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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:
Wiifitmama · 06/12/2018 20:42

Thank you! I actually have no idea! He played folk music for his audition which no doubt made him stand out. I had to get permission for his oldest brother to go in and accompany him on guitar as they insist on "no unaccompanied instruments except piano" and they provide the accompaniment for the kids, but only on piano and only with sheet music. Well that just doesn't work for folk music! Anyhow, they said they would send details in the new year so we will wait and see.

littleladsdad · 06/12/2018 20:46

Welcome CruCru - I do think that the physical size of a trumpet can be tricky for younger learners. My ds started on a cornet and didn't play a trumpet until about year 5/6.

MeltingWax · 06/12/2018 20:47

Well, that's some great news to end the year on! Smile

cantkeepawayforever · 06/12/2018 20:49

Well done mini Wiifit!

pandasandpeas · 06/12/2018 20:57

Wiifit go your DS! That’s brilliant, I bet he’s super excited for the final.

CruCru · 06/12/2018 21:02

Gosh, that does sound exciting. What sort of recorder does he play?

Trumpetboysmum · 06/12/2018 21:27

Wiifit that’s great news ! Well done to your ds - how exciting !!

Wiifitmama · 06/12/2018 21:38

He plays a treble recorder - a nice wooden one but nothing unusual I don't think.

woolleybear · 06/12/2018 22:00

Well done Mini WiiFit!

Mistigri · 07/12/2018 06:45

Very irregular contributor popping in briefly in a gap between work trips!

DS15 plays electric guitar (very well) and classical piano (started recently but progressed quickly). I pay for his lessons and organise transport to his guitar lessons and group practices, but I don't get involved any further than this, except to yell "turn it DOWN" several times a day.

He's playing in a rock/jazz/blues group with adults this year so there will be some performing at some point.

Well done to miniwiiifit, it's lovely that he has got that far while doing his own thing and not playing standard music student repertoire. It's great that he has an accomplished accompanist.

Waffle, do you think your DD is happy at school? Could she just be bored? My DS is a very able and mostly compliant kind of kid but he did literally nothing at middle school (years 7 to 10 here) except learn to write computer programmes. He got good results but always got comments about lack of participation. With the benefit of hindsight, he was bored and did not fit in. He got to high school last year (years 11-13 here) and it was a complete change, he has loads of friends, teachers love him, and he like being treated as a young adult not a child. He's in equivalent Y12 now (one year ahead of age peers) and tbh still quite bored, but it seems to matter less now. He has loads of friends, likes being able to cruise along with an 85-90% grade average without doing anything much, and I have given up nagging about homework.

On the music front, DS had never even touched an instrument at 13 and I also don't think that giving up is always a one way process. What about non-classical music? It is a much less pressured environment where there is less judgement and fewer performance criteria (it sounds as if she has a real issue with people judging her performances, or perhaps - like my oldest - she just hates putting herself forward).

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/12/2018 07:17

Goo loves school for the extracurriculars, although she is getting annoyed with the musical standard already - disappointing as it has always been amazing, and we moved here partly for the school. She also has a lovely group of friends who are just like her - opinionated, sarcastic and very intelligent, so they verbally spar with each other all day long. Academically, yes, she is bored to tears. We would have loved a skip when she was tiny, but it isn't possible here and actually I realise now that it wouldn't make any difference. Recently she was working at a GCSE 7+ (top of the old A grade) in English and History. Her other subjects are mostly at Grade C, but we have had no subject comments or effort grades this term. I think they are going to be appalling. She did do a lot of homework last night, and also revision! Big maths test today and extension test on Monday, and they have been told that some of them will be moving down a set. Goo is determined not to be one of them, although it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Last night, she said she really wanted to practise the flute, but sadly probably wasn't going to have time. She told me she would do 5x 30 mins per week for a reward, so I decided to listen to her terms... a can of Coke!! Done.

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Trumpetboysmum · 07/12/2018 07:37

Waffle Grin she will get there . Ds is also fairly disappointed in the music standard at school - though he’s in lots he has lots of musical friends so sees it as a social time - and he enjoys his leadership role . Hopefully she will also grow to love it , I think ds was just disappointed as he was so excited about school music at the start of year 7 school have done nothing wrong they’re great and have a number of excellent musicians , but it is still just school ( difficult when you start year 7 as one if the better players though )

Trumpetboysmum · 07/12/2018 07:54

I think the threat of moving down a set - or even being moved down can sometimes be the motivator they need !! Ds is doing really well in science now that he isn’t in the top set . He’s always worked hard at maths as he’s never felt that his place in the top set was that secure !! His school don’t set for anything else though

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/12/2018 08:19

DS2's school reports always note his lack of participation despite good grades. He refuses to do any extracurricular at school but he gets away with that by doing music outside. I can see why Goo might be demotivated by the lack of challenge - but it actually does sound like she's starting to work through the practice phobia! I wonder though if the not wanting to perform in public and not contributing in class are linked - teenage embarrassment at standing out?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/12/2018 08:42

She won't play solo because of a couple of performances which freaked her out when she was much smaller, and won't contribute in class in case she gets an answer wrong.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 07/12/2018 09:25

The fear of getting something wrong is really hard to overcome. In reality, I'm sure she is saying the right answer in her head.
I don't think DS2 is worried about giving a wrong answer - he just won't say anything unless he's picked on. (Teachers comment on it but not too much as he behaves in class.)

Doubleup · 07/12/2018 09:27

Waffle DD1 is similar in terms of not putting her hand up/needing to participate more in languages in particular. She hates getting stuff wrong. DD2, despite a history of extreme shyness is getting involved in class, but as regards music, she hates playing solo. So far though, if her teacher tells her she’s doing something, she accepts her fate! She did avoid the soloists concert at school as that is not compulsory, but she will have to perform in the scholars’ concert next term. Just a little matter of practicing enough to get her piece up to standard to get past...... I almost think she’s ‘holding her breath’ until the NCO results are out next week. She’ll hopefully move forward from there - whichever way it goes.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/12/2018 09:29

Good luck with the NCO results!

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Mistigri · 07/12/2018 09:36

We would have loved a skip when she was tiny, but it isn't possible here and actually I realise now that it wouldn't make any difference.

Totally agree. But it does sound like school is part of the problem, along with the fear of getting things wrong. Musically, I wonder if learning to improvise might help?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/12/2018 09:39

Improvisation (plus the pop and rock slant) is the reason that she has just left her CAT. She can do it, but is so phobic that it was starting to impact hugely on her life. I am socially phobic and Rara is a selective mute... I guess we all have issues that manifest in different ways.

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Original poster
Wafflenose · 07/12/2018 09:40

I should add, it has been improvisation at every workshop for the past 2.5 years, despite promises to the contrary.

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Trumpetboysmum · 07/12/2018 09:44

Yes that’s a good idea - ds loves jazz because as he says - you can’t really get it wrong some notes just go better together than others Grin
Ds isn’t great at playing solo - though at NCO you wouldn’t know this , and I think these solos- where he has to play alone but they’re quite short - plus having the backing of an orchestra has really helped . He can see that he can enjoy it . Also brass band seems to be helping because he gets to do the same solo piece over and over again and it’s not too difficult.
It’s just finding a way past those nerves so you have enough practise to know how to deal with it I think ( says the person who never volunteers to sing solo !! )
Dd will sing and act but hates playing solo pieces - I think that’s a feeling in control thing though.
I’ve just sent her into school really wound up about some “ mock SATS” - give me strength !!Sad but that’s a whole other thread

Enb76 · 07/12/2018 09:45

My DD (10) is now well into the exam rep for G4 piano - she's doing the Beethoven, the Greig and the Sluka. The co-ordination required for the Greig is getting there, it does not sound lovely while being practiced, the others are fine. She's also hitting the books for G5 theory and just moseying along the G5 rep for classical guitar. She's going to need a full size guitar before long so I'm saving up.

Trumpetboysmum · 07/12/2018 09:49

Sorry cross post
Yes Waffle AYM is like that too - luckily ds loves this kind of thing but they never pretended that it would be anything different . However by the time he joined he had already done a year with NYJC where they had taught them how to improvise a bit and play by ear. I think this helped a bit to get over the initial nerves of getting it “wrong”
It just sounds like SWMS wasn’t for her - as long as she knows that this doesn’t in anyway make her any less of an excellent musician im sure she will get there in the end and her love of playing will return .

Mistigri · 07/12/2018 10:01

Waffle, do you think counselling might help? My DD developed social anxiety last year following bullying and she had some sessions with a psychologist which helped.