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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

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:
Dodgeitornot · 09/12/2019 09:51

That's quite intense. A full extra school day. What instruments/grades does she do out of interest? We are signed up to the open day in January but I just don't see it happening with DD. She struggled going to the royal drawing school. With travel it took up the majority of her day and she was exhausted so not coming back next term. The drawing school was only 2hrs but took up nearly 4hrs of the day with travel. She complained her weekends were so short. I think we will see what it's like and maybe further down the line if she decides to take music seriously. Our local council has quite a good music provision with lots of different orchestras but nothing really for recorder aside from the wind band. Maybe later on we will look into just joining an ensemble at CYM. Thanks for your ost though, v interesting.

FiddleOnTheRoof · 09/12/2019 10:04

@Totalshambles that’s great news but will try to hold down my excitement just in case it is just being trialled in only a few areas and we’re in the bunch @thirdfiddle mentions will start next year!
Thanks x

horseymum · 09/12/2019 10:33

Oh no, now I'll be checking the website every day, DD did hers on Friday! We've got an audition result to come too so got itchy fingers on the email too!

minisnowballs · 09/12/2019 11:37

Dodge- go to the open day and talk to them - I'm sure there is no need for it to be quite so bonkers. DD2 is quite an intense child (!) and maybe that's why she's doing so much - I think it comes from her, not them- but they're happy to run with it. Plus she's still at a primary where they don't exactly push her so I think she's in need of the stimulation to occupy her mind SATS year can be very boring. I'm hoping to scale it back when she starts secondary.

She plays flute (just about to take Grade 5) and cello (not at CYM but sometimes does ensembles with it there - just taken Grade 3) and then has just taken up the bassoon - a grand total of three lessons so far there, but she does seem to really love it. No recorder though - unlike most young flute players she's never had one, so I can't comment on that - though the ensembles there always sound good.

Friends of hers have shorter days and there is wiggle room for that I think. Good luck with finding the right thing.

Dodgeitornot · 09/12/2019 13:09

@minisnowballs Thanks! That's good to know. We will see, DD often gets very into the idea of playing things and than gives up. She is starting piano lessons at school in Jan and will be joining the council wind band once she is up to scratch on the recorder so we will see how that goes for now.
There's no woodwind teacher at her school so she has to go to the council centre after school for that annoyingly. The thought of getting it all in one day does seem nice though. I wish music was just the one love- we also have art, musical theatre and dance so something will have to give.

musicissues · 09/12/2019 21:35

Hi, I'm looking for some advice about music tuition.

I've lost confidence in my DD's tutor, which is a shame - I've arranged a trial lesson with a different tutor but my DD is strongly resistant to changing! She just doesn't seem to be progressing though, and has been working on the same exam pieces for months - I requested that she learnt some new non-exam pieces so that has happened. I know it must depend on the learner but how long is too long on a graded exam piece? For my DD, I suspect that long periods of repetition seem to breed contempt! TIA

Boyskeepswinging · 10/12/2019 06:01

My DS has always played a very wide range of repertoire on all his instruments. It means he has fantastic sight reading and good knowledge of a wide variety of musical genres. The pieces for the grades have just been part of his learning so they're never stale or boring for him.

Having said that, I do know kids who literally just learn the three pieces for the grade, take the exam and move onto the next grade. They may well be Grade X playing standard but only on those three pieces and usually their wider musical knowledge is non-existent. Personally I think this approach must be as dull as ditchwater for the kids, too, as they do get bored playing the same pieces over and over.

I agree that finding the right teacher is absolutely key to your child's progression and love of music. Alarm bells would be ringing for me if I had to advise a teacher on what repertoire to teach my child. I pay them for their skill and knowledge as a teacher.

horseymum · 10/12/2019 08:37

Taking exams seems to hamper progress for some children. If they are already at the right level it should really only take around three months maximum to learn the pieces, way less if non piano in our ( limited) experience. ( Only up to grade 5 so far so I guess longer for harder pieces). I hear people doing them for 9-12 months and think that sounds like torture and not what music is meant to be. Loads of repertoire, above, around and below the next grade to be worked on. Some quick studies, some done in more depth. Hope you find the right teacher and your child enjoys their music making for years to come!

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 10/12/2019 08:42

Hi music issues, I'm also having exam related issues with a teacher so sympathies. Maybe when your DD has had the trial lesson it'll feel like less of a leap in the dark?

What exactly seems to be holding things up? Do you think the exam music is too hard for her at the moment? Or is it more timing issues with having the pieces ready then applying for exam? DS had October till July on exam music one year, that was definitely too long for him. He's okay with October to March. For DD who's a quicker study October to March would still be much too long. Teacher started her a bit early last time and had to ban her from playing the exam music over Christmas holidays so it wouldn't get over- cooked.

I much prefer the sort of approach where you take exams after you're well past the standard and can quickly pick up the pieces without too much disruption to progress. And prefer if they don't trudge through every single grade.

OP posts:
horseymum · 10/12/2019 09:26

I'm hoping the new abrsm system will help as you can pick a day , a five week stretch is a huge window to be ready for. Although when talking with teachers at the exam it sounded like it will be harder on them with lots of pupils as they may not all get the same day if other people have booked in. Hadn't thought about that. Now I have to stop myself checking the results page too many times this week!

OneLovelySister · 10/12/2019 11:41

Flautist DD is on an October to Spring track as well; I think it’s too long for her (I’d liken it to overworking pastry!). Interesting about the Christmas ban, thirdfiddle, think I might take it upon myself to suggest similar to DD, and instead work on other pieces and the sight-reading workbook I bought her.

musicissues · 10/12/2019 12:15

Thanks for the responses.

I think DD does have some technical issues and I was worried that she didn't seem to even notice mistakes in the exam pieces - however she has noticed when things don't sound right (violin) in the newer pieces she's been doing, so as well as the technical issues I am concerned that she is just playing the exam pieces and not really listening to it if that makes sense. Just playing it because she has to.

I love the phrase about advising on repertoire, sounds so much better than a non-musical person standing on the tutor's front doorstep whining that they want their DD to play something different Grin

I originally though that DD would be entered for the December exams and was a bit shocked when she wasn't - I should have kept an eye on the deadlines which would have helped, obviously only a few weeks until the January deadline as well now. I've already suggested something different for her to work on in the New Year so now I'm not sure if she will be able to do that AND the exam work. Sad She does want to do the exam although I have tried to talk her out of it.

I do think the different pieces are helping, and agree that I'd rather she learnt the exam pieces when she was at that stage and not before. Assuming a spring exam, she'll have been working on the first piece for eight or nine months (although she hasn't been asked to practice that at home since my doorstep whine).

I'm not entirely sure why it's not gone well with the tutor recently, my DD enjoys her lessons but I'm not happy with her just circling round the same bits of music. Tutor has made a couple of mistakes (we all make mistakes!) but not handled them well IMO. I really don't want my DD to go back but she doesn't want to move Sad I don't want her to lose her enthusiasm for music either though.

I'll update in a few days when she's had the trial lesson. I have asked her to keep an open mind but I don't think she will!

Trufflethewuffle · 10/12/2019 16:17

DD is in London for most of this week for auditions. RCM

Trufflethewuffle · 10/12/2019 16:21

Oops.

RCM this morning, she says it went well, she got asked to do a scholarship audition after the normal one so fingers crossed she has at least an offer of a place.

Guildhall Thursday and RAM Friday then home for Christmas holidays to begin, yay!

DD is helping DS1 with carol services doing page turning for him. They get on well so it's nice for her to have a bit of down time with him in between the auditions.

Still waiting to hear from Scotland...

Bindle2014 · 10/12/2019 17:55

Wow sounds like she is doing really well @Trufflethewuffle.
We have Trinity on Friday and then we are done too.
We haven't had all of our responses back yet but I think she wants to accept the offer for Birmingham as it had such a lovely friendly feel. The audition was the nicest experience by far and also the conservatoire is linked to the main uni so she will have more opportunity to mix with non musicians. She has always had a few hobbies and interests which I think makes her a more well rounded person and we think she will be happiest there, even if it isn't as well respected as some others. Trinity was originally top choice though so she may change her mind if it feels right (and she gets an offer).
Good luck with the rest of the auditions this week!

Bindle2014 · 10/12/2019 17:56

PS Can't believe you're still waiting for Scottish!

horseymum · 10/12/2019 19:47

Hope everyone with conservatoire auditions get through them ok, it's tough so close to Christmas. We had a no from the NYOS audition, DD was a bit disappointed but bounced back. We did point out her teacher never got in and it didn't hold him back.

Bindle2014 · 10/12/2019 20:27

Absolutely! It will not hold her back long term. How old is she? Can she try again next year?

KittyOSullivanKrauss · 10/12/2019 20:33

Bindle I went to Birmingham uni (different subject) and had a fantastic time. Sounds like a great choice for your DD, well done to her, and to all the other DC who have been doing auditions. This is a very long way off for us!

OneLovelySister · 10/12/2019 21:46

however she has noticed when things don't sound right (violin) in the newer pieces she's been doing, so as well as the technical issues I am concerned that she is just playing the exam pieces and not really listening to it if that makes sense.

musicissues, I’m not a music teacher (or musical myself), but fwiw DD has gained fresh perspective on/better understanding of her grade pieces by singing (la-la-la-ing!) along to the ABRSM downloads (both the pieces and the accompaniment-only versions) while reading the music. I think not having to play the instrument frees her up a bit to think differently about what’s in front of her.

horseymum · 13/12/2019 08:31

Bindle, she is 12 so can apply plenty more times as it's not age banded. Her friend got in on third go so hope yet! Her other friend didn't get in either so they'll both be on the training course again which was excellent.

Mendingfences · 13/12/2019 13:17

snowballs i agree 3 instruments is too many..... but i feel i may be loosing this battle - ds arrived home with a trumpet the other week and they seem to be getting along rather well..

horseymum · 13/12/2019 14:07

Anyone had results for abrsm exams taken on Friday just passed yet? I think I heard they might be as quick as 6 days. Trying not to keep checking!

PaddingtonPaddington · 13/12/2019 18:07

DD did her piano exam Monday and violin Tuesday. She thought both went well ish so fingers crossed. I doubt we will hear until after Christmas. Good luck to all who are waiting on results.

raspberryrippleicecream · 13/12/2019 22:14

I lost the three instrument argument. DS2 at one point had piano, clarinet, trombone and piano. Then there were singing lessons as part of being a Chorister. I put my foot down at 5 when he tried to add organ. He dropped clarinet (was Grade sevenish at that point). He now does trombone and piano at JD, singing lessons at school (free as he is doing A level), and organ lessons once a month. I would recommend trying to avoid this!