wish me luck scheduling practice sessions...

Thanks! I know I'm being pathetic as it's only G1 and G3 but I have always been able to identify priorities up till now... and this is the first time that I've had to give time off because of a cold (you don't get that luxury with piano practice, oh dear me no...)

Good luck!

It may help (or not) to know that I've been there and done that, and survived. Gr 5 trumpet and Gr 1 clarinet were this term last year. I have the fun this session of Gr 6 trumpet and Gr 3 clarinet which will be on the same day because they are using the same accompanist and therefore I entered them both, so as to get consecutive slots (I hope).

With two instruments apiece, though, we generally have fun trying to juggle practise sessions even without exams...

You're not being pathetic at all, the most important thing for the children is that music making is fun and the exam needs to be managed accordingly with all the necessary preparation being not rushed and not dragged out.

I have had stressy exam situations with my sons over the years (5 sons and too many instruments) and the best scenario is to aim for calm, happy mastery of the work so that the exam feels like a positive measure of where they are at rather than a hurdle to be jumped at at speed.

from me too

Fortunately DS2's teacher has decided that it would be best if the two pupils who share the lesson were entered in the same session so his isn't till June, although he would probably be very ready for Easter - so he has ample time to add finesse. DS1's exam in Spring is more likely to be a scramble... and he's the one who is more difficult to persuade to work... Oh well, he's also very competitive so I'm hoping that it will spur him on once he's rid of this evil cold.

I've had two occasions when my 2 had three exams between them. Both times all three exams were on the same day, one after the other (obviously the one who had two went first and last).

The first time, my younger one had grade 1 piano and grade 3 cello on the same day and my older one had grade 4 violin (I think). I was so stressed I swore I'd never do it again and exams now get planned well in advance and each teacher knows each term whether their instrument is being given priority or not.

I made an exception last Summer as both had singing exams (grade 2) and the younger one also had grade 5 piano. That wasn't nearly so stressful as they didn't spend much time practising for the singing exams - no scales to worry about and, because they are more advanced on other instruments, the aural tests and sight reading didn't need any work either.

This term it's one practical exam each - grade 5 harp and grade 4 singing (plus grade 5 theory). Exams will be a week apart though and that will be reasonably stress free, I think. The term after that, grade 8 violin and 6 cello (provided the theory goes OK...) on consecutive slots on the same day will certainly not!

OK I'll shut up then :-)
Did I say on here that I bagsed a lovely 2nd hand half size cello just before Christmas and it's really made a difference? (OK I rented it with a view to nagging DH and then my Dad stepped in!)

Well done. Every time my daughter has moved up a cello size it has inspired her, as the sound is immediately better than it was on the smaller one.

And we have recently lent a 3/4 size violin, strung as a viola, to a niece who is similarly excited about the new sound she is making.

Yup - I just went down there with DS2 to see if we could tell the difference and if it was worth investing and as soon as he played a note he said "Oh I LOVE this, it sounds like the CD!" Might go sniffing back around Little Cellos in a couple of years to see if I can find a taker... of course the problem now will be to find another one at the next up-sizing!

My daughter will have outgrown her 3/4 well before then, unfortunately!

I think you'll find it much easier to find a good 3/4 size one

But at the right price???