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.

On the home straight now! One competition today, then just Christmas day in church to play for then we're done and everyone can let their instruments have a wee rest! I'm sure there will be some carol playing at home at some point. Hope everyone has had the opportunity to play more this year than the previous two years. We look forward to more fun and music making next year.

@minisnowballs thats a pretty good reason. It’s so much easier having it all there rather than spending so much time travelling to evening rehearsals etc.

@horseymum mine’s back from first term at conservatoire. It’s his first “normal” Xmas term in 3 years (as for all of you). It’s been a shock to the system and he’s shattered! He finished the term playing in the opera (boast- only 1st year to do so), he’s done a couple of paid gigs which is dead exciting. But he’s also been ill on and off since September- standard freshers stuff but extra tough when performing. He’s still really happy with his choice though.

@horseymum nice to wind down for christmas. Did your dd do her bassoon solo? Mine managed her piece reasonably well - though one more rehearsal with the accompanist would have really helped! Distinctly heard one teacher asking another what on earth the instrument was when she walked on stage with it though. The programme just had the name of the piece on it and since she'd been playing flute and cello in the ensembles I think the appearance of a bassoon was a bit of a surprise.

First school concert she's managed to be in (bloody covid) so it was a huge deal for her, and her older sister, who variously also sang in two choirs and played in string group, senior orchestra group and the ceilidh band.

Nearly done now. Three days of orchestra for the small one (on bassoon, so a good test of how she feels about playing that rather than flute) and the rest of us can now chill!

@siriusmuggle well done to your DS, mostly sounds positive but there's so much illness in a term like this- must be really hard when you're on stage!

The struggle to prioritse is very real @minisnowballs -- dd2 is currently of the opinion that she should just not bother with school..... she reckons her extra curricular stuff give her energy and school just drains her.

@Mendingfences dd2 can't even prioritise WITHIN music (is it singing, playing, and if playing then which instrument?) and sees expending effort on anything else except related musical theatre as entirely pointless. At some point she'll realise she has to try at other stuff too, but that point hasn't come yet. At least she reads....

@minisnowballs dd2 doesnt sing but does play 3 instruments, i cant imagine how complicated it would be if she sang as well

Yes, dd did her bassoon solo. It was touch and go till the last minute but she was glad to do it. A couple of people have congratulated her on her oboe playing!! At least oboe is closer than clarinet I suppose. She then found recording for a small competition really easy after doing that! I'm glad other folks have had nice but busy end of term periods. Thankfully we've stayed bug free but it must be super hard when at conservatoire when there is no let up.

Glad dd did the solo @horseymum

My dd got the "Once in Royal" solo for our Carol service. She sang beautifully and (more importantly!) bang on in tune! Nothing else now til Christmas Eve when she's volunteering at midnight service.

She's already got things lined up for concerts next term but will be glad of the break.

well done mini horsey! Double reed identification a good start- and well done to @QueenMabby 's dd as well. That's so brave!

Well done all! Feeling offended on behalf of all fellow bassoonists out there. Honestly.

It's a crazy time of year isn't it. DS is singing in 17 carol services and concerts this year. SEVENTEEN. Many of which include Once in Royal solos, In The Bleak solos, and often some Walking in the Air action. He's on the radio tomorrow, and doing a recording on Friday as well. And I can hear him coughing next door. My. fingers are frantically crossed he doesn't get this lurgy everyone else seems to be coming down with...

Fingers crossed your ds stays lurgyfree @herbaceous

Im rather glad dd2 has been playing more double bass concerts than flute or baritone as the cold weather together with social events and concets with close proximity to people who have cats /dogs has set her asthma off dramatically.

Oooh @herbaceous that does sounds hectic. 🤞🏻 for continued good health!

@Mendingfences - sorry your dc's asthma is bad. My dh has asthma and it's also much worse this winter.

My dd who is yr 8 and has somewhat fallen out if love with music since starting secondary and being a bit overwhelmed, has managed to leave her viola at school over the holidays...by the time she got home on the last day without it school was closed till January... however it may as well sit untouched at school as at home as that's mildly less frustrating for me ! DS 10 started flute about 8 months ago... actually appears to be surprisingly good at it for staggeringly little effort, is currently smug as his flute report arrived today saying he was making above expected progress and his practice between lessons was good.... am tempted to send it back with 'really ???' And 'bollocks' next to those 2 points....
Can you tell I am frustrated by them ????

@Didiplanthis it's irritating, but you're right, might be less annoying if at school as there is not much time for practice over christmas. Does she play both (dd1 is viola and violin and I just make her do the other one if she forgets it)? Secondary is a lot to take in with music as well - so many children just give up at this point that she's doing well to keep going.

Flute is a lovely easy start, especially at 10, so great your son is getting on well with it. DD2 got away with staggeringly little practice for a very long time, but now, at 13 is really having to put in the effort on tone etc - so you might find the need to work comes later.

She also often gets comments on her other instruments saying 'I can tell you've really practised' when she really hasn't - it usually comes back to bite her later though, so maybe he should just enjoy the smugness!

Ha didiplanthis, that does remind me of DS's brass reports. Teacher raves about how well he's doing and how lovely he is to teach. I am somewhat inclined to reply "imagine what he could do if he practised more than 20 minutes a week". I'm not sure if teacher is just being nice. Bright kids can get away with a lot though, and I guess band playing time counts for something. Will your DS be able to join a wind band or school orchestra or anything? Joining bands massively increased DS's playing time, and he must enjoy it as he wanted to go on a summer residential too.

Happy Christmas to all & your musicians. Hope they're having a good relax. Except maybe the choristers herbaceous et al - busy season!

@thirdfiddle - DD's music teachers can always tell she's practised really hard...even when she hasn't!

She's been practising this morning though and it's lovely to work from home and hear the piano notes drifting up from the living room.

Merry Christmas all.

I bumped into DS's viola teacher (he's being doing it one term) and she said how well he's doing, agreeing that being a singer is an advantage in learning a string instrument, tuning, ear etc. She asked me how much practice he does, and to be honest. So I admitted he did about 10 mins the evening before a lesson. She rather sweetly said 'well he's doing REALLY well then'!

He has always sailed through his grades, concerts etc without that much effort. But now he has a sterner piano teacher, who luckily DS thinks is wonderful and really respects, who is cracking the whip. He's entered him into a piano competition for Feb half term, and Grade 8 by Easter. ERK.

Merry Christmas to all. In lieu of cards this year I have a donation to the Children’s Society to give the gift of music to a child in need.

I want to go one further. Music has been life changing for my son. Looking at some of his friends it’s had a massively positive effect on them, kept them in education, out of trouble, helped with their mental health.

at college there were several who struggled to afford lessons. I am going to contact ds’s old school and offer to anonymously pay for a child to have music lessons. No questions asked, no income forms for their parents to fill in. It might be a child whose family has money but whose parents don’t give as*, it might be a single parent low income family, it might be a high achiever or a low achiever, a well behaved child or one who is getting into trouble. I don’t care. As long as the music teacher thinks that child will benefit I will pay.

I will then look into raising funds to take my idea further. Watch this space.

@Comefromaway that is such a kind idea and I’m sure that it will have a wonderful, positive impact on a child’s life ❤️

I’ve set up a Go Fund me to try and raise enough for a 2nd child. I obviously am not allowed to post the link here.

That is such a wonderful idea @Comefromaway. Music can truly transform children’s lives. I know it did mine.

In the words of the feminist board, if anyone feels they can help do some gardening, please PM me.

I’d like to add some (anonymous) testimonials to my campaign. If anyones young person would like to write something about what being able to access music lessons meant to them, especially if they had to overcome struggles or were fortunate enough to receive funding in any way could you please contact me.

That's a lovely thing to do comefromaway. If your school aren't helpful with setting something up, you could try local music service - I know ours are great at trying to provide funded lessons for those that need them, and they're set up as a charity too so you can gift aid. (I'd think any sensible school would love it, but i have previously been turned down by DC's head.)