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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 21 virtual music thread

390 replies

thirdfiddle · 09/01/2021 15:07

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.

OP posts:
ealingwestmum · 30/01/2021 14:52

Extending my sympathies too. Submitted G8 performance recording this week. Horrendous experience, forget those last 30 points, no chance given her anger after umpteen takes over many days 😱

We used a music stand so she could adjust, press on/off herself. Then ran for cover...

ealingwestmum · 30/01/2021 14:58

A final tip for those submitting recordings, especially if long: even though you may be well within file size limit, the download will be subjected to your provider’s internet speed, number of users on, what’s draining it etc. It took us 4 hours to submit, getting often to 48% bar sent, then kicking me off the ABRSM site, to have to start again. Stopping all usage around the home worked.

Comefromaway · 30/01/2021 15:06

@ealingwestmum

A final tip for those submitting recordings, especially if long: even though you may be well within file size limit, the download will be subjected to your provider’s internet speed, number of users on, what’s draining it etc. It took us 4 hours to submit, getting often to 48% bar sent, then kicking me off the ABRSM site, to have to start again. Stopping all usage around the home worked.
The wife of one of dh’s ex students had that issue last year during first lockdown. She had to submit her final degree recital to her conservatoire and living in a farm in the middle of nowhere she was having no chance.

They asked if they could come and park on our drive and connect to our WiFi. It still took over an hour.

Comefromaway · 30/01/2021 15:07

For NYMT you have to upload to YouTube, Vimeo or Dropbox and provide a link so touch wood it will be easier.

ealingwestmum · 30/01/2021 15:27

That was a great solution Comefromaway, good luck to your DS on forthcoming results, and to all others waiting.

Chocomel · 30/01/2021 17:27

NYMT have just extended their deadlines by a month. If you were hesitating, then it's a sign! Go for it!

bostik · 30/01/2021 18:28

@doesanybodyhaveamap we chucked in the School of Rock audition tape for NYMT, it's pretty old and not very relevant, but we find recordings so difficult and so much to do for recording for JD auditions... so we just chucked £10 at it and thought what the heck!

@RCM2020 - great idea, lovely to see your work!

Hi @KittyOSullivanKrauss glad to hear piano is going well. Have you tried the Benedetti sessions, I think they sometimes include cello? What did teacher say about Modulo? DD enjoyed the first session, which was quite encouraging as she's not usually particularly delighted by online things.

Went to the Junior Trinity Laban online open day, was pretty impressed with it. Seems like a lot of opportunities for small group work - chamber groups and sonata classes.

Chocomel · 30/01/2021 18:55

@bostik - yes. Su-a does brilliant cello classes with the BF. Highly recommended. Good call.

Purpletomato · 31/01/2021 19:50

Has anyone done the ABRSM online theory exams recently? I heard that the summer ones were a disaster, have they improved since? Both my DC want to do a theory exam in the March sitting, elder G2, younger G1. They would normally have lessons at school for them but as it's only the lower levels they have got the workbooks and are doing them by themselves as something to help them stay busy while we're in lockdown.

Have they fixed the initial problems now or are the online theory exams still a mess?

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 31/01/2021 21:14

Following with interest purpletomato. Thinking about DD tackling g5 in the summer. Not sure if it's bonkers skipping straight there, she has worked through g1-4 books but not particularly motivated to do an exam. The new musical terms lists are so short Shock

OP posts:
Purpletomato · 31/01/2021 21:55

I get the impression that most people skip straight to G5? But their school normally gets them to do all levels and provides a theory lunch club that they enjoy so it works well for us. But I don't know anyone who has done the online theory, though I read of the problems last summer.

OneLovelySister · 31/01/2021 23:31

Also following with interest as I’m considering having DD study for G3 theory for something extra to work towards. Meant to read up on how it works while soaking in a hot bath, but got distracted reading AIBU.

minisnowballs · 01/02/2021 07:27

My DD2 did the summer grade 5, which was (as you say) a mess. However, she got in, passed well and the stress is all in the past for her now - so I think the pain was outweighed by the gain for her (and now is a good time to study for it when they're in lockdown anyway. Lots of her music school took it in autumn and said it was better so I suspect they've improved - certainly more than one date this time which will make a huge difference!

minisnowballs · 01/02/2021 09:32

@thirdfiddleThirdfiddle, DD2 went straight to G5 - did some books (marked by her music HoD at saturday school as I couldn't do it!) from October 2019, then got herself vaguely towards Grade 4 standard by Christmas and joined the grade 5 theory classes at Saturday school for one term in person then one online. Used the app for revision.

The app is worth using -especially with the new digital format, but you'll need books as well I think. It's definitely doable to skip straight to five.

DD is 11, was at primary before taking the exam in summer and certainly didn't put in all that much time. She got a high merit despite only having half the time and horrendous technical issues. It's easier now you know what you're preparing for (she'd prepared for the written one in class) and the shorter list of terms is fab!

I'd go for it and get it out of the way.

doesanybodyhaveamap · 01/02/2021 09:58

@thirdfiddle we went straight in at 5 here too. Worked through all the workbooks and papers papers (the 'How to Blitz' books are great) but only took the exam for 5. DD was 10.

woolleybear · 01/02/2021 11:58

Fortunately DD got in the last Grade 5 theory exam before the first lockdown.

We pulled out of doing performance exam this term, its a real shame but it just didnt sound the same without accompanist and we dont have anything to record on past a basic smart phone. Onwards and upwards though if school has started again we may use the pieces for a virtual music festical.

OneLovelySister · 01/02/2021 12:59

Has anyone had sight of/used the new ‘Discovering Music Theory’ books from ABRSM? I was pleased to see they are only about £6 per grade, but then realised the answer book has to be bought separately for about the same again - a bit annoying for those who’ll be marking their own work rather than having a teacher mark it.

Purpletomato · 01/02/2021 14:13

We have the Discovering Music book and answer book for G1 and G3. The DC like them but say it's mainly exercises rather than explanation - ie you get a small text box explaining stuff and then lots of questions. We also have the old Eric Taylor Guide to Music Theory Part 1 book as the Head of Music recommended it as a general catch all for G1 to G5.

I haven't tried the theory app yet as we don't have an Ipad -we used the Aural app on an ipod but the advice says you need a bigger screen for the theory app? Will probably end up getting a second hand ipad as there are a few other apps that are Apple only.

Purpletomato · 01/02/2021 14:19

That's very interesting, minisnowballs. Do you have any tips for making the online exam go smoothly? I will have both DC doing at the same time and I plan to put them in separate rooms. Hopefully the broadband will cope, it usually does and DP and I will ensure we're not using it during the exam which should help.

OneLovelySister · 01/02/2021 15:19

Thanks, Purpletomato. I suppose the ABRSM books will prepare DC for the ABRSM exams, even if it’s ‘teaching to the(ir) test’ somewhat, but I do wonder if DD would benefit more in the long term from a Taylor-ed(!) approach...

Purpletomato · 01/02/2021 16:01

:) I know nothing about music but I think you're right and it is teaching to the test. Their Head of Music was certainly keen on the Eric Taylor book despite its age and she's great and quite young so I figured if she thought it was still useful then it probably is. And it's cheap which is good!

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 01/02/2021 19:30

I also got the Eric Taylor book for a definitive reference - rather than trawl back through the workbooks to find a particular thing it's all in one place and the definitive ABRSM take. I swear they've changed some of the rules since I did theory 35 years ago! I don't think it's a book you could learn from really though, very dense.

OP posts:
Londonmummy66 · 01/02/2021 23:04

FOr Grade 5 I can't recommend "Take Five and Pass First Time" by Christopher Dunn highly enough. It is more geared to the old exam but if you cover everything in this book you will pass.

horseymum · 02/02/2021 08:30

We used the Blitz books, DD worked through them ( not cheap but there are free answer books online), then did a couple of practice papers. We have the abrsm book for reference. She did well and it wasn't too stressful. I would check you can log in well before hand though, we needed to contact the help desk as the site was claiming we had Skype open when we don't even have it installed! There is a free app called muso which is good too.

horseymum · 02/02/2021 08:34

We have just put DDS application in for JD, so waiting to hear what we have to do for audition ( if we get one!)