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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
minisnowballs · 18/10/2022 13:59

That's great news @PinkGrapefruitSorbet. Congrats to him. Did he enjoy last year? I think dd2 is actually going to turn NCO down. It clashes with her wind band tour and another holiday she wants to go on - and of course having only done projects before she doesn't have the emotional tie for her that her much-loved wind band does.

I wonder if she's making a huge mistake doing this, in terms of how she's viewed for things like NYO in future (though she is doing Inspire this year on bassoon) but, as I have to remind myself, this is her journey- she very much always does things her way.

I'm a tiny bit sad - would LOVE to see her do this - but trying not to show it!

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 18/10/2022 16:06

Hi @minisnowballs oh, that's a shame she's going to turn it down, but Inspire will be brilliant I'm sure. DS is hoping to try for that next year when he's too old for NCO.

Yes, he loved NCO U13s last year. He didn't know anyone else that was in it - in fact we'd never even heard of it as a thing until his teacher suggested he try out for it. I was impressed that he went off on a week long residential with 100 kids he'd never met before, but he had a wonderful time on both residential weeks and now has a few good pals he's looking forward to seeing again this year.

It really improved his playing as well to be in such a good orchestra. He joined last year at grade 5 level (they really needed bassoons!) and is now working towards grade 8! The motivation of seeing the others playing so well really inspired him to work harder, as he is comfortably the strongest in school orchestra (which is all he had to compare it to otherwise).

Is Inspire a complicated audition process? I need to figure out how that works so we can plan the preparation into all the other things he's doing this year. I think I read it's rolling auditions all year, is that right?

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 18/10/2022 16:08

And congrats @thirdfiddle on your DD getting into projects, that's great! DS auditioned for projects last year but got offered U13 instead (they really needed bassoons!).

Chilligrin · 18/10/2022 17:04

Hello everyone, I have a 12 yo wind player who is waiting to hear from projects and u13. Has anyone heard anything for u13 (this year's yr8s)? I'm guessing we didn't get projects because people seem to have had projects offers already. She did projects last year and loved it

herbaceous · 18/10/2022 18:23

I think we’ll need a pinned post showing what all the various kids play in here!

we’re in Manchester! Doing the filming and stuff for Young Chorister. Naturally, everyone is AMAZING, which I think has fazed DS rather as he’s used to being the best!

He had a mentoring session with actual Aled JONES this afternoon, and an interview with Kate Botley. Singing his semi final piece tomorrow. I’m not expecting/hoping for him to win, but would like him to get through to the final! Three of the five will…

horseymum · 18/10/2022 18:32

@heherbaceous hope he has a great time. I actually had tapes of Aled Jones when I was a young teen! Bet the choristers now have never seen a tape!!

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 18/10/2022 18:35

@Chilligrin fingers crossed for your DC waiting for u13 and projects! We heard in October half term last year about the u13 result, but not sure if that one is always later than main.

Pollyanna8844 · 18/10/2022 18:38

Hi, you don't audition for Inspire, it's just an application

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 18/10/2022 18:46

Thanks @Pollyanna8844 I hadn't even realised that the application didn't include an audition!

minisnowballs · 18/10/2022 18:54

Yes, Inspire is just an application. We got an email asking if DD would play her second instrument as her first is so competitive.... but I think everyone gets at least a day thing. They did hint that if she did bassoon she might get a residential though...

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 18/10/2022 20:49

Great, I'd imagined something much more intense, thanks for explaining!

QueenMabby · 18/10/2022 20:51

Best of luck for your ds @herbaceous - sending all the positive vibes! When will you hear about the final??

herbaceous · 18/10/2022 21:32

We’ll know tomorrow lunchtime whether he’s through to the final!

ilovesushi · 19/10/2022 08:20

@herbaceous hope it all goes well today! Whatever the outcome it is an amazing experience.

Good to hear that others are also trying to navigate full on schedules. We reluctantly let go of taekwondo before the summer, but DD is still very busy with lots of music and dance. She has struggled a lot with tiredness after a nasty bout of covid and is going through a growth spurt so needs her rest and downtime. It is hard to know what to cut as things seem to ramp up as they get older. She would like to continue with her second instrument (bassoon) but in a low key way. She loves her ensemble group but just can't put in the frequent practices and ends up feeling stressed about it. She enjoys tap but her real love is ballet and contemporary. Every time I float maybe losing the tap, she is adamant she doesn't want to.

minisnowballs · 19/10/2022 09:40

Yes, thinking of @herbaceous today! Fingers crossed.

Less glamorously. Both DDs are playing in an informal school concert this evening (that we don't get to go to). They NEVER play together, so I'm not sure how it will go.

DD1 already complaining that DD2 plays too fast. Hope they're still on speaking terms when they get home this evening.

horseymum · 19/10/2022 10:58

That's brave doing a sibling duet! I've floated the idea of dd accompanying her sister for a competition. It wasn't met with great enthusiasm!

LuluKentGirl · 19/10/2022 13:15

horseymum · 19/10/2022 10:58

That's brave doing a sibling duet! I've floated the idea of dd accompanying her sister for a competition. It wasn't met with great enthusiasm!

oh goodness no indeed! in theory DS and DD would make a great duet pairing on cello and violin but i daren't suggest it, would be a bloodbath. hats off to those able to pull off a Kanneh-Mason/Von-Trapp family ensemble...

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 19/10/2022 14:00

Ha, we did try piano duets at one point but oh my the arguments. Not to mention the obvious consequences of combining two children prone to rushing! More success with trios in lockdown including me as buffer and speed regulator, but the politics was still challenging.

OP posts:
minisnowballs · 19/10/2022 14:04

Not a duet, thank god! DD1 is in the 'string ensemble', which is run by the violin teacher, and consists entirely of violins (DD is actually more of a viola player but doesn't play that in it).

DD2 plays the cello as a third instrument, and violin teacher suddenly decided she needed a cellist - DD2 was what was available.

DD1, as first violin and leader of the ensemble, is used to being able to set her own speed without anyone else arguing back - but of course, her sister isn't so easily told! Poor violin teacher...

Comefromaway · 19/10/2022 14:05

My two have just started playing and singing together on the rare occasion they are in the same place at the same time.

But it helps that dd is a musical theatre singer and ds is trying to get work as an MT player/accompanist

northerngoldilocks · 19/10/2022 20:30

I've had several attempts to get my two to play piano duets and have totally failed. I bought a book called 'duets for fun' but the fun was in italics, so DS pointed out that italics generally infer 'not really' so refused to play it. I bought another duet book and they'll both play duets with me (DD more willingly than DS) but not with each other.

I did suggest this week that DD learn DS's grade 6 flute piano accompaniments and she viewed me suspiciously and asked if i was just trying to get them to do a duet without them noticing. I said i thought it would be helpful 'cos I'm not always around to accompany and she seemed to go for that. Truthfully, I suspect she'll do a better job than me because I don't ever learn it - just think i can sight read it, and the truth is I really can't now, "getting by" is the kindest way of describing my approach!

Nothing happening this week, they've both gone away for a few days to visit grandparents and the only instrument that has gone with them is the ukulele!

ilovesushi · 19/10/2022 22:09

When I've tried to get my two playing together DS who quit the trumpet a year or so ago used to play at his own uneven speed oblivious to DD who would keep moderating her speed to try and stay in time with him. It was quite stressful to listen to!

minisnowballs · 20/10/2022 10:02

I got some eyeballs and a 'fine - but she's still too fast' from DD1 on the whole string group experience. So I think that's better than expected.

DD2 cares not - she was more interested in the flute solo she'd done afterwards (which is the first time her music teacher has ever heard her play so she was terrified)

QueenMabby · 20/10/2022 12:16

Glad it went ok @minisnowballs and great news that your dd got a flute solo!

herbaceous · 21/10/2022 14:45

Hi all!

Back from YCOY. It was altogether an amazing experience. Such talent on show! Obvs I can't say any outcomes, but DS was amazing, despite being quite obviously terrified by the lights, judges, audience, etc. He never used to get nervous in his chorister role, but this was a whole different ball game. You could tell which contestants were used to performing, recording, etc.

Anyway, it will all be on the box. 27 November for the boys' semi finals!

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