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 @Comefromaway my piano teacher made me sit every theory exam from grade 1 to 5 which, in hindsight, must have take a lot of time away from practical tuition. DS is only ten years old so I might put him in for grade 1 or 2 theory and then decide from there. I got a distinction in grade 5 so I'm pretty confident about teaching DS myself, definitely for the early grades. He's keen to skip his grade 3 piano exam and go straight on to grade 4 so it might make sense to get him through at least some of the theory stuff now while he's still at primary school and doesn't have a lot of homework.

Both mine just did five - it's far cheaper for a start! If you can do in primary so much the better. DD2 did it in year 6 (but covid so she had sod all else to do), and DD1 in year 10 summer which was far more stressful.

The ABRSM app is pretty good, and they had lessons through saturday school for a bit... I should imagine you'll be absolutely fine. I got some help with DD2 from a local music student as I am hopeless and have no theory at all.

You can now take it whenever you like (online) and in the case of DD1 she did a quick intensive refresher course and then took the theory literally half an hour afterwards - before she forgot the lot!

The cost is a big factor. With ABRSM you can sit a virtual mock exam online so you could work through those under exam conditions.

My dd just did Grade 5. She does theory at her JD so may consider doing 8 if it was recommended to help with future employment etc. Dd 2 not done it yet but is around grade 6 on her instrument so won't be able to do more exams unless she does it! We just used the blitz books and the ABRSM app. Got the teacher to mark workbook occasionally but felt it took time away from lessons and we could do it ourselves at home. I definitely personally wouldn't do them all, too expensive!

DS just did 5. During lockdown I thought it would be a good idea for him to get on with it, found a tutor over zoom and he did 2 lessons but then I was disorganised and didn't arrange more. He just went through grade 1 and 2 workbooks with her in those 2 sessions though. Then did grade 5 classes at his sat centre and sat the exam at the end of year 6.

DD is younger and her sat school had a rule that they should do theory 2 grades below practical so she did grade 3 last year when she was in year 4 and is now doing grade 5. I think for her the grade 3 gave her more confidence whereas DS was fine to just get on with grade 5. It is possibly holding her back a bit now as her piano teacher would like her to just get on with it so she can sit grade 7 piano as he doesn't want her to skip straight to grade 8.

If Bach to Baby are still going, they held lovely local events where your smols can hear classical music performed by pros, in environments where they can clamber around to their hearts' content.

Also check out the London Symphony Orchestra's "baby orchestra" - music & movement morning classes where orchestral players introduce children to their instrument. Fantastic!

Hello - was on this thread a few years ago when my children were small and was really grateful for the support. Are there any teachers / parents following who have entered a candidate for the new ARSM exam? My son is taking his exam on Saturday and have just had an email from the school saying the examiner is requesting his programme today. Is this the norm? The regulations say it is presented on the day, and I'm wondering if with advance notice, he won't be examined objectively. Am I being over-cautious / ridiculous?

Further DS spam.

He was on the radio yesterday! Live interview, no preparation. Came over so grown up!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dmnjmq?fbclid=IwAR3PpfXufjVds28h5XTQ1fpbfCGnUhG3aFvsrIHqkjyFYHyn0hJq6jjcY

I've just listened and he did great! So poised. Clearly ready for a TV career 😀very well done to him.

He did really well then @herbaceous really articulate and enthusiastic. When is the final being shown?

The next Aled Jones…

Final is on Sunday! 1.15, BBC1.

Actually, it's BBC2! EERK!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g5gx

Could anyone advise on MIDI keyboards please? DD is a brass player and just started doing GCSE Music and has been advised to get a MIDI keyboard for GCSE composition. The teacher has recommended a Yamaha Piaggero NP12. I asked her to find out what features we needed as it's £180 and I could do with getting a cheaper one, especially as she's not a keyboard player but she says the teacher just says the Yamaha will have everything she needs. I know they use Mixcraft for composing. Any tips?

For just composition I’d have thought any midi controller keyboard would do but I will ask Ds.

i realised the other day that as a family we own 9 different keyboards so he should’ve an expert!

And £180 seems like a big ask. Ds went to school in a pretty deprived area and asking any of the gcse music students to buy a keyboard simply for composing just would not happen. It does make life a lot easier if you can play straight into the software but I really can’t see you needing the Piagero

We have this one for example but Ds even gigs with it using it as a synth bass.

www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Native-Instruments-Komplete-Kontrol-A49/2NU7?_gl=114nnypu_upMQ.._ga*MTk1OTY0OTMxNi4xNjcwNzEzNjY1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-dCcBhBQEiwAeWidtavD4lAhjvjJDlu9Tvt6z_ZtBHsC8kKQs2zbmVAO7wWJ38qOL3Ea5BoCjnMQAvD_BwE

but your Dd probably doesn’t need anything semi-weighted or even full sized keys if she’s not an actual keyboard player.

Ds says that any keyboard with a USB-B output on the back of it will work. Everything else simply comes down to touch and whether she prefers full size keys. As a first study keyboard player he likes using a good keyboard but once used his mates kids keyboard as a controller and it worked fine.

Thank you, Comefromaway, that's very helpful. Can't believe you own 9!!! We're in a deprived small Northern town so I'm amazed they think £180 is a reasonable ask for something for just part of just one GCSE. Dance and music teachers here seem to ask for endless pricey extras, I wonder if because it's an optional extra, they think you have money to burn - which we certainly don't!

It does seem like a big ask Bluegingerbread - both mine are doing GCSE music (one is Y11) and we've never been asked for anything but a pair of ordinary headphones - the type you get free with most phones or in the pound shop!

Have you checked fb marketplace @Bluegingerbread - there are often quite a lot of keyboards on there for me locally- though am in london so no use to you

@herbaceous - big well done to ds for his performance in the final. You must have been very proud of him. One of my favourites too. 🤗

Actually, I haven't tried FB marketplace. I looked on eBay and the prices weren't much less than new and the better priced ones were collection only and too far. I will try FB, thank you for the idea.

To be fair there are three of us that play and Dh also teaches/performs etc.

Mine did specialist school for 6th form. 100% the right choice for him so I'm happy to answer any questions. He's now at his first choice conservatoire.

Thanks @Siriusmuggle ! So glad it's been a positive experience. She's a bit younger... one question is whether she needs this yet, but she's really struggling to prioritise and find time for everything in her current set up which is one reason to consider it.