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.

Some good ideas thank you. Will check out the Muso app for sure and suggest flash cards to her.

@queenMabby, the ABRSM app on theory (theoryworks) is very good, I think. I had one DD take it in the first batch of G5s last summer, and the app was the most useful resource.

Her older sister is now using it and it is pretty good at taking you through a lot of the syllabus. Quizlet for terms and signs also good (lots of people have already collated them)

We also made dd2 do a piano keyboard and a circle of fifths before she did ANYTHING else on the day. Despite being somewhat unprepared and referring to a note as 'h' the day before (!!!) and the tech being an absolute disaster she got a merit (just off a distinction) and since we'd told her she only had to pass we were well delighted with this.

Well done for your dd minisnowballs. I’ll pass on to my dd about the keyboard and the circle of fifths and hope that it makes sense to her! She has the Muso app so I’ll encourage her to do a bit every day.

Well done Pes0's DD! Great achievement. Hope she's feeling really proud of herself.

Thanks QueenMabby & thirdfiddle for the exam tips. We've done some videos for auditions and DS finds it hard work so the advice to limit takes sounds very wise. He's not entered yet but looks likely that he'll be doing it at the beginning of July or a bit before if he's ready.

I'll be checking out the theory apps too, thank you everyone.

@Pes0penguin well done to your daughter!

Aarrgghh dd2 has an audition /interview for a junior music program on zoom this afternoon. The videos of her playing were sent off no problem, first take all good ..... but the idea of the zoom interview is freaking her out big time, she's not massivly enthusiastic about talking to people she doesnt know anyway and zoom really doesnt help....

@Mendingfences my DS responds well to a bit of "preparation" for zoom interviews i.e. a fun chat about something unrelated and a good sugary snack. A very mild latte and a few biscuits perks him up for a good half-hour. He's not keen on zoom in general or on talking to people he doesn't know but a bit of a laugh and some sugar beforehand helps.

A very mild latte and a few biscuits perks him up for a good half-hour.

Performance enhancing drugs (Not judging, this is how I get through every day )

Thanks for the tips muggle interview is done and dd2 is happy so thats a success whatever the outcome 😁

DD is going to take the online g5 theory tomorrow. I’m just sorting out downloading the software and watching the info videos. Any more practical tips from those whose dcs have taken it already? Thanks.

Hi Queen Mabby, Just make sure you remember all the steps you need to take (e.g. showing ID, ripping up paper etc) I found it useful to write them down as we are hopeless.

If it says 'insufficient bandwidth' it is more likely to be a problem their end than yours. Otherwise, just good luck to her!

Thanks. Does it work like a normal exam whereby she can go back and check her answers before she submits them or does it not work like that? Also does she need to sit there til the timer runs out or can we submit her answers when she’s finished (she’s a fast worker!). Thanks.

Hope the theory exam went well. We are heading towards end of term with no live music to celebrate, so sad. The girls' are doing some chamber music with their teacher which is lovely to hear. Can't wait for ensembles to start next year. ( Although I will probably complain about running them around again!)

Thanks horseymum. She said it went well. It only took her 30 minutes! 😳 She then spent another 20 mins going back through and checking but then finished it and shut down. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
So sad that there’s no ensemble music for your DDs.
My dd does all her music at school and as her year is quite musical they have been doing a year group orchestra which has been lovely. They’ve also started to mix the year group bubbles a bit so this week the chapel choir resumed rehearsals which she was so excited to do.
They are also currently doing recordings for the main end of year concert. It’s usually just the older pupils (dd is in year 7) but she’s very excited that she has been asked to perform a piano duet. She and her duet partner have been playing together since year 4 so they play quite well together. They also have a year group informal concert next week and she’s playing piano and cello in that. The only shame is that there can be no parents so I’ll have to hope they share a video of it. I’ve never not been at a concert she’s played in.
Am hopeful for September though...

We have online theory G5 next week but at school thankfully. Is your DD planning to continue with theory?

Not sure. She hasn’t taken any theory exams before now and has really only done theory by osmosis in lessons, she’s never had any formal teaching. We’ll see. She’ll definitely do music GCSE though so.

Some good news here, dd2 did 2 auditions in May and we now know the outcome 1 no (but please audition next year) and 1 yes (which was the one she really wanted) so we're all happy

That's great mending! Makes the decision easier.

That's really great news

Yay! Well done to Mending’s dd. Glad she got the yes from her favourite.

Thanks 🙂 summer holidays have started here now so I (and DH) get a bit of a break from being a music taxi. Not sure im looking forward to the start of term timetable management but i think it Will be easier than last years so thats something.
Does anyone have any summers courses or the likes booked? We dont this year....

Still a few weeks left to go for us although DD’s piano duet lessons have finished as they have recorded their performance for the end of year concert so will wait til September now to start a new piece. Less taxiing for us than you I suspect Mending as she does all her music in school but I too dread the start of the school year for sorting out lesson timings.
DD is going to the Chetham’s piano summer school in Manchester this year which she’s very excited about and has a two day (non residential) orchestra workshop locally for her cello which will also be good. 🤞🏻 they both happen!

One week to go here in Scotland. We had a lovely 'recital' with the girls and their teacher doing some duets and trios, in place of any other performance opportunities. Middle DD doing a Nyos orchestra, and youngest doing Nyos wind training, both online sadly. Not sure if we will want to do any more online things, they need to be live now. Not sure how next year will pan out with activities starting back, hopefully youngest will skip regional wind band and get into orchestra with her sister as they are on different days.

Hello all!
dd’s music teacher has just recommended (for next year!) the procorda courses. Could anyone give me an idea of the cost of these residential as it’s not immediately clear on the site and I’m thinking I might need to start saving now…!
From a quick look on the website I’m also a bit confused as to the audition process/expectations/likelihood of getting a place. Basically any info to allow me to steel myself for this some time next year would be ideal 😂

Hello @Pes0penguin ! Long time members of Pro Corda here. We absolutely adore it and both my girls develop so very much each time they go. It's a real family, and they make friends that they meet with year after year. DD2 is a particularly anxious character and is autistic, and even she loves it! (They are amazing with her).

This year the course fees were £864 for 8 days. But when you consider the quality and calibre of the tutors and the overall experience I feel this is good value for money and compares with similar high-level musical training residentials.

Standard varies- DD1 went in at 10 around grade 6 standard. She was about middle of the pack. There are some absolutely amazing kids, and some more 'normal' standard. In Junior (12-14) they prob range from grade 6 to diploma! Intermediate is Grade 7+ I believe. But the boundaries have a little flex, both in terms of age and standard. Eg DD2 age 11 grade 6 will be joining her sister in juniors for the next course rather than is have them split across 2 weeks.

Before they go on the course, everyone fills in a form and sends a video of recent playing so they can group them with peers of a similar plying standard. It's very well done.