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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Autumn 22 music thread

405 replies

thirdfiddle · 01/09/2022 18:11

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
thirdfiddle · 04/09/2022 23:49

So viola buying, notevenslightly. Big question! We have bought on from friends who were upgrading, so second hand certainly happens, though main gain is not having the dealer take a cut, and you have to balance that against possibly needing new strings/new bow or work doing to get it set up right. Can teacher advise at all? DD's violin teacher has offered to ask around for us in the past.

OP posts:
minisnowballs · 05/09/2022 08:34

I'm thinking of getting a Gliga Gama sent on approval for my dd1 (who is not a terribly enthusiastic viola player - but does need one). I hear good things, and she's on a full size now...

minisnowballs · 05/09/2022 09:08

Oh, and I've replied on your thread @NotEvenSlightlyReasonable (though I'm sure you are perfectly reasonable!) - not sure DD2 is the most representative member of NYCGB, but the fact that they can contain her and a lot of very talented cathedral singers and keep them all happy at the same time has to count for a lot.

Think there are other members lurking around as well whose children may be more traditional choristers...

NotEvenSlightlyReasonable · 05/09/2022 09:32

@minisnowballs thank you on both threads! DD isn't a cathedral chorister, although she'd probably love it. She sings with a couple of choirs and has lessons and is doing grades so has some experience of the aural skills requirements.

Thank you to those who've suggested about sources for a 2nd hand viola. I've asked her teacher and have details for a luthier who I'll get in touch with, might try the local Youth Ensembles as well. Naively, I just assumed she could continue to rent, but she's on her second one of those after an upgrade and apparently needs another upgrade but I'm not made of money!

Alakazam8 · 05/09/2022 12:36

Clarinet player here. Dd is playing at G4 level and also enjoys keyboard, plays electric guitar in a band and sings really well.
We have bought a wooden clarinet for her last year that should see her through at least a couple more grades. She joined an orchestra last year and enjoyed playing in their end of year concert which happened a month after she joined!

minisnowballs · 06/09/2022 09:15

Anyone with kids in the London Youth Choir? DD2 (13) had her audition for it last night - it was very short(!) and they offered her a place on the spot without any aural tests so she was a bit surprised as they said there would be 'musical skills tests'.

I guess we were expecting an outcome email rather than just 'we'd love to have you - details on email in the next few days'.

She'd have to give up a current musical theatre group for it so is wondering whether it is a good idea or not....

StuntNun · 06/09/2022 09:36

makeitsonumber1 · 02/09/2022 11:34

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).

Yes, at that level a decent wood clarinet will probably make all the difference to her playing. Buffet E11 is a popular choice but see what her teacher recommends. They don't need a whole lot of maintenance; use a swab/pull though to get rid of the water from the inside, and wipe the outside down with a cloth after playing. Some teachers recommend upgrading the mouthpiece and ligature as well as the clarinet. I much prefer a Rovner leather ligature to a metal ligature which might be worth looking into.

StuntNun · 06/09/2022 09:39

Indoctro · 03/09/2022 07:51

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 Smile. Aim high I guess

My son started out on an electric kit as we didn't have space for an acoustic kit but then switched to an acoustic kit after a couple of years as he prefers it. Acoustic kits tend to be cheaper for a good quality kit. Thomann are a good supplier of drum kits and tend to be cheaper than UK suppliers.

Alakazam8 · 06/09/2022 15:35

Yes dd has a buffet clarinet, not sure which number. Still with metal lig though so might look at that next.
we use cork grease and oil on it regularly and will send it in for service over half term (once a year) other than the usual swab clean.

minisnowballs · 07/09/2022 08:33

Sounds like you're looking after it really well @Alakazam8 We are humming and ahhing over DD2's flute. She's had it since Year 4 primary - Yamaha, closed holes. It's an older one, when they were still made in Japan, which is why her teacher rates it. Belongs to her aunt.

However, she's now prepping for Grade 8 and I notice everyone else at her level has something with open holes and much fancier... Don't want to leave it to just before an exam! I guess we trust the teacher and hope for the best - but any flautists here might be able to help me too?

The bassoon, thank god, is better than we deserve. Belongs to a friend - had been in a loft for 30 years, and then converted to short reach and overhauled by her teacher's favourite repairman. Knew we were onto a winner when her teacher stroked it lovingly and said 'I used to play one of these at the Academy'.

Dd is struggling with her new pieces - which seem to be G7, but it's definitely not the instrument that is letting her down!.

makeitsonumber1 · 07/09/2022 19:14

Thank you @StuntNun and @Alakazam8. We are in London on Saturday so going into the shop to buy it. We asked her teacher about changing the mouthpiece at the same time and he suggested staying with the one that comes with it until grade 5 - is this what everyone else does? In the grand scheme of things, given the expense of the clarinet itself, it seems odd to not get a different mouthpiece if that would be better for DD?

makeitsonumber1 · 07/09/2022 19:17

She does swab the current one so that’s good. Thanks for the tip on the ligature too!

StuntNun · 07/09/2022 20:05

@makeitsonumber1 you could always get her to try some mouthpieces if you're buying an instrument. Vandoren are a good brand. My understanding is that the mouthpiece makes as much difference to playing as the rest of the instrument does. My completely inexpert opinion is that an experienced musician can compensate for an inferior instrument or mouthpiece or even reed, whereas we should be trying to make playing as easy as possible for a learner. But she could always see how she gets on with the new clarinet and consider changing the mouthpiece when she gets to the higher grades, as the teacher recommends.

ilovesushi · 07/09/2022 21:02

Any thoughts on upgrading from a knackered B12 clarinet? I was hoping it would get DD through grade 5 (coming up soon) but I'm not sure whether to invest in a major service/ repair job if its days are numbered. Wondering what instrument people generally move on to next. I am slightly worried about my quite clumsy DD bashing an expensive instrument! Also got a bassoon upgrade to consider, but I think we would look into hiring.

StuntNun · 08/09/2022 12:37

I would not have wanted to tackle grade 5 with a B12 - it's really a beginner instrument. It's almost definitely not worth getting it serviced either. I just paid £300 for a full service! You could put that money towards a new instrument or into rental.

ilovesushi · 09/09/2022 08:27

I think you're right @StuntNun I've already put it in for a service with the thought that I can play it, and I'm going to look at hiring. I can see that Howarths do a scheme where you can rent then they knock some of that cost off if you buy. Wondering if you need to make a trip up there in person. I'm guessing you do.

horseymum · 12/09/2022 09:26

Well, first Saturday back at JD for middle DD. She had a fab time, been promoted to top orchestra and looking forward to a whole year of great music making. This time last year it was half online, no concerts, didn't meet her piano teacher till after Christmas. It feels so Much more positive. Hope others have got more concerts etc to look forward to aswell.
Slightly frustrated at NYOS decision to cut back from three to two orchestras, probably means youngest DD won't have a chance but we'll audition anyway.

Comefromaway · 12/09/2022 10:27

My son put on a musical theatre cabaret on Friday. It was a phenomenal success. I can't believe what he achieved. He had a live band and had asked several singers from his theatre group, previous school, college and the boy who 4 years ago played Dodger to his Oliver. All important people from his musical & personal life, several of whom are off to drama school or music college.

Then yesterday we dropped h9im off at conservatoire. I am now an empty nester!

Indoctro · 12/09/2022 13:18

Thanks for the replies we have the space so have decided on acoustic drums set

I thought junior size but his teacher said he is comfortable playing a full size one at lessons so we might as well buy that same size

Yes @horseymum we are Scotland too , he is doing chanter through the school. So far he is enjoying it but yes they are loud the local kid in the village who plays gets chucked in the garden after school by his mum to practise but it's lovely to hear the bagpipes playing daily at 4pm across the village the lad is very good.

Both boys want to be in a pipe band. Youngest is too young too he wants to do snare drum but school won't let him start till P4 and he only P2 which is a shame/

minisnowballs · 26/09/2022 08:58

Hope all well with autumn music making. This week's thrill is that DD1 (who is in Year 11) has finally passed her grade 5 theory after avoiding it stringently for five years. She doesn't really do music exams but her Saturday school requires it.

She got the passmark. I think something might have gone wrong with her strategy as she got really high scores for some sections, reasonable for others and then a stocking 0/10 for chords and cadences. I suspect she didn't answer any of the questions as this is usually her best bit!

Still - a pass is a pass! Thank heavens that was done before the beginning of term. Thinking of ceremonially burning the theory books (DD2 took the exam two years ago).

horseymum · 26/09/2022 09:06

Well done! I have a theory refuser here. I think it's a strategy to avoid any more practical exams. She's done grade 5 bassoon last year but now can't do any more! Her sister commented that she'll be ready for grade 8 before she's done her theory! Currently slowly working through grade 4 theory book. I don't mind if she doesn't do any more exams, she just might like the option in the future.

minisnowballs · 26/09/2022 09:15

@horseymum we've just said a big fat no to bassoon exams this term - dd2 has grade 5 and has done the theory and a bunch of grade 6 and 7 pieces, but we are tired.

But I think the trinity syllabus is quite similar to the ABRSM one if your dd2 did want to do more.

It's going to be a very bassoon-heavy year here as DD2 (who is a flute player really) has just been offered bassoon places for the two orchestras she'd applied for on flute as no flute spaces.

She is going to find them much harder on her second instrument (she finds the first of them quite hard on her first, and the other is NYO Inspire, which is probably quite hard!) - but she does want to show willing.

Comefromaway · 26/09/2022 09:39

Dh has discovered that he is really good at teaching theory online over zoom. He is currently trying to get ds's drummer friend from 0 to Grade 5 by the spring (so he can apply to LIPA amongst other places). He seems to have a real ffinity with young people and teaching in a way that seems relevant.

minisnowballs · 26/09/2022 10:06

I think Theory teaching must be a very specific skill -so well done to your DH!

QueenMabby · 26/09/2022 17:43

Well done @minisnowballs dd1! Tick that box and move on!

Not sure what exams we have this year. Maybe nothing this term. Piano - she's just doing some fun repertoire atm and a decision as to whether she'll sit g7 or g8 next will come in due course.

She's working on g5 cello and g3 singing but we're not in any rush for those so maybe Easter.

She's currently excited by an opportunity in school next month to be introduced to the organ. She had a trial lesson a few years ago but decided instead that she'd rather have singing lessons. There's a group of them going to have a go but I shall be putting my foot down over another set of lessons!