... for no 2 son. Off to Little Cellos in a bit! He's very apprehensive as he won't know ANYONE there. Big step for him, but I am sure he'll have a great time. The only thing he really needs to worry about his how to put the music stand up

Best of luck! I can just just picture mighty struggles with music stands that suddenly become taller than the kid trying to put it up or take it down...

Hope he has a brilliant time, Dulcet. Let us know how it goes.

Visited a church this summer where three smallish children got up to play for one of the hymns (2 violins and a flute with dogged piano accompaniment from an understandably sullen teen). Definitely not a feast for the ears but hilarious watching the smaller of the violinists slide deeper and deeper into a crouch as her music stand slowly collapsed. My mum and I clapped at the end which is apparently very bad form.

Yes, they always worry becasue they "won't know anyone" - whether it's school or some other group. And the simple answer is "well, you will do by the time you come home, won't you?" There must be some inbuilt worry that they are going to be "expected" to know everyone

I think it is a very understandable worry. If a child goes to something and everyone else knows a couple of other people they can be left out. It would be unusual in a music group to be the only one not to know someone, but if everyone else has signed up with a friend it could happen. If the leaders are any good they will split existing groups, do team building games and move people around to different groupings for different activities. (And help the children to put up the music stands)

I think that the only thing I managed to say that finally convinced him that I hadn't done something dreadful booking him on a residential course where he knew no-one (he was absolutely fine about non-residential, but he was pretty cross when he discovered that I'd made an executive decision...) was that his cousin went to boarding school where he knew no-one when he was a whole year younger. (actually he might have known someone but I wasn't going to open that bag of worms - I think he didn't!)

Anyway he happily waved me off this morning. The tutors very sensibly gathered all the boys together and put them in a room to get acquainted - which IME will happen pretty quickly with a group of primary-aged boys!

I'll report back on Thursday!

Even as an adult I worry that I'll be the only one who has gone alone, as in my experience of courses a lot of people go back year after year. However I also know that if you are on your own you get to meet/know more people than if you go with a friend.

Incidentially I've just come back from a Clarinet course at Hindhead which was fab. Is that where you son is doing his Cello course? Wherever it is I'm sure he'll love it.

Yes - should I go to the Clarinet one next year?

I hope your son has a lovely time. I am sure he will.

Claudia always has this worry since going on a very cliquey dance course once where she knew no-one but everyone else was in large groups from school and neither they nor the tutors made any effort to introduce her to the others. Whilst the lessons were fine, she sat on her own every lunchtime feeling really stupid.

At the music course she has gone to for the last three years they actually have a buddy system so that any new person is allocated a buddy who has to attach him or herself to the new person until they have made friends. It works really well.

I think on the whole that children who do music are perhaps always not as outgoing as those who do dance (the whole stage school thing) and so music tutors are aware of this and try harder to integrate everyone.

I am sure your son will be having a great time.

Well, a bit of a mixed bag. He didn't have to worry about the music stand as he didn't realise I'd packed it

Yes, he'd definitely go next year but NOT residential, or perhaps residential only for one night (his direct statement, not my suggestion - he was quite clear on this issue, that he liked the music, but staying overnight just gave the people he didn't get on with more time to be nasty to him). I hope this hasn't made DS1 too nervous about next week, as DS2 is the one who gets on with everybody and DS1 is the "difficult" one...

So, in short, he didn't have a good dorm experience but he did enjoy the playing. Which is kind of the point... He also liked the food and loved the pool and liked the tutors.



It was nice to see that, although there were a lot of more experienced musicians there, he was definitely able to hold his own at the top end of the lower group. Playing under close supervision for 4 days has definitely improved his posture and his timing and I assume his tone as well!

Also interesting to see the number of children that had corn plasters on their cellos and bows - I suppose they stay on better than stickers do!!!

Corn plasters? What for?

To show them where to put their fingers and thumbs on the bow and where to put their thumbs on the neck of the cello, I assumed... I hope it wasn't actually for corns!!!

The advantage of corn plasters, I think, is not just that they show you where to put your thumbs, but that the thumbs sit in the hole in the middle so don't slip about and accidentally get out of position. You also don't have to look at your thumb to make sure it's in the right place, you can feel whether it is right or not.

Obviously the one on the neck has to come off when you start to change position.

Glad your son enjoyed Little Cellos (at least the course, if not the total experience). If I remember rightly, your older one is doing Holiday Music next week. Hope he enjoys that. My (cello-playing) daughter will be there too - with her 6 yr cousin who is doing his first course.

Ah but I saw them further down* the neck as well
* argh cellos this time I meant "nearer the floor" rather than "further from the bridge"!


Yes, no 1 son is off on Tuesday (now a bit apprehensive...) No 2 son has come back with a much bigger sound, more consistent bowing position and more rhythmic security. He may have SAID that he didn't learn anything... but by osmosis good practice seeps in! He did tell me that he was originally allocated an easy part in one of the concert pieces but he said that it was a bit simple and he was sure he could play the tune... so whatever else, his confidence wasn't knocked! He did get on well with a lot of the children; it was just bad luck that he shared a room with the one he didn't...

Did I see you this morning? I texted DS this evening and he phoned back for a chat - a bit wobbly but excited about everything. DS is in the yellow group and the symphony orchestra (and the rest is obvious really!)

Possibly. I was there quite early, with both daughters (older one wanted to come too) and was there for an hour or so, gossiping with the teachers and the other parents I know while waiting for my sister who was bringing her 6 yr old (they live in the West Country and are both staying with me).

Glad your son is enjoying it. My nephew is in the yellow team too. My daughter in the orange. I'll try and look out for you on Saturday!

A great success, and both children are determined to go back next year. A real baptism of fire for both of them but it did them both a lot of good musically (and even the little one has decided he's up for boarding next year too). Thanks Soccermom for your support! And nice to meet my first forumite! Perhaps I can persuade fizzynoodlepot to come along and do the music makers course with me next year

Glad they both enjoyed it, and it was good talking to you at the end.

Bear in mind that the age range for Holiday Music is 6-12, though they will accept 13 yr olds provided that they have been before. After next year, my younger one will probably move onto the main cello course. I still haven't found anything for the older one to do. I might look into Pro Corda but it's much more expensive and much further away.