Spring 21 virtual music thread

[thirdfiddle]

New year, new lockdown, new virtual ensembles and digital exams - welcome to a new, virtual, all digital, socially distanced music thread.

This is a continuation of a very long running and friendly series of threads, dating from long before my time, and anyone with music learning kids from pre beginner to music college is welcome to jump in at any point. Thank you to our esteemed founder and to all the lovely knowledgeable folk who chip in.

PS success stories welcome too, we like a cheery post. Never mind the stealth boasting here, just boast, your kids earned it.

Dd just had a postgrad interview that she said went really well. They gave her feedback that they loved her voice but she was very young, would she consider doing the course over two years rather than one year. She said yes but there are fee/funding implications. They also asked her about her SEN and how she copes etc which showed they'd thought about it. They will let her know within the week.

The recall and interview last week (Royal Welsh) she thinks went well. This was a definite recall as she had to prepare stuff, there was a lot of improvisation involved which was a bit different to what she is used to.

That's great, I hope she gets to go where she wants.

OK, double edged sword here.

Dd has been offered a place but it’s not entry straight into the MA, it’s a 1 year diploma leading into the MA (which given her age and various other circumstances is totally understandable) but that year would need to be totally self-funded.

Well congratulations first comefromaway, it's nice that they want her. But can certainly see the difficulty! Are there other places/funds she could apply to for grants?

Not that I know of. There are a couple of bursaries but I don’t think she’s eligible as they are for BAME & underprivileged applicants.

As well as the fees there are living expenses. Hopefully she could find a job towards those.

We have a couple of weeks before they need a decision and hopefully we might hear from the other colleges too.

Hi, I did start a thread on this but was advised to post here for more advice...

DDs teacher has said she’ll probably need a full size violin in about 6 months. She’s been playing for a while, it was all very much driven by her and I can’t see her giving up any time soon.
I would like to invest in decent violin, she’s currently working at a grade 2 level and I’d like to get her something that will get her up to grade 8 should she wish. I’d also like something that will hold its value and she could sell if she ever choses to give up.
We have a bit of time to save up (I haven’t even looked at prices yet but know it’s ££££), I think for her the most important thing is good tone as she’s complaining that her violin sounds so different to her teachers.
Any advice or recommendations?

Hi @PinotAndPlaydough . How old os DC? Grade 2 to grade 8 is a lonnng way! What does teacher advise?

In terms of resale valued DC decided to stop playing, if not 'trading up' then you are likely to be selling to a luthier or trying for a private sale. The luthier is unlikely to give what you paid for it, as they need to mark up. Typically with violins up to £2000 you're looking at getting 50-60% of value in my experience.

Private buyers are going to be reluctant to spend thousands without having the value checked etc and it might be hard to sell on that way.

Some luthiers will sell on behalf of a client and take a cut, so that's another option.

Of course the ideal is that DC sticks with violin. It is unlikely that a violin that you select now at G2 will be their forever instrument as their musical personality and preferences have not developed yet.

Personally I would advise going for a really good quality student violin at this stage- something like the Jay Haide ones (which as a post G8 amateur I'm actually considering buying for myself!) or similar. It will be robust, well behaved (old antique instruments are notoriously fussy!), will sound great but will also be easier to re-sell if DC either gives up or wants to trade up later. These cost from £1500-£2500 depending on which model you go for. The Ancienne's even look old...

I'm glad doesanybody came in first, I wasn't sure whether to mention the Jay haide option - would be a serious indulgence at this stage but they are good value and a known name if it comes to selling on.

Cheaper options could be a nicer factory made. DD had sthg like this for a 1/2 size and it had a good solid tone. www.newtonsviolinshop.co.uk/44-size-violin-outfit--max-jorge-artist-505-p.asp

Or the old but not antique value option. Which I do find quite baffling what's worth what and why, but you can def get an old (think 100 yrs rather than 200) unlabelled instrument under a 1000, particularly if on the well worn side. Because the Chinese handmade options are so good, the value of older not special instruments has not gone up much over time. The violin I upgraded to post g8 is still only worth about 1k. I had a cheaper old one before that. 1800s are more quirky and fragile (and expensive!), there seem to be student instruments around from early 1900s that are pretty bomb proof. If they were going to break they would have done so by now.

If you're thinking of spending any significant amount, is there any way you can get teacher to go along and help choose? Even a relatively standard model like one of the Jay Haide varies a lot from instrument to instrument. It's brilliant that your Dd is already noticing tone, and may be a sign that even in 6 months more she'll have moved on nicely from current level - but even so she is v early stages for being able to pick well.

We got DD a full size £250 ish new Chinese made violin at around grade 2/3 which was a decent enough sound to keep her going. We then traded in and got £200 back for it a couple of years ago and upgraded to a 1820s German violin which is her ‘forever’ violin. From the first note she knew it was the the one and then checked with her teacher who confirmed it was suitable. Don’t forget equally important is a decent bow.

Good point about bow Paddington.

Now wondering if DD has a clue what she's taken on this term. Better hope her sight reading is solid cos there's no way she's going to practice all the notes. She's getting a year's dose of musical social life all in one - we might have to put individual learning on hold a bit which is fine and lovely as long as it's fun. I have one child that says no to everything and one that says yes to everything, I think they need to talk to each other more.

NCO cancels all summer courses......

Oh, that's a shame. NYOS did this back in January and I was starting to think it was hasty and they would have managed something but everything is still going quite slowly. My youngest will have only played in a wind band on one occasion for a come and try before covid and will be at least grade five when ensembles restart in about September probably. She won't know what a conductor is, only a click track!! I'm just holding out for JD being largely in person by September. I'm sure NCO will do a good online programme, it's just nowhere near as good as in person.

NCO's online course is really good this year. Lots of variety and opportunity.

Has anyone got their theory results back yet? Today is our 4 weeks since the exam but the results page is still saying pending.

Both our theory results are also still pending.

Still awaiting MA auditions here. Not heard back from Royal Welsh recall before Easter and not a dicky bird from RAM or RCS. RAM is a late application as they posted on social media they were still accepting applications even though their initial deadline was November and I know those applicants have heard. I suspect it will be a no as dd is too young.

Thanks. I've been on the edge of my seat everyday now waiting for the results and now it's not there I'm having to start fretting all over again .
Hurry up abrsm!

Results for us are in. I'm disappointed as dc got a merit but they switched the exam off within an hour and I was so mad (internally!!) as they didn't check anything. Think we will be doing it again anyway as wanted a distinction.
Good experience I suppose.

You're kidding greenmonkey? Well done! Does anybody really care about merit or distinction in anything let alone theory? Move on! If they really care about having a distinction, do the next grade up at least. Good lesson for future school exams to check answers.

It can make a difference when applying for university. Ds got a Merit in his grade 5 theory which will be fine for most places but some ask for distinctions at certain grades in lieu of A level Music (not offered either at his old school or current college)

Theory results are in for my two. One got a merit (72/75, the other a distinction (63/75). I'm happy with both, they can move on to the next grade. They studied the books entirely on their own during Lockdown 3 with no adult help so I'm pleased with them.

We're looking at music scholarships so I'm not kidding unfortunately. Grade 6 is a different exam so we won't be doing that yet so it's back to the grindstone with grade 5 for us.

Well done @Purpletomato to your dc. Especially that they did it alone.

Oh what a pain greenmonkey. It's a different world! Where we are any g5 would be brownie points but scholarships go on playing.

I teach DD classical guitar. Still early days for us. We started in January and she has shown signs of being at Grade 1 right now. She needs more practice with her sight reading (not for exams). And still more practice to develop finger independence. Her left hand is developing faster and I won't know when to panic about the right, although it is is still early. I had seen enough students when I was learning not progressing stuck at the same level due to not developing good right hand technique and finger independence. Then they would complain why the teacher wouldn't give them tremolos to play. Otherwise when she is ready we will proceed with the Carulli studies for guitar which I have not seen many people mentioning in the UK!

We have used the "Discovering Music Theory" workbooks and they are easy to follow! I grew up abroad so I have never done the British theory books and when I read workbook I thought that the Taylor books were the theory so bought them second hand. Still I prefer the new books which I think describe everything more clearly although I have kept the ebay books for reference.

Hi choco - sounds like the guitar is progressing nicely. Good thing about being parent too is you can make sure they practice the things they're supposed to practice, might help if you need her to focus on right hand at some point. There may come a point where you want an experienced teacher to give direction and motivation tho.
We used Lina Ng Theory of music made easy books up to g4, trying out Ying Ying Ng music theory for young musicians for g5 and finding it maybe a little clearer. And has lots and lots of practice examples which is good as DD is little still. The Taylor books are a good reference but I don't think you could learn from them!