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).

I am jumping in to introduce myself. I have given up on any hope of anonymity anymore as my kids' instruments and activities are too outing!

I have 3 ds all of whom are involved in folk music to some degree but one is the actual "musician":

Ds1 who is 17 and played classical guitar through to grade 5 then dropped it completely in favour of acoustic guitar and folk music. He now plays only for fun in a folk ensemble

Ds2 who is 14 and the musician. He took grade 6 last week on piano which is his second instrument. His main instrument is melodeon and he is extremely talented. He plays in 4 different folk ensembles including being the youngest player in the National Youth Folk Ensemble and he also does solo gigs in folk clubs and festivals. We are currently looking for a 6th form to support his talent.

Ds3 is 10 and plays recorder. He is working his way slowly through gradings as he started late with these. He will probably do grade 4 at some point next year. He is more talented in folk music though and plays in a folk ensemble. He is impatiently awaiting turning 12 when he is allowed to join the same ensemble his two older brothers play in.

As to CYM, ds2 plays in their Senior Folk Ensemble. This was the first year he did it and it came about as we heard them play somewhere else (where another folk ensemble he was in was playing) and we spoke to the leader after and asked if he could join. He was too young technically as it starts from 15 but the teacher said yes. We didn't realise there was supposed to be any formal audition process (which we had long since missed the cut off date for anyway) and I just called them and said the teacher said it was ok! He loves it but only attends for the ensemble. I am now looking at DS3 joining in September. We will attend the open day and audition process for him this year with that in mind - he would join the fuller program. We do live in London though so travel is much easier.

We are awaiting the results from DS2's piano grading and also DS3 who auditioned for our council's Junior Musician of the Year last week.

All three of my DDs did grade 8 on 30 minute lessons as they learn in school and that’s what is offered, but in the run up to the exams they all had a semi-formal (with the official accompaniest and teacher acting as an examiner) practise run and two sessions where they were given two back to back lessons - so they had 2 hour long slots. Is there any chance your DC could arrange something like this?

Has anyone got a child with braces? My DD plays cornet and has refused to play for the last few months as she says her braces make it too difficult. A shame, as she enjoyed playing in the brass band.

Older DD is a cathedral chorister and is preparing for her singing diploma. I gather it's a big jump up from Grade 8, but am leaving her and her singing teacher to it (not much I can contribute!).

Thank you EalingWestMum for that- really helpful. My DD's third instrument is voice too!

Oh no coggle . I think for some it can really hurt and put them off playing . Have you tried the protective wax ?
Also might be worth looking at adjusting the embouchure with the teacher to make it less painful ? Apparently braces can sort out the playing with no pressure issue !!
Ds refuses to have braces and as his teeth aren’t too bad ( he wouldn’t qualify for nhs treatment so it would be purely cosmetic) he says it’s invisalign or nothing should he ever need them !!

Hello, I posted for the first time on the previous thread. I have a DS (9) who really enjoys music. He is working towards grade 3 in piano, although I don't think he'll take it until the summer as his teacher wants him to really work on improving his sight reading & fingering. He has also started the cello this term with a school scheme. He was delighted recently to realise that he only needed to deal with the bass clef (at the moment...) and wouldn't be reading two lines at once! Finding the notes is a different matter but he seems to be enjoying it so far.

I also have DD (5) who doesn't have any formal lessons but begged me for a piano book. DS's teacher recommended Poco Piano so she has a go at that occasionally.

Interesting discussion in length of lessons. DS's teacher really wanted him to go up to 45 mins after grade 2. She was doing that with him anyway and it's working well.

No Christmas concerts for us apart from school carol concert (group singing only) but DS is taking a chance to play at a local care home tonight as he is visiting with Cubs.

Thoughts go out to Tabby, I can't begin to imagine what she and her family are going through.

According to DD4’s texts her grade 5 guitar was ‘Fine.’... maybe I’ll get more information when she’s home

And DD3 has a distinction in grade 7 clarinet! She makes me laugh though - she’s done an exam every year since she started (grade 3 after a term and then grade 5, and now grade 7 each a year gap) and when she saw the mark she dramatically declared she’s on a ‘downward spiral!’ (138, 136, now 134) Because she’s gone down 2 marks each time. Such a perfectionist... she’s consequently decided the flute is definitely her preferred instrument - no ‘downward spiral’ there...

Very well done to your DD3 Pancake! And sounds like your DD4 not only did great but takes it all in her stride

Fabulous result, pancake!!

Very well done to pancake's DD!

And hello to all the de-lurkers!

Whoops, posted on the November thread to say ...

NBB has an offer from his No 1 choice of conservatoire for jazz performance

Thank you to you all for keeping me sane....

On the subject of lesson length: the DCs' piano lessons with me & DD's recorder lessons tend to vary in length depending on how close to exams we are/how tired I am/whether I can face doing aural.

When we started I used to do about 20 mins but it's usually about 40 now or an hour if we go through everything. It's so much simpler on the piano as there's no packing away, tuning, sorting out a temperamental instrument, etc.

They both have hour lessons on their stringed instruments. The music service wanted to keep DD's cello lessons to 30 minutes but DD has to travel 40 minutes to get to her teacher and by the time she has unpacked/packed away a 30 minute lessons seemed very short so I pushed for an hour slot on the timetable.

👍👏 for NBB! How will you celebrate cant?

Hello all, away for a few days and these threads have been so busy! Thank you as always for getting us going Waffle and particularly for your kind words for Tabby.

DS is a 13 year old Trumpeter and attends specialist school & JD. We went to see him in his first concert at JD at the weekend. Really enjoyable and well worth the 300 mile round trip. We get to do it all over again next weekend too!

Brilliant news Can't, huge congratulations to NBB!

Congrats Can’t!!!!!!

Well done to NBB!!!! And to pancake's dd. Good news all round :)

Can’t thats fantastic news you must all be so relieved
Pancake great news too!!

Oh fantastic news for NBB. And now breathe, Can't!!!!! Xxx

Wow - well done NBB. Fantastic result!

And well done to mini pancake! Some ‘downward spiral’ indeed

Very well done to the Pancakes and NBB. Lovely news!

Exciting times ahead for NBB!

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for NBB!!!!!!!!!! Fan-bloody-tastic!!!

Well done NBB !! Great news!! 🌟 And well done to mini pancake too!