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Extra-curricular activities

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

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Original poster

Spring 22 music thread

371 replies

thirdfiddle · 09/01/2022 20:51

Roll up roll up for a new term of music parenting! This is a long meandering series of threads for all things musical. Please do say hi if you're new or lurking.
Delighted to see on the last thread that musical things are up and running again in the new term despite some covid nerves. Here's hoping for a smooth normal as possible run.

OP posts:

Mickey33 · 14/03/2022 19:14

Have any of your children done music festivals? What are your experiences, do your children find them helpful. What’s the marking like? Do many get 90 or above or do they tend to mark lower ?

QueenMabby · 15/03/2022 08:49

DD did one a couple of years running pre-covid. I presume it depends on the festival but ours was v friendly and the adjudicators v kind and constructive with any criticism.

DD has probably won the majority of the classes she entered (must say though we're not in London!) and did get some v impressive looking trophies! She's only had over 90 a couple of times though.

I think it depends v much on the temperament of your child though as to whether they enjoy them. Dd does and we always approach them as a bit of fun and good performance practice.

Schools2023 · 15/03/2022 11:30

Morning, slightly off topic but I'm wondering about Ukrainian refugees and thinking it might be nice to offer a child studying music in Ukraine a place with us as we have a nice piano, and other instruments, access to teachers etc. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks

HappySM1 · 16/03/2022 01:06

@Schools2023

I was having similar thoughts, but no idea how to go about it. I have a small house, so can't offer accommodation, but would be happy for musicians to come use my piano or borrow/use any of my many instruments.

How do you find musical refugees who would be interested in this offer? We are just beyond the outskirts of a major city, not that easily accessible on public transport.

horseymum · 16/03/2022 10:10

I don't know but I'm going to a webinar by the Sanctuary foundation tonight, and one of the topics is what if we don't know anyone in Ukraine? There will be ways for communities and churches to support families as well, so if a family comes to your town you could offer music connections etc.

horseymum · 16/03/2022 10:16

With regards to festivals, we enjoy them, it's nice to perform live. Often in nice church venues with a good accompanist. My Ds is canny and enters classes with cash prizes, he won £30 last year, hoping for the same again! He said why would you want to look at a trophy for a year? He doesn't do exams so it's a good motivation for him to get something up to standard. Most of the classes only have a handful of entrants so it's not really about the competition elements, more just performance. The adjudicators give really positive comments. I would say I rarely heard a mark above 90 in our one, first class awards are for 85 plus I think, merit for 80 plus maybe? It would be nice if there were a few more in each class as you can't enter the same level again if you win, so next year would be too big a step up for DD.

Original poster

thirdfiddle · 18/03/2022 07:55

I prefer festivals to exams, I feel like performing makes more sense with an audience. Not sure about the whole competitive aspect - great for the kids who keep winning, but maybe a bit sapping for those that never will. The festival my kids have played in so far is non competitive so more relaxed. They get a merit/distinction/I can't remember what but it's not advertised to the other players, and usually very helpful feedback.

OP posts:

Original poster

thirdfiddle · 18/03/2022 08:03

horsea, that's a weird rule re can't repeat same level. Is that grades or age groups and is repertoire set or free choice? If you can play what you like I suppose it wouldn't matter, you'd just not win some years, which presumably is the aim. But e.g. if you won a grade 1-2 class by playing a grade 1 piece brilliantly, expecting you to play a grade 3 piece the next year seems unfair.

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horseymum · 18/03/2022 08:28

The classes are mostly by grades but they call it beginners, intermediate etc. DD is doing advanced but is really the bottom end of that level. There will probably only be her in the class so next year would be doing open so far too hard. These classes are set pieces. I think we will go sideways by doing a general woodwind class where it is free choice of pieces, or find a duet class to do with a friend. It's certainly not about winning, just being able to perform and get constructive feedback. They like a nice certificate too.

horseymum · 18/03/2022 08:29

We would happily do it even if it was non competitive, it's just a good opportunity.

QueenMabby · 18/03/2022 14:12

"Our" festival usually does a good mix of grade level options, age banded ones then also some for specific styles/composers. Only rule is that you can't enter the same piece in more than one category.
We tend to find if dd has three exam pieces on the go then she enters a different class with each one (and maybe a duet class too with a friend).
She's been really lucky for the most part and has done well but also had one where she didn't and it was good to learn just to shrug and move on!

QueenMabby · 18/03/2022 14:27

Meant to say she's also quite excited as she has her first job as accompanist at school next week! She'll only get two rehearsals with the string group she's playing for but it's a very informal thing so should be good practice for her.

Original poster

thirdfiddle · 18/03/2022 16:53

That's really cool QueenMabby. DD would love to get into accompanying. School have no music going on to accompany though.

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QueenMabby · 21/03/2022 12:26

Quick question if I may?
We've made the decision to move dd to another teacher for one of her instruments. We have a new teacher in mind (actually her original teacher who retired and now just takes the odd one or two pupils) but I need to give a term's notice to her current teacher. What do I say? I don't want her current teacher to think we don't rate him, it's just that even after two years dd is really shy with him so won't ask questions etc in lessons and it's really hindering her progress!
Another music teacher IRL that I've asked says I don't need to give a reason but this seems a bit mean to me! Any advice? Thanks.

Original poster

thirdfiddle · 21/03/2022 13:39

Could you say more or less what you just said QueenMabby, but only say the positive bits, so giving notice as of end of x term; don't want you to think we don't rate you as a teacher; opportunity has come up to return to a previous teacher who she had a particularly good working relationship with?
While you don't need to give an explanation, music teaching is such a personal thing I'd want to. Plus music is a small world, people tend to turn up again in different contexts!

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QueenMabby · 21/03/2022 17:22

Quite @thirdfiddle - both teachers are visiting ones at school too so it is a little awkward!

horseymum · 22/03/2022 15:08

Agh, it's tricky isn't it. We're thinking of moving teachers for DD. Teacher is perfect for DS but I don't think she does enough technical work with DD. I'm sure the teacher will be fine with it.

Original poster

thirdfiddle · 22/03/2022 15:44

I'm not very good at diplomatic, so slightly nervous of encountering ex piano teacher. I used to see her pretty often but with covid cancellations we haven't coincided. Then she seemed to be in a near permanent state of pissed off with me when kids were having lessons with her anyway so perhaps she's relieved to be shot of us.

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QueenMabby · 22/03/2022 16:35

Well I bit the bullet and emailed him. Have had a nice email back but dd nervous for her lesson tomorrow in case it's awkward. We'll see.

Her accompanying went well in the school concert which is good but she has a singing exam later in the week and her singing teacher is unwell so she won't get a lesson before hand which is a shame.

minisnowballs · 22/03/2022 17:13

Well done QueenMabby, it is awkward when they want to change but doesn't last long. DD2 changed singing teacher (two in school) - but we were very clear that it was just about one of them being more classical and the other more 'pop', and it has been fine - sure this will be too.

Sorry to hear re singing lesson. Sure she's more than ready by this point though! Good luck. DD2 is just gearing up for G5 bassoon next week - couple of lessons cancelled due to Covid - but hopefully it will be OK - at least we now have a spare reed for the first time - she had to do NCO projects with only the one which was slightly stressful!

horseymum · 22/03/2022 19:18

Minisnowballs, I feel your pain with reeds, we try to have three on the go just in case for bassoon. They are cheaper as her teacher makes them. DD probably has six or more oboe ones but lots on the next couple of weeks and she plays more.

Comefromaway · 22/03/2022 20:13

Some good news here. Ds has been offered a place for Popular Music at Leeds Conservatoire. It’s been a long wait (but I guess viewing videos takes longer than in person auditions)

He has his Salford audition this week so it’s really taken the pressure off.

QueenMabby · 22/03/2022 21:16

Well done @Comefromaway 's DS. Fantastic news. Hope the Salford audition goes well.

horseymum · 22/03/2022 22:22

Brilliant, hopefully he will then have a choice.

Comefromaway · 22/03/2022 23:24

Thank you. He’s also really torn between them and LCCM because he thinks London is the place to be. Notts Trent is definitely off the list now.

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