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.

Glad it was a good experience for him.

Great news @herbaceous - knew he'd pull it out of the bag for you.

We have (deep breath) turned down the NCO for dd2. Which is a tiny bit sad - but telling myself she can basically have every other holiday orchestra and choir she does (including an NYCGB residential and a wind band tour) for the same price as just doing that. And it's what she wanted due to clashes, so there we go.

Also turned down the place we've just been offered in year 9 at the more musical local state girls school (which has scholarships for music that she refused to take back in year 7 because she didn't like the school). Again, her choice - she prefers where she is, and poss other options on the horizon.

Slightly wondering what she's planning to turn down next!

@herbaceous I'm so glad it's been good, whatever the outcome that's a good outcome!

@minisnowballs I like a girl who knows what works for her. There's so many fabulous options around for our kids, they have to be able to pick and choose (or overload massively) and that's a really adult skill to develop.

DD got the singing opportunity she auditioned for last week. She's very excited! Just for a change, I seem to have paused on spending all my money on lessons for her and I'm spending it all on tickets to see her perform instead.

DD has bloomin' left her instruments locked in school over half term. She has two exams looming. Not really the time to miss out on a week's practice! Hoping I can get into the school next week and looking at hire options. Gaarrrr!

@herbaceous just saw your update! How exciting! We will be watching though of course we don't know which chorister we are rooting for!

His name begins with S!

Oh no! Though if you can't get in maybe it's just time to tell yourself that it's only a week and had you gone away it would all be fine. So infuriating though! Not sure how easy short term hire is to be honest, eg by the time it's sorted might be almost time to go back to school?

Head practice sushi? Particularly useful for scale fingerings. I imagine there will be someone going in who can help you out though.
Herbaceous, congrats to your DS pulling it out of the bag in the end. What a fab way to end his treble career.

What a nightmare @ilovesushi ! My school is open for staff every day over half term so hopefully you'll be able to get it back.

And well done to your DS, hope he managed to enjoy the experience despite the pressure @herbaceous!

Congratulations to everyone with parts and places at orchestras, what a talented bunch. It sounds like a bit of a juggle for all the parents though 😂

I'm sat watching the kids swimming at the moment and catching up on messages. DS has had four bassoon lessons so far, he's got 5 notes and has been practicing Merrily We Roll along - he still sounds like a duck occasionally but it's definite progress. The music service have opened up booking for after Christmas so we were thinking of individual rather than group lessons. There's quite the difference in cost though.

He's now picked all three G1 piano pieces, aiming for entry in June with a possible target of March if he keeps up the current pace. I'm enjoying listening to the pieces at the moment but I may have changed my mind by June!

DD4 is nagging for piano lessons now but as she's just started Reception as a summer baby I've said no. When did all your DC start lessons? Hers will still be in school as the teachers are brilliant and it's super convenient.

@herbaceous@herbaceous

Goodness, go for March tonic, they'd be driving all of you mad by June. There's too much momentum at g1 stage to want to sit on the same pieces for over half a year.

Lovely your little one wants to join in too. What age does the piano teacher in school usually teach? Ours starts them from y1, so that's when DD started.
She did have violin lessons from before school age too though, with a teacher who we chose by asking other local teachers who was good with littlies. You can't teach a 4 yr old the same way you'd teach an 8 yo. Any chance to sound out how early others start in your school and how they get on?
Whether summer born reception child is a reason to wait - well, you know your child. DS found reception more than enough organised activity. DD bounced through it with every hobby she could cram in on the side. They're both mid year not summer born but not much difference between them birthday wise.

I'd agree - grade 1 pieces from now until June is far too long - you'll all be over them by around January so don't prolong it!

In terms of lessons, agree that when school start teaching them is really relevant. DS had school group lessons for year 1 and that was the earliest that they could start. I got his school piano teacher to teach him privately in year 2 as there were no 1:1 slots left in school and my 4yr old reception age DD wanted to have lessons too. We went for it - but just 15 mins for the first year, but what became clear really quickly was that the teacher had no idea about teaching that age group as their usual technique didn't quite work. Listening to him asking her what something in the book said and her replying with 'i don't know, I can't read' was 'entertaining'. Thankfully for him she learnt to read really quickly so by Christmas it wasn't an issue, but she's also not summer born. By year 1 though she was having 30 mins lessons and doing well. I'd say speak to the teacher and find out how they teach younger kids and be prepared that you'll need to sit with them for practice sessions too. On the bright side at that age its only 5-10 mins a day really.

I've just bought a clarinet! DD does need an upgrade but I was trying to hold off a bit longer. I think the panic of it her current instrument being locked up in school forced my hand. At least we can play duets now!

I'm still down a bassoon though. I can't afford to panic buy a bassoon!

we tried to start dd2 at 4, tonic- she misbehaved massively for her piano teacher so we stopped after two months (she is summer born but could already read fluently - but it clearly wasn’t enough for her to be ready to learn music). She didn’t start music lessons again on anything until year 3- and even then it was in a group. She has caught up on most ways- no rush, I reckon. Didn’t start bassoon until end of year 6.

definitely don’t panic buy a bassoon ilovesushi! Though if you’re near south east London you could probably borrow ours….

No rush for music lessons, I say. I tried to interest DS in piano when he was about year 3, and he resolutely refused.Then about year 5 he just started noodling about, year 6 he started lessons, and year 9 he's grade 8. Introduce the notion, then let them decide it was their idea!

I'd agree that there is no rush, but similarly if they're interested and asking for lessons then trying them out is no bad thing either. If they love it you stick with it, if they don't just try again later?

Yes, I always say if you start young it has to be because it's fun now, not with any expectation of becoming a super genius at whatever it is, the stars will overtake even if they start years later. Like any hobby they do when they're little really. DD says she's glad she started early. Definitely not musical genius territory, no aspirations to JD or anything but a good solid ensemble player who gets to do lots of fun things.

I think that's a good point @thirdfiddle - often those who start earlier make slower progress and can be overtaken by those starting later. DDs superstar piano teacher is a concert pianist / solo performer and didn't start until he was 8. He says it's late for being a pro but obviously didn't hold him back!

I think DD is further ahead than she personally would be if she'd started later (as well taught - bad habits or putting a child off by being too serious too soon are both possible) and overtook lots of older kids herself. But her friend who plays for hours a day to her 30 mins or so was bound to overtake and duly did so within the year of starting. I mean, obviously, those that are really dedicated and talented will end up better, so naturally they're going to have to overtake at some point.

I think as long as the teacher's right the best time to start is when the child wants to. We had a sort of policy for any hobby, if they kept saying over a few months that they wanted to try it they could, and if they kept saying over a few months they wanted to stop it they could do that too.

Delighted that our council ensembles start back this week. A great chance for them to meet up with young folk from other schools and do some fun music.So grateful for the tutors that facilitate these, music is not totally dead in our wee corner of Scotland!

Two of mine started at age six but nearly seven, Tonic, one on the trumpet, the other on the piano. They were both absolutely desperate to start learning an instrument.

Horseymum, is that a holiday kind of ensemble or a weekly ensemble? Hope they had/having fun. Our weekly local music centre has been brilliant for both kids. They run ensembles from complete beginners through to county youth orchestra. If I thought DD was little when she joined - some of them last concert were getting shorter not taller when they hopped off their chairs. So cute! There's a bit of a covid generation gap, but the little ones are coming through strong.

It's a weekly council one. They do junior strings and wind band, then senior orchestra ( although that is grade 4 up so not terribly senior). Also choir and guitar groups. In an ideal world there would be an in between one as they grow out of the junior one before they are ready for seniors but it's slowly building back up. The staff are great.

NYO Inspire are looking for tuba, bassoon and double bass players. It is free and there is no audition, you need to be grade 6+ standard and meet the qualifying criteria

I saw this, it demonstrates what the really endangered instruments are. I don't think I'll apply this year for dd on bassoon, as middle one doing it on oboe so would be stressful if they were at different places! We're in Scotland anyway so the travel will be long whatever we get ( if anything).