Autumn 21 music thread

[thirdfiddle]

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?

Oh dear - not the school "too much music talk". My DD was told to give up piano in Year 9 as it took too much time and she needed to focus on the "more important" academic work. Even when I spelled out in words of one syllable that she wanted to go to conservatoire and her rivals for a place were probably in China practicing 6+ hours a day to her one school were incredibly difficult and all I heard for the next 2 years was "less music practice". It was such a relief when she went specialist for 6th form.

So far no one seems to have told my kids too much music (thankfully.....) although we're fairly academically relaxed. The talent program did ask dd2 how she thougjt it would work with high school and homework..... she said she was pretty clever and she couldnt see school work getting in the way.....

I think we probably praised her big sister a lot for the debate success (she's not a confident child and it really has been the making of her) so maybe DD2 feels it is inherently more 'valuable' to do debate. So partly our fault maybe as well as the teacher.. and partly for this particular school the debate team holds a cachet that musicians do not. Hopefully DD2 will feel she has made the right decision.

Our school has been ok and she even got her "fun period" subject changed from art to extra music so she could practice more in school time as she thought it was a better use of her time. They didn't bat an eyelid, so she's happy. Frustratingly they won't let her take music early to give more time higher up the school for audition prep etc, when they are dead keen for early presentation in other subjects. I think she would happily do music all week and one day of school too! The nearest specialist day school would mean days of 7-6 out of the house probably so not really feasible.

That's great that they are so supportive. DD2 is not specialist school material I don't think- also she currently wishes to be a family or employment lawyer when she grows up!

I'm just hoping she manages not to cry all over the flute teacher - she's terrified of her (she doesn't teach DD2 who of course learns her first study at saturday school, and is trenchant in her dislike of the debatemate/flute group clash). Flute group is very easy for her in school so it's not like it's some massive musical loss, she just wants to be involved in school music.

Mine don't have school music to be involved in, which is a shame - though at this stage not sure when it could happen that it wouldn't clash with preferred activities or the fiercely protected Day Off.
Hope flute teacher was understanding mini.

mini I feel your pain! I too have a dd who is a bit of a “joiner” and we’ve had tears over clubs etc this term. She already goes and picks up a packed lunch at break time on one day as she has clubs for the entirety of the lunch break so no time to eat and is doing maths Olympiad team work at the weekends as it clashes with drama! She’s had to stop debating and classics club this year but still only has one before school and one lunchtime free as all others are booked. Three lots of music lessons, two choirs, two orchestras, two maths clubs, drama, piano quartet and other things too even before we figure in out of school things like dance, sport and guides! She’s in year 8 at the moment so academics aren’t too demanding but I suspect we’ve got some tough decisions to make in the future.
mini like your dd mine is not going to want to do music as a career (currently swerving between classics and chemistry/maths!) but she does love it so much.

Also - dd needs a black skirt for a concert next month. Don’t think it needs to be long though (much as she would like it to be!). Do people just generally buy black school skirts to wear?

Might not need to be long but knee length or more is good for when they're sitting.. We bought an asda adjustable waist about six years too big when it had to be below the knee! I've also made plain long black several times when it's had to be floor length

I'd try and go for mid calf for a concert skirt unless they specify long. Charity shops and ebay are good for black skirts and concert dresses once they get to an adult size 6 upwards.

As and when you need a long black skirt they are easy enough to make if you can buy 3/4 yard of black fabric 140 cm or so wide. (NB if you have a cellist put your foot down and insist on trousers - skirts and cellos really don't mix - play the sexism card if they try to insist girl cellists wear a skirt.)

Queenmabby that is a lot of stuff- same here with year 8 so probably doesn’t matter that she’s busy elsewhere.

We always go for black trousers - even if it’s flute or bassoon. Never seen dd2’s teachers in skirts, even if they’ve been playing for seriously big orchestras or quartets for a wedding. Mind you also never seen them perform in a pair of jodphurs bought for pgl with the mud still on, which is what dd2 had to wear when we were caught out on this the other day. Don’t think anyone noticed!

mini that is funny. There’s little chance of my dd being willing to wear trousers for a concert even with a cello. I shall buy some thick black tights. Have ordered a black skirt from the school section of m&s and will see how we do.

My mum made me black culottes ( very stylish!) for concert wear when I was at high school as I play the double bass and classical guitar. A pencil skirt would have been highly unsuitable, especially for guitar.

The DDs' school has one of those 'faux private school' kilts that are so popular now (I rather like it but the year 10 wears it perilously short)... not sure it is at all 'cello appropriate' but there hasn't been a concert for a while because of Covid so I guess so no-one's noticed.

Culottes - now there's a thought. A sewing project for DD1 there!

A long black trouser suit was my favourite concert outfit I've made her. And most recently a near floor length black velvet dress when they had to have dresses

Hi, does anyone know of a site for second hand music equipment? I’m specifically looking for a 4/4 bonmuisca shoulder rest.

Hi, I hope to have a bit of musical advice as I'm not a musical person myself but my dd has just started learning the flute and will start on viola next week. I'm hoping this will also help build her confidence as she's not academic and having some friendship issues at the moment.

The viola teacher has asked me to buy a few items for next week. I bought a rosin, the music book and the elastic band but I'm not sure what type of sponge to buy. I might sound completely stupid (!) but I really am confused, is this a special musical sponge or a standard one? Any help gratefully received!

@ShepherdMoons we used this to start with Faxx Violin Shoulder Pad - Thick Cut Pad with Elastic Attachment Straps (Used with Any Violin Size) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074MFRBM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6KPJSWPDJMGM72043D8E?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
It was for violin though. I might still have it, if you want I could pop it in the post??

We used a bit of foam left over from broken furniture. A not too thick bath sponge would work too. It's to attach with the rubber band underneath the viola to help support it on the player's shoulder. To give you some idea, DD's were 3-4 cm thick but quite squishy.

we used a bath sponge Just a cheap chemist one

Hope goes really well for her Shepherdmoons - music is a good way for them to make new friends and gain confidence over time!

Thank you so much, the bath sponge sounds like something I can do! The lesson is on Tuesday so, although I'm grateful to PinotandPlaydough, I think I could go to the shop and buy the sponge for the lesson.

Dd had a private flute lesson yesterday and absolutely loved it. The flute teacher was wonderful, very patient and it seems to have given dd a boost.

Bit late to the question, but my DD used a black character skirt from ballet (with coloured ribbons removed) for concert dress. That was mid-calf length, and quite full. Worked for choir and orchestra.

My DD is now at a US Conservatory studying composition, if anyone wants to know about the US process from a UK applicant perspective.

@horseymum

My mum made me black culottes ( very stylish!) for concert wear when I was at high school as I play the double bass and classical guitar. A pencil skirt would have been highly unsuitable, especially for guitar.

Also a bit late with my answer: Culottes are great! Next have plain black culottes in girls sizes: www.next.co.uk/style/st719831/385979#385979

Really interesting thread to read. My DS1 aged 9 is 6 months into the piano and new to Cornet while my DD1 is 7 and same on piano but she is learning trombone. I'd like them to have more fun than me. I did grade 5 piano aged 12 then refused to do any more grades and gave up at 14. Hoping that being in a brass band will give that fun element. Also our piano is in the kitchen which makes them want to practice -They both seem pretty keen on their instruments. When I was younger I was sent off to the boring, unused dining room to practice on my own. Any thoughts on how to keep enthusiasm up are welcome!

Welcome pregnantabroad - how nice to have the piano in the kitchen! Both my DDs find that playing with others is the key to making it fun, I think. Though it hasn't felt like much fun this week - the s*dding bassoon needs repairing again, and I've had to hook a bust spring back together on the flute. Sometimes I really do wonder whether we'll look back and wonder why so much time was devoted to all this. I think if I added it up I'd be scared!