Autumn 2020 music thread

[thirdfiddle]

Oh go on then, let's have a new music thread. Spring wasn't good.
What's going on music parents? Are they going back to real live lessons? Is it all virtual for Autumn? Have they sustained interest over lockdown? Any new starters want to join us - or new departures for established musicians?

@OneLovelySister

Thanks for replying, Totalshambles. I expected better from such a well established organisation

Our result is still "pending" after being marked originally as "absent" (we weren't) and now we are struggling to get a response from ABRSM

Hi, does anyone have any experience of the trinity digital assessments? Daughters teacher wants to enter her into an exam, but I am worried about the audio quality that can be achieved through using an iPhone or laptop especially as she plays drum kit! We also have to be able to hear the backing track. It’s all rather loud...

Haven't done it with a backing track but we manage duets between a loud instrument and a quiet instrument by careful camera/mic positioning. The sound quality on DD's recording for Trinity was pretty poor last term and she still got a good mark, so I think as long as they can hear e.g. that she is doing dynamics you'd be fine.
Could you try recording something to reassure yourself before you put an entry in?

Hello
I hope it's ok to post on here. I have 4 DCs playing various instruments. DD (11) really wants to start the French Horn but I'm struggling to find a teacher.
I don't want her to learn through the local music service (who are generally great) as she already learns violin through them and I think missing lessons twice a week is not ideal. And also because DS1 already learns trombone with the brass teacher who she would be given, and I feel he has been a bit hopeless.
Does anyone know of any French Horn teachers in the NE - Durham / Darlington / Teesside area?
Thanks in advance.

Hi starmer, can't help with horn teacher but we have always gone with word of mouth. Or if there are any specialist music schools or junior departments you could look to see who teaches there and contact them. One of our teachers is a family friend, the other a professional in an orchestra and teaches at a conservatoire. Lots of professional orchestra members teach too. I would have thought the French horn world was quite small, so if you contact one, they might put you in touch with someone else who can help. Good luck, it's a lovely instrument.

Who teaches at the local private schools can be a useful hint if there isn't a music college. Otherwise as horseymum says networking - ask the children's other teachers (maybe not trombone teacher!) if there's someone they'd recommend for horn. DD's brilliant violin teacher was recommended to me by two other teachers independently and one of them she taught their own kids. You don't get a better recommendation than that!

😭 😭 😭

DD (13) has just this minute been instructed she must self isolate as a COVID contact until 6pm on 17th Dec.

Her grade 7 cello exam is booked for 16th Dec 😢

What are the chances that ABRSM would be able to accommodate her exam this side of Christmas or early in the new year?

She’s been totally on track for the exam and ready and prepped as you would expect 10 days before the exam.

Nothing available on line. Has anyone been able to speak with staff from ABRSM recently?

Feel like I’m clutching at straws and just feel so sad for her

Oh no, mbell, what awful timing

Wondering if a negative test (?PCR test, privately, as one can do for overseas travel) would mean she was ok to take the exam?

Also, have you checked for late booking slots at your current venue and any others nearby? (Not sure if that’s what you meant, sorry.) I suppose something may come up with late cancellations over the next few days if you keep checking...

The letter from PHE is very clear that self isolation has to take place even if you have a negative PCR test during this period.

The website gives no free slots anywhere in the UK for 18th Dec onwards.

I’ll try and call ABRSM tomorrow but I’m hearing that they don’t respond or answer emails. Might try the exam venue directly 🤞🏽

Worst possible timing indeed.

Mbell we had the same problem a few weeks ago; I checked the slots at least twice a day and we got a cancellation for the day after quarantine eventually.. Lots of people end up having to move bookings due to quarantine so fingers crossed you will get a slot that works.

Thanks @horseymum and @thirdfiddle. The teacher at local private schools isn't taking anyone new on (and he's not really a horn player), and the music service horn teacher won't teach her privately as she feels it's a "conflict of interests" when DD could learn with the rather useless brass teacher music service teacher they can offer..... I don't quite get her reasoning, but maybe she just doesn't want a private pupil.

But I'll keep on asking around - thank you for the suggestions.

mbell that's awful. Fingers crossed something comes up. We've got one on the 15th (dd's flute grade 6) and she's self-isolating until the 11th so it looks like she might be ok. Still seems deeply unlikely that the stars will align and her, the accompanist and the examiner will all actually be able to be in the same place at the same time on the day though. Hope you get sorted soon and your dd copes with self isolation ok.

Thanks to those that have replied to my post.

I’m not feeling hopeful.

I can not find a single uk slot available let alone in our local area (London).

Am I correct that session 3 ends on December 19th or are there any centres with later dates.

DD is still rehearsing as though the exam will still take place in 10 days but I’m not sure how it will happen 😔

Can you try to ask around via local private schools etc to see if anyone has a 'special visit' planned? I think they are still happening this year (basically the examiner comes to the school or other venue, usually shortly after the regular session of exams is finished, and the person organising it has more control/flexibility about the timetable, and can sometimes squeeze extra people in). It's usually schools with many candidates, or private teachers who want specific dates to have all their pupils together, and they ask around other private teachers to make sure there are enough candidates to meet the minimum, or sometimes teachers with unusual instruments that are hard to transport to other venues, etc. I think there are more restrictions this year as the venue has to be Covid-safe etc, but I have heard that some people were still planning them (but that was planning before the recent Tier changes, so don't know if that's affected anything). Local music teachers groups etc might know of who might be organising them, or the usual local exam venue might know if they have hired it out for a special visit to someone later on, or the private schools might have leads.

Having looked at the late booking slots available currently, I think Yr10mom’s strategy of checking at least twice a day for cancellations is a good idea. It’s a headache for you and your DD may have horribly short notice (because people may well be having to cancel at very short notice) but definitely worth a go.

@minisnowballs, in case you didn’t know (I only saw it when trying to find out if warm-up rooms would be available under Covid restrictions) your DD doesn’t have to have an accompanist:

“Live accompaniment, as detailed in the relevant syllabuses, is normally required. However, while social-distancing requirements are in place, we are offering flexibility to singers and instrumentalists who must usually have an accompanist (or duet partner) on the day of their exam. We will accept unaccompanied performances in face-to-face exams until at least 31 March 2021. Arrangements beyond that are subject to review.”

Special COVID-19 arrangements for accompaniment in practical face-to-face exams

Not ideal to play all pieces unaccompanied but if you could only manage DD and examiner on the day for some reason, maybe better than nothing.

That's really helpful thanks! Let's see what happens.

Thimbleberries, thank you so helpful. Will get investigating!

Theory results are in. Hope everyone's DC's got the result they wanted. DD was happy with her's, seems the online wasn't too bad after all.

Just saying hello. I used to post on these music threads a lot but been quite some time. I recognise some of the names but lots of new ones :)

Hi Herts! Not been so much music happening this term, maybe next term will be better! DD got into NYOS so pleased about that but not sure how much will go ahead. Still, it's a nice boost.

Yes certainly been an odd one. Almost forgotten what normal music times are like! We have been distracted by conservatoire applications for son so have noticed less but end of term is a reminder as to all the things that should have been happening. NYOS? Scotland? I lose track of all the NY acronyms :) Congrats anyway.

Made it. One child, one accompanist, one examiner, all covid-free and in the same place for DD's Grade 6. Honestly don't care what the mark is (apparently she played a dominant when asked for a diminished at one point, which she's stressing about) just amazed she got to take the thin.

Excellent news, minisnowballs Well done to everyone involved!

I felt much the same way with DD’s exam. She’d had to miss Grade 2 in the spring session and move on to take Grade 3 in the autumn, with much of the teaching being via Zoom. Then we had a newborn in the house and really, really short notice of the exam date With all this, and in the wider circumstances, we’d have been delighted with a solid pass, but DD managed to scrape a distinction (despite an error in her strongest piece, two stabs at an arpeggio and, tbf, not being strong on the aural bit).

Results seem to be back quickly with the new electronic system. Everything crossed for your DD

@mbell, how’s it going with you? Has the new 10-day rule saved the day?