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.

Just went on to the ABRSM website to book the theory exams as this was meant to be the booking period for the March online ones and it says they are cancelled. No explanation given. Very annoyed as we were using them as a lockdown project. Says May and June will go ahead but tbh if they're allowed to see friends at last in May and June, they're not going to want to study theory! This was an ideal time for us. Is cancelling online sessions something they do a lot or is it too new to tell?

Scrap the above, I think I accidentally loaded the US site. Sorry!

I used to invigilate ABRSM theory exams before the online system - anything with a photo will do for ID for G5+ - a lot of ZIP/oyster cards but littlies often had a signed photo from the school. I'm not sure that half the time I would have known if an ID was valid or not.

I didn’t have to take ID for Ds when he did his Grade 5 in November 2019.

I have to say the invigilators were fantastic. He had his own room and invigilator and rest breaks. I’d been worried as the exam centre was at the school he’d been kicked out of!

For anyone with DC considering or booked to take a remote performance grade, ABRSM are running a webinar for parents on the 17th Feb. Wonder if they’ve been reading this thread!

What are posters wanting from the theory exams? Is it just a pass grade 5 so that they can move forward with practical exams? Or is it because they want to continue onto grade 8 and further with their analytical work?

@Chocomel, may I ask your thoughts?

DD has recently begun working on G4 pieces. It would be nice if, in time, she wants to progress to G6-8, but at the moment she’s taking things as they come and enjoying playing her instrument; there’s no pressing need for G5 theory.

My question is about the value of undertaking some structured study of basic theory through the ABRSM theory grades. In your view, would it be effective and worthwhile for a more rounded musical education? An exam would provide extra motivation to study and, with any luck, be a marker of progress, but it’s not the goal.

For us, theory is a helpful accompaniment to complement their instrumental learning. It has paid off in quicker uptake on things on their practical. (Scales, intervals in pieces, keys etc)

Doing g5 is a one-off effort, partly just for the qualification itself, partly to motivate us all to actually get on with learning some theory. I doubt we'll carry on beyond formally - then perhaps I don't know the potential benefits as I never did.

I don't want DD to get to the point she wants to do an instrumental exam and has to do g5 all in a rush and then forget it next month, so we've been working through slowly but like greenmonkeypuzzle says not in a particularly exam-ready way.

Watching my two (one of whom has done the theory and the other hasn't) doing their practice it is clear that it's really helpful to know the stuff (however many gaps DD2 has in her knowledge). Dd2 is learning two instruments where she is below G5 practical, and one above, and the speed at which she picks things up is much quicker because she already has the theory.

So there is a point to it rather than just means to an end. DD1, like me, (no theory, play a bit) is foggily groping around in the dark with sharps and flats and clefs. I would never have wanted to do theory as a child but wish someone had made me, as it all would have made so much more sense (and I might not have given up at Grade 5 practical).

I think it depends how they are taught their instruments, my dds teacher never gave them scales books, they always had to think and work them out and listen, so actually that helps when doing the written theory as they know the scales anyway. Also, doing scales on piano at same time helps you see them. I think theory and practical definitely complement each other so the sooner they can do a bit of theory it helps. Then you don't get held back with practical. You can make it fun with apps/ quizzes too but mine actually find it quite satisfying weirdly, I suppose it helps make sense of things they are playing and is orderly ( unlike much of life just now!) Ds does not formal theory but seems to find scales quite mindful so always does quite a few. Not sure whether he relates it to his piano pieces or not but it suits him. He's good at learning so would pick up enough to pass if he ever needed to, has only grade 4 but is probably about grade 6 now.

What are posters wanting from the theory exams?

For me (I have 2 averagely musical kids, keen but not prodigies) I want to have them learn the theory roughly in step with the practical exams as I think that will work best for my two, rather than caning G5 on its own. I also feel doing formal music exams is good prep for GSCE by acclimatising them to the now or never stresses and emotions of sitting public exams.

Specifically at the moment, they have a lot of time on their hands, sports and clubs are cancelled, it's dark outside of remote school hours so I feel that using this time to do their next exam is constructive. One of my DC dances too and I've been really impressed throughout the last year at how the dance teachers have been such a good example to them of making the best of a bad situation and remaining focused on your goals and keeping going. Doing the theory exams now rather than when life is back to normal is part of that for us.

DD did the Grade 5 theory in order to progress in her practical exams but as it got nearer to the exam she did really enjoy the learning. She doesn't however want to do any further exams.

DD has always previously learned scales without a book and indeed still does with her bassoon but having just started learning Grade 7 scales on the clarinet having not really concentrated on any for a while, she is finding using the book really helpful.

Have posted on here a while ago and popped back on to ask if any clarinet parents know when is best to upgrade to a different/better instrument. Dd has a beginners plastic clarinet and is working towards Grade 2 at the moment. Due to COVID delays arranging lessons and exams etc she’s been learning for around 18 months. Was thinking of upgrading her to a better model of clarinet (wooden?) but from what Ive read online it seems to be more common later on.
When did other parents upgrade from their beginner instrument please?

hi i think around g4 - but would suggest you wait for lockdown to end so DC can try some? they aren’t cheap and there can be a huge variation in performance between exactly the same clarinet (according to dd teacher). also if you wait a little while you will prob get an instrument which can work for dc for quite some time

I don't think there's any rush. I did my G8 on a good old buffet B12 and I know of many others that have too! Wooden clarinets are quite heavy - how old is DC? How long have they been playing and are you sure they will continue? There are other ways to upgrade, like mouthpiece and ligature, and even better reeds, that I'd work through before splashing out on a wooden clarinet... unless the current one is really bad..?

Has the March online theory exam been cancelled? I haven't had any information through but I went to check on the abrsm website about something else and it looks like it may be? Sorry for any confusion if it hasn't been but I am quite confused now.

I have been lurking on these threads for years, since my twin boys were selecting instruments at the end of P2. They went for drums and flute, now both working to grade 5 age 11. I started taking them to music classes as toddlers to kill time at the weekend (didn't cope well with young twins!) as DH usually worked, and just never stopped. They've never shown much musical talent, but have solidly stuck to practicing and have managed merits in all exams so far. The High School they will start this year has a few musical options, hopefully they will be available to join as I think that might help with enthusiasm. Or they will hit their teens and quit. I do enjoy reading about your properly musical children. Though relieved we're not heading that way when some costs are mentioned!

@greenmonkeypuzzle

Has the March online theory exam been cancelled? I haven't had any information through but I went to check on the abrsm website about something else and it looks like it may be? Sorry for any confusion if it hasn't been but I am quite confused now.

I think you've done what I did - google defaults to the US site and they seem to have cancelled. UK is going ahead, booking for it closed on the 8th though.

Occasionally post in here. My DD is now at a US Conservatory, and I'm happy to supply info on the US process to anyone who's interested.

@Purpletomato thank you that's exactly what I did. I was in a complete panic by the time I'd posted on here!

Thanks for advice. Will look at reeds and other changes first then- perhaps dd could manage although I was told when I took it in for servicing that ‘it’s not a good one is it-have you thought about a new one?’ . I didn’t buy/choose it originally...

Hi rattling, don't underestimate the value of solidly practising over what you perceive to be naturally musical. My DD2 is probably the least naturally musical of my three but has made the most progress through practice and determination. I hope they find some groups to join as that definitely helps motivation. Although my ds just enjoys piano as relaxation and a break from studying.

@Alakazam8 If the current one is not good it may be better to upgrade to a Buffet B12 or a plastic Yahama (sorry not au fait with good student Yamaha model names) rather than go straight to wood then. They would certainly get your daughter to G6-7 and maybe higher.

Hi rattling i would second what horseymum said.
Practice is really key. That and reliability, im sure my kids have been chosen for various opportunities not because they were "the best" but because they could be relied upon to turn up well prepared and on time.

@Alakazam8 here is (USA) parent friendly article on the questions to think about - but do talk to your teacher (sure you are) as grades alone don’t mean so much - being 6 or 16 def does. . Being able to look after a wooden clarinet is def a must. Also dd and co have generally made another big upgrade as they hit g8 but they are all playing a lot. jennyclarinet.com/2018/01/upgrading-plastic-wood-clarinets-guide-band-parents/

@Alakazam8 my daughter started on my old Buffet B12 clarinet when she was 8. She's 10 now and grade 4. It has a lovely sound so after the initial squawky few weeks or months it was very rewarding and pleasurable to play. If you can afford to upgrade I think you'll be glad you did! She has just started a second instrument in lockdown which is on hire from the music centre. It's a pretty cheap starter model and the sound/ tone is not great. If she wants to keep going I'll look into an upgrade very soon.