apparently I was a male mathematician in South America in my previous life...

Romany
I’m definitely a mum - not a stay at home one though but my career doesn’t really exist anymore - more like a job to fit around being ds’s pa and both of their taxi services!!

That young violin player was incredible !!
Floot I know that the standard in violins is higher Ds is currently in under 13s and said they are all at grade 8 / beyond grade 8 but that’s not true of all sections . Ds still hasn’t taken his grade 8 although had played at that standard for a while now . In fact none of the under 13 trumpets had got round to taking their grade 8 at the time of the summer concert . I don’t think this was true the year before though . I really think that what they are looking for is pieces played well with a good tone and musicality - not high grades. In fact Ds had only taken grade 5 when he auditioned for under 12s ( though he played harder pieces at the audition) . I have no idea if ds will get in again this year but he’s enjoyed it so far and that’s the main thing .

Patrick
I'm not even going to ask.

I'm procrastinating as really should be ironing this afternoon, so many of dh shirts for weekend.
He can and does do them himself, but I feel guilty not doing it when he's running around like a headless chicken, fitting everything in.

I'll leave this with you all, as it tickled me

Very good Romany. Not sure that version would catch on with West Ham fans :)

Reminds me a bit of Jacob Collier's Flintstone arrangement for which he got the Grammy

Yegods, that little violinist is incredible. And the standard for NCO is incredible too - u10s is the youngest age group isn't it? Perhaps I should get DD to take up viola if she ever wants to get into youth orchestras. There are so many amazing violinists.

Catkind - lots of county level schools and youth orchestras around where the standard is much more reasonable. Our county runs a schools orchestra up to 18 with guideline of around grade 7 and a youth orchestra up to 21 grade 8 and higher.

In other news DD apparently has 6 piano pieces to practice this week. All easy 32 bar jobs but 6 Plus a bunch of scales. She only has a 20 minute lesson!

cat, that's just indicating your DD is learning fast!

I too have a paid role to provide a break from the unpaid admin and taxi service

Well I used to be a taxi driver for DS but now a coach driver since DS started new school.

Yes, driver/doorgirl/service girl for the last 10 yrs and likely minimum another 7-8 yrs given there is a reception one to follow. Well, at least none of them is a footie with the winter is coming!