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

Hi All! I hope you are well - I haven't been around for ages but it's nice to see some names I recognise. Does anyone have any suggestions for violin courses online over the summer holidays? DD is really missing her ensembles. She has NCO online at the beginning of the holidays - will be interesting to see how that goes - but that's it! Any recommendations will be welcome! :)

@bostik have you looked at the Benedetti Foundation virtual sessions?
No idea about Trinity exams as DD has always done ABRSM.
Have you seen that the grade 5 theory exam is moving to online? Not sure how that will work.

Paddington - my dds music school has asked me to enter her for the online theory pilot. No idea what it will be like. Does anyone know any more?

Hi @PaddingtonPaddington! Thanks for the suggestion. We didn't look at the Benedetti Sessions this time as she didn't enjoy the last ones. She loved the face-to-face ones in London but didn't seem to get on with it online - wonderful opportunity though it was but I don't like to push these things. Might have a look at the Trinity Laban orchestra. Thanks again.

@bostik there’s also www.rcs.ac.uk/short-courses/strings-summer-school-online/ for age 12-17 for grades 6 plus if suitable.

DDs violin and piano lessons going back to face to face this week which she is really looking forward to. Although online has been ok, there’s been time lags and it’s just not the same. DS guitar starts back this week as his teacher wasn’t able to do online so it’s been a long gap.

They are definitely missing ensemble playing too.

Scottish schools orchestra trust are doing some sessions next week, culminating with a live playalong and the option to send in a recording. Might be of interest to some, there is a good range of parts at all levels available.

I'm very worried as dd's college seem to be indicating that singing classes will take place as normal. Ds's singing teacher says no way is she teaching face to face.

Dd has been doing pretty well via Zoom in her 1:1 but ensemble is tricky.

She's working towards her LLCM diploma in Music Theatre

DS2 is Y12 and been having singing lessons via school on Teams. If you are in school at the right time they are being done face to face, DS2 refused to have his last week until we knew more.

We've been told JD lessons for brass will be Teams next term, as will most of the JD programme. But they are bringing them in for ensembles.

The green light for outdoor music include the line "Singing and the playing of brass and wind instruments in groups or in front of an audience is limited to professionals only"

www.gov.uk/government/news/performing-arts-given-green-light-to-resume-outdoors-on-july-11

It's still a long time to September but at the moment ensemble playing is still officially off.

Dd and dh are in a bit of a funny position as their college is classed as professional training but the students are not quite professional yet (though some do start working in their 3rd year.

Hi
Does anyone on here have children who are going to attend junior conservatoire in September? We are new to this and we haven’t heard anything from them for awhile and I don’t want to bother them but at the same time I am unsure what’s happening. My daughter has been allocated a tutor, do they not get in touch again till nearer the time of the new term for payment and give you all the details then?

I guess I should have said 'intend' Knot. Ever hopeful but no assumptions!

Mickey am sure all JD's are different. When DS started last year, we had an induction day the week before term started (we because it included a parent), and he got his schedule then. Payment details were round then or just after.

Raspberry DS has no idea of what will be happening next term. The local brass band were all set for outdoor rehearsal in an unused car park - floor spacing marked out already - but that's been scuppered.

I am pinning my hopes on aerosol research - the University of Colorado should be starting to release findings next week

www.nfhs.org/articles/unprecedented-international-coalition-led-by-performing-arts-organizations-to-commission-covid-19-study/

I thought I saw a statement from DfE saying that children will be able to do ensembles as part of education in groups of 15, so just adult amateur music still banned? I'm in Scotland so it's all different though. Really hope some good research is done and we can get some things back.

Between school/home and JD we are in two different areas of the UK so we may well end up with different rules in different parts of our lives here!

DS2 did say the music teacher (school) had mentioned having choir and ensemble groups of up 15. But presumably it will also have to be within year group bubbles, we got our regarding next term on Friday. Strict year bubbles, no specialist room access for KS3.

Am now wondering how they are going to deliver the individual instrumental/voice lessons across the school! What a mess!!!

Link to the guidance which includes music tuition www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Link to the guidance for schools in September which includes music teaching www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

I am also wondering how ensemble playing is going to work. We are in France and some conservatoire teachers have started lessons again, but still no woodwind or brass.

DS is preparing to audition for the "specialised cycle" (diploma class) in September so he is going to have a busy summer. There are two required pieces for piano, Liszt Liebstraum no. 3 and a modern étude; he will also play one of his exam pieces from this year (either Clair de Lune or Schumann's Vienna Carnival intermezzo).

Has anyone played the 1st m of Haydn’s violin concerto in G for their Trinity G8 exam please? Do you just play the solo part or do you have to play all the tutti too?

Hello - we are also missing ensemble playing here, although the Benedetti sessions have been engaging and the NCO online sessions start next week. It isn't the same as the usual summer orchestra courses and it will be sad if ensemble playing is allowed in September when school starts again.

Has anyone else entered for a Trinity digital assessment exam? We are just waiting for further instructions before uploading a video. We haven't heard of anyone who's gone through the whole process yet, but I'm wondering if it has been a success.

Hello 😊 My DD is really missing ensemble playing. She enjoyed the Benedetti too and is looking forward to NCO but she’s really happy that Pro Corda is still hopefully going ahead in person 🤞🤞🤞
DD is taking a Trinity digital exam in a few weeks too - good luck with yours. Hoping the upload process is straightforward.

Hello All, I'm tentatively thinking about DD auditioning for a junior department at some point in the future. I've heard piano to grade 5 level is needed as a second study, is this true? I've looked at quite a few jd websites for entry requirements and can't see anywhere saying that g5 piano is a must, though. If anyone knows if this is the case for RAM jd in particular, I'd be super grateful if they could confirm. Thanks so much!

Hi Bostik
My DD did an audition early this year and got into RAM primary on her main instrument. She doesn’t play a second instrument so no piano needed. I think second instruments are optional so I’m sure you don’t need G5 on piano to audition if this is not their main instrument.

Hi @Mickey33 - congratulations to your DD - how exciting for her. I think mine would be junior age, I wonder if the requirements are the same. It looks like it from the website. Thanks so much! x

Just paid for LTCL. So I hope my daughter gets to take it. Also got the rest of the books for researching LRSM. I’m taxiing go rehearsals a lot as Woods sax sonata mvt 4 is —crazy— —madness— fantastic but so hard to get together.