Autumn term 2019 music thread

[thirdfiddle]

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?

Hi everyone, can I join?

DS1 is 9 and is on for taking Grade 2 violin in December. He's done National Youth Music Camp (the Junior one) this summer for the second time and loved every minute We're on the cusp of deciding whether he should take up a second instrument, but it's so expensive. I'm taking up more work soon so that might mean we can do it.

DS2 is only 4 but enjoys mashing his keyboard with his hands... not sure he counts yet, but give him time!

Thanks for starting the new thread Third.

I have DD who is 12 and plays piano, cello & recorder and DS 10 who plays piano & viola.

This term’s exams will be Grade 4 piano for DS and Grade 6 recorder for DD.

On the exam music choice question. For piano I buy the book which comes with the CD. We listen to the CD without looking at the music and they choose which pieces they want to learn - at least initially - DS especially changes his mind a lot.

For cello the teacher mainly chooses I think - although she does consult with DD. For the last syllabus ABRSM did produce a cello CD so we bought that for the grade to have a listen too.

There is no CD for recorder as far as am aware. Some of the pieces are on YouTube. But mainly I go to Chimes with the exam lists and rummage through the recorder boxes. Some of the music isn’t stocked there so those options get discounted. Then I look at the others and make an assessment which ones DD would like (and which ones I would like to listen to for the next couple of months ).

Hi Zelda & noodling. Zelda, I just went to look at the music camp as I hadn't heard of it, looks great fun. There are so many good courses available for musical kids these days! Hoping mine will be up for joining something next summer, maybe local to start off with.

Ha, yes Noodlingalong, we are looking at the same things then! After looking at Thirdfiddle's link, I I have just found the youronline piano website and there they are all available to listen to!! Dc wants to do one (of her 3 exam pieces) on her tenor instrument so that narrows it down.

@thirdfiddle Music Camp is ace, he absolutely loves it. He's made so many like-minded friends (none of his school friends really play an instrument and often don't understand why he bothers) and his playing has definitely improved a lot. Since he went last year, he's upped his game massively and started taking practising so much more seriously, because he'd seen what the older kids can do with determination and perseverance. His confidence has grown too. It's an expensive week but it's amazing how much impact it seems to have had on his playing.

I enjoy reading this thread and occasionally post. My DS starts secondary next week and will be doing trumpet lessons in school. Fingers crossed he can figure out where he has to go and when. Looks like there is lots on offer in terms of orchestra, jazz bands, ensembles. DD plays the clarinet and going in to Y5. Her instrument is currently being repaired so not much practice over the last couple of weeks. She had a fab teacher through the local music service last year, but no guarantees who she'll get this time round.

We're already back in the swing of things as Scottish schools go back earlier. DD trying to find time for her practice as now she's in secondary it's harder to do one before school. Dd8 is enjoying her mini bassoon, it makes a surprisingly nice sound ( and the occasional parp!). Probably one oboe exam and audition this term, no piano ones this term I hope! Nice to see another Scot, Coco, hope your DD enjoys RCS.

Phew just had a phone call from school about DSs horn exam result... from 6th July!! He did really well, 127, I was starting to think he’d failed as the school had contacted other people we know over the holidays but not us. Thank goodness for that! 🙂

Yay, great news Lots. Well worth waiting for!

Great news Lots!

DS2 has gone off to try a new choir tonight. They are starting on carols ready for Christmas!

Sixth form starts tomorrow.

@Lotsofmilkonesugar great news
@raspberryrippleicecream how was the new choir?

Wow, Christmas carols already! Mind you, I did just hand back to piano teacher the Chester's easiest carols as pretty sure my 3 are all past playing/ torturing the tunes in it, be good to get a new Christmas piano book I think. Littlest has just agreed to try out wind band on her mini bassoon, she is a but of a perfectionist so trying to get over the idea that you don't have to play every note correctly to begin with. ( Or ever if you are me, a very amateur double bassist who does not practice what I preach/ insist in terms of personal practice!!)
Well done with exam results, a long wait! I'm going to enter DD on oboe this session so I can get results quicker!

Bravo lotsofmilkDS!
Hope your DD enjoys wind band horsey! Bassoon is such a cool instrument to learn. DS is also trying out wind band this week. Perfectionism definitely not on his agenda. Just hope he has enough stamina, it's more playing than he usually does all week.

They are all so different aren't they, my ds is definitely not a perfectionist when piano is concerned! DD will need to relax a bit at wind and I think. I hadn't really thought about the stamina bit, she will be knackered!

Dh has been busy this week so I started to mark some alto clef transcribing ds had done. Gosh, I am out of practice!

Well done comefromaway! Being a parent is an education.

Two of mine are working through grade four theory, can just about keep up with that, five will be more challenging!

I got a Distinction in my grade 5 theory but it was 30 years ago!!

I also enjoy reading the thread and occasionally posting. My DS (10) is back to his piano lessons having taken G3 last term. He's also really getting into composing and likes to try things out using noteflight when he gets inspired by something (currently it's his topic at school). He hasn't picked up the cello much over the holidays but will definitely be carrying on as he loves the ensemble opportunities that come with it, and he has done some arranging for his cello over the holidays (I've got no idea if it's accurate but he enjoyed doing it!). He'll be doing SWMS this year & he's really looking forward to this.

DS enjoyed the choir, thank you for asking, but he lowered the average age by about 40 years! He did know it would be like that, so we'll see. He has already been told just to come when he can!

Ha ha Raspberry some of the ensembles DS plays with are similar in age! It doesn't seem to phase him at all though, they love having a young 'un in the group and he gets to play with people with decades of musical experience which they're generously sharing with him. I think it's really good for his social skills too to play with older adults. He plays with lots of youth ensembles too so I think he gets a good balance.

Oh I know Boys. There are 70 years between him and the player next to him in his section in one band! I'm more worried about him taking too much on with starting JD this year too.

Morning everyone! Nice to see a new thread!

Occasional poster here but hoping to post more. Just the one DD (8) who is due to take Grade 1 harp this term, as well as possibly Grade 1 violin. She’s also working towards Grade 1 piano and Grade 2 singing. Nothing like a good list to make sure all practice is done!!

At the moment she doesn’t have much in the way of external ensembles, she sings in the local Minster choir but other than that it’s school choir and orchestra. She’s a bit shy of trying new ensembles at the moment unless she already knows someone but I’m hoping that’s an age thing.

Raspberry I know exactly what you mean. Mine gets asked to do a lot as his principal study is rare round these parts so I do keep an eye on him to make sure he's not overdoing things. We balance things by going to bed relatively early on non-concert or rehearsal nights, sleeping in whenever there's an opportunity and ensuring that he has some completely free days just to chill.

You might find going to JD actually helps as it's a one stop shop for everything. Most of my free time is spent driving to the various lessons, rehearsals and concerts. I've already told him he's taking his driving test on his 17th birthday

Blimey Margia that lot must cost an absolute fortune, notwithstanding the logistics of all that practice. How on earth does she fit it all in?!