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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.

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Original poster
thirdfiddle · 19/04/2019 11:41

Neleus, keeping to Kreisler, has he learned Falla Spanish dance? Or I quite like the little sicilienne & rigaudon - not technically showy but can be cheeky if you go fast & animated. Depending on the event, if it's to impress serious musicians maybe unaccompanied Bach. If to non musical audience the arrangements of Scott Joplin by perlman are fun.

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Original poster
thirdfiddle · 19/04/2019 11:44

Pippap, sorry he didn't get in this time but what great attitude from both of them! Fingers crossed for NCO viola.

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Original poster
thirdfiddle · 19/04/2019 12:02

On grade 8 marks - I don't want to detract from the achievement but I thought your actual mark was more for personal satisfaction, maybe briefly impressing your musical mates. Non musical people are all "wow, you've got grade 8? I gave up after grade 2!" and musical people understand you move on and are more interested in your latest performances. I know in theory UCAS points but think in practice academic courses are interested in A levels and anything extra-curricular is more of a tie breaker.

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Boyskeepswinging · 19/04/2019 12:20

On grade 8 marks - I don't want to detract from the achievement but I thought your actual mark was more for personal satisfaction
Not if you want to apply for NYO. You need a Distinction in your G8 in order to apply (I know you can get a letter from your teacher but you must be playing at G8 Dist level, not just scraped pass level).

I know in theory UCAS points but think in practice academic courses are interested in A levels and anything extra-curricular is more of a tie breaker
As league tables are based on tariff points some uni's will look at total tariff, even those who make offers based on A level grades (they are unlikely to admit this but it does happen as league tables are so important in some markets). Don't forget that G8 Distinction is worth 30 points and there's only 8 points between each grade at A level ...

TaggieOHara · 19/04/2019 12:33

I disliked the praeludium and allegro at that age too (your DS is 10 isn’t he?). My teacher kept trying to persuade me to play it. But it isn’t very tuneful and I never quite ‘got it’. I did play it though, albeit rather unconvincingly.

The Thais is lovely. DS2 (also 10) is aching to play it, but I don’t think he is quite ready. We are working on bow control...

Another super fun piece is the Monti Czardas. Only if your DS at a technical stage when he can learn it fast though! It doesn’t ‘wear’ well! I have refrained from giving it to DS2 for this reason.

The Dvorak romance (not to be confused with the romantic pieces) is a nice performance piece, but well over 5 minutes.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 19/04/2019 13:26

Not if you want to apply for NYO. You need a Distinction in your G8 in order to apply
It is always playing standard though. Ok, if you only passed grade 8 five minutes ago your teacher letter for NYO or music college application would need to be convincing. But they're not going to audition until teacher thinks they're at the right level anyway, it's really not a big deal.

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Pippap1 · 19/04/2019 13:27

Hi Neleus, thank you for the information. I also like both schools. My DD is also interested in Viola. So, she may enjoy the opportunity!

Pippap1 · 19/04/2019 13:28

Thank you thirdfiddle, I hope he can get a place, tooSmile

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 19/04/2019 14:00

Thinking about it some more, i think what i'm thinking is the level actually required for stuff like NYO or music college is more "grade 8 no longer relevant level" than actually grade 8 level, distinction or otherwise. Some "no longer relevant" students take grade 8 just to tick the box, but I don't think anyone would hold it against them if they somehow had a bad day.

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OneLovelySister · 19/04/2019 14:06

Thank you, thirdfiddle and Neleus.

Congrats on your DS’s distinction, Boys Star

TaggieOHara · 19/04/2019 14:48

Neleus - sorry realised that I misread your post about the Thais and Dvorak! Have fun with the other pieces!

Boyskeepswinging · 19/04/2019 15:05

Thanks One, that was kind of you. It was totally unexpected.

NeleusTheStatue · 19/04/2019 16:16

Thanks folkmamma and thirdfiddle.

Dancla Air Varie is a great suggestion but he has done them so may like to explore something new (he played one for NCO audition last year Smile). I absolutely adore Sicilienne & Rigaudon. I love the sweetness and cheekiness. As you say it may not be technically showy but it can shine wonderfully if it's played well. However, he has done this also, so need something else...

I'm thinking to leave Mr Bach for this occasion so I'll check the other suggestions (Perlman always presses the right button, especially for DS). Again, many thanks for all the advice.

Taggie, DS knows Praeludium and Allegro very well as it's a current piece of one of his mates but that's part of the reason why he isn't super keen. He doesn't 'dislike' it and actually finds it very attractive. But feels it's a bit 'boring' to do the same piece at the same time as his mate - just a childish reason really....

folkmamma · 19/04/2019 16:31

Has he done op. 118?? Most people do opus 89 around G6 but this one is much harder....

ZakStarkey · 19/04/2019 16:44

Bruch in g minor? 1st or 3rd movement- Neleus?
My dd is super keen to learn movement 2!

ZakStarkey · 19/04/2019 16:44

Actually they are not 5 mins! Unless you play presto very presto 🤣

Wafflenose · 19/04/2019 16:59

I thought Grade 8 distinction level would be nowhere NEAR the required level to apply for NYO these days? My friend tried out at that level 25 years ago - he was probably the best in the South West but didn't get in. So many of the kids have Grade 8 at 10-12 years old now and apply once they're 5 years further on... don't they?

NeleusTheStatue · 19/04/2019 17:08

Oh I see, folkmamma. Not sure which ones he did. You may be right. Must check.

play presto very presto
Please don't tempt the crazy boy! 🤣🤣

Boyskeepswinging · 19/04/2019 17:09

Waffle indeed, a Distinction at Grade 8 is the minimum required standard. You have to upload a copy of your mark sheet with your application to audition. I would have thought in reality the successful kids would be well beyond that. There's certainly enough kids playing at Diploma level in NCO never mind NYO!

folkmamma · 19/04/2019 17:12

@NeleusTheStatue I've emailed it to you- see what he thinks 😘

Wafflenose · 19/04/2019 17:17

That's what I thought. I don't think most people a year or so post-Grade 8 would have a chance. We have already ruled it out for Goo, because she's unlikely to get there! She has a friend who doesn't want to do NCO any more because she has her eye on NYO instead. Currently 12 years old and EXTREMELY confident.

NeleusTheStatue · 19/04/2019 17:21

Thank you, folkmamma. He's away this weekend but will show him once he's back.

Does your DD use iPad app to carry music? I recently bought one but can't remember the name - it's on DS's iPad and he took it with him. He hasn't used it yet though. Don't need it yet but it may be useful in summer when he travels a lot. Wondering which app she uses if she is a user.

NeleusTheStatue · 19/04/2019 17:26

Pippap1, I hope she enjoys her time at RAM!

folkmamma · 19/04/2019 17:27

She doesn't, but her teacher does. He has a big iPad Pro and has his entire music library on it! Uses one of those funky pens to annotate the music and then emails it to us, with all the fingerings and markings on!!! Not sure which app he uses though. One day....

ZakStarkey · 19/04/2019 17:31

Dd has a good app- but it’s for jazz really. It’s called iRealPro- it’s has backing tracks which you can play along too and improvise over. Pretty good app.