Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

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

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:
raspberryrippleicecream · 02/10/2019 00:06

DS2 attended a course at RCS on Sunday about paying And auditioning for BMus, he found it really useful. He is well aware that he has less than a year to decide if he wants to apply. And also that he had less than the six options available on the form as we aren't paying six audition fees!

SE13Mummy · 02/10/2019 00:15

Leeds College of Music has just announced it will no longer charge audition fees for certain courses. Applicants from families with an income below £25,000 can apply to have travel costs refunded.

StaronAinthorpe · 03/10/2019 19:25

DS has come home today saying that his music teacher (council music service via school) says he needs an accompanist for his G5 flute exam in Feb. Previously he has used CD's. I have no idea what we are supposed to do about this - is it normal to have to find a pianist individually?

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 03/10/2019 20:47

Eek! I think I've pissed off DS's violin teacher!

I asked her a couple of weeks ago if I should buy the grade 2 scales and arpeggios book to help him prepare for his exam in December. She said no, because he doesn't need them.

I chatted to DH and we decided to buy the book anyway because, on questioning DS, we discovered he didn't really know what scales he's meant to be playing (she's written the names of them in his practise diary but nothing else) so he's doing the whole lot by ear and just remembering where to start from. I know his musical ear is incredible but I also know my DS inside out and back to front and his just like me: he needs to know some of the theory alongside the practical or he'll never, ever want to do it later on. He'll be playing catch-up at higher grades to fit the written notes to what he thinks it's meant to sound like, and that's exactly why I ended up quitting as a child. It all got too much to remember and despite being constantly told I was amazing, I couldn't actually read the music that was written down and my teacher wasn't prepared to teach it me and after being forced to sit a theory exam I just quit the whole damn lot.

He told her at his lesson that he's got the book now and she's replied that he doesn't need it, that she told me not to buy it (true) and that he shouldn't use it. I didn't mean to piss her off and do I feel really bad, but I'm so worried because it's becoming apparent that he can't read any music! Surely at grade 2 he shouldn't just be playing by ear??

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 03/10/2019 20:49

@StaronAinthorpe Could your music service provide an accompanist? We had to pay £20 for ours because we had the one DS's music teacher uses, but our music service gives us the option to tack on £16 to the exam fees if you want to just use theirs.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 03/10/2019 22:02

Zelda, shame if she made him feel bad but I kind of agree that scale book isn't helpful for grade 2. What is going wrong with the scales at the moment? Is it just that you're worried he's not practising everything? Know where to start and know the note pattern sounds spot on to me. Perhaps you could help him make a tick list or lucky dip (with in/out jars) to check he practises them all?

I don't think reading scales would help much with sight reading as neither the rhythms nor the notes hold much interest. And may be counterproductive for scales as they do need to be played by memory. If you think it might help to understand scales and keys then you could try getting him working through some friendly theory books.

But yes he should also be learning to read music separately from scales. Is he doing any sight reading? Does he learn his pieces at least in theory from sheet music or purely by ear? (I say that as DS was always supposed to learn from sheet music but would do huge amounts by ear if he was allowed to hear the music first, even once.) DD has gone from not reading at all to it being her strong point over the past couple of years. I can pass on tips from her teacher, but might be more productive to have a conversation with his teacher directly about how he's doing with sight reading and what he can do at home to help it.

OP posts:
Original poster
thirdfiddle · 03/10/2019 22:06

Staron, have you tried asking teacher directly if they can recommend anyone? If they're being totally unhelpful I'd probably just call a local piano teacher and ask if they do exam accompanying or can recommend someone who does. Usually musicians have a wide network of other musicians and will be happy to throw some work the way of a colleague or senior student.

OP posts:
horseymum · 03/10/2019 23:06

I sort of see the teacher's point about not having the scales book, my DD has never had one for oboe, he gets her to work them out. He made her do a poster with all the key signatures etc. If you can sing a major scale then you can play it, or at least know if you have gone wrong. We have the books for piano as it helps with fingering. Although if you think it would help it's a shame they have disagreed so strongly!

FiddleOnTheRoof · 04/10/2019 11:51

Hi boyskeepswinging, thanks loads for answering and providing some useful avenues for musical jobs! Greatly appreciated

Boyskeepswinging · 04/10/2019 17:25

No worries Fiddle happy to help. Hope it all goes well for you and yours.

StaronAinthorpe · 04/10/2019 21:52

Thanks, yes, I think we do need to ask directly, surely the Music Service are in a better position than us to magic up an accompanist.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 07/10/2019 12:24

Thanks for your thoughts on what you could do with a degree in Music Boys
That's good to see with DS applying to do a BMus(Performance) at some of the conservatoires this term.
I hope he ends up with a nice offer from somewhere by Christmas!
Meanwhile we're continuing with a couple more open day and workshop visits, and am encouring him to practice!
Also trying to find out about the slightly different audition requirements for each conservatoire. These seem well hidden on the websites!
He's applying to Royal Welsh, Birmingham, Trinity Laban and The Royal Academy as a more aspirational one.
Royal Welsh and Birmingham have both been encouraging on visits/in consultation lessons.
He's a trumpeter.

Boyskeepswinging · 07/10/2019 17:35

Hi Juggling if you're struggling to find the info you need on the website just give the Admissions Team a ring. They'll be happy to help.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 07/10/2019 18:10

Good luck juggling's DS!

OP posts:
Lotsofmilkonesugar · 07/10/2019 20:58

Yes, good luck juggling!

Trufflethewuffle · 08/10/2019 08:39

DD has just applied for music college/conservatoire so it's going to be a very busy run up to Christmas with auditions.

She already has her first audition date, it's on the 21st at the Welsh. She has applied for 7, gulp, so I'm hoping the dates are conveniently spread out! We went through this two years ago with ds1 but only 3 places and he got offers from all of them so that was great.

Hopefully the rest of the dates will come through soon as we also need to book a driving test somewhere in the mix.

Roll on Christmas!

hidingmystatus · 08/10/2019 11:10

Wow, truffle , that was fast. DD hasn't had any audition dates through yet, but I'm hoping we'll get them soon. Fingers crossed.

hidingmystatus · 08/10/2019 22:48

Well, writing on here had good effects, DD got her interview/audition date at Royal Scottish this afternoon. 6 Nov.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 08/10/2019 22:54

And good luck truffle and hiding's DDs too, and anyone else mid applications.

OP posts:
hidingmystatus · 09/10/2019 13:21

Thanks, thirdfiddle

horseymum · 10/10/2019 10:21

Good luck with all the auditions. DD wants to be a musician so if she sticks with that, this will be us in a few years. It sounds expensive, some places like RCS do prep days which aren't cheap. Our school does a conservative/college audition prep class so hopefully they are still running that when she needs it. Just now got NYOS audition and grade 5 coming up, hoping for a late date as got a holiday which will take out some practice time.

Wafflenose · 11/10/2019 19:58

Evening all.

I haven't been anywhere near MN for months, and am just sticking a tentative toe back in the water, so to speak. Very pleased to see these threads still up and running (8 years after I started one for Goo's Grade 1 recorder exam!) and no hairy visitors as far as I can see...

What's new here? Hmm. Our relationship with the girls' Centre of Advanced Training broke down last year, and I removed both of them in the summer. Goo is now 13, and at Guildhall in London. She has flute, piano, general musicianship and composition lessons, plus wind orchestra and chamber group. I spent all spring and summer applying for grants and charitable help, and the upshot is that we are only paying for her transport! She's still a bit of a neurotic overthinker, but currently wants to turn professional. We'll see. New flute teacher seems perfect. Goo could easily put together a successful diploma programme, probably three times over, but I don't really see any point at her age. She passed her only piano exam (Grade 4) with distinction in the summer.

Rara is 11, has realised she has selective mutism (she told me yesterday!) so might be able to advocate for herself in future. She's had a surprisingly OK transition to secondary school. We have left her with the cello teacher she's had since the end of Year 1. Progress hasn't been great over the past couple of years - she was having a rough time at school - but has suddenly overcome some technical and mental hurdles, and is completing her first Grade 5 piece. I stopped teaching her the clarinet after her Grade 5 exam on that in March (passed with merit) and she then had quite a few months off. She's now started lessons at school, and has prepared Grade 6 pieces for the NCO.

I am taking nine music exams on the same day next summer (Initial to Grade 8 inclusive, on instruments I don't play, or just play for fun) to raise money for charity. If that sounds familiar... yes, the idea is nicked. I emailed the lady who did ABRSM Grades 1-8 and she didn't mind me copying!

Knotaknitter · 11/10/2019 20:20

Well hello there stranger! I've been through several name changes, mostly of a textile nature but I've been here certainly since DS's G8 saga (snowed off at the last minute) and that would be 2013.

I'm glad that the transition to secondary went well, it's always a worry in general and can be a trigger to giving up activities that are seen as uncool or out of the ordinary.

Wafflenose · 11/10/2019 20:28

I remember you! Gosh, how old is DS now?

Knotaknitter · 11/10/2019 20:38

He's 19 and in his second year at conservatoire. It's frightening how time flies, I can't believe that your two are as old as they are.

I hope your exam day goes well, our previous peri brass teacher took flute grades one year as a fund raiser which I thought was brave of her.