Spring /Summer 24 - Music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

The old thread was filling up, so here's a new one to talk about music activities. Come and talk about music lessons, choosing instruments, exams, auditions, specialist schools, orchestras or whatever other music activities are going on. Everyone is welcome, from those with total beginners to those whose children are studying music at advanced levels. Ask for advice or share successes or struggles. There's loads of experience across a wide variety of instruments too(though bassoon's are weirdly popular on here - you'd think that every second child plays one!).

Any as long as it’s not low cut, sleeveless, strappy or backless.

Mine usually wear jumpsuits. Sometimes orchestras specify a skirt or sleeve length.

Well done all NYOers - DD2 has been watching all the insta coverage with much excitement - though she's gutted to have missed the inspire residential. It all looked just amazing.

re concert wear @mustardrarebit DD2 favourites are one long dress with cap sleeves from Pull & Bear - and a black silk shirt/kookai evening trousers ensemble that I think is much cooler. From charity shops in the main. They all seem to borrow each others anyway.

Anyone wanting to watch the NYO Prom, it's on catch up.
it was an amazing night and one of the highlights was the piece that combined the main orchestra with the Inspire musicians - a real feat of logistics and incredible conducting by Tess Jackson, as the Inspire kids were dotted all around the auditorium, including having to walk down the aisles in the stalls.

Ooh well watch that. My daughter:s hoping for inspire this year.

Weve just had the regional orchestra tour announced and it's £1000. We plain can't do that and I was gutted telling her. I've emailed and asked if they know of any funds we can apply for but as we came off benefits after covid were not eligible enough for quite a few we applied for and so caught having" too much" money but not enough!

DD has just received her confirmation for Inspire and is looking forward to it. We’re watching the NYO prom later today. I’m always on the lookout for concert clothes as DD just keeps getting taller!

Thanks all! DD has a long sleeve knee length, tie belt dress which could be suitable. I'd better keep an eye open for longer length and trouser based options too though. I think she would love the silk shirt with wide leg trousers.

I enjoyed the NYO prom very much (on TV). Well done to those offspring taking part! Something very special to be part of.

Keeping an interested eye on Inspire for future. We've known a couple of people do it and they speak very highly of it. DD isn't in need of extra at the moment with local y.o. and NCO, but when she's too old or if she didn't get back into NCO she's going to have a big gap.

@Alwaysplayspicc will definitely watch when we get back from hols - DD was very excited by all the highlights. She's got an orchestra course next week but fortunately from home which takes down the cost and means we occasionally actually see her!

@generalmusings that seems like a lot for a trip - I really hope they come back with some funds/bursaries. We've never been able use them as we are over the threshold (except for MDS),I literally paid for DD2's recent orchestra tour by switching a current account around and getting a load of switching bonuses for doing so. It was a terrible faff but we made quite a lot of money.

Nearly everything our children have done have offered bursaries - while I don't get them for either of our own DDs our foster daughter is usually eligible as she's Ukrainian and is here on her own (except for us, obviously) and has no other way of funding. She's just got into one of the big choirs and we're massively proud of her - but it's a relief there is assistance. Fingers crossed you find something.

@yodaforpresident Fantastic news about inspire! My daughter finished her application yesterday and is hopeful but as a flute is aware it might not happen.

Thanks mini :). Glad to hear it is actually a lot and not just a lot to my ears! I may have a look at switching! I really didn't expect to be struggling this much at this stage in life. (Although very aware this is relative, we have food, housing etc just can't afford the extras easily).

It will be the end of her GCSEs and we can't afford to go away as a family so I'm really hoping they bring the cost down/we find a way so she can have this as a celebration.

Its so lovely hearing everyone's news :)

DS found out about his Inspire day too, it's at the end of the holiday for him which is good as will hopefully be back from holidays.

@GeneralMusings I understand that everyone who applies and fits the criteria gets a day in October so hopefully should hear soon.

Do they get told initially just about the inspire day and then it goes from there?

I hope I've not disadvantaged her by applying not at the beginning of August!

She's quite excited by the whole thing and it's people on this thread that explained some of what it's like that have really encouraged her interest so thankyou all 😊

It's DSs first year, I applied in March so he didn't get anything last 'inspire year' and so this is the first thing he has been offered.

They said on the email that everyone who has applied to NYO and NYO inspire has been invited to a day of music making and that they have to attend this NYO Unite day in Oct half term to be considered for the Blackpool residency in Feb.

Hope that's helpful?

Also- on the applying thing, I don't think it matters. I applied as soon as he was 13 but because he wasn't offered anything and was a mid year application it has been rolled forward

You have reminded me that we have actually not applied for this year. However, I have no idea whether DD2 is really still eligible. Big sister is, but not interested in doing it at all.

We have always been state school people - don't have any other characteristics that would make DD2 eligible - but obviously move to specialist school makes her now an 'independent school pupil'

DD2 only left her state school because it stopped doing music GCSE - and is now funded by MDS at specialist school. They did ask about funding sources etc and I've always been very upfront about who and what she is - last year they still gave her Inspire though we put down everything about her move, but I feel a bit guilty about it!

My observation is that very few kids in her school have moved there from state (might be more at sixth form). They mostly seem to come from cathedral preps. But no-one in the world would claim she doesn't get enough school music now - she just didn't up to year 10. Guess I just send it in and see what happens?

@northerngoldilocks DD2 didn't manage the Unite day last year, and still got the residential - but that could be a new policy, or just that they didn't have enough bassoons!

DD only applied at the start of August too @GeneralMusings for clarinet and cello. She has been offered a day in October but it potentially clashes with a school trip that she may or may not get a space on unfortunately. I’m going to have to contact school to see when they will be able to tell us.

Reporting in from the Rodolfus Choral course. It's amazing! The Liverpool cohort is quite small - maybe 20 in total - and so far they've sung mass in the Catholic Catheral and evensong in the Anglican. Sound amazing, for their youth and the time they've had to rehearse.

As well as the group singing they have individual singing lessons, masterclasses and consorts. DS is in 'monosyllabic teen' mode at the moment, but I'll try and get more details out of him to pass on!

Just wanted to flag that any budding singers out there might also be interested in the RSCM Millenium Youth Choir - they usually have 2 courses a year - one a week or so in the summer and one long weekend in the Easter holidays based at a cathedral (Easter often St Pauls). DD2 has done several and really enjoyed it.

Here is a question for you. In 2 years (nothing like advanced planning) ds will need to play a high standard classical piece on the piano. He HATES classical music. He loves musical theatre & film music.

So any ideas on a piece he can learn that can be deemed to be classical but not be too painful for him. He's also got small hand so no Rachmaninov! I'm wondering about early 20th C perhaps?

How long does it need to be @Comefromaway and is there any definition of 'classical'- eg specifically that period or just 'not modern'?

Also- is high standard grade 8 or higher?

At this stage I’m not sure.

”For Musical Direction you will attend an audition at which you will perform two pieces that you have pre-prepared (1 classical and 1 musical theatre), sight-read, coach a singer and conclude with a short interview. More information will be provided once your application has been received.”

Depends on the level - could have a listen through grade 8 pieces for the last couple of sessions to see if anything appeals. Was wondering whether could be slightly more modern and if that would help? - DD liked the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Impromptu in B minor on the previous grade 8 syllabus - ended up not doing it as has gone for Beethoven's pathetique instead (2nd movement) - but the Coleridge -Taylor is quite good - not sure its 'classical' though so depends on whether they mean the era or just not musical theatre? Alternatively her 'aspire to play but not ready yet' piece is The Lark by Glinka / Balikirev which is beautiful but quite challenging. Would something more 'romantic' period be any better?

Someone who loves musical theatre and film music might not mind Ravel? Not technically classical of course. Possibly Chopin? Stravinsky? I bet if he listened to some different options he wouldn't end up hating ALL of it! 😂

Ravel & Stravinsky could be a good idea.

Just asked my husband who suggested some interesting pieces. Not sure what it is for though, so apologies if these are wide of the mark!

Anything by Kapustin, Gershwin - Porgy and Bess transcription or Rhapsody in Blue, Chopin Ballade no.1 (it's in the movie The Pianist, so movie music!). Stravinsky Firebird transcription by Agosti, Moonlight Sonata is in lots of movies. Richard Addinsell - Warsaw Concerto (but technically not classical, just classical in form). Faure Cappricio. op84 no1.