December Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Hi all, sorry it's late. I didn't get a moment yesterday.

Please feel free to jump right into December's discussion. We talk about music lessons, practice, exams, concerts, auditions, repertoire, instrument hire/ purchase, reeds, strings and more. There is no minimum or maximum age or standard. Beginners are always welcome.

Our thoughts are with one of our members, Tabby, at this sad and difficult time for our family. Her situation has reminded me of all the things that are really important in life - mainly our loved ones - and that while music is something which can enhance all of our lives, I shouldn't waste time stressing over small stuff like exam results.

I am mum to Goo (13) and Rara (10).

HER family, not our family. Gah. Good start.

Beautifully said Waffle. Hugging my girls, Noo (11) and Moll (8) a little tighter than usual. Loving thoughts to Tabby & family xx

Absolutely Waffle , sometimes the musical journeys that are dc are on seem all embracing, but really it’s so important not to worry about the small stuff and just enjoy each and every moment for what it is .
Lots of love to Tabby and her family

Yup, my DS (14, percussionist) was doing his usual Kevin & Perry act yesterday and thinking of Tabby made me realise how lucky I am, despite the grunting-that-passes-as-communication.

Echoing waffles sentiment.

December concerts started for us yesterday with me and dd2 (10) playing 2 concerts with my wind band, we were missing our leader and at times it showed but the show went on regardless

Well said Waffle
Awaiting grade 5 theory results - Tuesday perhaps?
Piano exam the following week and DD relaxed about both

Thank you waffle for the new thread. Sending lots of love to Tabby.

I am mum to DD aged 11 who plays piano, recorder & cello and DS (9) who plays piano and viola.

We are also awaiting theory results - Grade 5 for DD and Grade 4 for DS.

This weekend has been quite a musical one. The Saturday morning orchestra DD plays with had their winter concert yesterday. And we made the trek down south of the river today to see the Palisander recorder quarter play two performances which were both fab - this morning they did a Christmas themed early music concert and this afternoon they performed their Recorder Revolution set where they showcase the different kinds of recorders. I have tried to upload a photo.

Now we are at the Barbican - have tickets to see Sheku this evening. Very excited!

Sending support to Tabby - what a horrible thing!

I have DD (12) who plays all variants of cornet/trumpet (starting to work towards trinity advanced performance certificate ...), violin (g6 next term) and viola (either g5 next term or g6 in the summer...not sure which teacher wants)...

Just recieved an email detailing the second concert crash this december.... who would have thought thursday was a popular day?

Lovely start to the thread waffle and very best wishes to tabby
We’re in the thick of Christmas concerts 🌲and exams... 1st exam yesterday went ok despite my little horn player having a cut lip... two more to go...looking forward to the holidays 🙂

We are definitely on the middle of it all 2 down 9 to go !!

Well no actually we’re no where near the middle yet !!

Has Goo started with her new flute teacher yet, waffle?

Melting dd loves that piano. We know that venue well. We have Barbican tickets for later this week.

I have 1 dd(10) who plays violin, clarinet and voice.

We are off to the Barbican between Christmas and New year as a Christmas treat!

I have DD 12, who plays clarinet and bassoon. No exams here this term thankfully but clarinet grade 5 next term, grade 3 bassoon the term after and then grade 5 theory the term after. We shall see...

Quiet for concerts for us, last week in the junior orchestra with the school, next week with band and then with choir at a carol service the week after

I'm in denial about it being December already...

I have DD, 15, who has singing lessons but doesn't think of herself as a musician and can't read music, and DS, 12, who plays cello and piano and is a music scholar at a cathedral school. He's taken grade 5 theory and grade 2 piano this term, and is working towards grade 7 cello but is focusing on some technical issues at the moment.

2 concerts down, 7 to go here.
2 exams down, 10 to go tomorrow!

I was at the Barbican yesterday. Sorry, I can't be more specific!

Goo's lessons with her current teacher will end in February. We don't yet have a plan in place for after that. Looking at various options, including school lessons or even whether she is continuing lessons... but nothing is certain and we might not know for several months.

I’ve got 6 DDs - all with some musical involvement.

DD1, 19, did grade 8 clarinet 5(!) years ago now. Just plays for fun + also self taught ukulele.
DD2, 17, year 12, did grade 8 piano 2 years ago. Still plays a lot but again very casual - often as a de-stress from A levels.
DD3, 15, year 10, did clarinet grade 7 a week ago so we’re waiting on results. Flute grade 8 was taken back in summer. For Christmas she’s getting an alto sax to add to the collection! She plays flute in school orchestra.
DD4, 12, year 8, did violin grade 5 back in summer and (classical) guitar grade 5 is on Tuesday. She plays violin in the CLYTO and is looking at auditioning for CLYO next year. She will also be playing violin in school orchestra as of January (they have to be grade 6 standard to audition for higher orchestra).
DD5, 9, year 5, has absolute perfect pitch and is in her KS2 school choir. She is getting a cello for Christmas.
DD6, 7, year 3, is about to start her (one handed) violin journey. Just waiting on the custom made prosthetic and then we can look for the right length bow!

Hope you find what's right for Goo, waffle - I shouldn't imagine it's easy to find the right teacher.

The Sheku concert this evening was just amazing. We were in the front row and we were all just transfixed. Beautiful playing, I may have had a wee tear.

Pancake - good luck with the bow hunting for your DD!

Pancake the violin journey sounds so exciting- good luck.
Melting the concert sounds great - we heard him play at BBC Young Musician, it was a real treat

Thank you Wafffle for the thread and your lovely words to Tabby.

I have DS2 at home, trombone, piano, organ and voice. Also in the middle of the usual set of concerts/playing carols in shopping centres etc. He is also in the middle of his GCSE mocks and had Grade 8 piano on Wednesday. School has surprised me by being very supportive of the clash.

We were lucky enought to be at a concert with Sheku and Jess a few weeks ago, and got to meet them afterwards. They wished DS2 good luck for his forthcoming Grade 8 piano exam (which is apparently of far more use than practice!)

Pancake I'm really looking forward to hearing about your DD''s violin journey.

Happy December everyone.... I've lurked on these threads for a few month.

I have DS(13), a cellist who is meandering through some pieces and really enjoying concerts having achieved G8 in the summer. Next weekend he has his final NCO concert of U13s and is awaiting results of his NCO 2019 audition.

My DD(11) took up the viola in July and will be taking her G7 exam next week.... she took her G7 violin nearly 2 years ago so this doesn't feel so bad. Also awaiting NCO results in the next week or so.

And me....I accompany my two when I can, and still play a bit of violin... but am feeling quite excited this weekend because last night I invited around 3 local(ish) doctors who are lapsed string players - we played quartets in my living room and had so much fun - felt rejuvenated after (although the bits that were difficult 25 years ago were still difficult now)!

Tabby so sorry to hear your news. Will be thinking of you and your family.

Hello ladies- I lurk here and only post when there is a crisis- today is one of those times! DD, almost 15, does 3 instruments. She is working towards grade 8 piano and had a meltdown last night as she feels she is not making any progress. She started learning her pieces in August and whilst one seems to be ok, the other 2 need lots more work and she was particularly down that she has 6 pages to learn still on one of them. She has one half hour lesson a week.

Just wondered what your experiences were with lesson times at this level. Should she be having more? She does put in the practice time (usually) and I used to be able to help her but she is way above me in terms of ability now so all she gets assistance wise is this one lesson per week.

Advice/comments/thoughts gratefully received.

Cocopops my older DC did Grade 8s on brass and sax with 30 minute lessons, as that was what was available at school. DS2 does have an hour lesson for piano at home though, and seems to use it. It still taken him longer for Grade 8 than going from 6 to 7, all the scales for a start.