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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Spring Term 2020 music thread

471 replies

squintsoftheworldunite · 01/01/2020 04:44

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

OP posts:
AllTheProsecco · 19/03/2020 08:45

Hoping it is ok to post this here.. feel like you lot have exactly the sort of knowledge I'm looking for!

I'm a peripatetic teacher in a primary school teaching full class and individual lessons. If your child was having individual lessons, would you be up for carrying these on over Skype or similar? It would have to be around DH's work as he is WFH and still (thankfully) as busy as ever.

This is the only way I can have any sort of income at the moment but have heard that not all schools are being supportive when this approach is being suggested.

CruCru · 19/03/2020 09:35

Hi AllTheProsecco

My children are going to have their lessons this way. Our school is closing at the end of today and the music department are going to be in touch to tell us how Skype is going to work. So I’ve scheduled in a bit of music practice for both children.

What instrument do you teach?

Knotaknitter · 19/03/2020 10:48

My son is having a lesson in the dining room as I type. Pro tip - don't start the washer before a lesson, he beat the spin cycle by five minutes. There is a bit of set up required but as he is 20 he can manage that for himself.

thirdfiddle · 19/03/2020 14:26

Alakazam, lovely news - and we need some of that right now. Well done your DD!

Our teachers are still working out systems but yes, very keen for some online lessons if the broadband doesn't break under the strain. They have piano at school and other instruments out of school and all teachers currently working out what systems to use etc, but all proposing to do something. It'll be a huge bonus to have some music still going on. My two will miss their ensembles a lot, so will I mine.

We were lucky enough to get their piano exams in just before closure - very kind of the exam centre host to keep going as long as she was allowed as it's in her own home and a lot of people traipsing through. Much washing of hands and wiping of piano keys. It is small in the scheme of things, particularly for these early exams, but nice to have ticked them off properly. Imagine we'll get results quickly, they haven't much else to do :(

AllTheProsecco · 19/03/2020 15:00

Thank you all, I sent out emails this afternoon and have had positive responses already.

I teach recorder and flute. Only started back after maternity leave in Jan and have lost all my ensemble teaching until at least September, understandably. Would be really helpful (and enjoyable!) if I can keep at least a little bit of my one-to-one work going online.

raspberryrippleicecream · 19/03/2020 22:30

Brilliant news Alakazam.

DS2 had an unexpected singing lesson at school today, and was pleased to be told he will be getting Skyped lessons next term.

Am really hoping JD will do similar, at least for his first study. Monthly payment went out today by DD which is not their fault but a but grating!

He is being really good about all the opportunities that have just vanished!

KittyOSullivanKrauss · 20/03/2020 23:01

Great news Alakzam and fantastic that you got it in before they started to be cancelled.
We are likely to organise cello lessons for DS over google classroom or Zoom. I use Zoom for work & the sound quality is better with less echo so I think it would be better than Skype.
We'll speak to the piano teacher next week. We're now fully expecting exams to be cancelled next term as well.
Thankfully DS quite likes the idea of doing more music at home, although he may have just had his last day at primary school and we're very sad about this.

Mendingfences · 21/03/2020 09:55

We've now had both flute and violin lessons on facetime and it has been a success Grin and also online theory lesson from the theory teacher at our jd type arrangement.

Other than that there is Lots of practise going on, which is nice Smile although timing can be an issue what with all of us working from home.... I am seriously considering purchasing a soundproof booth to stick in the barn.....

Alakazam8 · 21/03/2020 10:32

Thanks for all the message. It was a fantastic achievement for her but sadly been a bit overshadowed by everything that is going on.
I don’t yet know if her lessons can continue. Does anybody know any clarinet teachers who would do online lessons?

Mendingfences · 21/03/2020 11:13

Will your usual teacher not consider some kind of remote lessons? Not all of ours have been in touch yet (one is sick with covid Sad) but generally they have been positiv to trying new things given the unprescedented situation.

QueenMabby · 24/03/2020 19:21

Well done Alakazam’s dd!
We’ve got our first online lesson for dd on the cello tomorrow. 🤞🏻
DD’s piano teacher is a bit of a technophobe so we’re going back and forth on WhatsApp!

raspberryrippleicecream · 24/03/2020 19:52

DS2 will have his singing lesson via Microsoft Teams on Thursday. It's via school, he has been doing all his academic lessons via Teams this week. Will be interesting to see how it works!

Organ lessons are suspended as is practice!

Am hoping JD will be organising distance lessons after Easter - anybody else's JD said anything?

minisnowballs · 25/03/2020 18:31

Not strictly JD - but CYM is part of Guildhall - and we've had to sign the GH agreement on lessons - apparently everyone is using Teams for individual lessons. DD2s teachers seem up for it.

horseymum · 25/03/2020 19:17

Ours had their first online lessons this week, seemed to go well. Younger DD was a bit quiet as just a bit overwhelmed by everything but warmed to it.

hidingmystatus · 25/03/2020 20:10

My DD is having singing/oboe by Teams as well as her A-level music - but has anyone any clue what they will do about the recitals for A-level (and GCSE)?

raspberryrippleicecream · 25/03/2020 20:45

I don't know. I do know about five years my friend's DD collapsed at the beginning of her recital. She ended up in hospital having a minor heart op, but before she left in the ambulance she had been totally reassured about her A level, and was awarded her grade without the recital.

hidingmystatus · 26/03/2020 13:51

Thanks, raspberry. Reassuring. I can't see how they can expect ANYONE to have access to a video/recording of any quality at all. Phones/laptops wouldn't really cut it.

raspberryrippleicecream · 26/03/2020 15:05

Ds2 s GCSE ensemble performance was recorded at home last year, (piano duet with his teacher), on his phone I think. So some things are possible. Obviously couldn't record a duet just now! And accompanied playing is out too.

Knotaknitter · 26/03/2020 18:39

Why do they need a recital if there isn't going to be an exam this year? I'm not being funny, it's a genuine question.

I have a conservatoire student preparing for a recital in a few weeks. Where he thinks he's getting an accompanist from I do not know, I am assuming that it will be cancelled at the last minute after they've put plenty of work into it.

horseymum · 27/03/2020 12:13

Have you investigated the acapella app? There is a better one available in Apple store which has a click track to play along to, and a more basic one available for Android. I'm just trying to get to grips with them, hopefully we can have some fun with them. No replacement for really playing together though.

Pes0penguin · 27/03/2020 14:20

Does anyone have good advice for sending an audio recording to a music teacher? Our cello tutor has said she can’t accept video files due to safeguarding issues. I’ve seen there’s a voice note app on my iPhone but would this work on her computer/phone if this isn’t Apple? Otherwise my best idea is to video the carpet!

thirdfiddle · 27/03/2020 14:37

Can you record a standard format sound file on it Pes? There are lots of sound recording apps if not. I've used a free Android one, iirc saved as .wav files.

hidingmystatus · 31/03/2020 12:27

Just for anyone who may be thinking about US music conservatories; my DD applied to 4, got three offers, and has been given merit scholarships at two (still waiting to hear from the third one) - one of which is 1/3 of the yearly cost. So if you were also in financial need, it's possible that it's not as totally out of reach as you might have thought...though it's still expensive, they do seem to have a lot of funds sloshing around if they are keen on the student.

Vegena · 01/04/2020 06:39

@alakazam8 yes my daughter's clarinet teacher is offering online lessons. Pm me if you want address.

Luckyfab · 01/04/2020 17:08

Hi, my DD did a practical exam on 16th March but have not received the results yet.
I know there will be delays but do you have any ideas? I wrote to ABRSM but no reply yet.