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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 / Winter 24 - music thread

954 replies

northerngoldilocks · 02/09/2024 17:59

Feels like time for a new thread for the new school year!

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.

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11
QueenMabby · 06/12/2024 21:32

PurpleStarrySocks · 06/12/2024 11:58

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying all of the lovely concerts in the run up to Christmas!

I wonder if I can ask for some advice re cellos and bows? My DS2 has a 3/4 size cello and his teacher has said that he needs a full size bow now and then a full size cello, probably, in about a year's time. At the moment, DS2 has a Stringer's cello, which came with a bow. DS2's teacher has said that he could do with a higher quality bow. Having had a quick look at bows online, it seems like there's a huge variety out there. Can anyone recommend one that would be appropriate for my DS2? He's 12 and is currently around grade 7/8.

And with cellos, has anyone got any experience with the Benslow Music Loan Scheme or any other organisation that awards grants? How much might we need to spend on a 'decent' cello?

Any advice would be much appreciated! 😊

My dd had a new cello bow and cello at the same time. We tried four bows with the cello and were lucky enough that her cello teacher came with us to guide her. There are so many different types, wood and carbon fibre. I would recommend trying a couple of wooden ones and a couple of carbon fibre. New and "pre-loved". DD's bow is very nearly new but was a lot cheaper than buying a new one. A good luthier should have a range to try.

PurpleStarrySocks · 06/12/2024 21:54

@QueenMabby Thank you for your advice. 😊Did your DD go for a wooden one or a carbon fibre one in the end? Might you be happy to let me know which shop you got your DD's cello and bow from?

QueenMabby · 07/12/2024 09:09

@PurpleStarrySocks. Dd went with a wooden one in the end. She said it was weightier than the carbon fibre and she preferred that. Plus it was prettier 🙄🤣

We went to a local luthier. If you google luthier and your area there are usually a few. Her cello teacher can probably recommend somewhere.

From memory hers is a Marco Raposo bow but don't quote me on that!

Delam · 07/12/2024 09:42

Hello all, I posted a while ago about my DD(16) possibly changing piano teachers. I’m mostly dropping in to give a little whoop because we just heard that DD got distinction in her grade 8 😊 I’m out and about and not around anyone else who would be interested 😄

She has found a new teacher she likes and will be starting with him in the new year hopefully. Her current teacher doesn’t do one to one lessons and she is really done with the group classes.

Compsearch · 07/12/2024 10:09

Congratulations @Delam! that is absolutely amazing - she got a grade 8 distinction having done group classes?! I’m sure she will love 1-1 classes - how exciting for her.

DS is in group classes for his recorder lessons and I think it works well - he’s not taking it that seriously but is learning from the other kids as well as the teacher. He is a complete beginner though - can’t imagine how it works once they actually get good!

horseymum · 07/12/2024 10:12

That's fantastic @Delam. I don't know anyone who has achieved grade 8 in a group lesson either. Hope she gets on well with new teacher.

Delam · 07/12/2024 10:16

Thanks both 😊 I have been dubious about the format for a while, she has only seemed to get much direct attention from the teacher in the immediate run up to her exams. But she was always making good progress so didn’t push it. I think it has been good for her general musical education too as there was a lot of extracurricular stuff included.

But now she wants one to one, and is getting the extracurricular stuff from the junior conservatoire Saturday sessions, so we will see how she gets on!

horseymum · 07/12/2024 18:27

Well, it obviously worked out well for her, the teacher must have been very organised.

QueenMabby · 07/12/2024 19:48

Congrats to your dd @Delam - what an achievement!

PurpleStarrySocks · 07/12/2024 22:23

northerngoldilocks · 06/12/2024 13:22

Think that this might be one for @QueenMabby who has recently bought a cello and bow? Did the teacher give any advice?

My DD just got a new full sized bow for violin as she needed to upgrade and obviously there are huge differences in options and prices. We ended up getting a range from Caswell Strings sent out to test and having tried them all out she then got her teacher to try them too / offer advice. She went for a carbon fibre one as she liked the feel / weight / tone from playing the best. Her teacher preferred the wooden one but said that the difference wasn't enough to overrule her though! We set a max budget and picked out a couple that she wanted to try and then they added a couple of alternatives to test.

I don't think that its the last bow i'll end up buying, and in some ways that was easier as wasn't trying to pick something that would last forever, rather something that was good enough for now and to grade 8 / ARSM type of level.

Thank you for sharing your experience of buying a violin bow. Getting some sent out to try sounds like a great idea. There's such a big range of bows to choose from... it's all a bit overwhelming really!

PurpleStarrySocks · 07/12/2024 22:27

@QueenMabby There aren't any luthiers near me at all, so we're most likely going to get some sent out for us to try, or travel to a shop somewhere far from us. Hope your DD is happy with her pretty bow!

Soundofshuna · 08/12/2024 08:33

We like Cardiff violins and tend to make a day of it if you are anywhere this side of the country?

QueenMabby · 08/12/2024 09:14

PurpleStarrySocks · 07/12/2024 22:27

@QueenMabby There aren't any luthiers near me at all, so we're most likely going to get some sent out for us to try, or travel to a shop somewhere far from us. Hope your DD is happy with her pretty bow!

She loves it thank you. Getting her a cello of her own was a revelation for dd. Previously she had a 3/4 that we hired from school. Her confidence has grown so much with the new instrument as it is properly "hers" and makes a much better sound than the school instrument!

mustardrarebit · 08/12/2024 12:52

Delam · 07/12/2024 09:42

Hello all, I posted a while ago about my DD(16) possibly changing piano teachers. I’m mostly dropping in to give a little whoop because we just heard that DD got distinction in her grade 8 😊 I’m out and about and not around anyone else who would be interested 😄

She has found a new teacher she likes and will be starting with him in the new year hopefully. Her current teacher doesn’t do one to one lessons and she is really done with the group classes.

That's amazing, congratulations! Quite a feat when she has been having group lessons, she must be very talented.

Londonmummy66 · 08/12/2024 14:56

@PurpleStarrySocks - the Stringzone in Epsom will send out a selection (4 from memory) to try - you basically pay for the postage plus what you keep. DD did this and it meant that she was able to take all of them to her lesson and play with them for a few days before making her decision. You also get points for a purchase from them that you can then redeem against string/rosin purchases...

GeneralMusings · 09/12/2024 04:09

Fantastic @Delam thats a real achievement 😍.

minisnowballs · 09/12/2024 09:56

That's amazing @Delam ! group lessons are tricky - your daughter must be very focused (and the teacher excellent).

Original poster
northerngoldilocks · 09/12/2024 10:32

Well done to your DD @Delam - I can't imagine doing grade 8 work in a group lesson. DD has an hour 1:1 since she started Grade 8 work. Your DD has done amazingly well and I'm sure you're very proud of her!

OP posts:
Original poster
northerngoldilocks · 09/12/2024 10:34

Londonmummy66 · 08/12/2024 14:56

@PurpleStarrySocks - the Stringzone in Epsom will send out a selection (4 from memory) to try - you basically pay for the postage plus what you keep. DD did this and it meant that she was able to take all of them to her lesson and play with them for a few days before making her decision. You also get points for a purchase from them that you can then redeem against string/rosin purchases...

I forgot about stringzone - we do normally use them and find them really good for stock and pricing and delivery but for bows they didn't have the specific one she wanted to try so had to cast the net wider. If @PurpleStarrySocks you don't have anywhere you can travel to, getting some sent out on approval / testing is a good option

OP posts:
TreeAtMyWindow · 09/12/2024 14:34

@Legoninjago1 Is your DS enjoying it? How's he settled into the new school?

My DD is 8, and it's the local cathedral (we live in the North). She's applying for the usual entry point in year 4.

I'm actually very confident about her personality and academics, she's got loads of energy and generally gets 'greater depth' at school. She's an extrovert, too, which I imagine helps when you have to spend so much time in a group. Whether she has the musical ability I don't know.

I've managed to have a quick chat with the school and discovered that they dictate the song - a carol, as it turns out - which is actually a bit of a relief. At least if she doesn't get in it won't be because of my inadequate guidance on that!

herbaceous · 09/12/2024 16:38

I guess that way, @TreeAtMyWindow, they're all, ahem, singing from the same hymn sheet. So can be compared.

Slight exam drama here. DS had his grade six French Horn exam today. He'd asked me to buy a couple of books of music, to replace the photocopied versions he'd been working from, as apparently photocopies are verboten in the exam. Copyright and all that.

But being rubbish, I'd only bought one. We realised yesterday afternoon, and I spent much time on local social media trying to find a needle in a haystack - someone in our city with the correct grade of obscure French horn book, that could get it to his school by his exam at 9.43am!

Miraculously, someone came to the rescue, and the relevant music was dropped off at 9.30, and passed to him just before the exam. He still managed to stuff up the scales, by all accounts. But... at least he didn't get disqualified, and it be All My Fault!

minisnowballs · 09/12/2024 18:53

Oh goodness, the stress @herbaceous ! Thank heavens you found some. My worst nightmare really. Sure he's done well.

Was down at music hogwarts for the weekend for the school musical and the advent service - which were insanely good as expected.

DD2 still seems very happy - I would like her to actually do some school work, especially since I assume they have some expectations of her in her gcse year now she also has this academic scholarship thing. She's clever, but she definitely still has to work.

DD2 getting braver with the school choirs. Apparently she 'informed' the head of vocal she would be singing alto, not sop 1. So she is. She likes doing the harmonies, she says, and melody is boring. Possible regretted it when she had to sightread most of the advent service, but I reckon it does her good.

And I'm in trouble because I failed to get her instrumental teachers' christmas presents to her in time. They will have to have them in the new year.

I still think in state school terms, it emerges. How can they be nearly finished?!

PurpleStarrySocks · 10/12/2024 19:39

Soundofshuna · 08/12/2024 08:33

We like Cardiff violins and tend to make a day of it if you are anywhere this side of the country?

Thank you for the suggestion @Soundofshuna . I had a look at the Cardiff Violins website, but it was just a new website would be launched soon. Do you know if they cater equally for cellists, or is it more for violinists? Dob you know if they have a big range of bows?

PurpleStarrySocks · 10/12/2024 19:44

Londonmummy66 · 08/12/2024 14:56

@PurpleStarrySocks - the Stringzone in Epsom will send out a selection (4 from memory) to try - you basically pay for the postage plus what you keep. DD did this and it meant that she was able to take all of them to her lesson and play with them for a few days before making her decision. You also get points for a purchase from them that you can then redeem against string/rosin purchases...

Yes, having some bows sent out to try sounds like a good option.

I'm finding it hard to understand what the difference between a £500 bow and a £1000 bow, say, is though, so it's difficult to choose which bows to get for DS2 to try...

PurpleStarrySocks · 10/12/2024 19:48

northerngoldilocks · 09/12/2024 10:34

I forgot about stringzone - we do normally use them and find them really good for stock and pricing and delivery but for bows they didn't have the specific one she wanted to try so had to cast the net wider. If @PurpleStarrySocks you don't have anywhere you can travel to, getting some sent out on approval / testing is a good option

Show quote history

How did you know exactly which bow your DD wanted? There are so many different bows!

DS2's teacher thought we'd need to spend about £500 on a decent bow. Even if we spend that much, it seems it's still on the lower end of the range in terms of bows, so I wonder if we can even get a "good" bow for £500.