Autumn / Winter 24 - music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

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.

That's an idea. They've just had to submit their current options and she's put music as her reserve. I think they can still discuss right up to results day.

I think she'd find music easier/more enjoyable on the whole. Her entire friendship group is based around her orchestras.

DD1 started with four, dropped the one we least expected her to after not enjoying it (English) - but made the right decision - it at least gave her the flexibility to try an 'unknown' subject. In the end politics was the big hit, so I'm glad she tried four. DD2 is being allowed to start with four with VERY strict instructions to drop one in the first six weeks in a similar vein. Good luck with decision

DS might start with four, to include drama.

DS took history, mini and enjoyed it, but there was a shock on results day when the entire cohort was moderated significantly down for their NEAs. I wonder if that's had an impact on the choice of syllabus?

DS wanted to do politics but obviously it wasn't on offer. He also fancied drama or German ( he did well in all his GCSEs so could have chosen anything really).

There's lots wrong with the Scottish education system lower down, but having the option to do five highers in 5 th year gives much more choice. They then do some advanced highers or more highers in 6th year too. You can also do college courses. Means more people keep up with maths, English, languages and music because you are less restricted. Eldest has at least a dozen in her advanced higher music I think.

Yes I've often though we specialise far too early. Friends in Australia keep a broad curriculum too and find uni entry a lot easier and can still choose a variety of courses.
Its a real shame.

Mine was also terrible at composing and I think pretty much failed that component. It caused him to drop a grade but he's still ok at conservatoire with a B as he did well on the practical and the written.

The presentation about the politics course was so inspiring. Was basically about everything that DS talks and reads about off his own bat. He's going to love it. I'd quite like to do it too!

Agree with early specialisation. There should be an option to always art and/or music in some capacity, whatever route you choose.

@herbaceous - if he's anything like my DD1, by the end of the course you'll feel you have taken it... I've learned a lot from our dinnertime 'discussions'...

Just popping in to wish everyone happy new year.

DD is at an IB school so thankfully won’t have to specialise too soon, though I think she may go for a second science rather than music.

Ds is currently applying for sixth form colleges. He has his heart set on one with a large music dept, I think at the open day they said there’s 150 students taking A level music. He wants to do music, maths and physics. I’m really hoping he gets in there as there aren’t many local colleges and schools offering music A level.

It’s interesting what you all say about how interested (or not) others have been in composition. Ds is so laid back with practice etc that I can’t see him doing performing professionally, although he says he wants to study music at uni, but he’s really enjoyed the composition part of his music GCSE and is looking forward to that aspect at A level.

150 taking A-Level music is just amazing ViolaMa - hope he gets it!

150!!!! Wow! Sounds an amazing environment to be in.

I think mine has decided maths chemistry and psychology. She is on the fence as doesn't really want to do biology but doesn't want to rule out medicine.

That sounds like a creative environment indeed @ViolaMa. Best wishes for your DS.

Does anyone have experience of the summer camps at Interlochen?

A friend of my ds did this combo and is now studying medicine.

My dd will do maths, FM, biology and chemistry A-levels we think. She is currently deep into gcse mocks but trying to keep up her music practice. She isn't doing music gcse (loves playing and performing but hates studying it!).

There is an informal concert at school the day after mocks finish we she will be playing in so she needs the practice!

I don't know anything about Interlochen but it gets mentioned fairly frequently on the Bassoonists United FB page.

Ah I was wondering when she was doing that! Sounds good! When does she go back for the formal audition, do you know?

Yes the chords are a standard part of chorister voice trials. DS2 did the same, so he sang scales and then a piece of music, clapped back rhythms and had to pick notes out of 2 and 3 note chords. I don't think he did 4 notes but may have done. Also had to read a passage of text and play his instrument - but not all of them played anything when they started so that's not essential. They also gave him instructions on the piece he sang and then he sang it again - basically they want to see how easily they can take direction.
And they shoot the breeze with them to see it's really what they want and not just their mums!
Did she enjoy it?

I had v little info of what happened in DS's chorister audition, as wasn't allowed anywhere near! And we'd had no preparation info, as just did it on the off-chance, not at the standard time.

I remember DS insisted on choosing an un-necessarily difficult song to prepare, saying he 'did well' in the aural tests, and that the MD was impressed he knew both the key of his chosen song and its relative minor. Which at age 8 with no music lessons I guess was quite impressive.

Hadn't thought about the 'taking direction' part, but yes - a very necessary attribute, and one that stands you in good stead for life, I'd imagine!

@Legoninjago1 It's this coming week! Which turns out to be terrible timing, as I've just learned that she's anaemic, but it's going to take a few days to get a prescription. She's been totally wiped this weekend, so hasn't done much preparation, and no instrument practice at all. I'm at the point where I've given up worrying about the meaningful things and started on whether she has a cardigan without a pen stain, and if the hole in my boot makes me look so scruffy that I should break out the smart shoes I wear for funerals.

She's feeling pretty confident about the chords, but I suspect is still a bit iffy with four or more notes (five is apparently difficult to practise because she runs out of fingers - I did point out she has two hands). She hasn't been asked to play her instrument, but I'll pack her recorder just in case. Maybe I should get her to sing some scales tomorrow.

Like @herbaceous I don't think they'll let me over the threshold, but I do know that they're starting with a group singing lesson, so I guess that's where they see if she'll take direction. Whether she will or not is anyone's guess, she certainly doesn't do what I tell her!

The taking direction thing is so important. They have minimal time to rehearse each piece, so if someone's doing it wrong they need to own up to it - often by putting their hand up - and/or gracefully accept correction, and then get it right next time!

It really helps in the skill of taking constructive criticism! DS is now great at it. Me, not so much.

@TreeAtMyWindow good luck to your DD!

Not really relevant to the thread but after me and both my kids were low on iron we all have Spatone sachets with Apple daily. They are nowhere near as strong as a prescription but taste ok and have no unpleasant side effects. I had full iron profile tested recently and levels were excellent so they must have a gradual effect.

Ha - me neither @herbaceous ! It's so true though. The sheer volume of music they get through is mind boggling. Plus of course the fact that the back rows are professional adults who also expect to work through material at a certain pace. It's a very full on life. My DS is learning not to be over sensitive, which is great too. Resilience etc.

Re the audition @TreeAtMyWindow - sorry no, I wasn't suggesting you'd be in there with her. This is just what I know he did. I definitely wouldn't worry about your shoes - although I get where you're coming from! For the chords, you can play her any random ones if you have a keyboard and she can practice picking them out.

Very good for resilience, and becoming a team player. The reward for 'getting it right' is in the quality of the end product. Individuals aren't generally singled out for praise, or weren't at DS's cathedral. A thumbs up after a solo meant 'OMG that was amazing'.

@herbaceous this explains a lot! DD is always wondering why the former cathedral choristers in her choir 'put their hand up all the time'! Now I get it...

I think she just stays quiet and hopes no-one will notice

@TreeAtMyWindow very good luck to your dd, and with sorting out the anaemia.