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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:
horseymum · 06/12/2021 20:54

That's great she played her best, that's all you can ask for. My friend is a teacher and had pupils on Friday get their results today so it really is quite quick.

northerngoldilocks · 06/12/2021 22:19

@horseymum

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.
i think this is a good idea - probably should have done it as she does get really nervous if there is anyone different. One to think about before grade 6. Though that will be a while because she hasn't done grade 5 theory!
horseymum · 07/12/2021 08:58

I feel your pain with grade 5 theory. Youngest dd deliberately not doing it as she thinks grade 6 is too hard so won't need the theory yet. She doesn't know she's already played grade 6 pieces fine. She'll get around to it at some point.

HappySM1 · 07/12/2021 09:25

My DD is still primary age, so not sure about secondary arrangements. I ask her class teacher if she can play her exam pieces to the class or in assembly a couple of weeks ahead of the exam. She always says yes and it's a great performance opportunity.

Other mums are doing the same now, so they have regular little performances and it seems normal to them now.

horseymum · 07/12/2021 12:03

We have done that in the past, they get to play their piano pieces as people are filing into the assembly hall and then maybe at the end as well. I should have got her to play in class, forgot we used to do that.

londonmummy1966 · 07/12/2021 17:00

For those facing Grade 5 theory I can recommend "Take Five and Pass First Time" by Christopher Dunn. He wrote it for his 4 children when they were battling through it. You can usually buy a secondhand copy very cheaply on ebay.

northerngoldilocks · 07/12/2021 19:32

There used to be options to play in school but they seem to have gone with Covid. They only have whole school assemblies and it seems to be full of rules! She did play in assembly at the infants, but not since moving to juniors!

Thanks for the theory recommendations, she's doing grade 3 at Saturday music so will just take a while to get to it! I'm not in any rush for her to take grade 6 though, she can spend some time working on wider repertoire, developing technique etc

ninavd · 09/12/2021 21:25

@lulukentgirl Hi there just seen your message from 27 September about your DSs just having started at London Music School on Saturdays. My DS is now in his 7th year studying at the RCMJD every Saturday. It's been a truly brilliant experience. He loved every moment and Saturdays most definitely were his favourite day of the week. It's a hard balancing act between demands from the JD and school! But I'm sure you'll get there. I hope your DSs enjoy it as much as my DS did. He entered with 1st study Clarinet and 2nd study Saxophone, to emerge this last year playing Jazz Sax - so a complete overall of his studies during our time there.

ninavd · 09/12/2021 21:28

Lovely to find this thread. I'm Nina a mum to DS aged 17 who has been musical from very young. He started off in primary school with recorder, followed by clarinet and then added saxophone. Aged 10 he joined the RCM Junior Department. Loved it there! Later aged 14 joined a specialist music school whilst still attending music college on Saturdays. Anyway, roll the clock forwards and we are now in final year of A Levels and he's applying to Conservatoires. Specifically the London 3 for Jazz Saxophone. Two auditions down, and one more tomorrow at the Guildhall.

ninavd · 09/12/2021 21:36

@Comefromaway what is your ds applying to study? We are going through the same process. My DS is applying to study jazz saxophone at: RAM, Trinity Laban and Guildhall. Trinity was first up - he loved it. RAM was second - he hated it. Guildhall tomorrow. So fingers crossed. It seems that we will have word before Christmas.

ninavd · 09/12/2021 21:41

@QueenMabby the best ones that we've found (now have 2 of them) are Hercules BS118B EZ Glide Music Stand. Very durable! These have been everywhere: abroad, musical weeks away, around the house, you name it. About £40 but worth every penny as they are still in the same condition.

ninavd · 09/12/2021 21:45

@horseymum yes in full swing. My DS is at RCMJD and it has been full on all term. Everything including large ensembles fully operational - thank goodness.

Comefromaway · 10/12/2021 10:55

[quote ninavd]@Comefromaway what is your ds applying to study? We are going through the same process. My DS is applying to study jazz saxophone at: RAM, Trinity Laban and Guildhall. Trinity was first up - he loved it. RAM was second - he hated it. Guildhall tomorrow. So fingers crossed. It seems that we will have word before Christmas.[/quote]
Popular Music possibly combined with music production/technology. He is a keyboard player.

His real love is musical theatre and he wants to go into pit playing/keyboard programming/Musical directing.

Funny you should say that about RAM. A friends ds hated RAM too. He got an offer, but chose to go elsewhere.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 10/12/2021 14:40

Hi ninavd and very best of luck with college places - how does he think GH went today?

Another nice and quick exam result for DD Smile She still thinks she doesn't want to do any more exams for a few years, didn't enjoy the same music all term aspect. She will enjoy the bragging rights for now though, I think it was getting a bit of a drag having to say she hadn't done any when her orchestra mates were discussing exams.

OP posts:
northerngoldilocks · 10/12/2021 17:38

Excellent news thirdfiddle. I'm similarly pro skipping grades / not doing too many exams, not least for instruments with accompanists too- it's very expensive! Though having a couple of strategic ones is good. DD did grade 1 and then 5 on piano. If she does any violin it will probably be 5 as the first one. She might do some more piano at some point but not straight into it. DS has his grade 5 pieces kind of set for flute and piano but not sure I'd want him to sit both in spring, or that he will want to keep them going for longer so might skip one of them too

horseymum · 11/12/2021 08:27

We definitely don't like doing too many exams, expensive and distracting from actually learning and progressing for us, others do seem to like them. Dd went straight in at g5 for bassoon, having done g2 piano earlier. Definitely the cost of an accompanist adds to it, two practices and the exam soon adds up. I used a friend but still paid her.
Welcome to @ninavd too! Hi! You're all really lucky your JD s are fully back, my dd hasn't had a full week yet with everyone bin so hasn't played with the full orchestra yet which was part of the reason for going. Supposed to be back fully next year but that decision was before omicron kicked off.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 11/12/2021 12:44

I've now accompanied both my kids for G5 which did save a load of faff. I'm not brilliant but at least they get to practice with me as much as they want. DS did 2 and 5, DD just 5.

Not sure what comes next, both wanted a gap, so unless they take a while about being ready for 6 we'd be looking at 7s. And grade 7 has always seemed to me a ton of work for something that isn't g8.

OP posts:
ninavd · 13/12/2021 20:28

Wonderful news today. DS received his first offer for Conservatoire from Guildhall for start in Sept 2022 - all very real now. Now awaiting Trinity and RAM.

Siriusmuggle · 14/12/2021 08:27

@ninavd there’s a conservatoire thread on the further education (or is it higher education) board.
Mine has 6 applications in, 4 offers so far and 2 yet to offer/reject. Of the 4 he’s decided 2 or 3 aren’t for him. His top choice has yet to offer/reject. He got a slightly surprising offer from RCM but I’m not at all sure that London will suit him.

Newgirls · 14/12/2021 13:01

Congrats on the conservatoire places!

Mine did a grade 6 today - abrsm. How long are results taking do we know?

Wrinklyeyes · 14/12/2021 13:16

Many congrats to nina’s and sirius’ DCs on their conservatoire offers - very exciting.

@Newgirls - one of mine did a Grade 8 on a Friday 2 weeks ago and the email came through at 2am on the Monday.

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 14/12/2021 14:41

Yay ninavd, and siriusmuggle! Congratulations and fingers crossed for remaining results.

Newgirls, ours was about 3 days and popped up overnight. I made the entry, if not it's released to teacher first.

OP posts:
minisnowballs · 14/12/2021 17:29

Grade 7 flute today for DD2. So glad it's over and she didn't have covid (we're in London).

Congrats to all those with results and conservatoire offers.

QueenMabby · 14/12/2021 17:36

Congrats to those with grade results! Dd did g4 cello this week. We’ve pushed g6 piano and g2 voice to next term. But gutting for the piano as she’s really ready and now has to keep the pieces going over the holidays but school ran out of slots!

Newgirls · 14/12/2021 17:52

3 days!! Two weeks is also great! Used to take ages I think? It will be via music school so hopefully they will be open when results come in.