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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Autumn 23 Music chat

995 replies

horseymum · 31/08/2023 11:30

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.

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Comefromaway · 03/12/2023 14:36

I think the fact he has a technical assessment after Xmas (which he failed last year) and his piano lessons are focused on that rather than what he enjoys doesn’t help.

The technical assesment is only worth 25% of the module so he’s fine as long as he gets a high enough mark on his performance which last year he got in the 70s for that.

minisnowballs · 03/12/2023 17:14

Oh dear @Comefromaway - technical assessment doesn't sound like much fun. Over soon though - hopefully the performance will trump any problems there.

georgedawes · 03/12/2023 17:32

Congrats to @Butternutissquashed and @chickentikkasalad DC! Great results.

Also glad your son got to do at least a bit of the show @Comefromaway .

That's horrendous @Alsoplayspiccolo . I hope your son is ok, what a horrendous campaign. Why on earth would someone do that? I appreciate you probably can't say more, but it sounds hideous.

Instrument problems here - hoping the blooming thing can be repaired before all the Christmas concerts...

Alsoplayspiccolo · 03/12/2023 19:10

Comefromaway, your DS sounds like he's doing absolutely brilliantly!
It's really great that he chose to do the film orchestra rehearsal, even if he was terrified - that sort of experience will stand him in good stead and the fixer will definitely not forget his willingness.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 03/12/2023 19:13

georgedawes, I can't say too much but let's just say " a woman scorned... "

northerngoldilocks · 04/12/2023 11:18

@Alsoplayspiccolo - that is staggering and horrifying in equal measures. So glad it got sorted out for your DS but wowzers. Also maybe time for UCAS to introduce 2 step authentification! Hope the audition went well.

@Comefromaway hopefully getting to do the rehearsal softened the blow of having to give that work up - sounds like it will have been a good way of getting credentials too.

@chickentikkasalad well done to your DS on the reserve place - guess its just waiting now to see if one comes up. Also @georgedawes commiserations on the broken instrument - i hate it when that happens, always at the worst time! Hope it can be sorted quickly.

We had an 'impromptu' lunchtime concert from DS on piano at his Sat centre this weekend - impromptu because he forgot about it rather than it being an actual surprise to anyone else! I'd have probably made him practice slightly (lots) more had I known, but it was fine. Its the end of term sharing concerts next week so hoping to get there for those as would be nice to see him playing the flute too. Its also the first DD's Sat music Christmas concerts on Sat evening - she's playing a piano solo but is much more prepared than DS (low bar!).

Comefromaway · 04/12/2023 12:00

impromptu because he forgot about it rather than it being an actual surprise to anyone else

What are these kids like!!!!!

minisnowballs · 04/12/2023 12:07

Lovely to hear about concerts happening.

We have week of clashes. I'm not sure DD2 will be attending any actual lessons this week, and it appears that the music and drama departments haven't really thought about how much the school play rehearsals and performances clash with the symphony orchestra rehearsals.

Suspect DD will be attending symphony while dressed as a pirate (perhaps appropriate for the contrabassoonist)... she's spending a lot of trying to work out who and what to prioritise.

It isn't always obvious from up here what she should be doing.

@georgedawes sad to hear about the instrument - fingers crossed fixed soon. There's always something with them!

georgedawes · 04/12/2023 18:23

Wow @Alsoplayspiccolo ! That's frankly unhinged.

Laughing at your DS @northerngoldilocks ! Going for the laid back approach, has some advantages..!!

Pirate playing contrabassoonist sounds a good photo OPP @minisnowballs 😁

Bassoon now fixed, quick repair in the end but goodness they are annoying instruments. Doesn't help we have no knowledge about them and are far too scared to attempt minor repairs when needed in case we cause even more issues!

minisnowballs · 04/12/2023 19:05

@georgedawes I'm the same. I remember having to try and repair something minor over FaceTime with DD's teacher during Covid. She made me get a hammer and keep hitting one of the keys really hard. I found it terrifying, and she just kept telling me to hit it harder. (she was right, obviously, but it was frightening!)

northerngoldilocks · 04/12/2023 22:13

Think that my response to DSs concert was this 😬😬😬! They're pretty informal but not THAT informal.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. There is probably a happy medium somewhere between my kids and their level of prep! DS will obviously go far though as will never waste any extra effort 😆

georgedawes · 04/12/2023 22:20

Snap minisnowballs!! Ridiculous instruments really 😂

tictoctictoc · 05/12/2023 10:07

Hi I just posted this on the education board then found this thread out! Hoping for some wise wisdom :)

Hello, I have a 6 year old daughter wanting to learn the cello. What is the best way forward..?

She could learn 1:1 in school or at home.

Or she could join a music academy for young string players. They don't have 1:1 lessons but have small group teaching, Kodaly, ensemble etc going on.

For a string instrument player, is it necessary to learn and play in an ensemble?

minisnowballs · 05/12/2023 10:18

I got an absolutely frantic text from DD2 yesterday afternoon- she'd got out of a rehearsal for her school show to find herself on the list for the woodwind performance class. She had nothing ready and no idea. And she has an unexpected. masterclass on Tuesday- and since she's been focusing on contra she has nothing ready.

You'd think they might calm it down a bit in her first term. But no.

Managed to get her off the woodwind performance class but I'm not sure her dept head was very impressed. She'll have to find something for tuesday. But two masterclasses in the first term seems a lot to me. Especially with a symphony concert next week and school play and advent service beforehand.

It's horrid when she's worried and so far away. But when I email her teachers she gets cross because 'they'll think I'm worried. and I'm not'. Yeah, right.

@tictoctictoc welcome! Would the music academy do a cello lesson (in groups) as well as the general stuff? Mine learned cello in groups first and then one-to-one. Group was slow, but fun. Ensembles are where you make friends - but will need one-to-one at some point I think or no progress will be made. Sure there will be someone more knowledgeable along soon though!

Original poster
horseymum · 05/12/2023 10:38

Welcome @tictoctictoc hard choice as pros and cons for all options! Probably my least favourite option is in school - less contact with teacher, shorter lessons (here anyway they are only 25 minutes) but they are free so that is a plus and easily connects you in to school opportunities. Home is great, see the teacher regularly, may be the most expensive. String academy, sounds like it might be good for making friends and enjoying making music together and a wider music education. Probably a good way to start and if she finds it really too slow could get individual lessons. String playing is fun with others and really brings them on if in an ensemble. It's really personal though and they have to like the teacher so you might do different things at different stages. There's lots to learn with a string instrument at the start, bow hold, notes etc. Don't be surprised if it seems slow at the start.

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Original poster
horseymum · 05/12/2023 11:15

I remember bassoon repairs over zoom, not fun. I don't think I could hit it with a hammer, that's very brave! Fickle beasts they are.
Youngest was delighted to get a place in NYOS development ( 2nd orchestra). Huge boost to her confidence, which, outside of music, can be quite wobbly.

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minisnowballs · 05/12/2023 11:48

@horseymum huge congrats to her! That's great news...

DD2 has just changed her NYO Inspire dates to the earlier woodwind ensemble btw, so she can do something else, so I suspect they may finally get to meet.

HedleyAdeline · 05/12/2023 13:20

Hi, from my experiences, I would say 1:1 is important as she does need teacher put attention for fixing bowl holding, fingers..
a bad habit takes very long to be fixed. Also 1:1 will make faster improvements.

Actually, both of my daughter started with Kodaly and group lesson when they 4.5-6.5. I have to say it’s very gentle way of discovering music and of course very very slow but very enjoyable. There weren’t much attentions for fixing each child bowl hold, fingering in group lesson.

My first daughter moved to 1:1 after and in a year she got to grade 5 dis,then audition and got to conservatoire at 8. But it was a year of hard work and I wished I could put her to 1:1 much earlier.

chickentikkasalad · 05/12/2023 16:51

My DS had 1:1 to start with and went to a string orchestra a year later. I think it worked well as he had the foundation from the 1:1's. If we were to do it again I'd still start with 1:1 but join the orchestra earlier. He loved it straight after trying it once.

chickentikkasalad · 05/12/2023 17:18

@horseymum huge congratulations to your DD. Well done!

northerngoldilocks · 05/12/2023 18:10

Congratulations to your DD @horseymum - that's great news

Alsoplayspiccolo · 06/12/2023 09:50

Congratulations to your DD, horseymum, that's lovely news.

Oh, dear, minisnowballs, that's a lot to ask of anyone. I don't think she needs to stress about the performance class - there's not a huge amount to be gained by doing it if she hasn't actually got a performance-ready piece, so it was probably more about being seen to be giving her an opportunity to play IYKWIM.
Re the masterclass - they do seem to be dropped in our of the blue! DS did 2 last year with less than a week's notice. It's that old issue again...communication. Pretty sure the musicians giving the classes just be booked weeks in advance!
Tell DD not to stress - it might help her feel better if she can see them as opportunities being given to her, rather than obligations/duty.

minisnowballs · 06/12/2023 11:36

@Alsoplayspiccolo I think we need to find out how much of the total surprise everything seems to be is down to DD and her inability to manage all the school systems and how much is down to the school's comms with her.

Tutor has been very helpful in sorting her out this week - but dd definitely wanted to handle it alone (until it went wrong). If she'd been at home she would have been able to help her at least a bit - feeling very far away right now. I have at least got her to do some rehearsals with pianist before masterclass - I don't think she'd realised she could before her first one.

She is certainly getting MANY opportunities. Can't argue with that- i'll try to help her to reframe it.

northerngoldilocks · 06/12/2023 13:06

Just as we are coming up to the busiest period for concerts and her violin exam DD has fallen at school and injured her wrist. Its not broken but is very sore so the Dr said to treat it as though it is fractured as likely that there is bruising on the bones. She has a splint to wear for 2 weeks 😥 Think it definitely rules out her piano Solo on Sat night and pretty sure that her violin exam is a no go too.

Have asked if her solo can be moved to the second concert the week later to give it more time to possibly be ok but suspect it won't be even with another week given the piece she's playing and no idea whether she'll be able to play in the 2 strings groups she's in either both of which have concerts in the next 7-10 days.

On the bright side, should be ok by Xmas and able to go to holiday orchestra the week after!

QueenMabby · 06/12/2023 13:12

Oh @northerngoldilocks that's a shame. Hope your dd is ok and not too shaken up by it.

We're nearly done with music now this term. We've had three concerts already and dd just has the chapel services to sing at left.