Thus it was that I was already in bed when the phone rang just after 10pm and DH hurtled down our steep staircase to answer it. A few minutes later he was back with the wonderful news that he’d been talking to Grandson#1, who had just learned that he’d passed his Grade 8 trumpet exam with distinction! Of course I too hurtled downstairs to ring him with my congratulations and he was obviously a very pleased and proud 15 year-old.
What we didn’t know then and have only learned this morning, is that DD had also had the result of her Grade 3 flute exam, which she too has passed with distinction after only 9 months of lessons. This is her third instrument after saxophone and piano, and we’re both delighted for her.
I tell you, I’m so thrilled and proud of them both I could burst! Meanwhile Grandson#1 is toying with the idea of taking up the trombone, just in case he hasn't enough to do with piano, organ and trumpet...
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Oh, well done them both!! What splendid news, and how proud of them you both must be. Celebrations when you're back on this side of La Manche? It certainly deserves a bottle of 'vin petillant' at least, if not 'champers'. Do they make a sparkling wine in your area - ''methode champenoise', if I remember rightly? What a happy phone call to get - you really don't mind having to get out of bed to get that news! (And I bet the first thought that went through DH's mind was that something had happened to his mother - what a relief to find it wasn't that!!)
ReplyDeleteMarking is almost finished - good thing as we've got a meeting at D & P's on Tuesday!!
Love from us both.
xx
We're both really thrilled for them as they've worked so hard for this, not easy in their busy lives. An Amazon gift voucher has already winged its way to Grandson#1. :-) No wine produced in Normandy at all. This is cider country par excellence, though we do enjoy sampling the products of other regions too.
DeleteThe phone call didn't raise any alarms in us as dear MiL phones from time to time in the evening for a chat and of course it was only 9pm in the UK. We honestly thought it was she who was ringing, as the exam results weren't expected until next week at the least.
Glad to hear the marking is nearly over. Enjoy the meeting and give my love to everyone. xx
Super news...you'll have your own orchestra soon...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen. If they swap instruments we almost have our own jazz band. We'd need strings for an orchestra and I don't think any of them are going to oblige. :-)
DeleteCongrats to both of your grandchildren, and to you too, Perpetua. My second oldest son worked his way through the Royal Conservatory piano exams through the grade ten level, so I know how much effort is involved. A call at 10 PM would have scared the wits out of me though!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristie. The two grandsons and their mother really do work hard at their music and deserve their success. Grandson#2 is busy preparing for Grade 5 clarinet in the autumn. I've read a bit about the Canadian music grades and understand that they are very challenging, so your son must have done really well to get through all the levels. Grade 8 is the highest grade over here before diploma level.
DeleteA 10pm phone call here doesn't alert us as a similar one would in the UK, because we're always very aware of the time difference, with the UK being an hour behind us.
Hello Perpetua,
ReplyDeleteHow splendid!
Clearly they have been working hard, since none of this us accomplished without effort and dedication. How thrilled they must be and how proud you must be. Wonderful!
Thanks, Jane and Lance. They have indeed been working very hard, as they always do with their music. They love music and are talented, but hard work is very necessary for success. We are all thrilled and delighted and especially proud of Grandson#1's achievement. Now we're waiting for his first two GCSE results in August....
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteTremendous good news......though I got a tad breathless at the thought of "clattering down stairs". Even for the best of news, care at all times please!!! YAM xx
Isn't it just, Yam? I'm still over the moon for them. Don't worry - I was exercising a bit of poetic licence in my description. We know to be careful and our staircase has a very strong handrail which we use at all times. :-)
DeleteWhat wonderful news Perpetua - big congratulations to both your talented, hardworking grandson, and DD.
ReplyDeleteOne of the perks of being a Grandmolther is that you are allowed to be thrilled and proud.
Thanks, Rosemary. They are both very pleased and also relieved to have got the results earlier than expected. Waiting for results is stressful...
DeleteYou're so right about the perks of being a grandmother. I do try not to spoil my grandsons, but I reserve the right to be very proud of them and of our children too. :-)
How wonderful. It sounds like they both did a fabulous job. I'm always happy to read good news about kids and grandkids. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer. Yes, they both did wonderfully well and we're so pleased for them. Grandson#1 plays several instruments but the trumpet is still his favourite. :-) DH and I are thrilled.
DeleteGreat news, Perpetua! Especially with the late hour call. Have had our share of those and not usually good news. But this was great news! My oldest grandson is 15 and plays the saxophone, piano, flute, and lately started working with the electric guitar. I don't know if music will be a part of his life forever... but he loves it now... and I think it's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful news, Rian, and not what we were expecting as early as this week. Of course 10pm in France is only 9pm in the UK, so we do get calls at that time occasionally. How lovely that your grandson plays so many instruments too and is still keen on learning another. I sometimes think the more they play the more they want to try new ones. :-) Whatever they do with their music in the future, they have learned so much by the experience of playing it now.
DeleteCan't argue with a Grade 8 Distinction. That, plus a good standard on other instruments, and possibly A Level Music (I assume he is already doing GCSE) and with a good audition and interview at 17-18 he could seriously consider taking the conservatoire route through Higher Education and being a professional musician on music teacher. He has two or three years to decide. No rush!
ReplyDeleteDoes he play in the local youth orchestra?
Suggest at some point, maybe, that he take a look at the RNCM, and the courses they do. Just as good as the London colleges but the accommodation and cost of living is not quite so alarming.
We're thrilled for him that he managed the distinction at this high grade and his piano results have always been good too. I'm looking forward now to seeing the examiner's report which SiL always copies to us. He sat his Music GCSE this summer but it's really too early to know what he will decide to do after school. You know what 15 year-olds are like.... :-) He plays in the local music centre jazz orchestra on Saturday mornings and for concerts and I think that's really all he's got time for at present, with GCSEs next year. I'll save up your good advice for a year or two until his plans and options become clearer....
DeleteCongratulations proud grandma!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy,. There are times when pride is wholly justified and this is one of them. :-)
Deletewhat a multi-talented family! You are rightly proud... obviously you passed on some good genes along the way :)
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the latter, Catriona, as I don't think I've ever shown musical talent or dedication at anything like this level. But DD and her two are very keen indeed on their music and work hard and their results show that. We really are so pleased for them. :-)
DeleteThat's very good news and of course you must be very proud of both DD and your grandson no. 1's musical achievements.
ReplyDeleteI really am, Linda. They've both worked very hard for this and it's always a pleasure to listen to them play and to Grandson#2.
DeleteCongratulations to your obviously talented grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteLate phone calls with such wonderful news are to be treasured.
Talented grandchildren and also their talented mother, Shirley. I don't think it can happen every often that mother and son take grade examinations on the same day and get the same excellent result. :-) I'm always very happy to be disturbed with news like this.
DeleteIt must be particularly unusual as adult learners who do Associated Board grade exams are usually MUCH more nervous than their junior counterparts. There was a very interesting documentary about that very topic on TV a few years ago. The adults were in tying themselves in knots of anxiety and the kids just walked in, did their stuff, and walked out again, almost completely lacking in self-consciousness.
DeleteCertainly on the ABRSM forum the adult learners confess to a lot of nerves before exams, whereas their children or pupils mostly seem to take them in their stride. DD also got a distinction for Grade 5 piano (taken 25 years after Grade 4) and has had similar results for her saxophone exams (the latest was Grade 6). The grandsons have to get their musical talent from somewhere. :-)
DeleteWhat a gifted musical family you have, Perpetua, and are spot on in your pride. I am so very impressed with all this talent and so excited for you in all this news. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's lovely that they have the talent, Penny, but I'm most proud of how hard they work to hone that talent until they can play their various instruments as well as they possibly can. It has taken Grandson#1 around 7 years work to get to this standard and he really loves playing, as I love listening to him and his brother and mother. :-)
DeleteWonderful news - obviously a very musical family.
ReplyDeleteWe're delighted for them, Susan, and keep teasing them they could start their own band. :-)
DeleteWow, congrats to them and to you. I can understand your pride:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much. I don't think I've done anything other than encourage them. It's all their own hard work and perseverance which have been impressive.
DeleteOf course you are proud! How wonderful that both grandchildren have the dedication and talent to continue to pursue music with distinction! I am glad you didn't miss that initial phone call, and how lovely that they were eager to share their accomplishments with you! I think you must have started the clarinet lessons just to keep up! LOL! I'm glad you shared the good news with us, Perpetua! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra. In fact this time it was Grandson#1 and his mother who got the distinctions for their different instruments, though Grandson#2 got a distinction in his Grade 4 clarinet exam last year. I too get confused at times about who is doing what. :-) I'm really glad now we hadn't gone to the concert and so were at home when the call came, though I will admit it took me a long ime to get to sleep afterwards! As for my keeping up with them musically, no chance - I'm just a dot in the distance in comparison. :-)
Delete.........and you should be proud! I can't think of nicer news than happy news from grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteI simply can't help but be proud of their commitment to their music, both the grandsons AND their mother. :-)
DeleteYou have every reason to be proud. I do wish I had taken my opportunities to learn a musical instrument a bit more seriously. I do think it takes a family committed to music, lessons, and practicing to produce a young musician. You are all to be congratulated.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally. I can say the same for my attempts to learn the violin as a teenager. I got part of the way, but then it became much more difficult and I gave up. DD has rediscovered her music as an adult and has gone far beyond what she began as a child. Her talent, skill and experience mean that she can support her sons' musical learning far better than I could support hers when she was young. I love listening to them all when we visit. :-)
DeleteWell done those grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteNot just the grandchildren, but their mother, Sarah. It was our daughter and her eldest who got the great results this time.
DeleteMany congratulations to your talented family, Perpetua. As one of your earlier commenters says, one of the perks of being a grandparent is that you are allowed to be thrilled and proud. It's a perk I'm looking forward to in September when I'm due to become a grandfather for the first time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ricky, and congratulations on your impending grandfatherhood. :-) It's wonderful being a grandparent - all the pleasure and pride and much less of the responsibility and hard work. ;-) I look forward to forthcoming proud Grandpa or Granddad posts.
DeleteOh my - I am SO far behind with reading all my favourite blogs. Sorry to have missed this one - what wonderful news, Perpetua. Congratulations to all the family - grade 8 is no mean achievement and Grade 3 after so little time is likewise a great result! You next....? Axxx
ReplyDeleteStop apologising, Annie. You've been busy with life and visits and things and blogs have to take their turn. :-) I can get very behind at times too. Yes, we were all thrilled for them both, but particularly for Grandson#1 who has worked very hard to achieve this at the age of 15. As for me, I'm happily tooling along at around Grade 1 level, but with no desire to sit any exams if I can help it. :-)
DeleteRunning slightly behind.... wow! well done Grandson #1 and DD. We had the trumpet voluntary at our wedding :-)
ReplyDeleteBut you have such a good reason for being behind, Antoinette. I do hope all is continuing to go well with you.
DeleteYes, we're very proud of them both. When Grandson#1 learned to play the Trumpet Voluntary I could have listened to him for hours, though he's never been asked to play for a wedding. :-)