January to March 2019 music thread (Title edited by MNHQ)

[CruCru]

Hi all

Here is the new music thread for January - I hope no one minds me starting it.

I am mum to a son (7) who is learning the piano and trumpet and a daughter (5) who is learning the piano and violin. I am having piano lessons and played the trumpet as a child.

Some of the people on these threads (and their children) are fantastic musicians. Some are more like me. All are welcome.

Thank you to Wafflenose for all the time she has spent managing these threads.

mini - DD took her G1 at Christmas and I think the plan is for her to take her G2 in the summer (with her piano G3 sandwiched between at Easter - Exam fees! ).
Like you I’m a bit at the grades but not sure how to approach the teachers about taking a break. Any suggestions anyone?

Queen I've just asked the teacher when needed. Last term DS had his G8 on his first instrument plus his NCO audition so I just asked the piano teacher if we could postpone his next grade for a term. He was fine about it and it meant my DS could explore other pieces last term so he didn't become sick to death of his set pieces. He did some really interesting stuff, I'd recommend a break from the grade treadmill every now and again!

I find the whole grades thing a bit reductive, but I'm no musician - seems to mean they practise the same three pieces constantly for a bit, at the expense of learning anything new.

Agree with this. My preference is to take exams "from on top" so you can basically sight read the music and spend a month or two polishing it and done. And not every single one unless they're going slowly and need a milestone. I obviously haven't done a good job of communicating this though as we seem to have ended up with exams on 3 out of 4 instruments this term (2 x DS, 1 x DD).

catkind - ouch and I thought DD had a lot with one a term this school year!
DD did a choral transition event today with some other local schools. Seemed like fun although she was more excited by the kitkat at the end...

But surely you can keep learning new pieces along exam pieces? Learning to polish music to performance level is beneficial not harmful. If you have to spend a loooong time on them, only them, then I understand that's real soul killing though.

Doing every exam does sometimes seem soul destroying, my DD has not done any yet on oboe, she is playing around grade 6, her teacher did mention doing grade 5 but I think he can't bear to spend months on pieces so she will do it as described 'from the top' when it only takes a short time to polish the pieces. They play so many pieces that I think stopping to do an exam would slow down progress just now. She does scales all the time so pretty sure those are all done anyway. I think it is harder on piano when you actually have to learn them first before polishing them, maybe that's just my kids. Ds starting work on his grade 4 piano pieces, I do not love this stage. I need a recording of me saying slow it down and use the correct fingering every time!

I know the ideal would be doing the exam pieces alongside others but I hear so many people complaining about only hearing the same three pieces for months on end so lots of teachers obviously don't.

DS's first piano and violin teachers were those who offered lessons locally and reasonably (one at school, one around the corner). Nothing fancy. But one had zero interest in grade exams (he always said he wouldn't judge playing standard from paper but only by hearing) and one had this 'from the top' approach. So luckily DS has no experience of working 'towards' exams. I didn't realise how lucky it was until I started talking to other parents. I've introduced many people to the teachers since and all seems to be very happy (and they aren't expensive!).

In my experience the constant narrow pushing for grades is often the parents either directly demanding this or teachers or indirectly encouraging children. Know some teachers that have fallen out with parents over this. When my children were younger and I knew less about music education I was a bit like that as I wanted a tangible benchmark but now I really couldn’t care less within reason and often find myself encouraging youngest not to take grades (cheaper as well!)

My kids are at a stage where playing 3 page long pieces + 3 exercises (trinity) at once is a big workload. & 20 minutes lesson, DS probably practises less than that DD a bit more. I don't think other stuff alongside is going to catch on here, can just imagine DS's look of horror if I suggested it!

On practice impressed that people are practicing regularly in the morning. Three kids here all grade 8ish in different instruments and barely any morning practice ever going back 10 years apart from maybe day of lesson for 5-10. Just never time in our unorganised house. One child now at specialist school practicing from 7am for an hour before breakfast but that is different.

Sorry for the sudden change of the topic but must share this information otherwise I can't sleep tonight (because I am so excited)!!

According to New Scientist magazine, the longer you have studied a musical instrument before age 25, the quicker your brain is able to recognise words in later life. Apparently by the age of 45, your basic cognitive abilities begin to slip. Grab a musical instrument and start learning NOW if you are still under 25!

It continues to say that musical training (and speaking a second language) help the brain work more efficiently, requiring less energy to accomplish the same cognitive tasks.

Those who are too late (like me....), at least you can let your DCs to pick up an instrument now! Those who learnt musical instruments as a child, enjoy and celebrate your smart brain!!

Bravo! Music!! Wish I knew it before 25

Herts I do wonder if teachers are so used to parents pushing for exams they assume we are without listening to what I'm actually saying. Piano lessons happen at school though so I don't get to hear the conversation - to be fair it could be DC wanting to do exams, it's a morning off school and a certificate, both things they're quite fond of...

DS is currently learning Grade 3 piano pieces. I am also saying "slow down" and "fingering" frequently. He won't take the exam until the summer so this seems a long way off at the moment! Judging from the discussion here his teacher seems quite balanced and flexible though. She likes grades but also encourages wide repertoire, is happy to follow an interest and will put exam stuff aside to learn new things if it's getting stale. DS definitely needs a goal, whether that be an exam or a performance at school. Otherwise he doesn't really polish anything.

cat, DS never covered all the exam materials at one go. When you play a couple of instruments at higher grade, it's pretty impossible unless your life is truly devoted to music. As you say, just playing through all three pieces take up a lot of time. You do bits of studies, bits of exam pieces and bits of something else, or just no exam pieces at all and have a go at other pieces for a while, and so on. Then you can fit all going together within 20-30 mins lessons/practice. This way you can avoid boredom of repeating the same contents again and again.

Lol neleus, well I still remember the music I learned as a child but anything else I can't remember from one minute to the next. I think children have scrambled my brain. I do think music was very helpful memory training when it came to studying for exams though.

cat, if my memory is correct you play violin/viola/piano, right? I am sure you will still speak very clearly at 85 when I'll probably struggle to say a word at the same age.

Neleus - very interesting! I have done loads of music. But am a lost cause when it comes to languages, I fear.

Regarding exams... DS2 hasn’t done any violin exams, but is starting to want to, just so he can answer the inevitable ‘what grade are you?’ question. This is much more of an issue for DCs not at jd etc.

I am of the catkind school of thought about doing a grade when you are on top of it. For his exam, DS2 will play old pieces that he can pick up easily and polish in a few weeks. The limiting factor at the moment is aural. He has a very good ear, but struggles to describe music in a mature way (mainly because he is only 10).

Viola players have longevity - I want to still be playing at 85 never mind talking ;)

Didn't Milstein play into his eighties?

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

You have many many years to embrace your love of music, cat.

Taggie, you don't need to tick both music and language to get all the benefits New Scientist claims. I also remember you as a super violinist so you are very much protected from fast track aging (brain)! At least more than me!

How about this chap? Amazing. www.makingmusic.org.uk/event/whitehall-orchestra/whitehall-orchestra-celebrating-eric-sagons-90th-birthday

Amazing. I am very tempted to go to his concert.

Coz I don't live that far to the venue.

That was last year! Sorry!