Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

Time for a new thread as the old one is filling up and think we can claim its spring now!

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.

Switching between violins might be tricky for a beginner, even if the instruments are technically the same size. Even mass produced violins differ ever so slightly and beginners might have difficulties to quickly adjust finger positioning for intonation. If you have an antique one, the tone is also very different from the modern ones. I have two antique violins in front of me atm - both French Mirecourt, roughly the same period but probably different workshops, and fitted with different strings. They sound worlds apart 🤯 I guess all this might be slightly confusing for a young child, imagine you think your fingers are hitting the right spots as your muscle memory remembers them but you're somehow out of tune or the sound is not what you're used to. I may be wrong of course as children learn really fast, but it never worked for us.

We do not fly with the violin so no advice on this, sorry.

Usually the length is dictated by the bow rather than the fiddle so a case that is only for a violin can be a bit shorter - however I don't know if they make them for smaller sizes below 1/4 and 1/2

An option would be to check the case into the hold with the bow in it but take the violin onto the plane in a silk bag and have it on your lap - OK for a shortish flight not so good for a long one.

This happens with various airlines https://www.thestrad.com/news/manila-symphony-orchestra-outlines-travel-ordeal-as-musicians-forced-to-cradle-instruments-on-cebu-pacific-flight/21486.article

Gewa Space and BAM Cabin are still 62-63cm I think.

Yes - the issues with a cello are even worse as you have to buy it an extra seat and then if the flight is full the cello seat is the first to go "as you can check it in" - err no that is the reason for coughing up for the extra seat in the first place. Although shout out to easy jet - my cellist friends say they are the most helpful.

Anyone remember when Lufthansa lost a number of brass instruments 4 years ago when Chet’s went on tour? They also lost my son’s trousers but fortunately his instrument went cabin baggage.

High risk strategy but we fly regularly on easyJet and Ryanair between London and Ireland and just take my son’s 1/2 size violin as hand luggage. He has never been stopped - I make him carry it so they either don’t notice it or perhaps let him off as he’s cute! They are short flights obviously so that may also be a factor. I guess with a valuable instrument may not be worth the risk.

Alternatively the borrowing/buying cheap option could be worth a try. My DS seems to adjust instantly to different instruments so it’s not a given that it will be a struggle.

Oh wow, your DS is already on 1/2, time flies! :)

Friends at JD had a similar problem switching between violins so I assumed it's a known thing in younger players, but I agree it's probably not a given.

Ha the 'make the kid carry it because it's cute and no-one will stop them' is exactly the strategy I had suggested to my husband 😅I think it's 99% likely to work, but his problem was the 1% chance that it doesn't and then we're stuck with deciding what to do with someone else's antique violin at stake 😳so he said he's not comfortable risking it.
I think we will likely end up buying another one to keep in the UK because travelling with it seems too stressful. I hear what you're saying about different instruments @Ubertomusic, but she's generally fairly adaptable and probably better that than not playing for extended periods of time.
How long do kids normally stay on each violin size? Just wondering how much to cough up on the second instrument...

DD stayed on 1/4 for what seemed forever, a couple of years I think, auditioned with grade 8 pieces on it, and could stay even longer but we needed bigger sound for her rep. 1/2 lasted for a year and a bit. She's in senior school now and still plays 3/4.

It really depends on the child and grows spurts can be unpredictable.

I think for fractional sizes the quality of the instrument you need is defined by the rep you are playing. I was very reluctant to spend a lot even on the main instrument until 1/2. We had Gliga for 1/4, they're decent quality and cost around £300 as far as I remember.

Ha yes, I think your DH is probably right since it’s a nice instrument - ours is not in that category! We’ve got one from stringers - their “student outfit” I think - and it was about £250, but they do an even more basic one than that for under £200 and I suspect would be totally fine for a spare.

DS is just 8 and has been on a 1/2 size for about 6 months - he’s tallish for his age (85th centile) and when we got it they said it would probably last til he’s about 9, if that’s any indication whatsoever! I think if you can measure their arm length that will give a better idea.

Degree results are in here. Smashed all the practical modules but failed the written project (predictably) by 3%. So despite total marks being comfortably in 2:1 band a resit of the project is needed. Should be awarded a resit as it’s marginal but it’s so much extra stress. Again. That’s 4 years out of 4 this has happened.

That's such a shame. I am very surprised that for th major project they are not allowed to do a practical project like ds was in lieu of a dissertation. Saying that my ds chose a couple of written modules against my better judgment and I'm not convinced he will passed it.

I'm sorry @Siriusmuggle - hopefully he'll get lots of feedback to know what to focus on this time

Incredibly he failed on self reflection 🤣 that’s impressive. In reality it was because he didn’t use his mentor or let me or his gran proof read it. If you didn’t already know he has ADHD a quick read of his written work will make it very clear. Lacks structure is how I’d describe it. But on the plus side he’s done extremely well on all 3 practical modules.
Hope you soon have good news @Comefromaway

He doesn'c care and he isn't planning on going to his graduatio even if he does pass. He is 100% focused on the theatre festival he is MDing a show as part of at the moment.

@Siriusmuggle I hope it all works out and they are able to now go off and do the bits they enjoy without the stressful bits.

Wish you all strength @Siriusmuggle ! My DS is ND and his uni years were incredibly stressful. They're kind of adults but not quite...

3% is very close so fingers crossed for the resit and learning from mistakes!

I hope it's ok to pop into a long standing thread. My dc plays piano at G5. He has just finished his exam and will be starting g6 in the autumn. he's had terry lessons for 2 terms and is quite ok with grade 5 theory but needs some exam practice and maybe a more intensive going over everything sessions.

Are there any reputable online providers. He is not a beginner but working comfortably at grade 4-5 level.

@hannacoolfer I don't know where in the country you are but this is a great course if you could get to gloucester https://glosacadmusic.org/sessions-and-courses/holiday-courses/theory-courses/

That looks great but we are near London (Watford).

OK - I don't have experience of others as mine did this one as it used to be residential. However Guildhall have one in July. DD was at JD there and the theory tuition (hers was above Grade 5) was good https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/short-courses-summer-schools/find-a-short-course-or-summer-school/essential-music-theory-grade-5

@hannacoolfer this Facebook group has suggestions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DJfNmfCBp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.celebratewithmusic.co.uk/grade-5-theory-course/

Simon is great - really recommend him. He teaches in a very practical and strategic way. You can join subsequent courses for free if you need to go over it again and he offers follow up marking.

Debra Adamson-Brattland does a 6 week online G5 theory course, the next one starts in September. My ds did his GCSE music with her and says she’s a really good teacher.
debra-adamson-brattland.com/theory/

Hi all - just popping up to wave. Hope everyone is ok. We’re out of the NCO projects/Eisteddfod era and entering a LOT of end of term concerts and shows, NCO audition plus another Eisteddfod. And residentials. Homework seems to have increased but the amount of practice really needs to
increase too and it’s a bit 😬😬😬atm. At least the heatwave has stopped for a bit! We had a fan pointed at the harp at one point!