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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Summer term 2019 music

855 replies

thirdfiddle · 01/04/2019 14:50

A new installment of the long running music parent threads. Everyone is welcome from complete beginners to grade 8 and beyond. Thanks as ever to the lovely waffle for starting the threads up and looking after them for years. What are your plans for the coming term? Any exams, auditions, festivals, new instruments? Please come and chat.

OP posts:
ZakStarkey · 22/04/2019 10:53

Oh no Neleus- hope his hand recovers quickly 😬😊

NeleusTheStatue · 22/04/2019 11:35

Thanks piccolo. DS gets plenty of music at school so we try to let him fulfil his other interests at home as much as we can. Both his piano and violin teachers encourage him to go outside and have fun too. He spoke to his violin teacher on the phone last week and the first question he was asked was if he went outside and played football earlier (it was a sunny day). Not all the teachers are like that so we are very grateful to have such a teacher who seems to understand a child like DS.

SummerComing, IME, jd is usually very understanding of year 6 pupils missing lessons for 11+. They handle this problem every year so are used it! It's pretty unreasonable not to let year 6 DCs take 11+ exams anyway.

NeleusTheStatue · 22/04/2019 11:40

Thanks Lotsofmilk and Zak.

It's actually not his bow hand but the left hand - the palm and the middle and ring fingers. Unfortunately, it'll probably take a while for him to be able to hold something without pain.... I assume there are many right-hand exercises he could do but we are lacking imagination here! Any idea??

Alsoplayspiccolo · 22/04/2019 11:51

His teacher sounds wonderful, Neleus - great attitude!
Could he use a stress ball or similar to gently work his hand muscles?

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 22/04/2019 12:18

Lovely news on both counts raspberry :)

And oh no neleus! Open string bowing practice? Challenge: how long a smooth note can he play without changing bow? Start with 4 seconds then keep increasing without letting the tone or evenness go. Should be able to work up to at least a minute. How many staccato notes can he play in a single bow? Could also take it as an opportunity to practice things like smooth bow changes, spiccato, sautille, ricochet. All a bit dull without left hand tho! (If it's not cheeky of me to make suggestions, he's probably a better player than me these days and his teacher is certainly better than any I've had!)

OP posts:
RomanyQueen1 · 22/04/2019 13:12

Congratulations to the young raspberries Grin
I think it's a lovely thing to be able to do, even when you have chosen a different path, you always have music.

So pleased for youngest raspberry, I know the hard work has been done.

Talking about summer coming, I can't wait and it seems like no time before summer hols.
Mine finishes on the concerts on the 1st July.

NeleusTheStatue · 22/04/2019 16:26

he's probably a better player than me these days
Def not!! You are being too modest and too kind!

Thanks for the exercise suggestions. I'll show him when he seems to run out of his own ideas. He'll probably like the challenges of how long and how many especially.

Romany, you are already thinking of summer hols! Grin I planned a bit for summer but I'm currently too busy thinking of May half term!

SummerComing · 22/04/2019 21:57

Neleus ,Thanks very much for the information! Does that mean the fees will be deducted? Anyway, it is very helpful and I don't have to worry about it anymore! Thank you!Flowers

squintsoftheworldunite · 23/04/2019 07:39

Summer I think they will authorise the absence but you’ll have to pay the fees for those days. “The place for your child is being used whether they’re there or not” is their approach!

NeleusTheStatue · 23/04/2019 08:41

SummerComing, they work exactly like any independent school so you still have to pay for the day your DC couldn't attend, and usually a term notice is needed if you decide to leave otherwise a full term fee will be charged, etc.

I assume the full information pack should be delivered prior to the course starts or may be available on the first day in September.

Anyway, it's so exciting, isn't it?! Good luck with your new adventure at jd and also the 11+ challenge!

raspberryrippleicecream · 23/04/2019 10:58

Thank you for all the lovely messages. Neleus I hope your DS has a speedy recovery!

ealingwestmum · 23/04/2019 11:52

Aways inspiring to hear how your DC are turning out Raspberry!

Lovely to hear the news of the younger musicians on here too, including their audition successes and aspirations!

Trufflethewuffle · 23/04/2019 22:17

I remember when we bought DS2 his saxophone. He was self taught at the time having had clarinet lessons for a few years.

We bought the saxophone and some books of music including one which had the Poirot theme in. He started to play it and there was a flurry of activity as DS1 came flying downstairs to play the piano accompaniment. At times, DS2 could barely play as he was smiling so much!

And I remember thinking that this what it was all about. Not exams. But two brothers enjoying playing together.

They still get together and play Poirot whenever they can.

SummerComing · 23/04/2019 22:50

Thanks very much Squint and Neleus! It is very useful! It will be quite expensive for missing any lesson over thereBlush. Our current teacher is very nice and hasn't charged any fees even for very short notice such as DC got ill etc. Hope DC will enjoy the lessons in JD!

I have been really busy today and need a good sleep! Hope everyone has a good night!Star

Mitsouko67 · 23/04/2019 23:17

Congrats raspberry on DS2s success , great news ! Most unfortunate Neleus, sounds difficult, I hope he's better/back bowing soon.

Good news here too as DS2 has got a place and will be starting the trumpet in September. Smile

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 23/04/2019 23:22

That makes me smile truffle. My two were trying to work out the Harry Potter music today on various instruments. Didn't quite get it together as whoever was on the piano was in a different key to whoever wasn't but the desire was there! It would be so awesome if one of them gets good enough at piano to accompany the other properly. (Specially as it would let me off the hook!)

OP posts:
Lotsofmilkonesugar · 24/04/2019 16:51

....so I emailed the Abrsm today as DDs result still not here and teacher was expecting it by last week. I got an email back clearly intended for someone else with my daughter’s name and candidate number ( but sadly not her mark !!!! ) saying please release this result again it was authorised on 16/4. I replied to say they’ve sent this to me in error, should have gone to whoever releases results.... no response and no result. Not very impressed 🙁

Boyskeepswinging · 24/04/2019 17:44

Lots I feel your pain. Sadly we have experienced absolutely shocking levels of customer service from ABRSM too. They've had a lot of jobs advertised recently so I'm hoping the new Customer service manager is more on the ball!

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 24/04/2019 17:57

Thanks boys ! I know worse things happen at sea but it is rather frustrating!!

Boyskeepswinging · 24/04/2019 21:55

So my pet peeves with ABRSM: (1) Exams are not cheap. At that price you expect a decent examiner for your money (2) They are not the only show in town and need to stop acting as if they are. And breathe ...

TaggieOHara · 24/04/2019 22:23

Boys - do you think trinity are better? DS2 is preparing for a trinity exam, but mainly because he hasn’t got grade 5 theory (and it is a better list!). I like that you can choose the day, and choose a string specialist. There is more flexibility with the programme as well.

ZakStarkey · 24/04/2019 22:52

Are you asking for a string specialist Taggie? Would be very interested to hear how different it is from abrsm. Dd doesn’t do exams but would be keen to know the difference

Mendingfences · 25/04/2019 11:26

String purchase successfully! Thanks guys Smile

TaggieOHara · 25/04/2019 11:28

Yes - there is a string specialist session.

DS2 hasn’t done any violin exams before, but did a piano exam with absrm (which was fine). I’ll let you know how we find trinity.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 25/04/2019 13:03

Well her grade 8 result is finally here and it’s a distinction 🙂 ... what a relief!! looking forward to telling her when she gets home

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