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.

@zeemama I just spotted you 10 year old plays accordion! I have a melodeon playing son. (I actually have 3 folk playing sons!). Very unusual to meet others. Does your son play folk music at all?

When DS auditioned he was 9 so naturally I knew younger ones than older ones there. I am not sure if they tend to be nicer to younger ones (but I assume they are!) but anyway all the DCs I know who auditioned said it was positive experience.

Well done to minisnowballs's DD2!

@witfit how cool! Yes he plays folky songs like Godfather, Jewish folk songs and Valse d’Amelie etc. Only started last year but nice fun change. His main obsession is classical piano though.

My melodeon player also plays classical piano but as his second instrument. Lots of fantastic folk opportunities in London for kids. I should know with 3 of them! PM me and I am happy to share details if you are interested.

Well done to minisnowballs DD2. Glad it went well. The movie themes cello book is great, it's the book DS has most enjoyed.

zeemama, we have done the game! DD loved it. As I also jumped around with her for about 5 minutes, my heart rate also went up and I was really dead in the end though! She wants to do that again tomorrow (with me also jumping! 😂).

She played the sad slow piece right after the game, and it was much faster than usual. (We timed) So we now know she needs to be really careful at audition when she is nervous and her heart rate is up. It was not only fun but also definitely helpful!

So I will jump and dance with her again tomorrow!

@bunny that’s great!! It is a good exercise for a number of reasons :-)
@wiifit I sent you a dm.. x

Hi if anyone has any experience with JG or Primary academy at RAM auditions it would be great to hear from you. Feel free to dm if you’d rather. At RAM they only have 2(!) piano places apparently. I feel for that panel..

So I'm daring to dream today.

DD had an audition for a specialist music school yesterday, and will be invited to the next stage audition. She's so close. Just hope it's soon because I'm not sure I can take the uncertainty for much longer (never mind dd, who seems made of far stronger stuff than her mother)

Well done to your DD 4string! Keep fingers crossed!

I sympathise with you. Our uncertainty of which school DS would be going lasted well into August. Can you imagine how daunted I was at the end of the journey? I finally felt 'that's it' when DS physically started the new school in September...

Oh I hope this is sorted one way or the other by then! She'll be going for Y7 and is refusing to engage in any conversations about the school she's been allocated.

Fingers crossed for you 4string, I know exactly how you're feeling.

Mine auditioned for JRAM and JG ... nothing to worry about, they're very nice to them. If they're good enough, they'll get in, if they prefer someone else they won't!

Also, I would like to stress that it doesn't mean you are not good enough if you couldn't get in. They can't take all the promising children simply because the limitation of the space. It's all about availability and luck to certain extent.

I'm saying this as I know at least two young musicians who were turned down by RCMJD but later joined a top music school where the competition of the ently is even higher. Perhaps they weren't developed enough at the time of the audition, or just had bad day or could be pure bad luck.

Especially if you pass the first round, it really means you are as good as those who pass the second round!

DD off to the NYOinspire day in London today, anyone else going? 🙂

School uniform has an advantage - kid has black shoes. Dd1 is now going on stage in her sisters shoes, still not black but distinctly less shouty than the rainbow glitter dog Martens she was planning on wearing.......

Keeping everything crossed for you 4string. Ds auditioned for Junior Guildhall last October. He didn't get in but the experience was amazing and he got some fantastic feedback. He was invited back 2 months later which would have been last month but he's decided to go away and work solidly on his technique and re auction perhaps next year. He wants to be working towards his G8 violin by then.

No news from DS2s audition. Ah well.

DS1 has announced he wants to join a band. We're delighted. He wants a bass guitar he says!! He mentioned there is a girl in the band. Shades of Sing Street the movie if anyone's seen it.

Thanks @Moo, @Neleus and @disorganised. Ds’ JG audition is next Tuesday and just hope we won’t have to wait too long to hear.. think I’m way more nervous than him. He’s also scheduled for primary academy the following week but less keen to go there.. exciting month coming up! @4strings hope you get good news soon!! The wait must be the hardest. Mine also wishes to go to music specialist school but want him to do the JD first for a while as only in yr 5.. fingers crossed for all!

@mitsouko67 hope you hear soon! Where did ds audition?

Good luck to all the young auditionees. It may feel like be-all and end-all when you want something so badly, but once it's done it'll quickly be a thing of the past, as anything is just one of many ways to realise your dream and soon you'll find something else to fill the gap. So..., if you get in, great, but if you couldn't, that's also fine! It'll be absolutely fine.

We are having a few last minute concerts. One was done last week and two more this week. I hope DS remembers to brush his hair before going on the stage...

@neleus thanks so much and you are totally right, I tell ds just being in a position to audition at these wonderful places is something he should see as both achievement and encouragement no matter the outcome as he’s so young. Can only get better. Hands only get bigger and everything in its time.

I couldn't agree more.

DS 1 had a lot of setbacks on the way and there were times when it seemed crazy to push him to continue. Now he is really enjoying his music and branching out in new directions.
That has given us all a lift and we enjoy and celebrate each concert, inviting relatives, nice meal afterwards etc We all feel good about it.

DS 2 auditioned for RIAM in Dublin. If he doesn't get in we'll keep trying while exploring other avenues.He's doing the uileann pipes elsewhere and doing well.

One mum I met recently told me her DS got in on his fourth attempt.

Hello music parents! Good luck to all those doing JD auditions or waiting for results. Does anyone know how many places RCM offers on it's junior programme each year? I guess it depends on instrument but wondered if there was an overall figure available anywhere, or breakdown figures for each instrument. Any intel much appreciated!