Spring Term 2020 music thread

[squintsoftheworldunite]

Thought I would start the ball rolling on the first 2020 music thread since I’m awake. Happy New Year all of you and your lovely little musicians. Carrying on the long tradition of music threads here begun moons ago by wafflenose .... hoping our threads continue to be a place that’s welcoming to all, whatever standard, experience, backgrounds or situations of music bring you here.

2019 brought incredible music experiences for us, our biggest year to date. Exhausting but incredible. We said goodbye to the year with a final music lesson to end what has been an amazing first year on a new, and now first study, instrument. We’ve had a year free from practical exams but full of auditions and performances and so much to look back on with gratitude. I certainly couldn’t have predicted 2019 this time last year! I hope we can say the same of 2020 this time next year. Happy New Year xx

Delurking to say hi. I work in music education and follow these threads with enthusiasm (although I don't have kids of my own). Hope everyone has a fantastic 2020.

Happy musical new year!
2019 has been a year of stability. No major changes although i strongly suspect the trumpet is going to feature markedly in ds's future i just have to figure out how.....

Dropping in to say hi, happy new year and hoping for to a musical year for everyone. 2019 was an amazing year for DD musically - still joint first study but has declared 2020 as the year of the cello......

Happy New Year everyone! 2020 is GCSE year at Swinging Towers and Diploma will be taken after those are out of the way.

Wishing everyone a wonderful year of music making, wherever you are on the journey!

Yay thanks for the new thread! Happy new year all and lovely of Fran with the cool username to drop in too :)

Where did we go in 2019? DS joined a wind band and is rather charmingly taken with it. DD still loving her music centre string group. We have plans for both to try other ensembles soon.
DS pottering along solidly with piano, DD learns a lot more music but tries to play everything too fast for either musicality or accuracy. Will be interesting to see what she can actually do when brakes applied for g2 and music festival in 2020.

Popping in to say Happy New Year to MN music thread members! Not posting as much these days but still following. 2019 was a good year for both DD's with both making excellent progress on their respective instruments and making some great friends and lots of lovely musical memories.

DD1(12) plays violin (first study, approx G8+), viola and dabbles in piano. Also voice, very much focussed on MT. She attends a London JD, loves Pro Corda and is an enthusiastic member of school and county senior ensembles. Big into musical theatre and is currently coming to the end of a 32 show professional panto run. She keeps us very busy!!

DD2 (9) plays cello (first study, approx G4) and piano. Starting to enjoy ensemble playing in a local junior orchestra and has recently joined the first of our senior county orchestras. Also just been accepted onto the Pro Corda programme. As with big sis, loves MT and has had some pretty big moments on stage in 2019!

2020 for us will be about building DD2s confidence and self belief, with her first residential music courses planned for May and August. She's very excited about the hoodies....

As for DD1, there was a pivotal moment in 2019 when I stopped worrying about which of her two loves/talents, theatre and music, was going to emerge as the priority. Because neither is. So, in 2020 we will be striving to find the very best balance we can, looking to provide high level opportunities in both. And also to keep working with school to make sure she's not overloaded and can fulfil her potential in all areas (including core academics).

Have a great 2020 everyone 🥳

Happy new year all

DD awaiting violin and piano exam results from last term. 2019 saw a change of violin teacher which was a difficult decision but has been so positive, she auditioned and got a place in county youth orchestra, started at a local string group and continues to play in the school orchestra and string group. GCSEs rapidly approaching.

DS having shown zero interest in anything musical requested electric guitar lessons and has picked it up really quickly which then progressed to buying a cheap drum kit so it’s nice and loud in our house!

Happy New Year.

Thanks for the new thread.

I mainly have DS2 these days. He is at JD, and also is a Cathedral chorister, in the youth choir these days, and has organ lessons outside JD. Plays in several music service and school ensembles. In Y12 doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Music A levels.

He is busy researching unis. Having been convinced he wanted to do Music, he had fallen in love with Maths in sixth form! No idea which way he will go. The music director at his Cathedral did a Maths degree so he is aware he is not closing options. (Music director is also an ABRSM examiner.)

This term Grade 5 organ beckons, teacher would prefer him to do first exam on new instrument at this level. As he is the aforementioned examiner, am inclined to follow his advice!

He is also having a brace fitted, which hopefully won't affect his first study too much. Or his singing.

Longtime posters may remember my two older DCs now at uni. DD plays her instrument in one uni group. DS1 plays in many - it's been his main social life at uni!

Lots of good luck (and ) to the GCSE brigade. I was hoping for a year off GCSEs/AS/A levels this year after 8 years non stop. However despite DS's school dropping AS exams this year, they are entering the Further Maths students, so we aren't entirely exam free!

Happy new year all. We're starting it off as we mean to go on (ha!) with a three day orchestra course in which both my DDs get a chance to use their string instruments. They were not very delighted by a 9:30 start this morning, but I am hoping it gets them in the mood before school starts. It's been very much 'pyjamas til noon' in the last few weeks.

I have dd1, 12, who much prefers drama but enjoys her violin nonetheless, despite slow progression. She's just taken G4, which gives her just about enough proficiency to play in school orchestra and music service ensembles. G2 piano this term - she started recently - if she can get her act together.

dd2, 10, is a bit more serious about it all. She takes G5 flute this term, and is working through G5 theory with hopes to take that soon too - these are done at a London saturday centre. She just took G3 cello, and has just taken up the mini bassoon- currently playing Daisy Bell and the Skye Boat Song at the sort of volume you'd expect of a fog horn. Ouch.

People who know more about cello than me, perhaps you can help with my current music question? Dd2 is wondering about the gap between G3 cello and G4 - looking at the pieces it doesn't look vast to me - she can sightread the G4 pieces pretty well. It's her second instrument so she tends to go quite fast (two terms to a grade feels like too long generally) and I don't really want her taking anything in the summer term as she has SATs.

Is it worth suggesting to her teacher that we skip G4 altogether and just work up to five as and when she's ready - no idea when? Would she miss anything vital doing that - is G4 an important grade? I don't really see the point in her doing them all... but maybe I'm missing something?

Scales not really a big issue for her as she has the theory and obv does them on flute, so knows how they work if you see what I mean- aural is covered at her Saturday Centre when she bothers to go to the classes. She's an excellent sight reader - so none of those likely to hold her back. All thoughts welcomed.

My own big fear for 2020 is that DD2 will hold me to my suggestion that I take G5 theory with her. She's learning it far faster than I am - my old mind is struggling to take it all in!

Hi @minisnowballs I'd say the gap between 3&4 not that great, but 4&5 a bigger jump. Lots of position work. Has she started to develop vibrato yet? Would say this is expected by around G5 But prob shouldn't be rushed into until position work, tone and general intonation are secure. IME strings are generally a slower burn than woodwind, so I'd be cautious about rushing or technique just doesn't get consolidated, esp as a second instrument. Do you have to stick to exam repertoire? My DD is around G4-5 on cello but we have a whole mix of stuff on the go. She's currently doing a mix of Cello Time Sprinters, Solos for Young Cellists, The Fiddler Playalong Cello Collection, Position Pieces for Cello with G4/5 scales and some ad hoc studies and technical stuff thrown in. There's plenty out there to keep them busy around that level without the exam focus. If she needs a goal, why not book in to some well-timed music festivals to ensure pieces are being polished to performance standard??

Just realised I prob didn't answer your question- in short, no, no need to do every grade! My girls have actually taken relatively few actual exams....

Thanks @folkmamma - yes, slow is good. No need to rush her.... and yes, agree re wide repertoire. She has all the books you mention except solos for young cellists (is that particularly good?) and plays lots from them- also lots of Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody a definite favourite) and film score bits.

She's in a couple of ensembles too. Definitely there's no focus on the same pieces all the time - but it seems sensible to keep going with some scales, at least, at whatever level she's aiming at?

She has quite a nice vibrato already - developed on one of her orchestra courses. it's getting her not to use it all of the time that's more of a problem! I'm sure it will be improved with time and practising.

Perhaps we'll talk about not doing exams for a bit and see where we are in a few terms. Her current teacher is going on mat leave soon and she learns in school and will go to secondary in september - lots of change ahead, which is one reason to ensure that she has some sort of plan in place as to where she's heading.

Thanks for your thoughts. Appreciated

Sounds like she's doing great @minisnowballs! Have you looked at the Pro Corda courses? We are big fans 😍

Hi - mainly a lurker but wanted to pop back in on the new thread.
I have 2 DCs. DS is not musical but DD(11) is. She has piano as a first study and we’re bridging from G3 to G5 at the moment. She’s had a few repertoire pieces at G5 and G5-6 over the last few months so the actual pieces should be ok but her teacher says her fingers need strengthening a bit! She’ll also be starting her theory this term. She has lessons at school and also does piano duets and plays piano in a chamber trio.
Cello is her second study and she’ll take G3 at Easter (she skipped G2). She plays in the school string orchestra and we do the odd orchestra workshop although not being in London means our options are more limited unless we’re prepared to travel.
Finally she sings in a chapel choir so lots of church services upcoming.
Hi to everyone in the thread - I love reading about all the dcs’ achievements.
Back to lurking now!

Thanks @folkmamma - I did look at Pro Corda as someone else recommended it, but I think their requirements are a bit high for us (they say G3 at 8)- also the prices! Great that your dds like it though.

@minisnowballs don't rule it out - that's just a guide. They audition (either in person or by video) and take into account experience etc. Agreed it's quite privy but that's 8 days food, accommodation and really high level tuition. There are bursaries and scholarships available. And we've had small grants / help from local trusts which have all made it more viable.

Thanks folk - will bear in mind! She's lucky we live in London so can access lots of non-residential opportunities - like today's course - as well as her Saturday school, so she's not done music residentials yet. Still adamant that flute is her favourite instrument, but we'll see how it goes as she gets older.

Good to know about bursaries - music is so expensive!

Just checking in to new thread. I have three DC's who love their music in different ways. We have quite a few things planned this year for music making, starting with the Nicola benedetti session at the weekend. Then dd2 is going to a come and play with musicians from three of the Scottish orchestras. ( DH is taking her so needs to dig his flute out and remember how to play it!!) Hopefully a music festival as well, the first time for dd3. No exams planned, except grade 5 theory, probably June to give a realistic timescale. I love hearing what others are up to, they are all so different. Practice started again yesterday after a week off, the beautiful sound of oboe/bassoon in two different rooms at the same time!!

Happy new year & thanks for the new thread. I don't post that much but like to follow & often find there is useful information, or someone can answer a question if we're stuck.
DS (10) plays piano & cello. He's likely to take G4 piano in the summer. He started cello over a year ago for ensemble opportunities and he enjoyed his first concert at Christmas. He also started SWMS last term and absolutely loves it.
We're just gearing up to get back into routine with lessons & practice. He's another Queen/film scores fan so has been mainly dabbling with these over the holidays.
I also have a DD (6). She fancied trying violin last term but then went off the idea. She's very physically active with dance & gym so not sure yet if she's going to learn an instrument but she occasionally tries the piano and has picked up my old recorder a few times. If anyone can recommend a decent first recorder book I'd be grateful as I've totally forgotten how to play it!

Glad to see another Queen cello fan here, Kitty.

My girls bounced back from orchestra course thrilled because they're playing themes from the new Star Wars (and because the biscuits and lunches are good - it's at a local private school so they enjoy a bit of seeing how the other half lives/eats now and again).

Spoke to Dd2s cello teacher (well emailed). She concurs. Skip G4, work towards five when ready (dd not delighted by more of the joyous Position Pieces but knows it needs to happen). Thanks for your thoughts @folkmamma - so useful. I'm delighted to be off the exam treadmill a bit - DD1 working on repertoire too this term. So that's just G5 flute, G5 theory and possibly something on the bassoon this year. And some Lamda and a karate grading or two. Phew.

I'm a bit late to the party regarding exams. We're not in the uk so none of mine have been anywhere near an exam but that doesnt mean they dont learn and progress nothing against exams but no need to worry about deviating from a 'golden path ' if you choose not to

My kiddo hasn’t done any exams in the first study instrument. G8 will happen as a “so it’s done” but probably nothing else.

That's great - thanks all. I think we tend to end up hearing a lot of 'must be grade x for this orchestra'/course and I know they actually mean 'grade x standard' but it's often far from clear what the standard means.

For example, when dd1 passes a grade she's worked on the pieces for months, til she knows and can play them - ditto the scales. Sometimes dd2 can learn them in a week, and knows how to do the scales anyway.... Which one is at grade x standard for an orchestra- as actually their levels are wildly different even if the piece of paper they end up with is the same?

I find it all a bit confusing - you can probably tell!

Yeh, my DS only did G8. And he only really did that so he can put it on his UCAS form. We've never been fans of the grade mill and neither is his teacher, far too much other exciting repertoire to explore!

mini what is even more confusing is that you can pass G8 but have literally no orchestral technique whatsoever. It's a skill set that's never examined. I'm a case in point, mediocre playing level (G6 maybe) but semi pro orchestral technique level. I never get lost, follow the conductor, know how to blend my sound etc. Whereas lots of people can play way better than me but can't count for toffee. So it's certainly not an exact science!