Christmas and January Music Thread *Thread title edited by MNHQ*

[Wafflenose]

Hi all,
Here's a new thread for the festive period - possibly including a bit of January if I'm away and unable to start another one in time. The old thread was making me nauseous.

I am a music teacher, so pretty busy athis the moment. I have just had results for 12 pupils' exams... 3 pass, 7 merit and 2 distinction. My DDs didn't do any this term, but have 9 concerts between them. Goo is 13 and plays the flute and piano. Rara is 10 and plays the cello and clarinet. What are you all up to musically?

Oops! Patrick!

I know Romany- definitely not a troll.
Swinging is real also x

Thanks Raspberry and Zac

Hey, a tip for xmas songs. Have no idea why, something about Harmony and Jazz, but get your kids to play "We three kings from Orient are".
I know dh uses it with Impro/Jazz students every year, sorry don't know more but have learned how to switch off now, it comes automatically,
Have heard dd playing it too

I only know of one troll. 4 names so far. It was about the lies and completely fresh family and situation each time, not the name changing. MN has banned them several times and nobody is accusing anyone else (name changers or not) of trolling.

I hope you all have a nice Christmas. It’s my children’s carol service tomorrow then we’ve got the holidays.

I think that most of us just can't comprehend just why trolls do what they do. Is it attention seeking? Jealousy? Billy Liar? Oneupmanship?

It is very sad as I don't think it is as simple as any of the above explanations.

I have no idea. I’m definitely not a troll , and I think quite a few of you know who ds is anyway !! it’s just so odd and such a shame.

I read that trolls are supposed to be malicious or purposefully divisive. I've not read posts like that on the music threads.

Hopefully, will meet some of you in person at regionals.

I think it’s hard to spot a troll, I don’t know how those who did picked up on the issue. Glad there’s some good vigilant people around.

Waffle has PM’d me as I hadn’t realised that had been going on, I drop in and out of the board depending on how much time I have/don’t have. Waffle more or less worked out who DD is and who I am too from social media! I think others here know too (or can work it out) as her section in NCO is small but I’d still prefer to remain anonymous. I’ve worked out who a few DC are too, those I see at NCO.

Signing off now for the holidays (as I guess I’m going to be busy) Wishing you all a peaceful break.

I can understand the appeal of inventing a different life on line as a diversion. However, the small, specialist nature of the music world is that we do know each other (or each others' kids) IRL so unlike, say AIBU, you don't expect to see the keyboard warriors here and you take people at their word.
I'm easy to identify IRL too (again, small section in orchestra) and have spoken to several of the MN NCO crew at concerts and auditions.

Yes I think many of us have met by happenchance now or are aware who the dc are; I am fine with that - been really great to meet people from here. I am more wary of those who are reading but never post and not for good reasons! They are trolls too and have different kinds of problems to thiose who invent new lives (I don’t mind them, they generally do no harm except perhaps to their own heads). Rant over!

I havent met any of you in real life (given the large expanse of sea between us!) But i'm not a troll, although im currently feeling rather stiff and rock like so perhaps i am a little Norwegian mountain troll-like .
We're now finished the pre Christmas concerts and lessons for the year so just a small local performance for the kids on the 29th - Christmas music of their own choosing so thats just a case of getting them to agree on duets etc.... luckily its Christmas so chocolate bribes can be liberally applied if neccessary

cantkeep, you sound like very much supportive parents and DCs with amazing passion and determination (like many families on this thread). I really enjoy reading the challenges and conquerors and hope to continue hearing the exciting adventure.

I don't mind people on this thread, especially regulars, to know who DS is. In fact I always enjoy exchanging some messages and emails and also the happy opportunities to bump into each other IRL. But I feel uncomfortable to let all the world (readers) to know, for similar reasons to what string says.

We had rather quiet December musically. DS had a few performances but nothing like he always did with school, choir, orchestra, JD, etc. We had a few run but not a marathon!

I have to keep my mouth shut as DS plays a minority instrument. On sites that aren't open to Google I don't mind quite as much but here I namechange a couple of times a year to break the link with the old me that used to name the instrument. Nope to that now. I have counted, three concerts before Christmas, one after. This is the same number as I said before the last concert so obviously I can't count to five.

2018 has been a year of changes and upheaval for our family - lots of exam stress, changes of school etc. Being able to talk about these things (from exam tips to forgotten coats) has been so helpful and I'd like to thank you all for the support & encouragement that is always available here. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas!

You too littleladsdad. See you in the new year !!

I don't know people irl but I'm sure I could think up more exciting circumstances if I was a troll! I have been hanging round with this username for too long though, it's a good suggestion to change it up occasionally.

Hi raspberrry glad to hear your DS got a place. DD didn’t ( the perils of playing a popular instrument! ) but they said there will still be places on the inspire days so we need to apply each time one comes out. Hopefully she will get something... on the positive side she was invited to a local workshop to do some woodwind chamber music/trios so she has found something new to do. Hope everyone on on the thread has a lovely Christmas break🎄

A long time lurker, but not one under a bridge (see history). I hope it is okay to intrude.

I have a Ds who plays flute (Grade 3 standard) and piano (just started). We are without a teacher at present in terms of flute. A couple of questions: How many pieces (for flute) would you keep going simultaneously? How many pieces do you do in ABRSM Grade books?

Can I just say thank you to Floottoot for the advice regarding a flute? I did like the Trevor James, but went for a 665. Moreover, somewhere a bit ago you recommended I think the Trevor James Omnibus - Practice Book. It is amazing. I hope you will take care of yourself over the Xmas period.

I rarely post, but enjoy occasionally dipping into these threads for the wealth of information from parents of musical children I find on here. It would be sad if people stopped posting because of one or two disruptive influences.
Back on a Christmas theme, no Christmas music concerts here for my two (grade 2 trumpet and clarinet) sadly. I would have loved to hear them perform beyond the living room! Just one very lack lustre carol concert at their primary school.

Hi bear, in our house, the children seem to have 3/4 piano pieces on the go, but with oboe DD has at least a couple of studies, ànd maybe about 4/5 pieces, some of which are quick , ie only for a 2/3 weeks, then a couple of longer term pieces, as well as general orchestra pieces. She then does fun stuff on top. It seems that it takes much longer to learn piano pieces so they are on the go longer. Her teacher likes her to get through loads of pieces, which really helps her sight reading.

Nice to see you again, BearAusten. I'm so glad you found my suggestions helpful. (I've name changed since then).
Regarding pieces, I generally get my pupils to have 2 or 3 pieces on the go at a time, usually one each from each of the ABRSM lists. They'll be in varying states of prep, so we might get going well.on one before adding in another, or we might look at the first half of each piece before making a start on the last parts. Always, always alongside any pieces will be scales - just a few of each type for whatever grade the pupil's at. ( even if an exam is not on the horizon).

Thank you for responding. Ds' flute teacher will hopefully be returning in February and will want to hear I think 6/7 specified pieces (mix of Grade 2/3 standard). We have gone over these, however I am wondering how to keep them reasonable and introduce new material or should I keep practicing just these ones. Dynamics are not great. (Grade 3 scales/arps are reasonable, need a bit of work in terms of consistent tempo, practiced on a near daily basis.)

Bear, 6-7 pieces sounds a bit much to try to keep on the boil. Could you pick a couple of favourites to polish nearer the time? If teacher gave you that much before a break I'd assume it's more "here's some stuff to keep you busy" rather than "I want to hear all this first lesson back". Better to properly work on improving dynamics etc in two or three pieces than play through 7. (But perhaps your DS practices a lot more than mine!) You sound like you know what you're doing re what needs working on, I think you should trust your own judgement really.

DD has had some long lesson breaks on violin. We do try to have something special ready to show teacher when she's back. Just not necessarily what she's expecting! I quite like being able to try something different. We have variously moved on through repertoire or completely sidestepped and done lots of sight reading or improvising or playing stuff she knows by ear. It's all music, it's all good!

Thank you CatKind. That is what I needed to hear. I don't trust my own judgement sometimes and I was/am a very different learner than my Ds. I hadn't thought about trying to play stuff by ear. Might try that.