Autumn 22 music thread

[thirdfiddle]

Hi all - I thought it was a while since we've had a new thread so how about one for the new school year? Would be lovely to pick up some new families too, all welcome at any stage of music learning from out of tune singing 2 yr olds to music college aspirants.

Thank you @thirdfiddle. Bring on autumn - I’m looking forward to the bright blue skies and falling leaves.

DD(11) will be doing her grade 6 singing this term, though her teacher is considering whether to skip forward a grade instead. I really like the songs though so will be a bit disappointed.

Placemarking. Ds leaves a week on Sunday.

Hello! I lurked on the previous thread so thought I'd join this one properly! My DS is 13 and plays violin and bassoon. He's taking G5 violin this term and working towards G8 bassoon next summer probably. He also sings in a local choir, though isn't very serious about that and I think it may be the thing he drops in favour of All The Other musical commitments he's trying to fit in this term/year!

Welcome. PinkGrapefruitSorbet - I also have a 13 year old bassoonist, though she's not quite as advanced as your DS! Today we have sticky keys and struggling with the tenor clef as she works on some Saint Saens bassoon thing which her teacher has just given her.

Praying for no exams this term, in anything!

Hi folks! Here's hoping for a term filled with music. Glad to see another bassoonist. We have a mix of bassoon, oboe and piano across three DC. A variety of aims, from tinkling on the piano for relaxation to one focused on getting into a senior Conservatoire, the other one somewhere in the middle.

@miniminisnowballs I sympathise with bassoon troubles, they can be fickle beasts!! Hope you get it sorted. Tenor clef is much easier to learn when they are younger. I'm trying to go back and do music theory and I have to count the lines every time!!

Cigarette papers, apparently for the sticky key. Have sent dd2, who is a very small 13, off to buy them. Will see how she does.

Hilarious that this is turning into a 'majority bassoon' thread (though I should stress that DD is really a flautist/piccolo player who dabbles. She is always very clear that people should know this)

I remember having to carry cigarette papers years ago when I briefly played the oboe!

DD has told me she will only buy the papers if she can pretend they are for her flute - apparently even saying the word bassoon is embarrassing. The pains of being a teen

Any clarinetists here? DD started at the end of April but has made amazing progress. She is currently using a clarinet from school but we are looking to buy one as the school one is a bit loose. We were thinking of a wooden one but is this advisable for children (who may not be that keen on maintenance….)? Probably at Grade 3 standard at the minute (also plays piano and cello so hasn’t had the sight reading battle).

Mentioning either isn't without embarrassment. I bought Rizlas a while back for sticky flute keys when he used to have a school one and had to ask for them at the coop. They asked me whether I wanted regular or some others- I said oh whichever is cheapest as I need it for using on flute keys and definitely got funny looks

There was a separate clarinet thread a while ago- might be useful?

Any clarinet experts around? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extracurricularr_activities/4572940-any-clarinet-experts-around?msgid=-4572940#-4572940

Thank you @northerngoldilocks, I’ve posted on the thread. Funnily the E13 was the one I was looking at.

Loving the bassoon clique! No bassoons here, or clarinets sorry.
My small musicians are DS who's 13 and a rather casual sort of brass/piano player. And DD, 10, who is keener - violin, piano and as of this term having a go at viola. If she likes the latter she will be very popular. They're variously around about G5 standard but vetoing exams at present.

Hello my just turned 6 year old has recently started drumming lessons at a rock music school.

He has taken to it like a duck to water the guy said and seems to have good natural rhythm, he has started to learn to read drum music also.

Is there any other drums kids on here and if so did you buy a acoustic drum set or electric. I'm not sure which would be best.

Also my 8 year old has started to learn the bagpipes, I'm hoping he enjoys it also and keeps with it. He wants to join the red hot chilli Pipers . Aim high I guess

So many bassoon-playing DC! Glad to see that Rizlas are still the tool of choice for sticky keys. That was my go to solution when I played clarinet way back when, but I suggested it to DS he looked appalled that there wasn't some newer better option by now. I shall send him down the co-op for a packet later, as my late 1990s packet is running low!

Crikey this is the bassoon thread! My DD age 12 plays clarinet and you guessed it bassoon! We have exams on the horizon for this autumn for both instruments. The bassoon is a quite knackered one and we need to look at hiring a better model but also looking at a clarinet upgrade. Keeping my fingers crossed that my pay rise at work happens!

With regards to drum kits, I think most drummers would want a real set but an electric one means you can turn it down and is better for the rest of the household! Consider earplugs if you have a real set for your son, I've been in my friends sons bedroom where he plays his drums and my ears were ringing after a few minutes. That's great he's enjoying it.

We're in Scotland so lots of friends play bagpipes too, you definitely need earplugs in your household!

Ds who is now 12 is a drummer. He has an acoustic kit, which he keeps adding bits to. plus alsorts of other percussion (bongos, djembe, cajon, xylophone). It is noisy but we live in a detached house in the middle of nowhere.... dh regularly suggests we build a practice room in the barn though....

No bassoons here although we do have violin, piano, flute, double bass, trumpet, euphonium, flugel horn and cornet.

Adding in another string player to balance out the bassoon/clarinets!

Dd plays cello (g5) and piano (g7 ish) and sings. She does all her music in school and can't wait to get back to it. She's starting with a new cello teacher next week - 🤞🏻 it goes well.

Ooh, good luck for new cello teacher @QueenMabby. DD starts back with her cello teacher next week. She has not TOUCHED her cello since her grade 5 exam in late July so goodness knows if she remembers how to play it.

Feels like a clean slate with both her school peri teachers as she also took grade 5 voice at the end of last term - will be interesting to see what she gets to do next with both. She's still coming down from her NYCGB choir course at Framlingham, which was a huge success.

Joining after lurking! DD12 sings (acts, dances) and plays viola. Sings enthusiastically and well. Plays viola both less enthusiastically and less well 😄. @minisnowballs I've just started a thread asking about NYCGB, thinking about it for DD for next year.

We've been told we really need to do hiring and buy her a better viola but I'm wincing at the cost and hoping that I can find one second hand

Phone is really not coping tonight!

*stop hiring

Does anyone have any idea whether second hand violas ever come up for sale?

I think that the luthier I took my violin to sometimes has violas in stock, but they're not in the 'ebay prices' bracket, rather they might be set up well and restored etc Does your teacher have any recommendations? If she needs a new one then guidance as to what you're looking for is probably helpful. Where abouts in the country are you in case people have recommendations?