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Extra-curricular activities

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Autumn term 2019 music thread

420 replies

thirdfiddle · 30/08/2019 16:45

September is looming, the old thread is getting full - I think it's time for a new music thread. This is a support thread for parents of children who are into music or indeed just thinking about giving it a try.

Perplexed about starting the piano? Experimenting with ensembles? Concerned about college applications? All welcome here. Huge thanks to those lending their expertise and sage advice and particularly wafflenose for starting the threads.

So, new school year, what's new with your mini musicians?

OP posts:
magnaconcordia · 29/11/2019 11:35

I ended up owing a few more items by Gewa like a music stand. They are all well made.

Gewa cases allow you to customise by adding an extra handle etc. We added a little cushion strip at the end of the case - it's really helpful when you have to stand with the case for a while like on a tube etc. So I recommend you think of how you handle the case usually and add those cleaver items accordingly when you purchase. Some cases are being sold with all the items already added but some have just basics.

Bindle2014 · 01/12/2019 21:41

How are the auditions going @JugglingFromHereToThere and @Trufflethewuffle? My DD is auditioning at the moment too. It’s so stressful. I feel so out of control as it’s all down to her now.
We have RAM and RCM both on the same day this week aaaarg!
She has an offer and a reserve in the bag though so that takes the pressure off a little.

horseymum · 02/12/2019 08:01

The conservatoire audition process sounds tough! We have just had a NYOS one so waiting for response, then an exam this week. Think DD will actually be glad to finish with the pieces and get to do some Christmas stuff!

Trufflethewuffle · 02/12/2019 11:06

Hi Bindle, we are ticking along. DD has two offers and is still waiting to hear back from Scotland which was 4 weeks ago.

She is suffering with a flu like bug at the moment, slowly recovering but has been unable to practise for several days. Luckily no auditions till next week but then it's Tuesday, Thursday, Friday so pretty full on.

Good luck to your DD!

Bindle2014 · 02/12/2019 13:03

@horseymum it is tough but the hardest bit is not knowing when you’ll hear. It would be so much easier if there was a result date like when the A levels come out. Gosh @Trufflethewuffle that’s a long time to be waiting for Scotland to respond, ours took 3 weeks for the first one and 9 days for the 2nd one. They all have to reply by Christmas Eve though so at least we will be done by then. It’s like a conservatoires advent calendar Grin. Well done on the offers she has, she knows she has choice now Smile
Bad timing on the flu though, I’ve been so paranoid wiping things down and filling DD with smoothies and vitamin tablets! I hope she recovers quickly. Does she play a wind instrument? Not that anyone wants flu or colds for auditions but that’s the reason for my paranoia. If she gets a cough the breathing will all go to pot after all this work. Sad

Bindle2014 · 02/12/2019 13:09

@horseymum good luck with the NYOS outcome and the exam!

MargiaStevens · 02/12/2019 20:32

We have results for DD’s Grade 1 harp - 128! Sight reading was the downfall but I’m so chuffed as is her teacher!

Bindle2014 · 02/12/2019 21:08

That’s great @margiastevens Well done! My DD’s 2nd study is Harp. Wish she had put more time in to that one really as she is being offered so many performance opportunities on that yet isn’t so confident as 1st study!
Stick with it, it will take her far 😊

MargiaStevens · 02/12/2019 21:16

Thank you! She’s stuck between harp and voice as first study but she’s taken to it so well!

Bindle2014 · 02/12/2019 21:41

Definitely harp! We were at RCM last week and looked at the lists of scheduled auditions for that day. There were pages and pages of voice....... and just 8 harps! Also, as well as orchestral performance opportunities my DD has played weddings and afternoon teas at a local hotel in the last couple of years. Beats her friends Saturday jobs hands down.
What made you/ her pick harp?

JugglingFromHereToThere · 02/12/2019 22:12

Birmingham audition mostly went well, pieces and chat all good, but scales were a bit dodgy. We have our fingers crossed as an offer from them would be awesome!
Two London auditions to go at Trinity and RAM next week, and then at least they'll be done. Staying with parents and looking forward to the after audition curry night!
Well done to those with offers or reserves, I hope everyone gets somewhere they're happy with x

MargiaStevens · 02/12/2019 22:52

I’m not quite sure how she picked it. It was always something I’d have liked to learn but when it was offered at her school and I asked her if she was keen she nearly bit my hand off! Her teacher is amazing (also teaches her singing and is an AB examiner) and has very high standards so I’m just thankful she saw some potential!

Bindle2014 · 03/12/2019 14:03

An after audition curry sounds like a good treat!
Birmingham were pretty quick to get back to us, only 9 days, so I hope you hear soon.
Having read back through the thread again, I believe the reserves are offered out as people decline places as they’ve got in to a place higher up their wish lists. Should have a few offered out in Feb if you’ve not accepted a firm by then because they have to confirm choices by 31st Jan. I think the RCM RAM and Guildhall reserve places rarely become firm though as so few turn them down.
With ucas points, the condition is usually 32 ucas points which is 2 x A levels at grade E. My DD already has enough points though from her music grade exams. I’d hope they’d count anyway! Grade 6 plus carry ucas points in both music and dance. Having said that DD’s status still says it’s a conditional offer despite having put those grades on her ucas application. Hmmmmm Confused

Trufflethewuffle · 03/12/2019 15:52

At least we will be over and done with before Christmas! DD is a clarinet player but the cough seems to be clearing gradually and she has until next Tuesday until the next one.

DD heard pretty quickly from the other two, was about 10 days for the Welsh. Birmingham was by personal email the next working day after the audition but it then took two weeks for Track to be updated.

She does know of people who were rejected pretty quickly and then some others given offers a few days later. She has received a standard sort of email saying everyone will hear by the deadline. So we don't know what to think. I've seen on student room that she's not the only one waiting.

Some days I can feel the grey hairs popping!

Boyskeepswinging · 03/12/2019 17:18

Bindle Most Conservatoires' offers will be EE, not UCAS points. Most applicants already have a huge number of UCAS points from multiple practical and theory grades. However applicants also need to demonstrate some academic ability, hence the requirement for the EE, some require one of the A levels to be Music.

minisnowballs · 03/12/2019 18:30

Congrats to margia's harpist dd!

Results for my lazy violinist who only decided she was taking the exam two weeks before the deadline for application. A pass at Grade 4, 108. Onwards and upwards - I think she's learned something there about preparing though.

Her sister's G3 cello was today - she said it went well but she panicked on the aural - which is odd as she's done G3 and 4 on another instrument and has aural classes. We'll wait and see.

Just a billion christmas concerts to go now.

Bindle2014 · 03/12/2019 19:05

@Boyskeepswinging that would make sense and I had heard that previously but DD’s offer does just say 32 UCAS points from Level 3 qualifications. She won’t have an issue getting the academic points anyway thankfully (touch wood lol)

Bindle2014 · 03/12/2019 19:12

@minisnowballs Well done to your DD for the violin result, a pass is a pass and with full prep next time it sounds like she could do really well Smile

PaddingtonPaddington · 04/12/2019 19:34

Congrats to your DCs @minisnowballs and @MargiaStevens.

DD has piano exam on Monday and violin exam Tuesday. Both originally came through for Monday one hour apart at 2 different schools (!) but DD managed to swap violin to Tuesday at her own school with another pupil (phew).

Comefromaway · 04/12/2019 21:28

Theory results are out (available on the ABRSM portal anyway).

Ds got a merit, not far off a distinction so really pleased for him.

He’s also been offered a place to study music tech at college. Head of dept said she was impressed with him.

Just GCSE’s to get through now. Mocks are happening this week, Ds is resistant.

Boyskeepswinging · 05/12/2019 06:44

Comefrom that's great to hear, both the Theory result and the offer from the College. Maybe that will spur him on to do well in his GCSEs?

Musiccake · 05/12/2019 11:32

HI. Congratulations for everyone who passed the exams!
It must have been a pain till get the result.
I just wonder if anyone can advise me or tell me your experience.
My son is avoiding taking Grade 5 theory exam, so his teacher has suggested him to take Trinity Grade 7 in the next term , then after that start working on theory till he takes grade 8 ABRSM. When I checked the trinity page, it was quite fascinating and also my son is interested in improvising and orchestra excerpts option.
Also he can choose 3 pieces from two sets of the list not three, he is quite happy as he can play 6 pieces from the list already (He always doesn't like to choose a piece from ABRSM list A).
My son is fed up with telling whenever someone ask him which grade he actually obtained and not working towards.
Also has anyone tried ABRSM practical musicianship Grade 5? I can't get much info from the website but it looks like more Aural side of the exam but it also qualify to take higher ABRSM grade.

Dodgeitornot · 05/12/2019 11:36

@NoodlingAlong I just wanted to ask some advice about recorder. DD is 11 and has been teaching herself for a while. She has recently started lessons and has had 3. She's only just finished learning all the basic notes, no lower C or anything like that. I am trying to make sure she stays motivated as she really likes it (never played in primary school so not sure where this has come from). She's improved soo much in just 3 lessons which is great. Obv your daughter is a lot more advanced but similar age. DD has had a couple of kids comment that recorders aren't real instruments and my sister even said 'all she needs is a couple of mice behind her'. Very annoying. I'm just looking for some nice beginner books that she could have for a bit later that have some easy but cool sounding tunes. Would you know of any? Her teacher is due to recommend some to us too but thought I'd ask here as well as he is primarily a bassoon teacher, not a recorder one. He takes recorder lessons himself though and is very passionate about it.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 05/12/2019 12:38

Well done to margiastevens comefromaway and minisnowballs Dc s! We’re also waiting for grade 5 theory results, DS was entered by the school so it might be a few days until we hear, fingers crossed 🤞 dodgeitornot we used the recorder wizard books for self teaching recorder, the yellow one has some easy tunes with a backing track.

horseymum · 05/12/2019 16:03

Dodgeit, that's great your DD is learning recorder. I taught myself too, then had lessons. I now run a group at my DC's school. I love recorders, so many possibilities. So much music for it, just look some up on YouTube or Spotify to encourage your DD/ point out to your sister. At 11 she will probably progress quite quickly, I would recommend looking into treble as well once she is really secure as lots of more 'serious' music for that. If she enjoys it, you could look into a wooden recorder later on, her teacher might be able to advise. Not really worth spending less than £60 as any ones less than that will be less good than the standard aulos plastic school recorder, which is excellent. (Although I have bought some great ones from eBay). My elder DD plays oboe now but has a nice second hand wooden treble she really enjoys playing, we do duets and she plays at church.