A Paerents View Point, Are we perfect? Options

[jacky]

I am the long-suffering mother of a tuba player. One benefit of such a ludicrously proportioned instrument is that it doesn't accidentally get left anywhere. You can't help but know where the thing is at all times! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)




When I was at school, I once lost my double bass - I forgot I'd left it on the bus!

[SteveHopwood]

I am the long-suffering mother of a tuba player. One benefit of such a ludicrously proportioned instrument is that it doesn't accidentally get left anywhere. You can't help but know where the thing is at all times! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)




When I was at school, I once lost my double bass - I forgot I'd left it on the bus!

That isn't as daft as it seems. However big, if you are used to lugging something around with you it just becomes natural to do so. You stop feeling the weight. When you leave it on a bus, say, that is because you are absorbed in something and do not notice that the familiar weight is no longer there.

Still embarassing, though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[zoda]

I am the long-suffering mother of a tuba player. One benefit of such a ludicrously proportioned instrument is that it doesn't accidentally get left anywhere. You can't help but know where the thing is at all times! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)




When I was at school, I once lost my double bass - I forgot I'd left it on the bus!

That isn't as daft as it seems. However big, if you are used to lugging something around with you it just becomes natural to do so. You stop feeling the weight. When you leave it on a bus, say, that is because you are absorbed in something and do not notice that the familiar weight is no longer there.

Still embarassing, though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

This reminds me of Victor Borge's story about this bloke who sees him at the airport and says to his wife "I wish I had brought my piano with me". Victor gives a modest little bow, as the wife says,

"Why?"

husband: "Because the tickets are on it" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[SteveHopwood]

This reminds me of Victor Borge's story about this bloke who sees him at the airport and says to his wife "I wish I had brought my piano with me". Victor gives a modest little bow, as the wife says,

"Why?"

husband: "Because the tickets are on it" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Incidentally, as a regular advisor that bananas work as a relaxant, it is great to read why (your signature).

Not that I understand, you see, merely that I am happy to have a scienific reason to carry on stuffing myself with them.

Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[zoda]

Incidentally, as a regular advisor that bananas work as a relaxant, it is great to read why (your signature).

Not that I understand, you see, merely that I am happy to have a scienific reason to carry on stuffing myself with them.

Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I only found out after reading a long thread about bananas on here, and it seemed to be the first useful thing I could put in a signature. I must say, though, it is quite a coup to welcome SteveHopwood to the merry bananamen of Sherwood.

[SteveHopwood]

Incidentally, as a regular advisor that bananas work as a relaxant, it is great to read why (your signature).

Not that I understand, you see, merely that I am happy to have a scienific reason to carry on stuffing myself with them.

Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I only found out after reading a long thread about bananas on here, and it seemed to be the first useful thing I could put in a signature. I must say, though, it is quite a coup to welcome SteveHopwood to the merry bananamen of Sherwood.

Yaay. Me and the merry bananamen of Sherwood - Yo Man. Way To Go.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[zoda]

we really need a banana eating smilie!

(actually that's pretty important - I wonder if the forums administration team would mind being woken up - or should I wait until 7am tomorrow morning. Hmmmm.....)

[SteveHopwood]

we really need a banana eating smilie!

Watch this space. YAP will come up with one.

[sarah-flute]

Quote :
"Due to the nature of key changes on the level harp, even at grade 8 you don't have to do melodic minors, and *as far as I'm aware* none of the scales would require a lever change right in the middle of a scale."

You do have to do melodic minors. Beginning at grade 5 you have melodic minor scales with one hand playing and the other hand flipping levers.

D'oh, apologies. reading the syllabus online to check wasn't a good idea as it comes out rather tiny!!! Well still... I think melodics with one hand and flipping the necessary levers sound considerably less scary than two hands and changing things with your feet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[JohnS]

kmt63, I wish you were one of my pupil's parents! We'd get on fine.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[SteveHopwood]

kmt63, I wish you were one of my pupil's parents! We'd get on fine.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Gerroff. I bagsied him first.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[kmt63]

kmt63, I wish you were one of my pupil's parents! We'd get on fine.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Gerroff. I bagsied him first.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

LOL ... nice to feel wanted .....

[Suzukimom]

sorry about that splurge, but if you (or anyone else) could help with any of it I'd be most grateful!

bit late replying - busy weekend with the harp, actually!

Because we're in Scotland my daughter's harp is a clarsach. She didn't start it with the intention of playing the pedal harp later, because she loves the celtic repertoire for itself, and because she is specialising in singing to her own clarsach accompaniment. There are however plenty of students here who start on clarsach and go on to pedal harp. I have seen small sized pedal harps played by children - there were a few at this year's Edinburgh International Harp Festival.

So I'm afraid I can't answer your technical questions about scales and the differences between the two. The clarasch offers plenty enough riches for my daughter, but that's in the Scottish context. If you're in a different part of the country the pedal harp may offer more opportunities. The clarsach society has branches up and down the country, with various 'days to play' at which players get together for group and solo playing and much chat and socialising. I don't know about the pedal harp set up - the only thought I've had in that direction is through my children being in the National Children's Orchestra of Scotland for their violin/viola playing, and seeing the solitary concert harp, and thinking that the sectional rehearsals can't be all that chummy!

The clarsach does have a grade 8 syllabus, but my daughter isn't doing anything with grades until grade 8, if at all, so I can't help on that point. I am looking forward to seeing what the harp repertoire is like outside of the clarsach world when we go to the Suzuki world convention in Turin next year - my daughter is going as a violinist, but we will go to some of the harp sessions. I don't think there's a celtic piece at all, so it will be interesting to compare her experience with theirs.

[zoda]

Thanks for the reply, Suzukimom. It seems that in your daughter's case, harp playing and a bowed instrument can complement each other - perhaps the bowed instrument gives more opportunity for orchestral music, and the harp is an easier and more attractive solo instrument from an earlier stage. Of course that then raises the question of how attractive an option the harp is in a programme which is all about playing in groups!

Added to which all this may be academic, as it all depends which kids want to do what in the group!

[Suzukimom]

Thanks for the reply, Suzukimom. It seems that in your daughter's case, harp playing and a bowed instrument can complement each other

Yes, they do seem to complement each other. I'm glad we have the group set up for the clarsach - I think it would be more difficult to sustain as a solitary instrument, but maybe we're conditioned (brain-washed??) by our Suzuki group experience with the violin and viola!

I'll just mention another slightly tongue in cheek selling point of the clarsach - it's possible to make some serious money playing in posh hotels as a late teen/student holiday/evening earner. My daughter is already looking forward to the cash! Violinists are ten a penny, but harpists have rarity and elegance on their side.