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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:
littleladsdad · 04/12/2018 18:16

Well done to TrumpetBoy & Mini-Piccolo, super results!

Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2018 18:22

Fingers crossed for your dd panda !!

Alsoplayspiccolo · 04/12/2018 18:30

Thanks, Littlelad.
I thought DS would be chuffed, but he's disappointed he didn't get a distinction...sigh.

ILovePandas · 04/12/2018 18:49

just got the news DD got 83 a merit for Grade 5 theory! Super happy for DD and she is both shocked and thrilled. Phew Grin

LooseAtTheSeams · 04/12/2018 18:56

Waffle beautifully said - and thanks, as always, for these lovely threads.
I am so impressed by the exam results - well done all the minis. They are so talented!
So, quick recap - DS1 is sort of doing a performance diploma in bass guitar except his bad mum hasn't booked his next lesson. He is quite busy with Christmas stuff and A levels and socialising (particularly socialising) and is as disorganised as ever but doing OK! Still has guitar and drum lessons, too.
DS2 is somehow now working towards G7 cello (but G6 scales!) and will take G5 piano next term. That could be interesting as theoretically so am I! (I really very much want to wimp out of this as he is so much better at piano than me...) I think he's doing G5 theory at some point but not sure exactly when - although his cello teacher would probably like to know, too!
Progress has been made in this house - hitherto the dcs have played completely different tunes at the same time in their adjacent bedrooms. They have now progressed to meeting up in DS2's room and collaborating! DS1 has also 'helped' DS2 with one of his compositions. DS2, who likes to potter around on the computer doing his own thing, is not entirely sure about this.

MeltingWax · 04/12/2018 20:16

Well done to everyone on their results! I posted on the theory thread that DD had 90 in her Grade 5 & DS had 87 in his Grade 4 theory exams.

DD has started doing a bit of Grade 6 theory work but I am going to have to up my game a bit if am going to support her with that.

I will be tenor recorder shopping over the next few weeks - inspired by Palisander DD is keen to play the tenor now. She doesn't know that I was planning on getting her one for Christmas. May go down to the early music shop to try a few Xmas Smile.

TaggieOHara · 04/12/2018 20:56

Super theory results! Well done everyone!

Owlm · 04/12/2018 23:24

Ah so many brilliant marks. Well done to your DC'S! Cake

woolleybear · 05/12/2018 06:15

We are now debating whether grade 5 next term is enough time to learn and wondered what people thought. About eight of the scales are known already so I think about six to learn. Dd has chosen her b piece with her teacher yesterday and will work on it over the holidays and then choose other pieces in January? Is this enough time?

Also need to decide on whether to go with school exam day, or one the teacher requests outside of school, likely to be later, but also quite possibly in the one week I have taken off over Easter which would prevent us getting away (I only get six weeks a year off).

Final decision will be made after the start of next term, but now dd has it in her head I'm worried that if I or her teacher says no it will cause a souring of her relationship with the new teacher.

Trumpetboysmum · 05/12/2018 06:32

Yes I would think that would be enough time to learn the pieces and rest of scales for grade 5 . Ds has always prepared for exams at the last minute - it’s been fine !!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 05/12/2018 07:08

Yes, she is way ahead of us. Rara is doing it next term and hasn't started yet, but I reckon it will take her 2 months at the most. I think you should go on holiday though!

OP posts:
Trumpetboysmum · 05/12/2018 07:41

Oh yes definitely go on holiday !!

PetraDelphiki · 05/12/2018 09:13

What’s the normal etiquette with changing teachers within school? Dd not liking her viola teacher but I’m told the other viola teacher is much better....do I just say to the school I want to switch?

folkmamma · 05/12/2018 09:47

@PetraDelphiki does she have different violin and viola teachers?? It's working brilliantly for us to have both with one teacher....

folkmamma · 05/12/2018 09:48

Oh and if just email in to say the partnership isn't working and you'd like to switch!

PetraDelphiki · 05/12/2018 10:03

She does but her violin teacher has never done viola before and is frantically busy so doesn’t really have space for extra lessons anyway :-(

If anyone knows a brilliant viola teacher in SW london let me know....

Alsoplayspiccolo · 05/12/2018 11:03

D'S changed piano teacher at the start of this term, after a year with another teacher at the school.
It was extra tricky because the original teacher is a playing colleague of ours and we had requested him to teach DS, but D'S just did not enjoy lessons with him. We emailed the head of music, explaining the situation, and DH had a chat with the teacher, and both parties agreed that a swop would be better. We would have had to give notice/ pay in lieu, but the original teacher had a replacement for DS, so we simply moved over to the new teacher.
It's absolutely been the right thing - DS actually enjoys his lessons now and wants to practise.

woolleybear · 05/12/2018 11:37

Thank you for the reassurance that next term will be ok, and I'm not selfish to want my holiday. I don't get very much time off over Christmas and so October to Easter always feels like a long stretch.

I've e mailed her teacher and said she is committed and will be letting her bassoon teacher know that her practice will be clarinet biased next term and her next exam for that will be the term after. This may well also be a delaying tactic for Grade 5 theory when mum has said only one exam per term...

She did brilliantly in the band concert last night, lots of very rousing Christmas music has definitely put me more in the mood to celebrate!

littleladsdad · 05/12/2018 13:26

Well done to mini-pandas!

CruCru · 05/12/2018 15:03

Hi all

I am mum to a son (aged 7) who has been doing piano for a couple of years and has just started trumpet this term. I also have a daughter (aged 5) who is doing piano and is going to start violin next term.

I used to play the trumpet and am now learning to play the piano.

ealingwestmum · 05/12/2018 15:08

Well done to all the DC with their theory results!

Alsoplayspiccolo · 05/12/2018 15:08

Welcome, Crucru!
Lovely to hear of younger children learning multiple instruments. Do they have lessons through school,or privately?
It's great that you're also learning piano - we have several adult learners in this thread.

CruCru · 05/12/2018 15:16

Thanks Alsoplayspiccolo!

They do the lessons at school. I’m going in to observe my son’s trumpet lesson next week, which should be interesting. His teacher keeps saying that he needs to hold the instrument up but the boy finds it quite heavy held up. He’s a year early to learn (they won’t usually start until at least year 3) but was super keen so they started him early.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 05/12/2018 15:45

Hello CruCru. Goo has a friend who started the trumpet in year 1. She's now 12 and a tiny little thing, but amazing.

OP posts:
Trumpetboysmum · 05/12/2018 15:59

Cru cru trumpets can by quite heavy and seem long for little people - both ds and dd started on cornet because it’s smaller . But at this stage I wouldn’t worry too much - trying to hold correctly for a bit each practise should help cement the idea of good posture which hopefully can be extended to longer periods of time as they get older . You can’t do it all at once !! I have also seen some shocking posture displayed by some of the much older trumpet players that I’ve observed recently- not ds I might add !!