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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Spring 23 music thread

970 replies

thirdfiddle · 09/01/2023 16:50

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.

OP posts:
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TheLemon · 03/08/2023 15:58

I got an email notification for results today - 3 weeks after the results were available on the portal and a full week after the actual certificate arrived!

minisnowballs · 05/08/2023 06:59

I think we were weirdly fortunate- got an email about dd2’s results a week after she’d taken the exam- logged in and there they were… but sadly that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

on holiday now. No music (we are interailing so no space for instruments!)- really enjoyed vienna for music history stuff though - and tacky music souvenirs! Dd2 now thinking about lots of European orchestras she could join when she’s bigger …

horseymum · 05/08/2023 09:09

Well done to those getting results back and hang in there for those still waiting. It used to be weeks and weeks till your envelope came through the door which was the first you knew! @minisnowballs Glad you are getting some music fix on holiday!
We now have a cor anglais in the house too on loan from teacher.( Big oboe which always sounds sad! ) I'm starting to get a bit jittery about house insurance and realizing instruments are definitely the most valuable things we have- no expensive jewellery, iPhones, huge TV's. Several of them worth more than our car- although that's not hard!!

minisnowballs · 05/08/2023 11:07

@horseymum - we found it better to use Allianz for separate music insurance- especially since they are all named separately on the policies and it costs more to amend home insurance than instrument if things change.

dd2’s flute has gone on holiday too. When we bought it they only had the c foot option and her new teacher wanted a b foot (the different feet are news to me)- now the new foot is in we are swapping them - and it has to be fitted. Will have to go to north London and get it back when we return.

V kind of flute shop as it meant she could take grade eight with the c foot and we could get the vat off using the assisted purchase scheme before she left state education- so a shout out to All Flutes Plus for that.

Siriusmuggle · 05/08/2023 14:02

@horseymum we use Allianz too, it’s pretty cheap. I looked at how much musical instrument cover his student house insurance included and they’d only do £3,000 so we’re sticking with Allianz. Costs us £10 or £14 per month I think with a stated replacement value of £10k.

chickentikkasalad · 08/08/2023 19:18

On holiday with Violin. Didn't really manage many practices but did come up useful to have the instrument with us. We met a young professional violinist basking in the evening and DS likes his performance. We ended up chatting with the violinist. He was very nice, extremely kind and polite. We mentioned DS plays violin too and he said he wish to hear DS playing. So next day we went to the same place with the violin. He invited DS to play a couple pieces that he's currently learning and he even played one piece with him together! Made his day for DS! It was such a positive experience for DS. I can't thank the violinist enough. Such a nice guy!

chickentikkasalad · 08/08/2023 19:19

I meant buskingConfused

horseymum · 08/08/2023 19:38

That's so lovely! I would hope my kids take time to speak to others and encourage them. I'm always trying to get dd to go busking but I think she thinks it would be weird. My thoughts are you could just do a bit of practice performance and maybe make a bit. She'd probably need a backing track though to sound effective which would just be a hassle.

chickentikkasalad · 08/08/2023 21:33

He did have a backing track with piano accompaniment and the music score on the laptop. It must be an app.
He doesn't seem to be bothered how much he's making, just taking it as an opportunity to practice performing to audience. He was very nice and approachable and ever so encouraging. Bless him...
Your DS shouldn't need to worry about it being weird at all! It's all about practice and share your music with others.

chickentikkasalad · 09/08/2023 10:23

Sorry @horseymum, I meant to say your DDSmile

herbaceous · 09/08/2023 21:24

How lovely.

We haven't had much music in the Hebrides so far, apart from a wonderful father and daughter folk duo who struck up their guitar and fiddle, randomly, on the ferry. So beautiful. Must happen all the time, as most people just carried on with what they were doing.

minisnowballs · 10/08/2023 07:16

That’s so sweet @chickentikkasalad ! We’ve heard plenty of different busking whilst on our European train trip- accordion players in Venice yesterday. Dd1 admitted she missed her viola earlier this week which is frankly astonishing given how little she’s played recently. We were at a Viennese music museum and the violins in glass cases ‘made her sad’!

dd2 driving sister mad by singing constantly… child has a constant ear worm. would probably be better if she didn’t now have singing lessons so she’s able to annoy at impressive volume but doesn’t even realise she’s doing it.

chickentikkasalad · 10/08/2023 08:30

Yes it was very sweet and we feel very lucky to have met him.
It was a very musical city we went to. Lots of busking of guitar, violin players and a open show every other evening on stage. Full of music and culture. It's so far our favourite holiday destination!

chickentikkasalad · 10/08/2023 08:32

@minisnowballs that's so sweet that she misses her viola and violin on holiday. I'm sure my DS won't!

herbaceous · 11/08/2023 11:24

Got DS's g8 exam result! A distinction! 133! It was the performance grade, so four pieces, and a mark out of 30 for overall performance. He got 28 for that.

So pleased!

Comefromaway · 11/08/2023 11:24

Excellent

horseymum · 11/08/2023 13:08

@herbaceous amazing! It's nice to be able to share marks with people who understand the work that goes into it. I rarely tell people in real life. ( Might show off her certificate to her class music teacher to balance out all the attention sports achievements get!)The performance at grade 8 would be a marathon too, my dd would struggle with four pieces in a row so huge well done on the stamina. She had a few stalling tactics in the face to face anyway to get a breather ( taking a few extra seconds to find the next piece, tuning in between etc, nothing bad!)

minisnowballs · 11/08/2023 13:27

Fabulous news - @herbaceous
so much excellent exam news on this thread. I love it. These kids have worked their socks off.
v impressed by the performance mark too- dd would really struggle with the stamina on four grade eight pieces back to back.

QueenMabby · 11/08/2023 13:57

That's fantastic news @herbaceous. Well done your ds!

chickentikkasalad · 11/08/2023 14:08

Congratulations to your daughter @herbaceous! Great work!

northerngoldilocks · 11/08/2023 15:13

Congratulations to your DS on his grade 8 piano @herbaceous -that's a brilliant result

yodaforpresident · 11/08/2023 15:14

Fantastic news @herbaceous. Well done to your DS for the hard work. We did our first performance grade for G6 piano in May and it is a real slog to get it recorded!

StuntNun · 11/08/2023 16:38

Wowee @herbaceous that's great. A distinction at grade 8 is a fantastic achievement. I hope you're telling him how impressed we all are.

georgedawes · 11/08/2023 17:19

That's an amazing achievement herbaceous! You must be really proud.

herbaceous · 11/08/2023 21:08

His teacher did a few lessons just doing recordings, and sent the best ones in.

I’ve been looking at ‘average’ times to reach g8, and one source said about a year a grade. Considering he started piano less than five years ago, and has horn and singing as well, he’s done amazingly.

I’ve told him all my music Mumsnet chums send their congrats, and he gave me the teenage side-eye.