Spring 23 music thread

[thirdfiddle]

I saw some sunshine today so it's officially spring! Here's a new thread for all things musical.

With a nod to those who started the series, well before my young folk picked up an instrument or I braved the vipers of MN. This little corner is for support only, and bragging about your young folk's musical achievements is positively encouraged.

How are things looking for new year? Anyone new want to join us for a chat? Any lurkers want to delurk? All welcome from pre beginners to music college and beyond.

@northerngoldilocks The keyboard lives under the sofa when not in use, so length is not an issue as such. We will definitely need a foldable stand when we get a full size one, but I'm sure this must be possible (she says hopefully). And yes, we just need something that does the job for the next few years. If we get to the point of higher grades we can just get rid of some of our other furniture instead! Who needs a dining table really?

Haha- I do know of people who keep them down the back of a sofa and get out a stand to play so sure it's possible!

Currently the teacher and I tag team - I help her learn the pieces and then they work on the dynamics in the lesson, but I think this arrangement has a shelf life.
I think at that age help with practice is a very good idea. We support their reading practice, why wouldn't we support their music practice? Like with reading, you should try to get the child to work it out first so they are learning to read music independently, but having an adult eye can be a big help in structuring practice, making sure everything gets covered etc. And getting unstuck with things without having to wait all week for a lesson.
I still help 10 yo DD sometimes - she can practice independently but does better practice with support. DS was never very tolerant of me getting involved until it got to the emergency performance looming stage.

Hello! Can I join? 😃
I have a 7 year old who has been playing piano for 3 years (he is getting there!). I also have a 5 year old who has not started yet. Personally, I wanted her to play piano too but my husband said he wants them to learn a different instrument so they can accompany eachother in the future.

Neither of us play an instrument but it's so important to me that they learn to play something. I experimented with different instruments as a child but couldn't never stick to anything as I couldn't be bothered practising. I regret that so, so much now as I am quite a good singer, have a good ear for music and think I would have done well if I had have stuck with it. I think having an instrument is like speaking another language and opens up a whole new world. I think it's an amazing gift to give a child if they have the skill. My 7yo son is getting along fine and my 5 yo daughter seems to love performing and I think she would be great too.

So, what would be a good instrument for the 5 year old to start next September? I was thinking guitar. Too young? She has said she wants to play the drums. What are the pros and cons of that?

How can I support their musical development? I will do anything to encourage them to stick it out until they are proficient. Not for me,but for them, to have this amazing skill! Any suggestions would be welcome!

The child's own preference is very important and sometimes you have to try several. My ds started on violin because his school offered a year of whole class lessons followed by the option of 1:1. He then started guitar when he went to secondary but after a couple of years asked for piano lessons and the rest as they say, is history.

If your child wants to try drums then as long as you can cope with the noise go for it!!

Hello, I'd like to join too, I'm totally clueless but somehow ended up with music loving DC. Currently getting my knickers in a twist about first stage exams. I'm going to follow here for tips for supporting them :) thank you :)

@Darkdiamond we just went with what the children asked for and they had definite requests from the start. DC1 said flute, DC2 said piano (but I held her back until she was 7 to start) she was happy with a recorder the year before that and is carrying on with it too in a relaxed way. DC3 (who is 5yo) asked for a violin for Christmas but she's also just started recorder and we'll see in September what her request is. I didn't want them to start too soon and end up struggling and demoralised.

All sing in a choir, DC1 has started to get lovely compliments from the teacher there about her voice so she's really gaining confidence and enjoyment there which is beautiful to see.

I'd go with the drums that have those plug in headphones 🤦‍♀️🤣

Would recommend you give them exposure to as many types of instrument as possible and see where their interest is. DD chose violin at 5 because she'd seen several children perform at school and wanted to play it too. Then subsequently she asked to learn harp as I ran an orchestra event with a harp soloist - DD sat on the front row and gawped at the harp throughout. With DS, we went for cello as he kept picking up DD's violin and trying to play it like a cello between his knees!

"Personally, I wanted her to play piano too but my husband said he wants them to learn a different instrument so they can accompany each other in the future."

@Darkdiamond good luck with that one... I have 2 kids who both play piano - the younger one is better and then they play flute and violin respectively. They usually point blank to play anything that remotely looks like a duet and i've only very recently been able to consider getting DD to accompany DS and she's playing at around grade 7/8 standard.

I'd just see what they want - but also worth thinking about how you want them to play music - if they want to do orchestras then they'd need to pick an orchestral instrument, so one to consider re guitar. Also at 5 their hands might be a bit small. Ukulele could be a good starter. Or just start her on piano and then see what she would like when she's a bit bigger?

Welcome to the thread darkdiamond and mumoffour.
darkdiamond I wouldn't rule out piano on the playing together front - early level piano duets are pretty common, where piano accompaniments are often much harder than the solo part. But as others have said, something the child is excited about is most important.

At DD's school the piano teacher starts pupils from year 1 and the guitar teacher more often y3, I don't know if that's general or just what those particular teachers prefer. Drums are noisy but fun, take quite a lot of space too. Come secondary school age lots of kids sing/play guitar/keyboard, and drummers are in demand.

Can I ask the experienced mums when is a good age to start violin? It looks trickier than other instruments

Mumoffour - DD started violin at 3. String instruments come in tiny sizes, and don't require particularly much strength or puff, so they can be started young. Main thing is to find a teacher who is good with the age group your child is, some will be great with 5 yr olds, others prefer to start them from 7 or so. Teaching little ones is a different skill. If someone tries to teach a 5 yr old the same way they'd teach a 10 yr old then all parties will end up frustrated! The younger they are the more parental involvement will help too.

Which reminds me, don't think i actually introduced myself properly on the new thread. I have DS who is 13 and plays brass and piano, DD is 10 and plays violin and piano, and sometimes viola in ensembles. I think they're variously around g6ish but they've vetoed exams for the time being which makes life more peaceful! Both play in the local youth orchestra and DD does a few other ensembles, she's the keener of the two; piano is her favourite. DS has more mixed motivation but has picked music for GCSE so he'll need to keep going at least a few more years. And I'm a keen amateur viola player and sometimes manage to bash out piano parts (badly).

Welcome to @mumoffourminimes and @Darkdiamond too! Nice to have some more folk to chat about music stuff. No question is a daft one! I play double bass and it tends to be a late starter instrument ( and is a bit easier than violin!) . However with violin, probably starting earlier is better as there is a lot to cope with - posture, holding the instrument, left hand, bowing etc as well as reading music. Smaller instruments make it convenient as well as relatively cheap at the beginning. Don't rule out the viola as well as it can be much more in demand. A friend's child has picked it up as a strategic move at the start of high school and is doing it alongside violin.
Ask around to see what is available locally, there may be a brass band which has a junior section - often loaning instruments for free. My DD had a trial lesson with a teacher where she tried flute, clarinet, oboe and bassoon and settled on the oboe, which she loves. Oh and my kids rarely play duets together but can sometimes be persuaded as they get older and a bit more considerate!

Thanks @thirdfiddle I was against her starting so young but I think I should probably let her try with a teacher and see what she thinks.

Do you think it helps overall to start so little?

Thanks @horseymum I'm sure I can come up with some daft questions 🤣

Do most secondary schools offer music lessons? How does the transition work if they have lessons in school now?

Hi again everyone, I think I dropped off the last thread. I have a DS who is 13 and plays bassoon and violin. He's just passed G5 violin last term and is working towards G8 bassoon. He's playing in NCO main this year and planning to try for NYO Inspire next year when he's too old for NCO.

We've just got his bassoon serviced properly over the holidays and hadn't realised what a state it was in. It sounds so much better now, so was worth the 90 mins drive each way (twice) to get it to/from the servicing man!

I'm in Scotland so lessons work differently here. They are all free which sounds great but some councils are going to be going to minimal provision IE cutting primary lessons and only those doing SQA exams ( like GCSEs) are going to get lessons. In effect this will mean you start when you choose music in third year and only have 18 months to get to exam standard which is ridiculous!. Effectively shutting out most kids from lessons. Because kids almost all go to their catchment high school, currently it is likely the peri teacher will be the same or at least one you might have met at orchestra/ band etc which is really good.

This definitely doubles as a bassoon appreciation thread! Out of interest, how much did the bassoon service cost?

Do you think it helps overall to start so little?
That's a really difficult question to answer, because who knows how the same child would have got on starting at a different age? I'm glad I started little, DD says she is glad she started little. DS had no interest until older and he's quite happy with that too.

I think if they're into it and work hard they'll get good whether they start aged 5 or aged 10. So for me the main thing is whether they're going to enjoy it now, and DD has certainly had a lot of fun and adventures with her music already.

Here the local music service sends peripatetic teachers to both primary and secondary schools. So if they want to continue they just tick a box and say which school they're going to, may get the same teacher or a different teacher depending on what school and who covers it. The secondary schools being much bigger tend to offer a wider range of instruments too.

Hi PinkGrapefruit :) NCO Main sounds exciting!

@horseymum The bassoon service was around £150 for things like replacement pads, corks and general overhaul. It was done by someone who used to be a professional bassoonist, which was reassuring. We are up north, though, so prices may we'll be cheaper up here - it sounds like many others on this thread are London based?

Hi, what a lovely thread. I'm new to DC music, two DDs age 8 and 4. Both just started lessons at the local conservatoire. DD8 is learning trumpet from scratch, the lesson programme includes wind ensemble and music theory classes so we're thrown in the deep end a bit! DD4 is doing a preschool music theory class (Kodaly) and I'm hoping she'll get instrumental teaching next year for either violin or piano.

Do you think it helps DC seeing a parent play any instrument? I was quite good 20 years ago (school music scholar) but barely played since sarting work.

Interesting, thank you