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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

December Music Thread

229 replies

Wafflenose · 02/12/2018 13:01

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).

OP posts:
fourlittlekangaroos · 03/12/2018 22:02

When do Grade 5 results usually get published online? My son (Y5) took the exam and keeps asking about results!

Trumpetboysmum · 03/12/2018 22:12

Tomorrow ( I hope !!)

se22mother · 03/12/2018 22:21

Congratulations NBB and pancake

Alsoplayspiccolo · 03/12/2018 22:36

fourlittlekangeroos, join us, chewing our nails, over on the grade 5 theory thread!

Owlm · 03/12/2018 23:14

Ah excellent news Pancake and cant. Lots to celebrate Star

I have a violin and piano playing, 9 year old, DD. She loves to sing, and will have her first opportunity to lead in orchestra for the Christmas concert.

We're all abit tired out here from the weekend so had a much slower day today. Lots of concerts, rehearsals and shows...trying to pace ourselves Hmm

fourthusernamebutwhoscounting · 03/12/2018 23:20

Hello, newbie here. Just wanted to find a place to share my pride in Dd who we have just heard today, achieved distinction in her G3 exam. You guys will understand the effort put in to that!

catkind · 04/12/2018 02:56

Oh well done fourth, NBB, littlelad, pancake and I'm sure others I've missed.

My late night intro:
DS is 9 and playing piano and french horn. I'm chuffed he has put himself forward to play in the school end of term concert so he has his first public horn outing next week!

DD is 6 and playing violin and piano. She's had her first string group concert last week which she was very happy about.

I think we will have some exams next term, not sure exactly which yet, probably DD grade 1 piano and DS grade 2 on something. So much for my idea of a no exam year.

Crazygirlmama · 04/12/2018 04:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ealingwestmum · 04/12/2018 05:21

Hello forth: congratulations on your DD’s fantastic result!

PancakeMum6 · 04/12/2018 05:42

Congrats on your DD’s result forth!! This thread moves so fast Shock

3 of mine (DDs 2-4, the secondary school aged ones) are in their school concert tomorrow. I’ll be seeing DD2(17) accompanying a (NYO member) violinist, accompanying four girls singing, and in two dance pieces she choreographed. DD4(12) is starring in one of these and also playing violin in the junior orchestra for the final time, and guitar in guitar ensemble. DD3(15) is going to be in flute group, clarinet ensemble, and senior orchestra.

DD5(9) is grumpy that it means missing triathlon running training... meanwhile DD6(7) has laid out her outfit already and nearly cried with excitement (and came down at about 11pm saying “I think I’ll just stay awake until morning now because I’m too excited to go back to sleep”). So I’ll have one grumpy child and one overexcited (but maybe also overtired) in tow. Hopefully it won’t detract from the performances, it’s usually a lovely night...

PancakeMum6 · 04/12/2018 05:47

Also I can’t believe how many concerts you all have! We’ve just got this school one, a Leeds music one for DD4 (one CLYTO), a CAT dance showcase for DD2 (her other dance school where she teaches and does street dance had their concert back in October), a KS2 choir concert for DD5 and a break dance battle for DDs 4 and 5, but they’re pretty much monthly anyway. So 5 events in total - and I thought that was bad enough!

Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2018 06:24

Pancake dd always takes sandwiches to ds’s Christmas concert at school - it’s very long but he’s always in loads so it’s worth seeing.
We have lots of concerts because ds is now in a brass band and they get very busy at Christmas . It sounds lovely though and is a really good taste for ds of playing for ( as my dd calls them ) real audiences ( not parents - though I go too sometimes) . Grade 5 theory results today ( I hope) and a brass band concert . Then school awards evening on Thursday and NCO at the weekend !!

woolleybear · 04/12/2018 06:50

Well done NBB! And some amazing exam results too!

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 04/12/2018 07:38

Well done to minifourth and good luck to those awaiting theory results!

PancakeMum6 · 04/12/2018 07:39

Trumpet to be fair to DD5 this will be her 22nd time attending an end of term secondary school concert... she’s been three times a year since she was a toddler. The joys of being the (almost) youngest. DD6 however is having a first time experience - I’m seeing it as a practise one for when we take her to the real theatre at Christmas (a treat she doesn’t know about yet and may well collapse from excitement when she hears).

I always go prepared - books, teddies, colouring, snacks... it all comes with us everywhere. When DD1 was in year 7 the younger four were 10, 8, 5, and 2.

And lucky you with the brass band - the primary school choir always shares a performance with a brass band for the Christmas concert and it sounds amazing!! So Christmassy too. maybe I should force DD6 to try the trumpet again

TaggieOHara · 04/12/2018 10:00

Well done mini fourth . Nice result Star

We have another 6 concerts and a (super exciting) radio 3 broadcast to go before Christmas. But fortunately, DS2 does not have to sing on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. We have also now finished evensong, so DS2 will have Sunday off. I think...

Fingers crossed for theory results.

minisnowballs · 04/12/2018 11:11

Some great results there. Well done to NBB particularly, but all amazing stuff.

Just over a week till dd2s exam and she's ALL over the place today (we're having the sitting room painted so unfortunately her music and instruments are all over the place too.

Sigh

Alsoplayspiccolo · 04/12/2018 12:00

Grade 5 theory results have just appeared online ( no email warning!).
DS just missed a distinction - 88 marks.
Phew! I'd said all along he only needed to pass, so he's done well.

folkmamma · 04/12/2018 12:22

Hooray!!!!! well done mini-piccolo!!!

Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2018 12:27

Ds got 90 so we’re very relieved here , we were also just aiming for a pass just to get it over and done with !! He might need to do grade 6 now though for a potential 6th form music place Hmm I think we’ll get grade 8 out of the way first !!

Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2018 12:31

Piccolo I’ll say well done to your ds here too !! Good luck with the rest of the exam results Smile

Alsoplayspiccolo · 04/12/2018 12:38

Huge congratulations to your DS, Trumpet! Fantastic mark!

Iusedtobeachoralscholar · 04/12/2018 14:03

Well done Mini-Piccolo and TrumpetBoy!

I can still remember taking my Grade 5 theory - it was the one and only time I ever had a proper migraine and I ended up sitting the paper with one eye closed.

Wiifitmama · 04/12/2018 14:32

Well done on the theory results! No results here yet but I wasn't expecting them for another couple of weeks I think.

ILovePandas · 04/12/2018 18:06

So many well dones to say - everyone is doing so well - amazing. Still waiting for grade 5 theory result from the teacher (fingers crossed)...