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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Spring /Summer 25 - Music thread

706 replies

northerngoldilocks · 14/02/2025 18:04

Time for a new thread for spring!

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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QueenMabby · 14/02/2025 18:49

Hi and thanks for the new thread. I'll continue to mostly lurk and benefit from everyone else's expertise!

horseymum · 14/02/2025 20:19

@northerngoldilocks thanks for the new thread! Lots of music things happening here, going to be all the 'lasts' of everything as middle one leaves school this year.

Original poster
northerngoldilocks · 14/02/2025 20:37

just saw your update on the old thread @QueenMabby - that's brilliant news re your DDs musical theatre scholarship for sixth form.

Also congratulations to @StuntNun for the Gr 6 piano distinction.

We're limping into half term - everyone has had colds so limited practice this week. There was an informal concert at school last night where DD played a violin solo which was a lovely opportunity for her. The only other time she's performed a violin solo in front of anyone other than her teacher has been in a competition so this was a really nice environment for her. It went well for her so hopefully a confidence boost for playing it in the local competition in a month's time. She also played the piano accompaniment for her friend which was very cute! DS opted out of volunteering for a solo but did play with his flute ensemble so all round a nice thing for me to go and see. They've never done this informal concert thing before at school but I'm hoping they will again as it was really nice. Huge variety of performers from instrumentalists to bands / singers so was really nice.

Last day of CYM tomorrow before half term but DS has LYWB every day of the holiday so there is no let up for him. Will make up for the lack of practice this week I guess! DD isn't doing any musical activities over half term but she does really need to do some piano practice as Gr 8 is looming on the horizon so want to make sure everything is ready.

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StuntNun · 14/02/2025 21:03

We're ramping up for yet more exams. We have grade 3 drums and grade 3 Singing for Musical Theatre next month and then another piano exam coming up, grade 5 this time. How do other musical households manage to fit all the practice in?! It's very difficult to play piano if there's an electric guitar or a drum kit being played elsewhere in the house.

BartokRules · 15/02/2025 03:54

@StuntNun great name!

What is your kid singing for G3 SFMT? It's a big syllabus isn't it?

Yingbread · 15/02/2025 06:24

Any advice on buying an alto sax? We will be going to a specialist woodwind shop to try them out, but we don't know much about them. DS will be studying music at uni, is a woodwind student but has only recently taken up sax, so it's very much their second fiddle, as it were. Also they are not a performance specialist. I see Selmer, Yamaha and Yanagisawa mentioned.

Solasum · 15/02/2025 06:31

@Yingbread are you anywhere near London? There is an amazing shop called Sax London near the Southbank, where you can try all kinds of saxophones

Yingbread · 15/02/2025 06:35

No, but we have a specialist shop nearby.

PhotoDad · 15/02/2025 06:44

I love this thread, seeing all the helpful and supportive advice for such talented DC! DS (Year 13, keyboard and guitar) is continuing to perform at every possible opportunity at school. I teach there, and we run regular informal lunchtime concerts/gigs, so I often turn a corner and happen across him playing something (often accompanying his friends, or in an ad-hoc band).

His plan is still to complete both Grade 8s this year. Music isn't his only "thing" but he'd like that sense of completion. Separately, he's also applied for a Choral Scholarship to go along with his academic offer to Cambridge; the form contained an option to tick for "gap year" students so he didn't need advice in the end. He'll need to record an audition piece, and the Director of Music at the cathedral where he's been the most reliable male singer for the past 7 years is writing a reference. Fingers crossed for him!

Compsearch · 15/02/2025 10:47

Congratulations @StuntNun, @QueenMabby and @herbaceous for excellent results!

And thank you for the new thread!

QueenMabby · 15/02/2025 12:43

@PhotoDad - fingers crossed for the choral application. I may be picking your brains in a year or so! Dd definitely interested in applying to Cambridge and continuing her choral singing.

amr78 · 15/02/2025 14:44

@Yingbread the Yamaha Yas-280 is regarded as a good quality horn for the money. My DS plays it as a second woodwind instrument and is preparing for his grade 8 on it.

Yingbread · 15/02/2025 15:39

Thanks, yes that's the model we are renting from the council at the moment. Haven't had anything to compare it with yet, of course.

StuntNun · 15/02/2025 22:28

@Yingbread what does your DS already play? I'd aim for an intermediate level Yamaha such as the one suggested upthread then ask to try two or three in the same price range for comparison. That was my plan but then ended up with a Buffet 400 after falling in love. Grin In my experience it can be worth getting a decent mouthpiece upgrade, and perhaps ligature too rather than using the standard ones that come with the instrument. But that might be something to consider in the future as his playing develops. I'm a huge fan of the Rovner ligatures for saxophone and clarinet because they perform more like the oldstyle string ligature than a metal ligature.

yodaforpresident · 16/02/2025 12:54

@PhotoDad My DD has also looked at the choral singing at Oxbridge but is also considering the US, so further research required for us!

We have Grade 7s in clarinet and LAMDA acting this term which is keeping DD busy, along with the usual concerts and platforms - she is a boarder but I am there almost every week to see a performance which is lovely! Singing is moving along and building repertoire for her diploma and another Grade 7, in cello, next term.

Yingbread · 16/02/2025 14:38

Yes, we wondered about swapping in a mouthpiece as we've done th at before.

Siriusmuggle · 16/02/2025 14:53

Hi all. I mostly lurk as my kid is not really a kid anymore 😆

StuntNun · 16/02/2025 17:53

@Yingbread depending on what type of music he wants to play, you could get another mouthpiece for a different style. I have a Jody Jazz Classic for my tenor with a removable metal baffle which gives a lot of flexibility.

StuntNun · 17/02/2025 08:07

Does anyone know of any software for transposing piano music? My DS can't quite reach the low notes on one of his grade 3 Singing For Musical Theatre pieces so I need to get it transposed. I could do it by hand but I'm guessing there's some kind of software where I could scan or type it in and then it would transpose it for me.

@BartokRules he's doing Oh What a Beautiful Morning, A Million Dreams, and Revolting Children for his accompanied songs and Good Morning for his unaccompanied song. It's A Million Dreams where the range is just beyond him. He's 12 and his voice is just starting to break so he'll probably be singing in a different register for his next exam!

yodaforpresident · 17/02/2025 08:50

Try musescore @StuntNun

StuntNun · 17/02/2025 09:46

Thank you @yodaforpresident Smile

StuntNun · 17/02/2025 15:27

Gosh MuseScore was a bit of a steep learning curve, especially where there were multiple parts on one staff! But I managed to get the score typed in and then it transposed the whole thing for me. Thanks again for the recommendation @yodaforpresident

Original poster
northerngoldilocks · 17/02/2025 20:57

Day 1 of half term - DS has done 1 day of LYWB rehearsals. Limited info from him but seemed to enjoy it. The insta stories for CYM for the day had a pic of rehearsals where he was clearly reading his book DURING THE REHEARSAL!! Have suggested that this isn't ok, even if his section isn't playing 🙄

DD did one of the Benedetti online mini sessions tonight - hers was on folk violin and she really enjoyed it, but thought it might be a good reminder for people with younger string players that the online mini sessions are actually really well run and DD has always got lots out of them so would recommend seeing what is coming up. Even if the live session times don't work out you get a 'watch later' option too.

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BartokRules · 17/02/2025 22:49

That's a good selection of songs from the SFMT3 book!

Yes Million Dreams goes very low, it's ok to change an odd note I find.

QueenMabby · 18/02/2025 07:48

BartokRules · 17/02/2025 22:49

That's a good selection of songs from the SFMT3 book!

Yes Million Dreams goes very low, it's ok to change an odd note I find.

DD's doing that for one of her g5 pieces. She can't get to the very low note at the end so they've changed it and she's singing one a bit higher. She's struggling with the g5 songs though. Loads she loves in list B but lists A and C seem a bit sparse of the better known songs.

She's now officially starting her g8 prep for piano and cello. All three pieces chosen for piano. List B piece for cello is nearly there and a Vivaldi book is arriving tomorrow for her list A piece. Decision still to be made on list C.

For those who have DCs who have already done g8 - how long does it usually take?