Has anyone's child auditioned for a music scholarship at Kingsdale?

[lalalonglegs]

We are very late to this as only saw the school at the weekend, fell in love with it and, as our daughter sings very well, thought we would enter her for a musical scholarship which I have just found out takes place this weekend. We are utterly unprepared - what does it involve (roughy, I know no one can tell me exactly), will there be an accompanist or should she get some YouTube karaoke version to sing along to? I'm really clueless about what it involves (and not terribly musical myself) so have no idea what to expect...

[lottysmum]

I would have thought they would have given guidelines on this (maybe make a phone call)....I do know a girl who was given a musical scholarship last year but to my knowledge she was a grade 2/3 violin ...but she is also very academic. Your probably aware that this school operates a lottery for school places which would appear to somehow favor bright children!

[CadmiumRed]

It is a 'musical aptitude test'.

Search MN because I think other people have asked about them, or Google.

Surprise surprise, there is an organisation prviding coaching for MATs and their website does describe the tests here. Don't know whether this is exactly what Kingsdale do, though.

You could also ask on the E Dulwich Forum because posters there have talked about it, I think.

Basically it is supposed to test aptitude rather than experience of advanced levels, and so open and accessible to all, rather than those who have already had lots of lessons.

Being able to sing back the lowest or highest note in a chord, that sort of thing.

[sorryforher]

Phone the school!

I phoned to ask about whether my ds would be able to play his percussion piece on an electronic drum kit, because this is what he's been learning on at home. They said not (they only have a standard drum kit), so he's doing two piano pieces instead (instead of one piano piece and one percussion piece).

Musical aptitude test - yes. Wonder how much prep the more ambitious candidates have done for this.... DS hasn't done any.

Sight reading is part of the test I think, but is optional, so probably not for a child who hasn't been learning an instrument.

"Your probably aware that this school operates a lottery for school places which would appear to somehow favor bright children!"

Only 21% of the children at Kingsdale are classed as 'high achievers' and nearly 1 in 5 is eligible for free school meals. Considering where it is (talk about leafy suburb...), this doesn't suggest there is much fiddling going on with the admissions procedures. At least not compared to Harris Crystal Palace, which is a less affluent area nearby but takes in more than double the number of high achieving children.


"should she get some YouTube karaoke version to sing along to?"

If you're going to get an accompaniment (the school has told you it's ok to do this) I'd put 'piano cover' and name of the songs your dd is doing into the search box on Youtube. You can download it as an MP3 (search on google how to do this), burn it onto a disc, and take it with you. I was trying to persuade ds to sing at his audition, as he has a good voice. We found a beautiful piano cover of 'All of Me' by John Legend on youtube, printed off the lyrics and practised them to the piano accompaniment. Sounded lovely and not too Karaoke-ish. Sadly he's put his foot down and said he won't sing in the audition and will only play piano. I'm gutted - love hearing my children singing. You're lucky your dd enjoys singing in front of people.

We fell in love with Kingsdale too - it's ds and our first choice school now.

Have to say, I would have cut the speeches, all of them but particularly the epic boasting parents' speeches by about a half completely . Jeeze - talk about over-egging the cake....

[sorryforher]

Meant to add, there are details about the scholarship tests in the green folder given out at the open day.

DS is doing sport in the morning followed by music in the afternoon. He'll be knackered. Hope no one tramples on his fingers in the sports test!

[SpringHeeledJack]

my kids did it at the weekend

they're looking for potential rather than achievement

afaik the test isn't the same as other schools use (so not the MAT, but I could be wrong), informal, no sight reading, just things like clapping a rhythm back, difference between two tunes and so on

will check with the DDs later

oh, and as for Your probably aware that this school operates a lottery for school places which would appear to somehow favor bright children! that's nonsense. I've previously had a ds at Kingsdale-it's very inclusive, uses a banding system to ensure allocation is fair and does its best for everyone unlike some I could mention

good luck. It's a brilliant school

[sorryforher]

Springheeled - the info in the green pack does mention sight reading for some of the children.
From the pack:

1. Sight reading on their chosen instruments: Optional 1 (10 marks).
   

1 - Based upon the outcome of this test the assessor will determine whether an applicant is competent in sight reading. Where an applicant is not deemed to be competent their marks will be discounted and will not contribute towards their overall performance score.

Do your children play an instrument?

[SpringHeeledJack]

...yy, apart from the speeches sorry

DIRE

my kids were begging to be let out of the pod after 15 minutes of it

[lalalonglegs]

Thanks for you all your replies. I should have pointed out that the school hadn't actually contacted me re: an audition when I first posted but, since they are holding the lasts ones this weekend, I knew it was happening but had no information at that point. They have since told me that if we need an accompaniment, we should bring it or him/her ourselves (I was imagining some sort of Broadway set-up with a man sat at a piano with a fag in the corner of his mouth banging out a tune for the hopefuls )

I am pretty sure my daughter could sing a note back and clap a rhythm so that's reassuring. Sight reading, absolutely not. And the only reason she is singing, sorry is she doesn't play an instrument... She is currently determined to do an Oasis cover, we are trying to persuade her otherwise.

I got the impression was quite inclusive - but I know there are lots of rumours about gerrymandering etc. I think we were all there on the same day, sorry and SHJ, . The speeches could have been helpfully, ahem, edited but I knew so little about the school I was drinking them all in (my daughter was sitting there looking extremely mutinous by the time we got to the third parent though).

to everyone - off to search for piano versions of Wonderwall.

[SpringHeeledJack]

oops sorry sorry, I cross posted and missed yours

have just checked with DDs (G1 piano and G2 harp). They say neither was given a sight reading test, or asked if they wanted to do one- it was just two pieces, an informal listening test (rhythm, pitch) and a chat about what activities related to music they did- choir, ensembles, that sort of thing

maybe they don't get the less advanced applicants to sight read/it's tailored to ability/level? One of my Ds can do it, the other has little or no experience.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Props to her doing Wonderwall

'there are lots of rumours about gerrymandering etc.'- this has gone on since KD started to turn itself around, and since my son started there in 2008 I've seen/heard no concrete evidence- just a lot of gossip and hearsay from people outside the school.

There has always been a lot of rhubarb about the scholarships in particular somehow 'fixing' the intake. Their scholarships are pretty accessible, though- as well as the music dept looking for potential rather than prior achievement, they offer sports (no other school in this area does) and, if you get the scholarship, you get loads of free tuition etc (again, no other school I know of does this- usually, it seems to be just a way to access a school place if you fall outside the catchment)

good luck all!

[BanoffeeSplitz]

The Music Dept is excellent & has a IMO well deserved reputation for using the aptitude test to pick candidates who have musical potential but don't have lots of formal experience.

So if that's the case, I would just be honest about it on the application form - think there's a bit where you write what experience they've had?

Your child's music teacher - even if it's just the primary school music teacher, not a specific instrument teacher may be able to reassure you about what's required. Can't remember details (sorry) but I'm sure the aptitude test DD did was very unscary - and there were quite a few children doing it with no preparation.

(They do also give scholarships to children who are already on advanced grades for music, but there always seemed to be some every year who weren't starting at that level).

[lalalonglegs]

We got the result this morning - G&T but no scholarship. Her name will go in the hat for admissions along with everyone else.]

Thanks for all your opinions and help

[minifingers]

May be seeing you there then!

Ds got a full scholarship - fingers crossed he gets in. The letter said that in previous years a child who had scored the same as him would have got a place, but they can't guarantee it this year because the numbers will be different, so hey ho.

If he gets in he's also going to be in the G&T programme for sports.

I'm going to be exploding with nerves on March 1st....

That said, he's also got a bursary offer at the Norwood School, which we'll put second on our list, and I'd be really happy for him to go there - it seems like such a happy and creative environment. Nice small school too. Academically not high flying, but I'm going to do loads with him to make up for what he doesn't get in lessons.

[lalalonglegs]

Congratulations - I hope she will be seeing your son there. You must be thrilled.

[minifingers]

Very delighted, thank you!

He did the sports scholarship try out in the morning - two hours of tearing around, and was glassy eyed with tiredness by the time he did the music in the afternoon, so I was a bit worried. He really does play with feeling though, even when he's tired.

[minifingers]

he played this great piece - it really suits his personality!

[lalalonglegs]

I can see why my daughter didn't make the cut

[minifingers]

Oh don't say that - many children are very musical, without any formal teaching. My dd who is 15 has got the most beautiful voice and NEVER hits a bum note. Remembers really complex tunes. But she's not had any training and won't take part in any sort of organised music. Frustrates the hell out of me! I'm envious of you having a child who'll stand up and sing in front of people. It's a great thing to do. Hope she gets a place!

[SpringHeeledJack]

well done everyone

we got a g&t and a half scholarship, whatever that means

think it will mean lingering on the waiting list till y9