Autumn 23 Music chat

[horseymum]

It's autumn term already! I'm sure there's lots of music going to happen this term. Welcome to anyone who wants to chat about your child's music activities, whether current or things you hope to do. It's a friendly group with experience at many different levels.( I've learned so much) No question is a daft one and don't be put off by chat about higher levels, all our children couldn't play a note once.
Come and ask about starting music lessons, which instrument to choose, exams, music festivals, specialist schools, orchestras and ensembles. We love talking music.
We also love to share music exam successes or struggles etc ( you can't always shout about these on FB!).
Feel free to do a wee intro if you want, although it's still public so only share what you want to.

Regarding full size cellos, we went to a couple of string specialist shops with his teacher at the time, tried out loads - new and old - and he ended up choosing one that’s about 100 years old.
It was £4K but should hold its value/appreciate.
Next time, I’d visit luthiers, as they are often cheaper than shops and know the instruments inside out, can suggest adjustments and tweaks etc to get the best from a potential instrument.

Also, it’s recommended that you spend something like 50% (I can’t remember the exact %) of the value of the instrument on the bow, so that’s another consideration/ expense!

DS was supposed to do grade 3 drums over the summer but ‘someone’ didn’t look out for the email confirming the date so that’s £65 down the drain. So this autumn is looking busy: grade 3 drums, grade 1 jazz sax, grade 6 bass and grade 5 electric guitar (me, as an adult learner). The grade 5 guitar will be my first music exam since grade 5 piano about a thousand years ago - and that didn’t feature any improvisation as far as I recall! I can’t believe I’ve chosen a piece that is at 192bpm 🙄

@Alsoplayspiccolo I think grade 8 flute at age 12 after three years is remarkable by anyone's standards!

I think I was very lucky, in that the headmaster at my primary school was an avid amateur musician, so everyone was encouraged to learn the recorder at 5, he ran a community orchestra, and he took us to the Ernest Reed concerts on a Saturday at the RFH.
When I moved up to middle school, we had another incredible class music teacher, who would stay after school so that anyone who wanted to could play a piece with her accompanying - we’d line up by the piano, take out turn and then listen to everyone else.
She taught me theory at lunchtime too.

My parents weren’t musical but were supportive and encouraging, and bought me a flute and found a private teacher who came to the house.
Back then, the first woodwind grade was grade 3 and I don’t think there was a grade 7, bizarrely, so I took an exam every couple of terms.

Later on, I went to a state 6th form college that was known to have a particularly strong music department. Again, I was incredibly lucky - among the small cohort I was in, many went on to become top musicians.
Our county music service was outstanding and it was all at no cost - those were the days!

@MelodiousThunk if it was an in person drum exam with abrsm you would get an auto refund for a no show. They just extended the period this applies to - I think to the end of 2023.

@northerngoldilocks RSL unfortunately.

That's a shame.

@MelodiousThunk good luck with your exam!

What unexpected improvements in your child have you seen since you stated music?

If you look at 'bigger better brains' on Facebook, you'll find lots of evidence. Many of the impacts are not that unexpected really. For mine it's determination, confidence ( way beyond what I could have expected) organisation, prioritisation, having a relationship with another adult that requires you to be polite, considerate, make decisions, not give one word answers! Something that can both relax and energize them. Something that on occasion pushes them so far out of their comfort zone. Friends from lots of different schools, a window into another world that has now become what she wants to be part of ( being a professional musician) Something they can be proud of. Joy and frustration!

What unexpected improvements in your child have you seen since you stated music?
Great question. Mine started music a long time ago, so they've changed beyond recognition since regardless. So maybe unexpected /benefits/.
For teenaged DS who is an utter screen addict, it's just brilliant to have something he actually wants to do that involves leaving his bedroom. He even voluntarily did a week's residential where screens had to stay home, and went back for more the next year. He's a reluctant practiser but ensembles seem to be doing something for him.
For DD who is very shy, it's something she wants enough to put herself out there and let people get to know her.
I agree with horsey the relationships with their teachers have been very special. It was particularly great for DS to have more male role models at a stage where all his school teachers were female.

Hi, my eldest isn't musical. DH and I don't play any instruments although DS2 tried to teach us piano when he was 6.
DS2 started off on piano when he was nearly 6 and progressed very quickly. When he was 7 & a half he started playing flute so he could do orchestras at some point. By the time he was 10 flute had become his 1st instrument. He auditioned for RCMJD that year and burst into tears when they offered him a place straight after his audition. He's been there since the beginning of year 7 and is about to go into year 12. He got into NYO in year 10 as an associate, but was lucky enough to be offered a place as a summer guest that year as 1 of the flutes had to drop out. He was delighted to fulfill one of his dreams which was to perform at RAH. He then auditioned for year 11 and got in. The audition for next year is coming up soon and he is working very hard for it. We had no knowledge of the music world but his early teachers were amazing and steered us in the right direction. Although, his piano teacher couldn't believe we had to pay for JDs nowadays!

For my dd it's given her confidence to put herself forwards and "perform" in public in other areas of her life (volunteering to demonstrate things etc) which she wouldn't otherwise do.

Music being so subjective also means that if things don't go her way she's better able to deal with it. No matter how hard you practice a piece, it might not go well in a performance or an exam or the person listening just might not like it! But there's always another performance or exam or another audience and this resonates well in other areas of life too.

What's the context @Octosaurus ? Journalist, researcher or parent considering whether to encourage a child to play an instrument?

I can’t even begin to say how it’s transformed my son’s life. Autistic, asked to leave his school, branded a failure. Music gave him a purpose

for his friend it got him away from the bad crowd in school involved in drugs & crime.

@thirdfiddle Great answer thank you! The context for the other poster was just curiosity and thinking about my child in future (not born yet still preggo!)

I'm not sure if you mean me - other people were more profound - but thanks anyway!

One subject I wouldn't mind at all if journalists were trolling, the more attention in the press to the benefits of music education the better :) But antenatal interest is cool too. Might be a new record young age for the thread 😂Here's hoping the thread's still around for you to come and report on your wee thing's interests in a few years' time. Could yet have started an instrument before my little one has finished secondary school. I wonder where they'll all be...

Thanks for the new thread @horseymum - I've also learned a lot from previous ones!

Since we're doing intros, I have one DS (14) who plays bassoon and violin. He's had two brilliant years playing in the National Children's Orchestra and is now auditioning for NYO next week. He's very sensibly not getting his hopes up too much, but looking forward to the audition day nonetheless.

I'm excited to be restarting my own clarinet playing next week, as I'm joining a local orchestra for lapsed adult players. I used to play clarinet at regional level in teenage years, but then had a wrist injury and had to give it up. I learned French Horn for a while, then abandoned that when DS was born as it was incompatible with new parenthood. A new orchestra has started up 5 mins from our house, so I'm giving it a go. I've adapted my clarinet to use with DS's old bassoon shoulder strap so it will be easier on my wrist, and am hoping for the best!

Hope everyone's term gets off to a good start, and best of luck to your DD @minisnowballs as she starts her new school!

Yes @minisnowballs - when is she off??

Good luck to your DS, PinkGrapefruitSorbet!
Is he auditioning on bassoon?
NYO final assessment days are loads of fun and much more relaxed than a ‘normal’ audition, and he’ll get loads out of the experience, regardless of whether he’s offered a place or not.
DS has his next week too.

Hope the move to her new school goes well for your DD, minisnowballs!
It’s a bit of a full-on day but everyone’s incredibly friendly and helpful, and the buffet lunch is 👌 (wine included!)
I’ve got the enviable task of getting DS packed up, delivered and unpacked in his new boarding house this time…

Thanks @Alsoplayspiccolo and good luck to your DS too. Yes, mine is auditioning on bassoon and is really excited about the day in general.

I have my middle one going for an NYO audition for experience, she's got a few friends from her jd going too. Youngest is going to an inspire day too, I think middle one goes to this too. I need to read all the emails again as not totally clear! Good luck to everyone auditioning and special good luck to those off to new schools. Very emotional I'm sure.
@PinkGrapefruitSorbet enjoy orchestra! I've just got my bass out after it's summer rest!!

ah just found the thread again! I think I missed the intros last time so it’s been lovely reading them all!

I’m way behind most of you with a DS (5) at the very beginning of his musical journey. He’s doing the Guildhall Kindergarten scheme and other than some informal piano lessons from me hasn’t started learning an instrument yet. But he is very musical and I’m excited to see how he develops! (We also have a 3 yo who is markedly less musical than her brother was at her age, but she is a much more determined character so will be interesting to see how things change over time).

I’m a former professional musician and DH is a concert pianist (and also teaches at conservatoires) but we were both late starters from non musical families so musical education for little ones is a new world for us and this thread has been very informative already.

Good luck to your Ds for the assessment day @PinkGrapefruitSorbet and to your dd@horseymum

and thanks all. DD’s first day is Thursday but that means going Wednesday night to get her there on time. First day timetable looks full on @Alsoplayspiccolo - I cannot stress enough how unlike her current school this whole buffet lunch and tour business is. Good luck with the house move!

dd is really, really excited. Enjoying snap chatting her new house buddies- but I think apprehensive about the music itself and how she will cope. Fingers crossed will be ok. She’s having a farewell and belated birthday party Tuesday evening first though - 24 girls in our small London house. I’m doubting my sanity for allowing this.

and good luck to your ds for nyo too @Alsoplayspiccolo . Sure all will be brilliant!