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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

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

365 replies

Wafflenose · 07/12/2018 16:54

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?

OP posts:
hertsandessex · 27/12/2018 19:50

Yes Purcell and then RAM. Yep sounds like drunk driver drove into them. Parent's worse nightmare.

Mendingfences · 27/12/2018 20:05

Awful news Sad

Doubleup · 27/12/2018 20:34

I can’t imagine what the families must be going through Herts. Awful. Sad

usedtobeboss · 28/12/2018 21:29

Hope I'm in the right place. DS did two ABRSM exams at school on 11 December - does anyone have any idea when we might reasonably expect results? Hoping we don't have to wait until he goes back on the 7th...

Boyskeepswinging · 28/12/2018 22:11

If the school entered him then you're unlikely to hear before school reopens. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.

hertsandessex · 28/12/2018 22:27

We sometimes hear before school goes back but that relies on super-helpful music staff checking emails during the holiday and going beyond the call of duty but yes most likely 7th.

Doubleup · 28/12/2018 23:30

We’re waiting on the result of an exam taken at the end of November and DD won’t hear until she next sees her teacher for a lesson. With mocks, that could potentially be w/c 21 Jan!

Owlm · 29/12/2018 10:20

Hi can anyone help with music tech please?! Dd had an ipad for Christmas and wants to compose music. She's using garageband at the moment. Is there any other apps compatible for ipad that she can use. She wants to be able to record voice aswell as violin etc. Any suggestions?

NeleusTheStatue · 29/12/2018 10:22

That's a long time to wait! DS's piano teacher wasn't happy this year's ABRSM as the mark sheets arrived much later than usual (due to switching to outsourcing the printing process?). She felt it would be important to go through the comments with pupils while they still remembered how they played etc. By the time the mark sheets arrived discussing what happened/what to improve was ancient memory for many of the young DCs. Hope you hear the results soon...

BettertoChange · 29/12/2018 11:10

usedtobeboss I received DS's exam results on 17th Dec. He took exam on 8th Dec. I registered the exam myself so informed immediately when it's online.

usedtobeboss · 29/12/2018 12:01

Thanks all. We've had results from teachers during holidays before - I was more wondering when the online results are likely to be available to teachers. They tend to be pretty good at passing them on if they have them, even during holidays.

NeleusTheStatue · 29/12/2018 12:16

I registered the exam myself this year and the online result was available within 10 days. The mark sheet and certificate were delivered much later.

NeleusTheStatue · 29/12/2018 12:17

Or even within a week. Sorry can't remember exactly but it was quick.

bostik · 29/12/2018 12:27

Merry Christmas to you all! I expect this particular question has come up a lot but I'm after current advice! Anyone have any advice on what a good quality 'next level' violin should cost? DD is 10, G6 ish level and playing well but has been on bog standard instruments up until now. She needs a 3/4 size instrument. We've borrowed two violins and a nice bow from a shop and is currently trying them out. Any advice/suggestions gratefully received!

ZakStarkey · 29/12/2018 12:56

It can vary hugely- also depends on what your budget is- I know kids who have 3/4 violins that cost between £400-£4500- and they all sound pretty good- bows is also a minefield....

bostik · 29/12/2018 13:07

Thanks ZakStarkey do you think there likely to be a significant difference between a violin approx £650 v £1100? The teacher will come and listen soon, which will make all the difference to our decision...

Wiifitmama · 29/12/2018 13:09

Our teacher did not check his spam folder which is where the result ended up so we had quite a delay in getting it. I had to prompt him twice and then he checked there. Just a word of warning!

ZakStarkey · 29/12/2018 13:25

There could be a huge difference or none at all..... let you child decide (with the teacher too) which one sounds/feels the best to them x

bostik · 29/12/2018 13:38

Thanks Zak I can't wait to see what the teacher says. So far it has been played all over the house (including the bathroom) because of 'different acoustics'!

hertsandessex · 29/12/2018 13:52

We made the jump for my DD at about grade 6 from a bog standard Stentor Conservatoire to one costing about £1000 plus bow (albeit full size.) That has served her well through grade 8 and playing in some good orchestras and I imagine she will continue to use at university. Unless there is a huge difference between 650 and 1100 or money is not a big issue I would be tempted to go for the cheaper one and wait to spend more when ready for a full-size which will come along very quickly.

NeleusTheStatue · 29/12/2018 15:24

Dealers and players value different things so higher price tag given by dealers doesn't always mean 'better' for players. I personally just focus on the sound and playability and pay little attention to the dealer's value for fractional violins as this way it's easier to find a decent violin that gives the learner/player great pleasure to play within limited budget and anyway soon a full sized violin would be needed.

When you are prepared to invest serious money then it's wise to try to find a violin with a good balance of both values of players and dealers as you cannot ignore the selling value unless you have unlimited financial resources.

£650 sounds totally fine for 3/4, but then I would say let the child choose with the teacher's assistance. At least the teacher could help the child stay away from disastrous choices but it'll be the child who should choose in the end. DS didn't pick the one his teacher initially approved and eventually found the one he's truly in love with (and later the teacher agreed with the choice Smile). The player has to love the sound.

TaggieOHara · 29/12/2018 15:31

Bostik - it is very personal. DS2 hated the £3k violin he tried, but fell in love with the £600 one. And don’t underestimate the importance of a good bow. DS2 is about to upgrade to a 3/4 bow, although went to a 3/4 violin 6 months ago.

We havent put too much thought into the small sized instruments though, partly because we have negotiated part exchange/buy back deals, partly because we have been run off our feet busy. In fact we got more for the 1/2 than we paid for it (different dealer).

We will shop around more for the full size, which will not be in too long based on DS2’s growth rate!

NeleusTheStatue · 29/12/2018 15:35

Also can you try the violins somewhere large like a school or church hall? You would like to have a violin that projects well in a concert setting. The sound the child can hear under the ear is also different from what the audience can hear. You or the teacher could help her see that by listening from distance or maybe record the sound and let her listen to the sounds away from the ear.

bostik · 29/12/2018 17:14

Good advice all round, thank you!
Hertsandessex good to know, thank you.
Taggie yes, we are considering 'part exchanging' when it comes to full size time...
Neleus we are trying out the two violins for a couple of weeks which will take us into term time - I'm sure she can try it out in the school hall. Great advice, I hadn't thought of it...
Thanks all :)

folkmamma · 29/12/2018 17:49

Bostik, we have recently been through this! We had 3 on trial, our favourites from 3 different luthiers. One was £500, one £1500, one £2500. DD and teacher didn't know which was which. They were all good - DD liked £500, I liked £2500, teacher (very experienced conservatoire teacher) marginally preferred £1500 to £500 but when he found out the prices, told us to buy £500. Admittedly we were very lucky to find it - similar age/quality violins (1890's German) with other luthiers were at least £1000. It will do her through G8 at least before she needs a full size.