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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Summer 21 music thread

183 replies

squintsoftheworldunite · 25/06/2021 07:49

Hello peeps....

Decided (on a grey, drizzly late June morning!) that it was time for some summer music thread fun....!

My DC is coming to the end of a first term at specialist school, just had first public concert and was reminded of the absolute joy of public performance. We got a couple of exams out of the way before the new beginning, a theory exam coming up this summer but that's all. Some exciting summer music, including a solo performance at a "grown up" concert and some music courses to keep said offspring busy. Excited to see NCO auditions return, even if they're recorded only... Hoping for actual courses next year!

Thanks to those who paved the way in times gone by with the music threads!

OP posts:
Mendingfences · 14/08/2021 07:56

wrinkly the anthropology thing is fascinating. My kids have done some summer music things in the uk (before covid...) and although i am british the kids are very definitely 'foreign' not least in their experiences. This gives an interesting observation point, whilst being a bit of an enigma. One of the kids apparrently said in their 'introduction to the group' that we owned Mountain and forest and dad goes hunting - totally standard rural scandinavia but looks a bit different from a british perspective 🤣

Wrinklyeyes · 14/08/2021 08:00

That would have given the hoodie-wearing crew something to think about mending 🤣

horseymum · 14/08/2021 08:21

I feel like we will be changing musical worlds shortly as dd is going to a JD in a few weeks, which will be over whelmed by private school pupils, whose parents might be more engaged. Currently, most of the parents in the music service who I chat to aren't particularly musical so I'm so glad the fees have been abolished in Scotland as hopefully more of them will continue. Music was always one of the first things people gave up if pressed for money. It will be nice for dd to be seen as more normal for wanting to practice and listen to classical music etc but I think it will also be a lot more pressured. I laughed at the piccolo statement, as if people just have these lying around! I mean, you might be able to get a 'cheap' ( relatively speaking) one from china on eBay but I doubt it would be worth it. It's not like a recorder or something. The related instrument dd might get to play is a cor anglais and they are thousands of pounds, we will not be buying one, maybe she will get a go at some point though.

Mendingfences · 14/08/2021 09:09

I agree horseymum as the kids progress we've ended up in circles where the parents are not neccessarily more engaged but certainly more invested in the whole music thing.
Disclaimer- when you live in the middle of nowhere parents have to be engaged enough to drive your kid to music lessons etc so even though its heavily subsidised financially there is effort required.

QueenMabby · 14/08/2021 09:25

It is all very interesting. My two are both at an indie but my background is very definitely not that and I do sometimes feel like an outsider looking in in that world, even now!

Yesterday I dropped dd off at her music residential. I was fascinated by the number of children who had both parents there - dd just had me as it was a week day and it would not have occurred to either dh or me to have dh take time off work for something like that!

Also, although this residential offered financial support if needed I wonder if those that would need it would even know about it. I’m not sure it’s advertised very widely outside of those musical circles that we’ve been discussing.

I know that at the state primary that my dc attended music was very low on the priority list - there was the odd group lesson (ds did guitar for a year) but very little information about what was available. I think if I hadn’t moved dd to her current school she might not have got into music at all.

Mendingfences · 14/08/2021 10:23

I think the point about even knowing financial suport is available is very important queenmabby. Where i am lessons are subsidised, and depending on what you wsnt to learn some instruments are availavle for loan.

The nearest city has even more instruments availsble for loan - all good 🙂. that city offers 'mini' lessons for string instruments from 3 years old, its their own home grown program and oarents learn/play alongside their child. Great! BUT parents have to provide their own instrument.... so if you dont have that possibility (no culture os instrument rental here....)either your child waits til they are 6 and can start 'normal' lessons or you have to stick your neck out, apply for your kid anyway and then tell then you cant afford to buy a cello and need to loan one like my friend did! Now fair play they did loan her an instrument BUT most people are going to be put off from even trying so the upshot is that kids with 'resource rich' parents get a 3 year head start....

QueenMabby · 14/08/2021 10:37

Quite @Mendingfences. We could have afforded lessons from early on but it just didn’t occur to us to investigate it as it’s not out there in the neighbourhood - unlike swimming lessons/football/dance etc.

It wasn’t until we got to our local indie and with the “welcome pack” sort of stuff was a form with all the instruments they provided lessons for with a box to tick if you wanted lessons and another box to tick if you wanted or needed to hire an instrument. We picked piano as dd was keen as I got dh to “give” me one for my 40th a year previously (ideally for me to learn but I haven’t but it’s been such a blessing for dd!).

Then in year 4 everyone in the year chose an instrument (from a list of six - two string, two woodwind, two brass - well one brass and the fabulous plastic p-bone!) and once a week there were group lessons just part of the curriculum. Dd picked the cello and after two terms was hooked enough for private lessons too.

We would not have got this at our local state primary school but really there should be funding for this type of thing. Some state schools do it I know but it’s not consistent and it’s such a shame.

minisnowballs · 15/08/2021 08:05

Ah, dd’s state primary was very music oriented - though lots of group lessons so slower than the private schools. Her centre for advanced training is not quite a JD so is a bit more state oriented (still plenty of private school parents though) so I hadn’t noticed the discrepancy much. It’s beginning to show more at her level now- the orchestra for her summer school requires children to have passed grade six and their own assessments and looks a lot more private school ish than the others she’s done.

Mendingfences · 15/08/2021 08:53

We are very lucky that we have the local authority "culture school" which offers subsidised lessons, but interest and uptake is still pretty demographically uneven, particularly in the cities. Its more even in the rural areas, but the choice is more limited and there arent the same options for orchestras etc.....

doesanybodyhaveamap · 15/08/2021 19:51

Just a comment on the hoody wearing....

I have one DD in a private (specialist) music school. She is only there because of her scholarship or we couldn't do it. She has worn her casual house hoody all holidays- not to 'show off' about where she goes to school but because she loves it and she's proud of her school and her house. This has had a really positive outcome recently when she went on a residential where she was a lot younger than many of the other participants. Turned out one of the older participants not only went to her school, but was in her house. It was an icebreaker that really helped DD and gave them a lovely connection.

Also, my state educated Y6 leaver has also lived in her hoody all summer too...

Original poster
squintsoftheworldunite · 15/08/2021 21:38

My child is on a full scholarship to music school. School hoodie is a favourite. As above, it's just something they delight in and have taken ownership of. It's not parents pushing them to show off the school...

Courses with funding are something I need and is, something I have to spend a lot of time researching and applying for every time round. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that are in place. We've turned down one place this sumer due to complete unavailability of any financial assistance but on the whole, organisations have some offerings.

OP posts:
QueenMabby · 18/08/2021 11:42

Well, my dd had a fabulous time on her residential. I spent 14 hours driving over the two days of dropping off and collecting but it was worth it.

She’s elsewhere with a 2 day orchestra workshop this week but not residential thankfully.

Just waiting for the first emails to sort out music lessons for the next academic year. My most dreaded time!

thirdfiddle · 18/08/2021 12:18

Hooray QueenMabby! DS has his first music residential next week. I hope he will enjoy it as much. It feels quite experimental for him - DD had at least done whole day things first, but we haven't found that locally for brass.

And with you on the trying to sort out schedule for the term. I now have a whiteboard.

I would complain about summer hoodie kids being far too warm. If it wasn't for mine apparently wanting to live in fluffy dressing gowns. Yes including the hot days.

yodaforpresident · 18/08/2021 14:45

Quick question about ABRSM aural tests - is it only Grade 8 that contains questions about composers, eras etc?

thirdfiddle · 18/08/2021 16:05

Yoda, g5 has an eras question, they give you 3 options (out of baroque/classical/romantic/20th c) and ask what features of the music suggest that era. G4 doesn't. I don't know about others as that's as far as we've got!

yodaforpresident · 19/08/2021 17:04

@thirdfiddle thank you. I was confused because I have downloaded an aural skills grade 5 course for DD to have a look at and it refers to eras etc but I couldn’t see a mention of it in the ABRSM syllabus until Grade 8.

thirdfiddle · 19/08/2021 18:07

For grade 5 it's in c)i), answering questions about an extract. "The second will be style and period".

herbaceous · 19/08/2021 23:29

Anyone know anything about the National Children's Orchestra? DS has been invited to apply - both for regional 'project' bit and the National one - bit just wondered what it was like!

Original poster
squintsoftheworldunite · 20/08/2021 05:29

Herbaceous - we have been involved with NCO for 4 years, hoping this will be 5th. We love the organisation, its been a musical favourite from the outset.

Its hard to answer about the projects as it's a completely new thing for 2022 but they've got such as Jess Gillam involved. Until covid, they had the national orchestras and regional orchestras. Then they switched to online for 2020 after one regional rehearsal. 2021 was online but they're hoping to offer an in person day at the end of the year.

Until this year, they've had national orchestras all their ages upwards but for the first time it's u12 upwards only, in 3 age banded orchestras. U12 and u13, it's 2 residential courses (Easter and summer) and Mains have a non-residential course in winter.

Good luck to your son. I think there's an NCO thread if you want to join it xx

OP posts:
Trumpetdad · 20/08/2021 06:47

We’d also endorse NCO wholeheartedly.

Both our DS have enjoyed the residentials and regionals. The older age group National orchestras (all that’s running next year) get to play at some amazing concert halls around the country. Don’t know what they’re planning for the projects, but they’ve lined up some very talented young musicians to work on the projects - see the recent press release by NCO.

There’s always a mixture of new attendees and old hands. Don’t worry - they all make friends they bump into at other music events.

What instrument @herbaceous? There are also specialist string and brass band national orchestras/bands, and local ones too.

Trumpetdad · 20/08/2021 06:50

Forgot to mention - you’ll get a flavour of NCO by looking on their YouTube channel. Loads of videos from past concerts and also lockdown activities

herbaceous · 21/08/2021 22:49

Thanks all.

DS plays french horn, in an orchestral capacity. Also piano and singing, but that's less relevant!

minisnowballs · 22/08/2021 08:11

Interesting stuff re nco- one of dd2’s teachers asked her to audition (not sure what is meant by ‘invited’?) I’ve slung in the application form as the teacher says she’ll do the recordings for her and is keen for her to try.

I’m a bit bemused by it as it’s her third instrument that she’s been playing for a year and a bit and she’s only about grade 5(according to her teacher-who is a sunny optimist). She’s grade 7 on flute and when she asked her flute teacher whether that would be a better instrument to audition on she just laughed and said it was very competitive. (Dd2’is just 12 so going into year 8). All seems to depend so much on teacher and instrument- both in same music school

Mendingfences · 22/08/2021 09:42

Nco sounds excellent, although we have no personal experience. I am currently very pleased dd2 auditioned for her current program on double bass and not flute, braces are on and flute playing is errrm lett just say not good 😉

doesanybodyhaveamap · 22/08/2021 11:49

@minisnowballs which is the instrument she's auditioning on? Some are very much more competitive than others but I'd personally still go for the first instrument audition too!! You really never know and also the 'Projects' scheme is a complete unknown this year.