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.

Thanks @herbaceous - really looking forward to watching it.

also looking forward to hearing @herbaceous - exciting stuff.

This week much excitement here with auditions for the school musical and a winter concert, while there's a new school ceilidh band to make DD1 very happy too (she plays folk by ear). Given the school had almost no music clubs last year it is impressive how quickly they can turn things around.

On the amateur vs professional discussion, I spent my childhood playing instruments, in bands and orchestras, doing music exams, narrowly missed getting into music school aged 11 then finally ended up at university studying Biochemistry and went into Pharma. I don't regret one moment of music learning though!

Ooo @minisnowballs - a ceilidh band! That sounds fantastic! V interesting. How lovely for your dd. I bet she'll have a wonderful time with that.

We had our school's first big concert of the year this week. Seven of the large ensembles with a good mix of classic and jazz music.

Dd spent a good proportion of the time working out how many of the older ones have to leave before she can get into the top level close harmony group!

A busy couple of weeks coming up with another (informal) concert this week and our big Christmas Carol service on the horizon too. Dd is auditioning for the "Once in Royal David's City" solo so fingers crossed and watch this space!!

DS has his first JD Symphony orchestra concert of the year, and his first as principal flute, tonight and is beside himself with excitement. He is definitely hoping to be a professional musician and is already checking out orchestra vacancies even though he's only 15! Only pesky school, sixth form and Conservatoire to get through first...

Lovely to hear about all the concerts

@Pollyanna8844 I hope your DS loves being principal flute, he (and you) must be very proud. Brilliant experience for him too!

Slightly different level but DS is playing at his new school's Christmas Fair next week. He wasn't sure whether they actually wanted Christmas music so took some Bach and some Christmas. They've said to just play both and were really enthusiastic about his playing, which is a welcome change from his primary school where he wasn't allowed to do things because he didn't learn in school 🙄

Watched the semi-final this morning @herbaceous. 🤗

Did you spot which one he is?

Yes. The first boy? Name begins with S? French horn??

That's the one! White with nerves. He's usually so expressive and smiley!

I thought he was the best! So consistent and no wobbles. I'm sure if he was less nervous he'd remember to smile! Such a minor thing though. I thought he was such a sweetie. Don't tell him that though - worst thing for a teen to hear!

My dd was very jealous of the way he can roll his "r"s. She really struggles.

When is the final aired?? Presumably you've done that already?

He is a TOTAL sweetie. My favourite bit is when he crescendos through the held notes.

The final is aired on 11 December. It was actually filmed the day after the semi finals! He's much more relaxed in that one, and manages to smile!

I'll look forward to watching that @herbaceous. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Results are in from DD2's specialist music school audition - and it's a yes (!), but first study on her second instrument and second study on her first. These things are never simple, are they?

Tremendously proud of her (she's just at an ordinary state school with no music specialism or anything, and at a Saturday school that isn't a Junior Department, and her level of experience and knowledge was so different from the other students auditioning ), but she needs to decide whether she wants it now as its a huge commitment and boarding far from home.

There was only one school she wanted to audition for fully after seeing them all so that's the whole process done. She's gone to school in a bit of a daze, but it's the dance auditions for the musical today so at least she has something else to focus on!

Wow mini , how exciting. Tricky choices though.
I am currently trying to persuade DD to do the solo she has been asked to do on bassoon at school concert but she is so worried about messing it up, I'm not sure if she will.

Aww horsey , what's she playing? I told my dd that if she plays bassoon in their school no-one will have any idea if it is wrong or not anyway! Sure she'll be fab.

She's playing Ground force ( think it's a grade 6 piece). I have tried to explain noone will know it and they will just be loving hearing a bassoon ( totally a novelty at our school). She's worried she'll mess up, and get the end wrong. I'm leaving it up to her but she'll be cross with herself if she doesn't do it but I don't want to over stress her, she's got plenty time.

Absolutely - they'll just be fascinated! She should definitely do it.

DD2 is also playing a bassoon solo in her winter concert - because as usual too many flutes. Friends at school have never heard her play it before and she's worried they'll think it's weird (they probably will). She's playing the first movement of the Saint-Saens bassoon sonata which is really lovely, but proper hard to get right when nervous.

Oh wow @minisnowballs that's fantastic! Huge well done to your dd (and to you as well for getting her there). So which instrument will be which?? Do you think that'll have much impact on your DD's decision?

@horseymum - I hope your dd overcomes her nerves and plays. I agree that everyone will just be so fascinated by the instrument that no one will notice any slips. They won't know the music either so won't know what's the right note and what isn't!

Dd has a concert tonight and we've had tears over it. She sings in a little choir and they're performing tonight but one of the songs has "actions" and dd is absolutely mortified about having to do these in front of everyone. At least they're on first so it will get it over with quickly! She's also singing a solo and playing a piano duet with a friend so I'm hoping that'll make up for it!

@QueenMabby bassoon first and flute second. For context, she's played the flute since she was seven, the bassoon since she was ten (now grade 8 on flute, 7 on bassoon). I don't know what bearing it will have - we've left her to 'sit' with it while we get the final financial details etc for the place to see what she decides.

It's kind of unfathomable as an opportunity. So different to her life now, but she has the joys of london on her doorstep here, many friends and a very happy home and school life. I can't imagine walking past her bedroom door and her not sleeping there.

Good luck on concert for your DD too - mine also hates actions and would be totally with her. Hope she enjoys the other bits!

Congratulations to mini mini!

Congratulations to your DD @minisnowballs - it's a fantastic, if slightly terrifying achievement.

It was the right choice for DS, but I can't pretend that it didn't come with a whole lot of soul-searching and second guessing! However, he loves it. Boarding, especially so far away, was impossible to imagine but it really seems to work for him. He has so many musical opportunities, and seeing him so happy and settled makes it easier for us at home.

We speak / facetime daily, visit or pick him up at weekends whenever he likes and make the most of the longer school holidays.

Whatever your decision, she has done brilliantly!

Oh that's lovely to hear Nevernearlyready - is he your only one? DD2 has a big sister who would miss her a lot too...so it really feels like a family decision/conversation.

There would be Saturday am school and Sunday evening stuff at this one so weekends would be very short if at all (and it's three and a half hour's drive away) except for exeat weekends - a lot of time away from home.

DD2 is not remotely troubled by boarding or missing us - merely very happy in her perfectly ordinary - but lovely - school where she has a nice time, but struggles to fit in her music with everything else. She has nice friends who accept her for who she is, and a heady social life that revolves around Costa, trips to the South Bank and drinking disgusting and overpriced bubble tea in China Town.

I suddenly feel like a Muggle parent who has spawned a small wizard (I have grade 5 piano and her father can't play a note) - I think the specialist school is almost as confused by her existence as we are...

@QueenMabby how was the concert? Did she do the actions?