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 I agree about preparation. We ended up changing DD's singing teacher after G3 when there were issues with preparation. The first teacher was lovely and a hugely competent teacher of singing, but if you also wanted to do well in exams she wasn't the best teacher for that. DD's new teacher is also lovely and also an excellent teacher of singing, but in addition she's got a lot more experience getting students through exams. At G4 DD moved up from the merit she had for previous exams to distinction and I think the quality of her preparation for the exam played a big part in that.

Hi @Springbees

I do!

Have you got specific questions. If so please post or dm me.

What a great set of exam results and all the hard work behind them!
We are currently on verge of doing G1 theory, is there an online practice exam anywhere that dd could have a go at prior to taking the exam. Thought there was one in the ABRSM practice app but not there!

Thank you Violasrule. Have messaged you.

DD is bursting with excitement as we recieved her Grade 6 Piano exam certificate. She got 129 a merit - but I am really proud of her because she also sat her Grade 3 violin and got a distiction! Coping with all the stress of it on the day was really hard for her. But now with summer holidays she can just have some fun and relax. Roll on grade 7! Well done to everyone else!

Hi @Alakazam8 - there is a theory online exam for each on the ABRSM page. Hoepfully this link will take you to it. There is only 1 online paper but worth doing to check they're familiar with the logistics of dragging and dropping etc:

ABRSM: Exam preparation resources

@HappyPiano 2 exams in a day is a lot - well done to your DD. I vetoed the idea of grade 5 violin on the same day as the piano exam as just couldn't imagine it going well, but seems that it can be done - think for DD though it may have been too much.

@HappyPiano congratulations to your DD with a high merit and a distinction. I heard that it's really hard to get distinction in violin because of the tuning. So very well done!

So mine is at conservatoire but is still just about young enough for county youth orchestra (been a member since primary school). He’s there at the moment. The head of the county music service has praised him for his conduct, good example and orchestral etiquette as well as his attitude towards the younger players. I’m really proud of him for this. So it’s not always the exams and achievements.

Well done to all the DC for great exam
results and other achievements!

@northerngoldilocks grade 7 is amazing at 10 - when did she start?

She started when she was in reception (so 4.5) and used to do a 15 min lesson a week. The piano teacher didn't really teach younger than year 1 but was teaching her older brother at our house and she was insistent. I'd say that the lessons were 'mixed' at the beginning, and show how if younger children want to play an instrument its probably best to find someone used to teaching that age group as techniques used for slightly older kids don't necessarily work so well.

She did 30 min lessons then from year 1 (so age 5.5 onwards). She's in year 5 now. She also only did grade 1 then 5 and then 7. Covid meant that F2F exams weren't on for the whole grade 2-4 bit for her!

Thanks @northerngoldilocks. I’m interested because I’ve been wondering whether to get DS “proper” piano lessons from September (when he’ll be in year 1). He’s at the younger end of the school year so just turned 5.

I’ve been teaching him informally this year but it’s been a bit hit and miss - in large part I suspect because the lessons have been with me and not a proper teacher! I think I’m inclined to leave it for another year and just do lots of singing with him.

Its hard to know - if they're interested then its worth trying, but you don't want to put them off either. When i look back at footage of my kids learning, its a miracle she can play at all. I have a few clips of her hiding under the piano and refusing to get out and just generally messing around - and you really have to sit with them for practice at that age. That said, she also wanted to do it, and once she could read the music and got hands together she was flying.

The teacher we had from reception until the end of year 4 was pretty relaxed and really just focused on playing the right notes for the right amount of time, but very little else. Her lessons in the last year with a different teacher have been much more intense (and 45 mins). She's doing 1 hour lessons from September with her (second) new teacher but she's very clear and focused these days so it works for her. She's also been having 1 hour lessons on the violin this year so I know its not too much for her.

@Siriusmuggle You must be so proud, I would absolutely value this over marks any day. It's a bit scary when people say their child looks up to yours as it feels a bit of a responsibility but sounds like he's doing really well at being a great role model.

@Siriusmuggle that's awesome! Agree with @horseymum that this is the best possible thing to value.

Still waiting for exam results here after the exam that DD says was appalling. Not hopeful. In the meantime she's working on taking the bungs out of new open-hole flute (two down, three to go) and readying herself for the wind band tour where she's playing piccolo. New teachers all round from September so it's very weird - current ones have set lots of pieces they'll never hear, but are certainly keeping her busy.

I am really proud of him- particularly as the conductor (who is big in conductor circles) told the whole orchestra how inspiring and helpful he’d been to the younger students in a joint rehearsal. It’s nice because he used to be the youngest and now he’s sort of giving back what he’s received in the past.

That's really special siriusmuggle, no wonder you're feeling proud.

Still loads of good news on here. Dd tried the practice G1 theory today and passed quite easily.
hopefully will be same on Sun when she tries the real thing!
thanks to @northerngoldilocks for pointing us in right direction!

Well done @Alakazam8 - sounds like she'll ace it.

Great news here too from 'child who came out sobbing from her exam'. Distinction in grade eight flute - 132. It's her first ever distinction - but what a one to get! All the things she thought she'd done badly on went really well.

The disastrous piece - 127, scales 16 out of 21. 28 on both other pieces. And the bits of aural she thought were absolutely terrible were complete right.

And even a comment

"very musical and colourful playing".

Was a delight to wake her with that this morning before she went off to her band rehearsal. She actually screamed.

Amazing! Just goes to show they are not the best judges when they are all stressed and that all the preparation meant that when under pressure, she could still pull it out the bag. A great feeling to head off to next school with that confidence. And lovely for her teacher to know she was well prepared.

Not been here in ages, but how wonderful to return to all this good news! That is amazing minisnowballs! What a time to get your first distinction!

Siriusmuggle I agree with the others that that's Orr of feedback says so much about your son. There's a few older children at Dad's ensembles who have gone out of their way to encourage her, and it has been so impactful. I don't think they realise how inspiring they have been to her tbh, so always try and say thanks via the director or organisers.

DD is starting JD in Sep so all change here but she can't wait. Lots more travel but looking forward to it!

Thanks @georgedawes - JD sounds exciting. How far is the travel? Hope she meets lots more bassoonist friends and has great teachers.

It's not that far at all really (and nothing like what I know a lot of people do for JD) but will mean a long day on a Sat, with one parent having to take her at least whilst she learns how to navigate the train journey. She can be very day dreamy so it's going to be a bit of a learning process for her to concentrate in the city 😂

How is your DD feeling (and you!) about starting music school? We're going to start the open day rounds in the autumn but no idea whether DD will actually go. She's very keen to, but I don't know how she'd be really. I'm thinking JD will be a good starting point for her to see how it might be, even if they're very different really.

@georgedawes suspect she'll learn to handle it quite fast - tech like citimapper and life360 really helps when they're navigating cities if she has a phone. And hopefully she'll make friends for life at JD, as DD2 has at Saturday centre.

If I can help at all with the music school open day stuff do let me know - DD did three open days (not Edinburgh and not the strings one) and the right one for her was pretty much immediately obvious to her. She didn't even audition for one as she wasn't happy. They are very different. Enjoy the process and if I can be of any help with my very limited knowledge do let me know on a message. I've no doubt she'll meet DD if she goes to hers - there really aren't that many bassoonists at any of them.

DD2 is excited and doing lots of thinking about clothing for September. We're a little wobbly. However, as fortune would have it we are going to be privately fostering a friend of DD1's who is here alone from Ukraine and needs a rematched family to stay here to do her A-levels as her current hosts have had a change of circumstances.

This should stop the house feeling too empty. She plays the piano. At last, an instrument I understand! I'm trying to learn Ukrainian on Duolingo to communicate with her mum but it is very hard. So far I can say 'mum and dad are not here' (well, yes) and 'there is a cat'.

And thanks @horseymum - her teacher should be pleased I think, and I'm sure getting the new flute helped too. She's so in love with her shiny Murumatsu.

@minisnowballs - huge congrats to your dd. What a high to go out on! This should give her bags of confidence as she transitions to her new school - she should be very proud of herself.

Thanks @minisnowballs much appreciated. Tbh we are clueless about music schools and barely know about the ones available. There is one about an hour from us that we have vague knowledge of, but probably not a good idea to pick just because of proximity! We've tried to hold off talk of music school til 6th form but we'll see I guess....

How lovely of you to have an unofficial foster child! What a wonderful thing to do and although of course doesn't replace DD, maybe a little other focus as you adjust.