Summer term 2019 music

[thirdfiddle]

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.

Sorry one more thing! Don't discount recorder in its own right either - there are some incredible recorder players out there (Just look up Eliza Haskins) and it can be taken to levels that I had no idea about until recently! And lots of ensemble opportunities across different genres.

I love recorders! There is so much scope. However, the one thing I do see is whenever you see recorder ensembles locally or online, the pictures are usually full of much older people. I struggled to find anything for young people so ended up starting a group myself to teach children at my daughter's school, partly so she would have others to play with! I Ioved playing in groups as a teenager. I can see if I ever can't play the double bass and have more time I would get back into it. I have just bought a lovely wooden one just to play along with DD.

DD2 started on recorders and added oboe. Recorder gave her a really good start. She still plays treble recorder quite a bit at home and at church, especially since I got a wooden one. Not really necessary but it is lovely. Dd3 has just added bassoon ( which incidentally is similar to treble recorder fingering).

DD will hopefully get into the junior wind ensemble in September when it starts, they are quite forgiving of wayward parps and squeaks!

Thanks! Yes, we will see how it goes, but good to get some ideas of follow-on insruments. I'm still not a fan of descant recorder, give me treble recorder any day over it!

If his fingers are too small for treble yet, you could do sopranino to learn the fingering. Am not an actual teacher so not sure what they would think of that but I'm tempted with a couple of the girls at school desperate to learn treble but can't reach the holes yet. Doesn't sound as good as treble though! Different makes have different stretches though.

Hello, Sunshine. I'll also second the suggestion of picking up an orchestral/band instrument. Since yours already plays (and enjoys) the recorder, perhaps you could look at the woodwind family when he's ready? Playing in groups brings in so much joy for my DS. He absolutely loves it, like the young horsey.

Unfortunately, he hasn't had much opportunity of playing in groups at school, so we are actively seeking it outside school. I'm considering to let DS try Pro Code next year but can't really get how it works. Their website is full of information yet not very clear. What's the difference between Junior/North/West/Violin, etc? Would anyone kindly share your views and tell me how their courses work? Do they have recreation/social time like NCO?? Is it fun???

Neleus, we my DD loves Pro Corda, it's her favourite thing. Your DS is the same age as DD I think so this year he would be 'Primary' and next year 'Junior'. He will have to audition, but it will be a formality for him!! To be honest I expect they will accept him from just a video. They have plenty of fun time as well as the music. It's very sociable. You could probably get him on the summer one this year if you want to. There are a few from U12s too!!

Neleus I've also PM'd you x

Thanks, folk, as always! I PMed you back. x

We’re also interested in trying pro corda next year, does anyone have any experience of going as a woodwind player? It seems quite string based on the website!

Another descant starter, followed by treble, tenor and bass, but indeed not many opportunities to play in a group (has attended NYRO days which are fab). Added oboe.

foundoutyet - my DD has also been twice on the NYRO days - I agree they’re fab. She did their Easter residential this year too & is hoping to go again next year.

Saxophones, and Clarinets, flutes I suppose if you have to but I'm biased.

Don't rule out other instruments though. All mine had recorder, the older two as first instruments. DS2 started on piano at 6, clarinet and recorder at 7. Loved them all but also wanted to try brass. He has ended up going off to JD as first study trombone, second study piano.

DS1 also ended up on brass. DD went the sax route, but dabbled in strings as well. DD particularly would have loved to carry on with recorder but there were no.opportunities locally after Primary.

Sunshine, if you don't love descant recorder yet, try a wooden one! I'm a little bit obsessed with my moeck rottenburgh I just bought from eBay. It plays so easily and sounds lovely. Only trouble is, I'll now want a treble one too! Dd3 really needs another bassoon lesson as a whole week of 3 notes only is beginning to get boring!

It's my birthday today. My boys showered me with lots of gifts - a gorgeous bouquet, a massive box of chocolates, nice wine, a printer, and of course, 'my' fife! I ordered it with DH's card but later DS offered to pay out of his saved pocket money. I didn't take it as it's a lot of money for him considering how much he gets monthly but feel like it's from DS now. So precious.

By the way, has anyone listened to a radio program called 'Einstein's Fiddle'? His love of music is well known but it was interesting to see how much music meant to him. It's only 15 mins. Recommended.

Happy birthday, Neleus

Thank you, OneLovelySister*. 😃

It's a bit quiet here, isn't it? Is it just the lull before the rush of exams and end of term concerts?? We've not started the shouting matches with ds over his piano as we are just hoping not to this time! Dd3 is enjoying her new bassoon, I'm busy writing out tunes as she hasn't got a book yet, it's coming next week.

Glad the bassoon’s going well horseymum I’m sure she’ll be in demand for orchestras once she gets going. I’m also trying to ignore DDs lack of preparation for her piano exam... as usual the pieces are fine but she ignores the scales completely...!

Yet again I'm thinking of tattooing Slow down on his knuckles! Tell her scales are easy marks, that should be an incentive! He's 14 and chose to do it so feel he needs to take a bit of responsibility. I can guarantee I will feel more nervous than him. DD already has offer of a place in junior wind band for next term ( I think they take anyone who can hold an instrument!) DD 2 is enjoying playing her oboe much more now she is almost fully recovered from nasty virus. My orchestra concert is this evening, and had a piano concerto so hopefully it will inspire DS!

Our junior wind band seems only to require that the kids are in 3rd class or above (year 3/4 in the English system). I suggested it would be better to require that they were able to follow a one step instruction but was told i was being difficult.....

To be fair they can now all follow a one step instruction, the challenge is more in getting them to be quiet long enough to hear the instruction. When i have bad to step in as conductor i have resorted to bribary and told them if they listen and do what they are told then I'll open a packet of biscuits for them in the frukt break

To be fair, the junior wind band does sound impressive by the end of the year, the start is a bit unpromising but the conductor is from a brass band background and super strict but fun. I was impressed by how together they all were and clearly watching. She can't particularly influence the quality of the sound but the togetherness was brill.

We really now need a transitional group as almost too many go from junior wind band and string group straight into the orchestra which is now pretty big ( a great problem to have!) But almost too big for quality. Not enough staff to run an extra group though. Glad our music service seems to be emerging from the doldrums but still fragile.