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.

You encouraged me to be back on the piano. I tried to learn using DS’s old music last autumn then abandoned it (again). But I did a tiny pit of practice today. I don’t have much spare time so it’ll be a short session each time but hopefully I won’t abandon it again...

And I am pre grade 1. I’m using the music DS was using when he was 6 or so. 😂

Baby elephant is about right. I have suggested that he just doesn’t blow as hard on the higher notes but perhaps that is unrealistic for a child of this age.

That’s great you’re trying piano again neleus! cru I’m sure it will improve. When DS was first starting (on cornet) his teacher said it’s better if they overblow to start with to get the breath support sorted and then rein it in later....

Lol, got some baby elephant going on here too. Gargly baby elephant. And people complain about beginner violin sound!

Lotsofmilk, yes, but I'm trying very badly!
cat, why don't you add bassoon too?

I checked out some bassoons (out of nosiness, our school have asked that more children consider taking it up) and found a load for £20k. Then backed away slowly.

What do beginner bassoonists sound like? DS did clarinet at school one year, no idea what he sounded like individually but 30 beginner clarinets in unison was pretty bad.

Like this.

Lol. I have a suspicion that guy is just a bit too musical to plumb the depths of what a young beginner can do to an instrument. Either that or bassoon is mild compared with say oboe.

It does sound rather mild, doesn't it? I spotted a comment describing his bassoon sound as 'mildly musical farts'. Er..., pardon me.

Having gone through listening to beginner stages of dd playing clarinet and bassoon I can say it is a lot easier on the ear. Even now, she is more advanced on the clarinet but it can still be painful to listen to at times (new piece in the house currently, not going overly well...). The bassoon never sounds that bad, it doesn't squeak if you play a note badly in quite the same way, it really is very gentle and easy to listen to.

DD2 started on a mini bassoon and then a tenoroon before moving on to a full sized one. The small instruments were a bit harsh sounding, but her bassoon now can sound lovely and mellow. The low B flat can sound like a liner leaving port though! DD1’s first student oboe on the other hand made my ears bleed! Lovely tone now, but took a while.

cru, there are some pretty decent bassoons out there for a lot less money, particularly second hand. And then there is the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme where you can buy the instrument through a state school/academy or music service and save on the VAT.

Yep, the beginner still didn’t sound awful. In fairness, my son is now able to make a nicer sound on some notes on the trumpet than I can.

I think the bassoon is my ambition, rather than either of my children. If they are super keen in a year or so I won’t say no.

How do you all handle late concerts and even later to bed, especially on school nights?
I am glad it's friday, my 8 year old played in a big concert last night, it was nearly 10 before he was on stage and after 11 when we got him home and in bed. School starts at 8.15 this morning and i fear his teachers are going to have a tough job today....

Ooh I love Two Set Violin ofc a professional in one instrument starting another won't sound as awful as a kid with no musical experience.
I don't remember my early clarinet attempts as a kid being too bad. They shouldn't squeak, even at a very early level, usually means the ligature is too tight or the parts aren't quite properly aligned, or the reed is knackered.

Hi all. It has been ages since i’ve been on here. I still have a violinist and a sax player. Last year was so hard with them both sitting ATCL in the same session. One failed (just) and one got a distinction so you can just imagine what our house was like then...

I do not suggest anyone let’s their kids sit in the same session. Aside from trying to find suitable attire, pay a lot of accompanist fees and settle arguments between siblings for practise times, it’s a lot of money in one go. Then they go head to head. So do not do this!

One has decided to keep playing for fun and will continue in her ensembles and never intends taking a music exam again. The other is working hard on her DipABRSM and technique, choosing new repertoire. Happy as.

Crikey Mending' that's a late finish for an 8 year old. What time did the concert start?

Shaky - that sounds really tough.

Mending - DS2 is 10 and has been doing regular late concerts since he was 9. He is in a choir that does a lot of concerts, so they are very experienced in dealing with young children and late nights. What makes a big difference is how the concert day itself is organised. The choristers have at least an hour of supervised rest time in a quiet room before a concert, and they don't tend to do more than an hour or two of rehearsal. The rest time is separate from being taken outside for a kick about, or going for a meal.

So if you can schedule in some proper rest before a concert, that helps. The next day DS2 is often a bit tired, but he has got pretty used to it now, and most of the teachers are understanding.

That sounds tough shaky well done for surviving!
The concert started at 7, although ds didnt have to meet up until 8. They hung out in the Green room and ds got to watch minecraft videos on YouTube so he was pretty happy . He was ok this morning and school havent rung so im assuming no crisis. I think an early night is in order tonight

DS had a late night concert only a handful times at that age but when he did I emailed school to let them know about it, or I might have even asked if he could come in slightly late next morning. They were usually very understanding but then it didn't happen very often any way. A couple of hours to go now, Mending, then it'll be a holiday. Yay.

Actually, DS was on a heavy training program for his football and had to leave school slightly earlier to attend the after school sessions (an hour drive one way). School let him go without a fuss and it was on a weekly basis. So why not for music also?!

Hi, i’m A very infrequent poster on here. And have no. Sounds like everyone is doing amazing.

Can anyone tell me any recent experience on how fast Abrsm are turning round practical results from special sessions ( ie: invited in to do a series of exams rather than in a public access place)

I know from prior experience that 3 weeks is likely.
I just want someone to tell me it’s sometimes quicker than that as it’s tough waiting!

I guess it will all be forgotten about quite quickly during the fun of half term, and then it will come as a surprise some time in March.

Have a good holiday everyone!

X

don’t know where And have no came from! Sorry.

Ah, yes I was trying to say I have NC! Love autocorrect!

The difference between coming in late and leaving early is the register. Come in late you have to be marked absent. Leave early no official record!

Shaky nice to hear from you again. Two Grade 8s in the same session was bad enough here!