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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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.

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Original poster
thirdfiddle · 13/08/2023 22:08

Some very dedicated young musicians here! Really interesting to read bits about their lovely relationships with their teachers.

For us DD has 45 minutes on each of her two instruments, DS has 30 mins on each, which I think is fairly proportionate to their relative commitment levels. DD also does play a bit of viola on the side but is keeping it to holidays and courses. We could fit in an extra lesson, but she wouldn't fit in another practice regularly enough to make it worth it.

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horseymum · 14/08/2023 17:06

I think the relationship with a music teacher can be a lovely one as long as it's healthy. Having someone else in your life who listens just to you (or a couple of others) for a dedicated period of time and wants you to do well is really powerful. We've been really fortunate that all our teachers have been lovely. One piano teacher is minimally communicative as he has loads of pupils and a younger family but he still takes an interest, it's just not the same level as the woodwind teacher! I enjoy the time with my recorder pupil. Makes me think I should do some more exams and look to teach more in a few years. Nice visions of sweet little kids wanting to learn recorder and realizing reality is probably not like that! I have taught in a school so know it is challenging!

minisnowballs · 15/08/2023 13:19

During the pandemic, any other adult who was interested in DD2 was a total bonus (we were both working very hard and she wasn't getting any input from school). I'm grateful to the music teachers just for that! We've been very fortunate with them all, so far!

Anyone else's off to York for the NYCGB course tomorrow? DD2 is getting a train there alone and picking up a cab. When I rang the taxi firm to book one he remarked 'another music one, is it?' - shame they can't organise it so that they all go together!

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 15/08/2023 14:02

That's very true mini. Happily we had some grandparents on the case too, but music lessons were a blessed slice of normality. It was amazing how well the teachers adapted to online teaching.

I also feel very lucky in kids' teachers. We have had one change, with much hesitation as first teacher had a lot going for her but things were just stressier than any of us needed. Occasionally wonder if kids would have progressed faster if we'd stayed, but equally possible DS would have quit entirely.

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herbaceous · 15/08/2023 14:21

Didn't know of any NYCGB in York! That's where I live!

minisnowballs · 15/08/2023 14:33

National Youth Girls Choir, @herbaceous - probably not one for your DS!

horseymum · 15/08/2023 15:07

I wish all these things had parent groups you could join as I only found out some of dds friends from jd were going to something down south when I saw the desk lists and it was too late to arrange joint transport or even being on the same train. It's all gdpr though unfortunately.

minisnowballs · 15/08/2023 15:29

To be fair they actually had a form for liftsharing (they are very much the most organised music organisation we ever come across), but nothing for the trains. DD2 has a very active NYCGB WhatsApp group but they NEVER talk about anything useful, like who is going on which course.

horseymum · 17/08/2023 11:38

Hope all those getting a level exam results today are happy. We had ours last week in Scotland, all happy in this house. Dd only dropped two marks in nat 5 music. ( a bit like GCSE but more ceilidh music questions!) To be fair, if you do any music outside of school it is fairly straightforward, especially as they took composition out for COVID. It's back in this coming year so she'll probably find higher a wee bit harder.

minisnowballs · 18/08/2023 10:58

@horseymum congrats to her - that's amazing. We have GCSE results next week which DD1 is now stressing about. Music was a nightmare because no teacher from year 8 to year 10, so it's one of the (many) I'm a bit worried about.

DD2 seems to have made it to choir where she is being trademark uncommunicative - I got a good morning this am on WhatsApp and that is it. I had a long chat with her new houseparent earlier this week, when she asked whether DD was likely to tell her if she was struggling with anything. I had to be honest and inform her that she totally wouldn't.... going to be interesting I think!

horseymum · 21/08/2023 22:18

Anyone watched the NYO prom which was broadcast on Sunday? Only seen the first half so far but they are amazing. Dd is loving spotting friends from jd, it's do inspiring seeing young people doing this. Youngest dd loved the huge bassoon section!

Comefromaway · 21/08/2023 23:30

Didn’t see it but a mumsnetters son was in it.

Pollyanna8844 · 22/08/2023 08:25

DS was in it! He had an amazing time and loved watching it on Sunday night. By the way, speaking of inspiration, the co-principal bassoon was in year 11!

horseymum · 22/08/2023 08:42

@Pollyanna8844 I bet you were all so proud. They all looked like they were enjoying it so much. Dd is auditioning this year ( just for experience, her teacher thinks she needs another year). I think seeing people she knows in it makes it a bit more like something that could just possibly happen. The singer was amazing too. Thoroughly recommend watching it with your children if you haven't already.

Pollyanna8844 · 22/08/2023 10:56

So proud @horseymum. It's the most important thing in his life and he worked so hard for this concert tour. They are doing something new this year and everyone who gets to the assessment day is invited to NYO Unite (1 day) in October.

SweetforOrchestra · 22/08/2023 15:58

Oh my goodness…just watched the NYO
prom! Incredible ❤️❤️❤️. The Strauss brought a tear to my eye. Beautiful beautiful solo from the leader in Beim Schlafengehen.

My NYO days were some of the most fun musically I’ve ever had. Would love my kids to get to experience it some day!

minisnowballs · 23/08/2023 15:38

I've just watched the NYO too. Outstanding. Such talented young musicians. @Pollyanna8844 you are right to be proud!

I'm hoping DD will get to audition next year - though under no illusions about how tough it is to get in!

Pollyanna8844 · 23/08/2023 20:48

@minisnowballs thanks so much, yes we are hugely proud given we know exactly how much effort and hours of practice he has put in. We’re a non musical family and he doesn’t go to a specialist musical school so he’s been so committed to getting to where he is (also made the BBC young musician wind category final last year!). NYO really has been life changing for him, both musically and socially, and I couldn’t encourage people from trying out more, it’s an incredible experience.

herbaceous · 23/08/2023 22:10

How amazing. What does your DS play?

We watched a bit of the prom just now. We know, vaguely, a couple of people in it, and managed to spot them. Such a huge orchestra, but they were amazing. DS is now inspired to try and join!

Pollyanna8844 · 23/08/2023 22:28

@herbaceous he plays flute, but has mostly played piccolo in NYO this year

herbaceous · 23/08/2023 22:29

I was just saying to DS that the standard you'd need to be on flute to get in would be phenomenal.

minisnowballs · 24/08/2023 08:06

@Pollyanna8844 he must be incredible (and incredibly focused). DD has only been at a normal school since she took up the flute - but she's going to specialist school this year as she can't fit it all in with study and her unmusical parents and school.

Flute isn't her first instrument any more though and she finds piccolo SO hard (though possibly because she's never had a lesson on it). She also knows it is crazily competitive. What an amazing DS you have to have done this.

Pollyanna8844 · 24/08/2023 16:22

Thank you @minisnowballs. He's at a state school but has attended a JD since year 11 and has a fantastic teacher. Were not a music family, but luckily his early teachers were amazing and gave us lots of advice. He decided aged 9 that he wanted to go to a Conservatoire and hadn't wavered since! He has ever really had a proper lesson on piccolo. He auditioned on it last year to help him get into NYO and ended up playing it all year. In this last residency, the flute tutor was a piccolo player and teaches at RCS. She was enormously helpful for his playing and taught him all sorts of tips.
I hope your DD has a brilliant time at her new school.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 24/08/2023 19:32

Pollyanna8844, your DS’s picc playing was FANTASTIC!
He must have nerves of steel - the commentator was spot on when she said there’s nowhere to hide when you play the piccolo (I know from experience…as you can probably guess from my MN name!)
I remembered him from BBCYM - he was amazing in that too. The NYO flute section is brilliant, in my (completely biased) opinion.

My DS was playing cello, so we had the complete joy of watching the concert live at the RAH - it blew us away. (DH and I are both professional orchestral musicians, who’ve played in the Proms, but the NYO prom even topped that!)

unlikelychump · 25/08/2023 17:43

Hello
Please can I join this thread?

I'd like advice on continuing piano lessons for a reluctant 11yo. She is working towards g2 and hates it, pretty much has never enjoyed it. She is starting secondary in a few weeks, I am expecting some music offer there (state) - is that realistic? They have a lot of clubs apparently.

I am wondering what is a good way to encourage enjoyment of playing - are there good websites to listen and play or that encourage play, so I could suggest fun playing.

(The reason we have stuck at it so long btw is her father wants her to do it, but it all falls to me in respect of planning, playing, paying etc so I have decided my view counts too, and of course hers!)