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?

Waffle! Great to see you here. Somehow I had failed to twig Rara was secondary already, lovely to hear it's gone smoothly. Sounds like she's ready to take off musically too. We're just applying for DS.

Hi Waffle. Lovely to hear all your news . My youngest DS (albeit about to turn 17) aso started Conservatoire JD this autumn and is loving it.

Thanks for all your encouragement - DS has his first audition during half term next week at Royal Welsh.
He can stay with his sister the night before as she's at Uni in Swansea so that's helpful
He was quite excited to get the audition come through and has visited for a consultation lesson which was encouraging.
It's one of his favourites so fingers crossed.
Any advice? I'm thinking practice some scales and singing in case those are needed too? (for possible aural tests)

"As part of your audition you may also be asked to complete an aural assessment, a short sightreading exercise or quick-study exercise and a series of technical tests including scales and arpeggios (typically selected from the ABRSM Grade 8 syllabus)."

so yes to scales. DS did not audition there so all I've got is what they tell candidates. He should be prepared to be stopped, started, stopped, started from bar X etc and he needs to make sure he's there early enough for the warm up so at least half an hour before the time of the audition. It's really good that he's stopping the night before because there's nothing worse than worrying about the time when you've a long way to go.

I hope it goes well for him, it's nice to get one done early on rather than them all hitting in a bunch together.

Hi, apologies I haven't been on one of the threads in awhile and now I've come to ask for help. I have DD, 13, Who plays clarinet and bassoon.

She is currently in the second year of secondary school, when she started we didn't apply for a music scholarship as we decided it was too much pressure on top of entrance exams. Now her music department have advised her that she really should apply for one for 13+. We have received the application form today and are struggling a bit.

They asked for her main musical achievements but as her grades are listed above I guess this is not what they want. When I asked her, she said passing her grade 4 even though her teacher told her she would file, and I'm not sure it's a good idea to write that either!

There is a section which asks if she plays any other instruments, should we just right no or talk about her experiences in choirs. There are already two other sections which we need to leave blank, which detail current musical scholarships or awards and other music related awards Of which she has none!

Any advice? Or any idea where would be good to look for some?

Hi def incl the choir work; greatest musical achievement could include orchestras, bands, festivals, first concert. They are looking for a wide interest (and joining in!) plus excitement so it really can be anything she is pleased to have done. Good luck

Thanks for such a helpful and encouraging post Knotaknitter

Was good to read through the requirements again - thanks for finding those for us x
Reminding me that I should be sure to check those out for each conservatoire as the auditions come up through the term

And you helped me take on board that he really needs to be at least half an hour early from the audition time they've given him.
So, I'll make sure to emphasise that to him and his sister as time keeping isn't always his strongest point.

You'd think they might include that prep time in the time they give candidates but I don't think they do - they just ask them to arrive with that extra time in hand to rehearse with their accompanist.

woolleybear we’ve just applied for an 11+ scholarship for dd at a local school. In her application form (it was just an “additional information” section) we listed masterclasses she’s done, concerts she’s performed in, her choirs, competitions she’s won and orchestra courses/workshops she’s done (ie in school holidays etc) together with music related others - musical theatre productions, dance shows etc. which also show commitment and discipline.
I have no clue how we’ll do but she’s certainly dedicated to her music so 🤞🏻 that counts! Best of luck to your dd too.

I was so pleased to read your news, Waffle , you have been missed on here. I am a long time mostly lurker on this thread and so like to hear all the news. I have grandchildren, one plays piano and violin and younger one the piano and has just started the clarinet.

Hello all!

Well, DD has her date for Grade 1 harp - 22nd November! Pieces are pretty much there, scales are solid but somehow she’s forgotten how long a minim is in beats so her sight reading is woeful. I may need cake...!

Exam date through here as well, thankfully at the end of the session, as got an audition to prepare for too. She will have had a two week break from playing so this gives us time enough to get back into the swing. She definitely misses playing just now!

No exams here this term thankfully. Good luck folks!
Though given DS is learning next grade pieces in both instruments and DD on one (shhh, they don't know!) I have my suspicions about teachers' plans for next term and that we're going to end up with a 3 exam clash like last spring.

How have you pulled off that subterfuge, thirdfiddle? Are they doing pieces not in the ABRSM ABC lists?

More just general difficulty of pieces I mean, and scales they're covering too. Though for DS's brass he's learned enough actual syllabus pieces with some to spare - that's just a list, they don't come in one book. I don't really know anything, I'm just guessing based on teachers' past form, piano teacher is quite set on exam track generally.

Oh, I see - I thought it was a ruse to get them to learn the exam pieces in a low pressure way, or something

What grades are they working towards?

DD has started on her G2 flute exam pieces so it’s on for spring. No clashes to worry about here though, as DS hasn’t even started music lessons.

I was thinking about violin or cello for DS, but a post on here about the relative cost of strings, compared to brass or woodwind instruments, gave me pause, and he’s already changed his mind a lot about what he might be interested in (discussions have ranged from trombone, via drums and guitar, to violin/cello!).

Trombone would be a cool instrument to learn, you can do big band /jazz type stuff as well as being in demand for classical music. Have you seen the plastic ones you can get for younger kids?
I do just love string instruments though. There's so much amazing chamber music and huge range of expression you can get out of them. But yes as you say, expensive! Entry level probably cheaper than brass but maintenance costs and a good quality instrument £££.

DS is hovering around grade 3 in both. DD grade 2 piano (and avoiding exams for now on violin, yay!).

onelovelysister I agree with thirdfiddle - have a look at the plastic trombones. They’re called P-bones (I think) and come in a fabulous array of luridly bright colours! We have a little p-bone band at DD’s school and they’re amazing!
Smaller than the cello too (that’s DD’s instrument) and much more portable! 😜

OneLovely if you have free reign over instrument choice I'd go for something on the less popular side. Playing a rarer instrument automatically opens up way more opportunities and it's less competitive to get into NCO, County orchestras etc. My DS plays with loads of adult ensembles because locally there just isn't anyone else around.

Trombone is certainly less popular than violin or cello but I wouldn't put it on the "danger of extinction" list.

So what would you say are endangered species instruments boykeepsswinging? Pure curiosity mind, we have enough instruments in the house already!

I have two trombone players, so not rare in my house, but tend to find they are not that common around us. DS1 doubles on tuba and is very in demand for that.

Yes to the p-bones also. You can take grades up to 5 on them.The boys both have them, though not as starter instruments as they were only just coming out then. DS2s was really useful when he chipped a bone in his wrist - he could lift the p-bone but not his brass one. DS1 lent his to his girlfriend for a while as a starter instrument.

Also, I've tended to find I've not had much say in the choice! I tried to get DS2 to play clarinet as we had free lessons and an instrument via a friend. He got to Grade 7 standard on it but picked up a trombone on the way and that was it! I really didn't want him too as DS1 had just switched to trombone. DD plays sax, but dabbled with violin and cello. DS1 started on trumpet but switched after Grade 5.

I think they need to be drawn to an instrument to enjoy it. Double bass is rare and you can get small versions. Can do solo, orchestra, jazz etc. Also orchestras can take several so not limited in the way oboe/ bassoon is. (Usually only 2/3 max) They can be played in a windband too though, so plenty of opportunities. Orchestras are always looking for viola players, so that is another, and French horn. It depends on the type of music he likes and what he is drawn to. My dd1 knew she wanted an orchestral wind instrument so we found someone who did a trial lesson of flute, clarinet, oboe and bassoon and she picked oboe without hesitation. She already played recorder so it was a natural fit too. DD 2 liked cello and bassoon so obviously liked the deeper range. Handily she chose bassoon which dd1 teacher also does. They are doomed to be the only ones in our region though so only do something rare if they are ok with that.

I agree that it's really important that your kid chooses an instrument they want to play rather than have something imposed on them, that rarely ends well. I just meant if you were looking at, say, flute or oboe I'd pick oboe as it's less popular.

Although there are fewer slots for bassoon and oboe in orchestras there aren't that many people playing those instruments across the country. Viola has also been mentioned as has Tuba. Orchestral Percussion (rather than drum kit) is also in short supply and you don't need to own a set of timpani, unlike Harp, also in short supply but expensive instruments and you need a large enough car!

Orchestral Percussion is another of those instruments where you can play in lots of different ensembles depending on your musical interests. And I agree that Double Bass is another super useful instrument across lots of genres, particularly because the fingering for string and electric bass is the same so it's easy to move between the two.

Good luck with your musical adventure, it sounds like a lot of fun!

Not posted for a while but the discussion on instrument choice is really interesting. DS plays the piano (which he loves) and chose cello for a second orchestral instrument. He was completely set on strings rather than wind, no idea why but he was adamant! He preferred cello due to the range. He's also quite drawn to the idea of the double bass but I've said he can look at that in future once he's big enough to lift one!
DD is only 6 but we've talked about instruments. She's had a go at the piano but I'm not sure whether she'll be keen enough to take formal lessons. For some reason she's keen on the idea of the violin.
In terms of cost, we hire DS's cello from the local music service and it's very reasonable.

The endangered species instruments according to DD1's JD are trombone, French horn, double bass and bassoon. She gets free lessons on double bass as a second study because of this.

Both my DDs play brass instruments and are in demand as a result. The trumpet and trombone are very versatile and play pretty much every genre whereas there's not much call for French horns in jazz or in brass bands (where trumpets are swapped for cornets). It's noticeable that the adult brass world is mainly populated by men and we've found that as the DDs join more advanced ensembles, they tend to be dominated by male players... which may or may not be off-putting/a selling point!