Spring /Summer 25 - Music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

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.

Hi, I need some help, my son is preparing for grade 6 instrument face to face exam at the end of June and needs some support on the aural section. We have the Abrsm book but I really need some resources to teach him the fundamentals, any recommendations on tutors or you tube videos? Very much appreciate any advice

Abrsm has an app to buy. Maybe book an extra session with his teacher to focus on the aural section so he's confident on what to practice. Hope it goes well!

It’s via the school and the teacher isn’t available for extra lesssons

I always recommend the Paul Harris books on here so apologies for the repetition but they are really good - written by a senior wind examiner https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/improve-your-aural-grade-6-p6319

Perhaps have a look at this website: https://www.e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests.

I found it useful for my son when we were still considering face to face exams.

We use the ABRSM app - only at Grade 3 so far so not sure what it’s like for the higher grades but it’s useful for a bit of extra practice. However it’s not brilliant for all aspects - sometimes you get something wrong and it’s not really clear why. I think we may try the books recommended above aswell. I’m mainly hoping my DD’s second instrument teacher has some other teaching ideas that will help as she finds the aural pretty challenging!

Would anyone here know how UCAS works on A level results day when you are holding both University conditional offers and a Conservatoire conditional offer?

@user2468love we used the ABRSM Aural Training 6-8 book along with the ABRSM grade specific specimen aural tests - the ones that included the CDs/ audio downloads, so that I could make playlists of them and listen to them in the car on the way to school together.

https://www.shop.elegance-music.co.uk/ABRSM-Aural-Training-in-Practice-Grades-6-8-Book-with-3CD-p146263159

https://www.justflutes.com/shop/product/specimen-aural-tests-grade-6

There is also a short book with all the key features for the tests called the Aural Test Survival Book which is great to just keep in a bag and dip into when time allows.

https://www.musicroom.com/aural-test-survival-book-grade-6-rev-edition-ep72256?srsltid=AfmBOorEUqOW_9bzUqeCzSjctdCrU96Ru8NKFQRhtcNEJzHNsSHzl1wz

I am not a musician so I also found the Classic FM CDs of music periods incredibly useful with that section and also just generally good to listen to.

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/

Hope this helps.

@Guest385 - I'd ask the director of music at your DC's school. If it is a situation they haven't come across before then ask them to ask UCAS. I know it happens as the Oxbridge brigade often hold a conservatoire place as a backstop if they don't get their grades.

@Londonmummy66 Thank you, will do. I think it’s ok but UCAS site not that clear on the mechanics on the day. Would not be great to loose the one you want cause of a computer issue.

Hi all, does anyone know of Surrey Music Academy summer music school. It’s running out of Yehudi Menhuin in August for a week -
it’s quite expensive so looking to see if anyone has experience of this before I jump in!

Cellists/cellist parents!
We have the option to buy a 3/4 stringers instrument which has been outgrown. Have at least two cellists who would use it but it is four figures (lower end of). What is the re sale likely to be? I think they have knocked a couple of hundred off new, includes case, bow etc. Would need to be able to sell it on. Don’t want to be overpriced. No suitable music service instruments to take us post grade 5 (or even through it really and it is in a month!!!). Current cello would be ok but may dampen the marks a little I think. Feels like this is a lot of money to spend!
Thanks

@Happydaysandhappysmiles would depend which stringers outfit it is to an extent. Remember you could easily spend over £100 on a new set of strings as well. At this stage and size we rented a better quality student cello as our teacher told us that many students don’t stay on this size for long as it often coincides with a growth spurt in teen years and you can spend on a full size instrument. We pay about £30/month for a much better quality rental than we could get from music service, which made a difference to my daughter’s playing for grade 5 and 6 but now heading into grade 7 she would benefit from something better but it’s been a good stop-gap. Happy to pass on rental details if helpful.

Don't know much about cello resale value but the last two woodwind instruments I've sold have gone for what we bought them for so think things looked after well will hold their value.

Sorry, slightly off topic, but can I ask where people sell their instruments? I am about to put a gorgeous re-padded Yamaha 650 clarinet up for sale. It’s unlikely to get much traction in our local music service where the instruments that sell tend to be entry level and my daughter’s clarinet teacher doesn’t teach any other children. I am heading towards EBay where we have sold a couple of other instruments in the past but thought I would check I’m not missing anything.

@Happydaysandhappysmiles - my experience is that unless it is an unusually good instrument you rarely get back what you pay for it. I always saw this as a "rental" cost. (The exception to the rule is 7/8ths cellos which are harder to find secondhand.) If you are in London it might be worth talking to Thwaites in Watford as they often have decent smaller size instruments taken as a trade up. I also know someone with a 3/4 to sell - not sure what it is but her daughter was a good cellist - I could ask for you if London is an option.

@MockCroc we sold a French horn to the dealer we bought the next one from, like a part exchange. Is there a specialist clarinet supplier who would take it on a commission sale? I think wind blowers do that sort of thing.

Just picking up on the second hand instrument sales point. My experience is that for fractional instruments (eg strings) there seems to be less of an easy resale market. My guess is that for the majority of children at private schools and state with strong music depts, they borrow from school whilst they're learning and its only those who don't have school lessons where they need to buy their own. It seems a bit easier to sell on full sized instruments but its the up to 3/4 ones that don't seem to hold their value well in general resale, so selling via a music service noticeboard or similar might be easier than trying to find people willing to pay the value on somewhere like facebook marketplace.

I agree with this, we hired from school until a full size cello was needed which we bought through a music teacher contact - coincided with moving onto intermediate grades anyway so we wanted a better quality instrument.

Thanks everyone. Lots to think about. It is a lot more than renting would be but it seems to be that renting a good instrument would be £80 plus a month! If it was only him I wouldn’t consider buying, it is the matter of the one coming along afterwards that makes me pause. We aren’t in london but can get there relatively easily.

have a look at Philip Brown Violins - we rent a very nice student cello outfit (worth £2500 new) from them for about £30/month. It’s considerably nicer than the Stentor 2 DD was using before and her teacher has been happy with it for grade 5-6 and is happy enough for her to use it for grade 7 too. They’re in Newbury Berkshire.

@MockCroc Have a look at Gear4music website
They will give you a quick quote based on make and model. I found them very reasonable and easy to deal with

We've just about made it to the end of term! Two concerts left to go. Hope lots of you have some lovely concerts lined up.

Had a very nerve racking day last week listening to DD's graduation recital - impressive but scary stuff with a panel sitting scribbling at the back of the room. Heard that she got a first for that recital - now waiting to see what she got overall....

Great news on the recital @Londonmummy66, can only imagine how stressful it is to listen to.

Still v much in the middle of summer term here. DS goes on a school music trip next week and then back for a week or so practice before flute gr8. The music trip won’t really involve much playing so have said he needs to actually practice or he won’t be able to make it through the exam without getting tired! Then there are end of term concerts and a tour to Belgium too.

DD has her music centre concert tonight- she’s singing, playing in a violin ensemble (which is now actually just a duo as only 2 can make it) and doing a piano duo too. They’re playing a Stravinsky piece for 2 pianos and it’s beautiful but the teacher wants them to play without music which is definitely not DD’s strength. Think finally sorted it last night which is more last minute than I’d like. She’s also got NCO excerpts to learn (long shot but free so trying) and her part for the Benedetti sessions too so loads still going on. She’s still avoiding violin exams though so maybe pushing that back to Xmas!