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.

Suppose it varies year to year but for the year DS auditioned (only a couple of years ago), I think they said they had 350 or so candidates and 60 or so got an offer. I don't know more details, sorry.

That's really helpful - thank you, @NeleusTheStatue. Is your DS there now? And does he like it?

Also do you know how many are in the junior department altogether? Wiki says 300 but, looking at the references, that seems to be based on an old article from 2008 and I couldn't find anything current on their website.

Sorry for all the questions!

Fingers crossed and best of luck to those waiting for results, either exams, or auditions.
I'm looking forward to hearing one of my favourite pieces of music played by dd ensemble this weekend. My mother's Day treat
She has just had assessments, have no idea how they went, but she wasn't disappointed.
Dh has lots of work but it's stuff he returns from rather than touring and over nights. Although the Hilton in Belfast was nice apparently
I guess this is part of the life, and those kids who stick at it and choose music, their future life.

Hi Everyone.... are we the only ones anxiously waiting for Grade 5 theory results... I keep chasing our poor teacher to log on and check (I know it “only” has been just over 4 weeks...but, but)

Exam result in from an exam on 19th March. Dd1 got a whopping 145 in her grade 1 bassoon! It’s her third instrument and has only been playing a year - I cannot wait to tell her!!!!!

Absolutely brilliant 4strings

I imagine that will be a welcome distraction atm.
Thinking about you x

Thanks 😊

Her teacher is desperate to know where the five marks are that she lost

Amazing mark 4strings! 🌟 and good luck tocoffee
We have heard DS2 passed his grade 1 clarinet...proud of him as he was very nervous but got through it. DS1 and DD have their exams in the coming week 🤞I predict a weekend of grumpy scale practise!

Aww well done to your dd 4Strings and to your milkwithonesugar

Well done to all the great results!!!

We are biting our nails here...DD desperately wants to do Grade 6 violin, but we need the theory pass at least first

Are you in the UK coffee? It hasn't been 4 weeks yet. Theory results usually get released 4 weeks to the day after the exam - which will be next Wednesday.

Lovely. Congrats 4 strings!

Wow 4strings, that's a spectacular mark! Lol at the teacher chasing the missing 5. Has anyone here actually had a 100% exam? I've not even heard of one of these and the musical grapevine is quite keen on sharing!

My minis didn't get such exciting marks but did come out with distinctions, DD grade 1 piano and DS 2x grade 2. So much for me hoping for an exam free year last September. Actually DS doing piano probably did help his playing, his sight reading came on hugely, but the other two exams felt like they slowed progress if anything. It's lovely to hear some different music now.

She definitely lost one at least on the sight reading as she started on the wrong note .

Next term is probably Grade 5 violin and maybe possibly Grade 5 theory. Oh and Grade 1 cello for dd2! It’s going to be a busy couple of months!

Congratulations on the exam passes! DD1 has stopped doing exams after her nerves meant she didn't enjoy the one she did a couple of years ago (she still got a high score!). I don't mind about the exams but really feel for her as there are situations in which she wants to perform solos but ties herself in knots over doing so now. It's one particular context that makes her panic, even though nothing's ever gone wrong in a concert at this place. We've got strategies for her to try for most things but the shaking legs are an issue - any top tips for diverting her focus from her shaking legs? I've suggested she sit down to perform but apparently that would be embarrassing.

Just keep doing it SE13. Or do chamber music where you generally get to sit down Seriously though, the knee wobbles do go away the more you get used to playing in front of people. Concentrating on breathing calmly helped me as a kid. Make sure knees aren't locked, let yourself move a little when playing. And smile at the audience before you start. Not specific to knees but the calmer you are generally the less likely knees are to go!

Congrats on the exam passes peeps. Can I ask- was that ABRSM? My dd is desperately waiting on a grade 6 result which she sat on 12 March- just trying to work out when we can expect it. She’s going out of her mind as she is also waiting on JD audition result 🤣

Yes, ABRSM. Very speedy turnaround!!!

I am thinking ahead and already worrying about entering April. Could I ask MN to rename it to Music Thread 2019? So we don't need to keep renaming it every month.

Congratulations on the great exam results!!

Maybe it's time for a new one neleus? I did find the reminder of kids/ages/instruments each thread quite helpful, and it's a good opportunity to scoop up some new people. Summer term thread?

Summer term thread sounds good, thirdfiddle.

Hi Spaceace, I would like to know too! Waiting to hear back after the audition on Friday, meant to know in a couple of days! According to RCM’s website last year’s intake was 75.

@BBLY Hi, after the audition at JD did you receive feed back soon after?Did they tell you what went well or needed improvement?

Luckyfab, hi. we’ve only had it on Friday, so no feedback yet.