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.

I drove DS over an hour to a residential course, opened the boot to find his suitcase but no instrument. There went my day.

DS has cello lessons at the school next door to his. One of the TAs walks him over and used to help him carry the cello. He has been known to walk off without it. He now carries it himself. If we get to orchestra stage he is definitely at high risk of leaving his instrument behind!

Ha - I sent dd1 off without her violin bow yesterday. Luckily she has a spare (rubbish one) in her case which was apparently 'good enough for school orchestra'. My husband is taking DD2 to cello exam because I am out - I shall be feverishly checking her case for music etc before hand.

Neleus, yes, two accompanists that they can book practise time with whenever they like - then they pick the right day of the two-day special visit so that the accompanist they've chosen is there for them. All very organised. Same accompanists also do the regular lunchtime internal concerts. See what I mean by spoiled !

Glad to know I am not the only one... Suppose Knotaknitter is the winner of a horror incident...

minisnowballs, you are indeed very lucky (and spoiled)! DS's jd was very clear about any exam should be discussed and organised between the teacher and pupil so no special visit neither. They were happy to provide their accompanists but the payment and checking availability were needed to be handled privately. Occasionally accompanists were available for any run through for no cost on Saturdays when they happened to be free though (but we never used the service as timing was never right). Also accompanists were provided for any concert/competition organised by the jd for both rehearsals and the actual performance days. But no, no assistance whatsoever for practical exams! Only exam they organised was theory.

4strings

I've just seen your post and Zac is correct. They won't ask back unless they think the child has potential.
The fact that your dd really wants to be a musician will stand her in good stead.
Mine went to speak to house master after the audition, it wasn't an interview as such but a laid back chat.
She was asked why she wanted to go to the school, and she said that she was a musician and this was a school for musicians. He said it was the best answer he's been given all day
If she is herself she'll not go far wrong

I forgot to mention. They aren't looking for the finished product, they look for potential and mostly if they are able to teach them.
Some children just aren't capable of being shown anything and are hard work to teach, these are usually filtered out pretty quickly.
I wish your dd the very best, and if I can help at all, please feel free to pm or post on here.

Oh, perhaps I should have been more grateful for the accompanist thing. I just assumed it was normal! The centre arranges the practical exams (children can't be entered unless form signed by teacher and head of dept), they sort the theory classes (and decide when they do G5) and run an aural class for each grade which children must attend for the term in the run up to practical exams (all boards).

To be honest, DD2s day is so full there that she can't now take advantage of all they've offered her. In addition to the core stuff (ensemble, lesson, supporting studies and choir) she is now bringing her second instrument for an ensemble and practising and learning duets with another girl under the guidance of her HoD. She turned down the folk group (hated it!)....None of the extras have cost any more.

By the end of it I'm knackered and she's absolutely buzzing. And now she's talking about taking on another 'shortage instrument' - I have no idea where she'd fit that in! It all seems to suit her though and she never complains about going, although the day is longer than school.

I also agree that potential and teachability are the keys for selection, both at specialist schools and JDs. What I've witnessed so far is those who got in the system may not necessarily be incredibly advanced at the entry but they all seem to have the ability to progress massively once they are in.

You often hear those 'advanced' kids who couldn't make it. It's because the attained standard at the entry isn't massively important compared with the ability to realise the potential and yes teachability for them. And I think they are 'expert' to spot the ability required to thrive in the environment they provide.

snowballs, the DCs at DS's jd were also not supposed to enter any exam/audition/competition/public exposure without the teacher's approval. They also ran aural/musicianship/improv/theory etc but not necessarily exam oriented (apart from g6 theory which was compulsory for all the pupils).

Ah yes, Neleus we signed some huge terrifying contract like that when DD2 started. Probably aimed at children at a far more advanced level than mine, as it seemed a bit OTT at the time...

Neleus

My dd HO Department told me it was amazing how many jumped up kids argued during audition, and answered back.
Obviously worded differently, but I can't remember the exact phrasing
I suppose when they are in the middle of rehearsals or lessons they don't want answering back, although they do accept and encourage a well timed joke, or witty comment.

It is interesting what you all say about music auditions. My dd did her first music festival last year. It was an age category not a grade one and she popped up and played one of her little g2 pieces while all the other children played g4/5 pieces! She still won though!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 The adjudicator talked a lot about her musicality and the “colour” she brought to the piece. I just smiled and clapped - no clue what he was talking about and I thought she had no chance against much more advanced children. Just reinforced how little I know about music!

I like that about music festivals QueenMabby, they're really interested in how you perform the piece not what piece you choose to perform.

Romany, at kids arguing back at a music school audition. Can't help thinking how badly prepared they must have been. Just takes a word from your teacher that they might ask you to try something differently. (I was going to say "and it doesn't mean they don't like you" as I would have expected child crumbles under criticism to be a more likely response than child argues back!!).

Minisnowballs our piano teacher had a huge scary contract like that when they started as complete beginners. Violin teacher by contrast has no paperwork whatsoever.

third

I was surprised, maybe it's a self preservation thing from the children, I don't think they understand what they are doing is wrong.
They aren't really argumentative but sort of answer back, or at times, seem to know better than the HOD.

Definitely, when they ask you to play something again, could be for many reasons. I do know that sometimes they will ask them to play something differently to see how they respond to instruction.
Mine was asked to play a particular phrase differently, dd said she hadn't got it wrong they just wanted a different interpretation.

Reading here about children at JD and music schools are taught theory(G6 is compulsory) then now I start to doubt mine could learn it by herself.

Would your dd’s music teacher do it Greenleave? My dd is not at a jd or a music school but does have individual music lessons at school. Her piano teacher does some theory with her and she has a theory workbook that she gets set “homework” in every now and again.

Both my teachers are Russian and they are not familiar with ABRSM, she did study G5 by herself with occasionally any difficult concepts will be explained by her piano teacher however that was it. She asked for sitting theory exam though, I really dont know how she manages it.

As I wrote on your theory thread, Greenleaves, I know plenty DCs who did self-study using textbooks (I assume you got them by now) and managed to get high marks. If your DD is keen and enjoys theory as you described, I can't see any reason why she can't learn the material by herself. Your DD being a pianist is also a great advantage.

Also, you may think DCs at jd are very much prepared for theory exams just because they are at jd. In some way, yes, as jd usually won't let them entre unless they are ready. But those DCs usually have one group lesson once a week x 9 or so times a term so it's not that they are getting some intensive lessons or clever shortcut. There is no need to be in jd to do well in the exam really.

By the way, grade 6 theory isn't compulsory at the music school I know. They don't do anything particularly in line with ABRSM as long as I know.

QueenMabby, very well done to your DD (although it's last year)! She sounds a well-rounded musician.

To be honest I dont really know why she wants to do it, for grade 5 then I could understand because she needs it to go beyond G5 practice. I’d rather to see her practise more on her instruments. Her theory enthusiasm would die down soon though.

Lots DCs seem to dislike theory but there are also those who love and enjoy the subject. Your DD may be one of those then. Anyway, as there is no reason for her to rush, she can carry on studying as she pleases and just take it when she feels ready. And it doesn't matter if her enthusiasm die down neither as it's not that she MUST take it. No pressure, just enjoy!

Thank you NeleusTheStatue. She genuinely loves music (can still be a right little madam about practice sometimes though! 😂). In addition to her piano and cello she sings in two choirs (one just a fun one and one she had to audition for) but I must admit, it’s getting more and more time-consuming so the “something’s gotta give” conversation will likely happen soon. Fortunately she has enough non-music activities she can drop first if necessary! 😳😂

It's not fun to ask such busy bees to drop something they genuinely enjoy, is it? Mine was like that too, stretching himself across many activities. But sadly we have only 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. And as they get older and more advanced hence each activity becomes more demanding, the something's gotta go conversation will happen... It's great though if she can carry on some of them at school to save her time to do other things after school and weekend. Anyway, it's great she enjoys music so much!

Greenleave
www.mymusictheory.com/ I'm sure you already have this, but if not it's very useful.

Hi everyone.. DD is going to attend piano audition with CYM next week and I just realised the audition involves more than I expected, including scales and sight reading, etc.. it’s more sounds like a mini exam.. does anyone have experience with CYM? Any advice will be helpful! Thanks..