Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

[northerngoldilocks]

Time for a new thread in time for the new school term!

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.

@chocolateisnecessary that sounds insane. I think if your DD was going to be a pro pianist (soloist or chamber) then I think to be honest yes, she would need to step up the amount of practice she was doing over the next couple of years - or more importantly - if it was right for her then she’d naturally be doing/wanting to do more. My DH is a pianist and his parents had to try to drag him away from the piano by all accounts. But it has to come from the child, it shouldn’t be imposed by the teacher!

If (as it sounds) it’s one hobby of many then I think she should take the good (ie her teacher clearly thinks she’s got great potential) and then wave them goodbye!

Just to say thanks before I go onto the next thread. You’ve all made me feel like I’m not losing my mind re expectations! She had a trial lesson with another teacher last night and came alive on the piano and looked so happy. Really lovely to see. X

Just to add, telling her to drop ensemble playing sounds completely ridiculous too - making music with other people is both where the joy comes from for most people, but also a vital skill for any serious musician to develop. I'd run a mile from this teacher.

@chocolateisnecessary that's brilliant news. Hope there isn't too much awkwardness with other teacher.

Have to say I thought the same. I've a 12 year old NCO member at about grade 8 level and honestly I'm lucky if he does 20 min a day, he also plays piano about gd7-8 and similarly does about 20 mins a day! And sometimes that's not particularly 'good' practise either because he's 12 and not the most mature. It doesn't seem to have done him any harm so far not practising for hours a day. I can't imagine many kids this age are willingly practising 2 instruments each for an hour+ a day? What about homework, hanging out with mates, relaxing, watching the telly!

@Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 i think your son must be massively talented then….I wish mine could achieve what they achieve on only 20 mins practice mind you my eldest is struggling to motivate himself to even do that. I think sadly when he finds it difficult he just wants to run away from it which means it either gets worse or at rate no better, tricky in a small string orchestra.