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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Autumn 21 music thread

334 replies

thirdfiddle · 18/09/2021 11:44

Well, we started the summer thread on a rainy day so how about an autumn thread on a sunny day?
Welcome all parents of musical young people, from total beginners to total professionals. Please come and chat in one of the friendliest and most helpful corners of MN.
What's new this term?

OP posts:
minisnowballs · 21/11/2021 18:15

I think there's been a 7/8 confusion. London Mummy is sending me an aural book for grade 7-8, and I think Tangle02 is asking about a 7/8 cello, which Londonmummy also has?

Maybe?

I'm often very confused though so may be wrong

horseymum · 21/11/2021 19:04

Welcome @HappySM1 That's great your DD is enjoying her music so much. Christmas is a great time to play lots of fun music and build confidence. I'm sure you'll enjoy playing lots of duets together. If there are no groups, maybe you could consider starting something small? I ran a recorder group at my dds school partly for that reason and would love to get it going again. I'm not a professional, but an enthusiastic amatuer. You could test the waters with a little group playing some Christmas carols.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 21/11/2021 19:20

Hi HappySM1, sounds like a fun stage!
Don't know if you have anything similar, round here the county music service who supply peripatetic teachers to the state schools also run ensembles outside school time ranging from beginner level all the way through to county youth orchestra.
I have much awe for anyone who can make dance and music classes both fit into a week. DD did ballet right up to joining orchestras then ran out of days in the week and chose music. I hope your DD doesn't have to choose!

OP posts:
horseymum · 21/11/2021 19:34

@HappySM1 Another option might be a youth band at church if your church is the type to have a music group or is it always piano/organ? I started a youth band at our church, we have ukulele, guitar, recorder etc and just do a couple of songs every so often with plenty of practice so they feel confident.

londonmummy1966 · 21/11/2021 22:48

@Tangle02 - I've PMd you - I do have a 7/8 cello which is suitable as a school cello for someone who doesn't want to expose a decent cello to loks of commuting etc.

CDmum · 22/11/2021 15:22

Hi there,

Does anyone here know if Hofnote is out of action permanently?

Calendulaaaaa · 23/11/2021 13:33

Could I possibly trouble you for Christmas violin duet recommendations please? We're grade 2/3 although might not be relevant as carols don't get that difficult! Tried some free online ones and found them a bit ropey. Looking to buy a whole book with all the classic carols.

Recommendation in return, loving Chester's Easiest Carols (initial grade up to grade 2ish?) for the piano.

northerngoldilocks · 23/11/2021 19:03

Do you only want duets? We used fiddle time Christmas but that's a bit easy, though has some duets and otherwise have 101 Christmas songs for violin, but no duets.

HappySM1 · 23/11/2021 21:47

Family Fun Violin Duets for Christmas: with Sing-Along Lyrics and Guitar/Piano Chords (Good Old Tunes Violin Music) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1706957408/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Y97JY5FJB6TCGVCTJRR3?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

These are quite good. Otherwise just go for any flute duet book.

HappySM1 · 23/11/2021 21:50

The Christmas Fiddler - Christmas... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00006LTTZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Also enjoying this book, although they are not duets as such. There is a harder part (the tune) and an "easy part" plus piano accompaniment. I think they work well as trios, but not sure it sounds up to much without the piano.

londonmummy1966 · 27/11/2021 23:17

I've just dug out some Christmas music books that have simple piano arrangements of carols - good for your grade 3+ pianists or for a couple of others to play together with a pianistic parent.

Let me know if you want any...

Also have some basic harp music but guess that is a bit more esoteric.

ilovesushi · 02/12/2021 10:21

I posted a couple of weeks back for advice on helping DD with scales for her G4 woodwind exam. She went in as prepared as she could be though still struggling to remember all her scales. In the exam, she was asked every last scale and arpeggio and duffed some of them up terribly, BUT she passed her scales and got a distinction (in the 90s) overall. We both completely shocked and delighted! Thanks for the great advice. It was very reassuring and helpful!

minisnowballs · 02/12/2021 10:28

That's fabulous news! Well done to her

northerngoldilocks · 02/12/2021 13:32

amazing - well done to her. We are waiting for results from G5 piano here - sat on Tuesday and trying not to keep thinking about how last time she sat at head office that results were out 3 days later!

HappySM1 · 02/12/2021 21:54

Our grade exam results came out 3 days later, both this time and last time. Good luck!

horseymum · 03/12/2021 18:46

We're waiting for results too, exam sat on Wednesday, hopefully Monday will bring good news!

northerngoldilocks · 03/12/2021 20:02

Am trying to resist the urge to message the piano teacher to see if he's checked emails... basically will be Monday at the earliest now.

I checked back and when she sat last it was 3 days and when my son sat it was 5. That's much faster than the 'satellite offices' though

horseymum · 04/12/2021 07:40

Results through this morning, happy girl. That's day three so super quick. I enter them so get the results first.

northerngoldilocks · 04/12/2021 11:11

We got ours this morning too- not sure if they send out on a Sat or if the piano teacher was just out yesterday and checked today. Either way, really quick and delighted that she's passed. She's at strings ensemble now so doesn't know yet!

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 04/12/2021 11:24

Ah congratulations ilovesushi DD, horsey DD and northern DD!
Exam coming up this week for my DD's g5 violin. I think I'm more nervous than she is which is /probably/ a good thing. Not least that I don't screw up the logistics of warming up at home but allowing enough time to find parking.

She's currently saying she doesn't want to do any more exams ever. Would save a lot of effort...

OP posts:
horseymum · 04/12/2021 15:43

I think it's so hard doing exams just now as they've had no chances to perform or get that nervous feeling and conquer it. My dd was really nervous and it showed in the singing but pieces were fine.

northerngoldilocks · 06/12/2021 10:05

That is a massive issue - something i need to think about for DD too. Piano is difficult to have regular performance opportunities really in general. She has way more opportunity to play violin in front of others just through playing in ensembles / orchestras.

horseymum · 06/12/2021 11:14

Can you get some friends or neighbours round to have a wee recital? That would help create the performance butterflies. Then she could learn to control them to create the adrenaline needed for a good performance.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 06/12/2021 17:46

DD actually wasn't particularly nervous and played at her best. Was a bit weird as they only had one waiting room and weren't allowed to have two groups in it, so we had to cart all our stuff into the exam room (I was piano-bashing). Hope her wait is as short as you guys! Sometimes it feels like being a music parent is a constant state of waiting for results of things.

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