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Extra-curricular activities

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

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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:
pinkcrocs · 04/07/2019 07:54

Oh thank you all, @Boyskeepswinging yes so we tried the violin and dd was having none of it. She plays the piano nicely though.

@horseymum good plan! For some reason I could only think harp first, lessons later. Daft when I think about it.
Do they have to be involved in percussion if they play the harp at school? Dd would probably love it but oh wow am I thinking about the bits and bobs that’s involved in that Grin
Dh keeps going on and on about having a 4x4. Amy excuse. Although I have said no as I’m useless at driving big cars. Much to think about thank you

MargiaStevens · 04/07/2019 07:58

Piano has helped my DD make quicker progress on harp. The hand position is different but being able to read the two clefs and play with both hands at once has been invaluable.

We already had a 4x4 and the lever harp just fits. I’m not sure how big we need to go for a pedal harp! Shock

Girasole02 · 04/07/2019 08:22

At the moment 3/4 only accept the highest three points values. The other one doesn't recognise them at all so I'm not hopeful.

QueenMabby · 04/07/2019 08:54

Hello. What a lovely thread! I’ve not read it all (first 5 pages and most recent 5 pages) but wanted to pop my head around the door and join in if that’s OK?
I have 2 dcs. Eldest not musical (did guitar to grade 2 with virtually no practice and quick to give up when it became apparent he would have to put the work in!) but DD (10) seems to be of a musical bent and as I’m not really musical (g5 recorder over 30 years ago!) I would love somewhere to ask all the stupid questions!
Dd plays piano and cello. She’s had piano lessons for nearly 3 years (at school so termtime only). She’s done the first three grades and is now (apparently!) skipping g4 and starting g5 instead. I presume that’s normal?
Cello she’s been doing for about 18 months. She did grade 1 at Christmas and is going now to grade 3 which her teacher says she should be ready for my this Christmas, only she only has one piece and isn’t starting the others til September so he may be being a bit optimistic!
She plays piano duets and also in school strings group and a cello ensemble and sings in a chapel choir so she’s pretty busy.
Best of luck to all those with dcs awaiting results or about to take exams - I’m sure most of us get more nervous than the children! DD is playing piano (solo and duet) at a school event tonight and I know I’ll be a wreck!

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 04/07/2019 14:42

@Boyskeepswinging it’s not all roses being a flute parent... when she chose flute I thought I’d got off lightly! But actually they’re quite high maintenance and have a habit of breaking just before exams!! However I do have a very small car 🙂

Boyskeepswinging · 04/07/2019 14:51

Lots Grin

Knotaknitter · 04/07/2019 15:10

I was wishing this week that DS had chosen a smaller instrument. I used to have a car with a massive boot but switched to a much smaller car once I was looking at insuring an 18 year old on it. Earlier this week I was playing packing Tetris with a small boot, the contents of a student flat and a large brass instrument. My thought was that it would have been so much easier if he'd chosen the cornet. Next year I might just pay to have two suitcases picked up from the flat and delivered here so I can get the instrument in the boot rather than on the back seat.

Fun fact - there are no UCAS points for a music diploma because it's a level four qualification and the tariff table goes up to level three.

horseymum · 04/07/2019 15:52

Hi mabby! Sounds like your DD enjoys her music and gets lots of opportunities. It's perfectly normal to skip some of the exams, they're expensive and actually slow progress down for some children, spending so long on just three pieces. ( Plus it's really boring for everyone if they start them too soon) They should be playing loads of repertoire and studies etc to challenge them and broaden their experience s. If an exam fits in with that, grand. My DD has not done any exams on oboe but is probably going to do gr 5 in the autumn. She had played several grade 5 pieces in passing without knowing it so her teacher will just choose 3 to polish nearer the time. Scales are just part of what she does so knows all of them anyway. It's much less stressful that way, rather than cramming. On the subject of cramming ( DS s preferred method!) He got a merit in his gr 4 inc 28 for one of his pieces!! ( But 10 in the aural Shock !) We were all very relieved.

Thistly · 04/07/2019 16:30

That’s great Horsey mum’s DS! , well done (I have forgotten which instrument though) 28 is a fantastic mark! (I’m not sure if higher exists)

raspberryrippleicecream · 04/07/2019 16:42

When we bought our current car we took instruments with us as there were multiple large instruments for three children that needed to be fitted in. The salesman thought we were very odd

horseymum · 04/07/2019 17:20

Thanks! He does piano. It can't have stressed him too much as he is currently tinkling away learning some new stuff. I think the pieces are out of 30, the aural out of 21!!

Boyskeepswinging · 04/07/2019 17:33

My DS was rather upset to learn that Practical G8 Dist gets 30 points and Theory only 10 points. G8 Theory is really hard Smile

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 04/07/2019 18:27

Well done to horsey s DS! Love the idea of choosing a car by the size of the instruments! I have perfected the art of arranging instruments/belongings around DSs French horn on orchestra morning..

QueenMabby · 04/07/2019 21:20

Thanks for the welcome horsey and well done to your ds - 28 is an epic performance score - sounds like his merit was well-deserved.

minisnowballs · 04/07/2019 21:33

Boyskeepswinging, I fear the flute, while convenient, has simply acted as an entry-level drug for my dd. She has added a cello and talks longingly of a bassoon. I may yet need a bigger car.

MargiaStevens · 04/07/2019 21:44

@raspberryrippleicecream my parents do that with cars too! DM plays cello and tuba, so boot space is essential!

Boyskeepswinging · 05/07/2019 06:13

Mini I've heard the flute described as many things but never "entry level drug" Grin. Probably because it's big and expensive there's a real shortage of young bassoon players. She'd be welcomed with open arms into so many ensembles. My DS started playing at County level when he was just 8 as they were so short of Perc!

horseymum · 05/07/2019 09:34

It's not a bigger car you need for a bassoon, they don't take up much space, it's a second mortgage! A mini one is about £2.5k!!! ( We borrow one or could never gave started). There are so few sold there are no economies of scale. ( I know a guy who is a rep and he sold about 20 last year). You only get 3 sizes I think, mini, and full size with short reach keys and full size with normal keys.

minisnowballs · 05/07/2019 10:37

Ha - her saturday centre offers it as an 'orphan instrument' or whatever you call it - so I think you get to borrow one if you start. It's possibly the only place you regularly hear a 'bassoon quintet' at the lunchtime concerts. Dd therefore thinks lots of bassoons is quite normal because there are always a few around. Ditto percussionists - including some of her best friends.

I think they may be unlikely to offer bassoon to a tiny junior with two instruments already though - no matter her love for the thing. I'm not sure it's compatible with flute, and it's definitely not compatible with the train trip up every week. £2.5k is enough to ensure I won't be encouraging her, horseymum

raspberryrippleicecream · 05/07/2019 12:09

@margiastevens, tuba and cello here too, plus Bari sax, two trombones and a clarinet and associated stands.

One DC only these days, dropped to one instrument. It rattles around in the boot (not literally!)

raspberryrippleicecream · 05/07/2019 12:13

NYO inspire has just opened applications for the next day in September, in Sheffield this time. Can't link on my phone.

Anyone who doesn't know - it's a free workshop for 13 - 19 year olds playing Grade 6 and above. Well worth it

Kashali · 05/07/2019 12:22

Hello all I'm back.
I'm a nc with a dc i've posted about for years. I'm not allowed to post much anymore as my child recognised themselves on here and doesn't like me posting anymore.
Hope everyone is well, it's a shame when we feel like we can't discuss stuff due to them being recognised, just because all kids are different and could be identifying info.
Mine is finished school tomorrow, could be tonight after Mahler concert but staying until tomorrow. I'm not going as the thought fills me with dread. I do go to many others though.
Hello Raspberry, hope you recognise me, and all is good with you and yours.

raspberryrippleicecream · 05/07/2019 12:31

Hi Kashali, yes I know who you are. All well here!

Mendingfences · 05/07/2019 12:32

Dd2 started with flute and added double bass..... ds is a percussionist ...... dh is considering replacing his car with a van

QueenMabby · 05/07/2019 14:21

Hope someone could help me identify this instrument for me - at our school concert there was a group of children plying what looked like flutes— but with a “U” bend! What are they please? I had no clue!