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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

November Music Thread

688 replies

Wafflenose · 30/10/2018 22:09

Welcome to all musicians/ parents of musicians, young and 'mature', beginners and advanced, plus everything in between. This is one of the nicest corners of Mumsnet and the music threads were started for my older daughter towards the beginning of her musical journey, 7 years ago. Everybody on the thread was a beginner once!

I have recently seen "we're not a musical family", "I'm not musical" on here quite a lot, and would like to gently challenge that... perhaps you may not have found the right instrument/ teacher yet, or have no desire to play, but I think that everyone is musical. It's not a special something that is limited to certain individuals, although of course everyone's aptitude and natural ceiling varies. I have had the pleasure of teaching almost 1000 people to read and play music now, ranging in age from 3 to 96 and incorporating a range of additional needs, and I think they all got something positive from their lessons! What our young musicians most need from us - whether we play ourselves or not - is lots of encouragement, time and space to practise, and of course the constant taxi service and financial support we give to their lessons and ensembles!

I have two DDs, Goo The Energy Conserver (flute and piano, lapsed recorder and picc player) who is pretty lazy and complacent at the moment and just wants to enjoy her life, and Rara The Awkward (clarinet, cello, recorder) who tries hard... when it suits her! We have nothing special lined up this term, but possibly piano and clarinet exams for next term. Goo claims she wants to dust off her recorders and theory books to get another couple of Grade 8s before she leaves school. I'll believe that when it happens.

Over to you.

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hapsburg · 13/11/2018 12:20

DD has already lined up where she wants to go - but this is totally dependent on the teachers rather than the actual college, which of course could easily have changed by the time she is auditioning.

RomanyRoots · 13/11/2018 12:32

hapsburg

I think that's an important point.
teaching staff can change from one year to another and new teachers create a new/ different atmosphere.
Different styles too can make a huge difference.
I know that Barklee and Juilliard are really best for Jazz in America, but Yale comes pretty much top for classical.
In England Jazz at present is Trinity Laban and Guildhall, but this could change next year.
Also, just because somebody names a college as best for their dc it could be quite unsuitable for your own.
Over the years I've learned that firstly look at the reputation, then suitability/ good fit of teacher, then environment and personal suitability.

RomanyRoots · 13/11/2018 12:33

should read Berklee, not Barklee Grin

Original poster
Wafflenose · 13/11/2018 17:07

We have given notice to Goo's Centre of Advanced Training. She will lose her dfes funding, flute lessons, mentoring and probably her school trip to Germany - and over trivia in the end. But she is steadfastly refusing to go back. Will update you when there is anything further to add, but there's a 3 months notice period so we probably won't have any news for a long time.

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Boyskeepswinging · 13/11/2018 17:17

So sorry to hear that Wafflenose. Really hope things turn around for Goo. It's a horrible age. Best wishes to you both x

MeltingWax · 13/11/2018 17:41

Very sorry to hear that waffle Flowers

RomanyRoots · 13/11/2018 17:46

So sorry to hear this Waffle
Maybe she has temporarily burned out and may seem music as keeping her away from other things. I know this probably isn't true but their minds are funny at this age.
She may well come back to it after a break and she certainly wouldn't be the first.
Another thought is, now she has reached such a high standard perhaps she feels as though she has nothing else to work towards and she has gone as far as she wants to for now.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 13/11/2018 18:57

Very sorry to hear that waffle , difficult time for you. I hope that things will turn out ok 💐 🍷

Alsoplayspiccolo · 13/11/2018 19:42

That is a lot to lose in one go, Waffle. Is the school trip a music tour? Does the school have any kind of hardship funding you could apply for?
Perhaps knowing the end I'd coming will give Goo time to (re)think and consider what she wants to do, moving forward.

Doubleup · 13/11/2018 19:48

Difficult situation Waffle. Is there the opportunity to withdraw your notice before the end of 3 months if Goo has a change of heart?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 13/11/2018 19:55

I don't know, Doubleup - I asked various questions about the notice period but they have yet to acknowledge my email of more than 24 hours ago. It's a school music tour and I hope we can still pay for it out of her untouched 2017-18 courses budget.

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Trumpetboysmum · 13/11/2018 20:06

That’s difficult waffle . I hope they get back in touch with you soon and that Goo still gets to go on her music tour . She’s so good and has done so well once she’s had some time and space she could definitely return to it and do amazingly they’re all still so young .
Good luck with the hunt for a new teacher too - hopefully you have some possible teachers in mind . Ds’s old teacher was great and ds misses his lessons - but the new teacher has had an amazing impact on his playing and attitude ( this especially) in the last few weeks sometimes change can be a good thing ( even when we feel it’s been forced upon us for whatever reason)

catkind · 13/11/2018 20:54

Wine waffle, sounds incredibly difficult, both musically and financially.

Crazygirlmama · 13/11/2018 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PancakeMum6 · 14/11/2018 02:09

Don’t know the situation in as much depth as many on here do but Flowers for waffle. It sounds like a hard time. Hopefully something good will come of it and your DD (Goo?) will work things out her own way.

hapsburg · 14/11/2018 07:46

Wine waffle

raspberryrippleicecream · 15/11/2018 07:29

You all need to see the new John Lewis ad!

MeltingWax · 15/11/2018 07:30

Ooo - I saw a teaser on Twitter this morning - something to do with a piano?

WindMum · 15/11/2018 08:19

Sorry to hear things are tough Waffle. Did you get an outcome from the ABRSM appeal? Is this part of the issue?
Difficult age - thinking of how I was.

Doubleup · 15/11/2018 08:28

Hmm - not sure about the JL advert. Maybe more of a promotion of the upcoming biopic?

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/11/2018 08:36

I think the JL ad would have been better had the main character been fictitious. Using Elton John didn't do it for me, although the sentiment behind it is lovely.

MeltingWax · 15/11/2018 08:41

Agree with piccolo

raspberryrippleicecream · 15/11/2018 08:57

It's the sentiment I like.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 15/11/2018 09:13

I have never seen a John Lewis advert before, so had to Google it! I liked it, but I like anything musical really.

Current situation is nothing to do with the grade 8. We got the final result in September and Goo is happy with it. She has almost finished learning big pieces by Bizet and Chaminade, is doing lots of extended range scales and starting the Enesco.

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