Dos your secondary school child attend a Saturday music school?

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

And if so, how do they manage school work and music practice?

[Wafflenose]

Mine are at primary (ages 11 and 8) but we're going to visit one tomorrow, for the older child. Many children on my monthly music threads do, so you are very welcome to pop over and join us there. Hopefully somebody more experienced will be along soon, though.

[BarchesterFlowers]

Yes, but primary age, attended from aged 9 and absolutely loves it. 9:30am to 2pm.

Great musical education. It doesn't seem to involve much additional work during the week - DD does 30 mins a day, every day.

What sort of level is your child playing at?

[BarchesterFlowers]

Sorry, I can now see that you mean fitting it in with secondary homework. I hope that DD can continue when she goes to secondary this year despite the homework schedule although I wonder whether she will because her secondary has a really active/good music dept.

Her choice entirely but it has served her very well, playing in a wind band, orchestra, singing in a choir and doing musicality/theory with other keen children has been fantastic for her.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

Saturday Music School isn't available here, but as DS was a Chorister much of his weekend was taken up anyway.

(Unattached Cathedral so nothing to do with school).

You/they have to be organised. School work and music practice (3 instruments in our case) all got done most of the time.

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

Barchester DS is 12YO and will take grade 7 piano in June. He plays other instruments to grade 2/3. Things is, he doesn't want to be a musician, but he is very keen to be involved in music and enjoy the social aspect of it.

[BarchesterFlowers]

In that case I would say it will be easy for him. DD is the same loves being involved/social side, singing with others, and messing about musically.

She is keen, gave up the piano last year because it was solitary and just plays clarinet now. She only has two pieces a week to play at home from Saturday.

I am not sure how others are structured but both of ours (200 miles apart) have had a similar set yet up.

They both have a really nice group of kids involved and music crosses the year group thing, it is lovely to see the all age friendships.

[Ladydepp]

Just wanted to join thread as I am interested as well. My dd is still at primary but her music teacher thinks Saturday conservatoire is something we should think about in a couple of years as dd is very musical.

We wouldn't cope with it at the moment as we have 2 older dc's who are very busy on Saturdays, but as they get more independent it should free up time with dd.

I am not musically trained but the idea of Saturday music school sounds pretty wonderful to me, and a good way to expand dd's social life away from the intensity of school.

[honeysucklejasmine]

I went to a Saturday music school. It was no different to any other hobby in times of time i was out the house doing it. I already had my practice schedule sorted so i don't really remember any sort of struggle to get homework done. I didn't really see rehearsal as a chore though - it was something i did for fun, so it wasn't a matter of "school plus homeworks plus practice plus fun" because two were one and the same iyswim.

[Icouldbeknitting]

Not junior conservatoire but LA provision, we leave at 8.30 and get back at 12.30. Ds did that throughout secondary school together with band practice four times a week. They manage, in the same way the sporty ones manage. It's homework, practice and musical commitments first before starting to waste hours on gaming/watching amusing videos of corgis/skyping mates.

[BarchesterFlowers]

We are LA provision too, really well run. So pleased they are still available.

New one is just as fab but this was the old one OP. Not sure how it compares to what you are thinking of.

DD doesn't ultimately want to study music either.

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

Thank you everyone.
That's exactly the one I'm looking into Barchester, but the one in London. It would involve a 50 min train journey for DS but I feel he is old enough to experience that.

[BarchesterFlowers]

It is a very nurturing place OP, 100% positive experience here. Lots of visiting musicians and performing opportunities. Absolutely lovely for younger students as well as those nearly off to uni.

[WhatHaveIFound]

DD has been going to Saturday Muisc School for the last two years but is unsure about continuing as next year she'll be Y11.

She's found this term extremely hard as she's doing 2 GCSEs this year and one of them is coursework intensive. Plus she signed up for an optional Saturday afternoon class (10 weeks) and is doing DofE.

She does get a lot out of it though and loves playing with her band there.

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

Yes I do think that if DS ends up doing this, DofE will be out of the question which is a shame but can't do everything...

[drummersmum]

DS is joining next year when he will also be starting Y11. he did his Bronze DofE last year, and had no desire to do Silver. He's taking one Igcse this year and ten next year. I am very worried about workload and his academics suffering from it but he really wants to go and others in his school have managed, so that's it.

[Helenluvsrob]

Yep. We've done Saturday music school for around 14yrs (3 kids). I did it ( and fri night! ) from about age 10 too and that was a :0 mile drive away ( so greatful to my parents in retrospect. )

Juggling work / music - they cope. What had probably suffered is individual practice but spending 3hrs playing in a group partly makes up for that.

Saturday music is actually probably the least stress on my kids time. We've been through ( and still arewith dd2( choristerships- that's 2 nights a week and part of every Sunday. Ds did a fair bit of rugby too ( when not broken ).

So far so good - I have one doing a PhD and one 3rd year at uni. I think keeping busy teaches you lifeskills like how to do the academic stuff, party with the best and still turn up for Sunday services. I don't think their studies suffered ( and ds hAs maintained a long term long distance relationship too ! )

Busy is good. Just keep an eye.

[stringchild]

Yr6 dd is at JD and will continue into secondary - we will review each year but lots of her friends are secondary age and coping; doubt practice amount is much different either way but it is a long sat so have to manage expectations about how much we can do on Sundays and do homework

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

Thank you everyone. I feels quit excited about this. If he doesn't get in it will be a huge blow though... Fingers crossed.

[Moominmammacat]

Mine all did Junior RAM, actually made it easier to have good teaching for all children/instruments/subjects in one place. Drop them at 08'30, collect instruments at 4ish and leave them to come home on train. Normal half an hour practice most days. Excellent social life afterwards too.

[drummersmum]

Almost a year gone by since this question was posted. DS is enjoying very much jd but it takes all Saturday away (9 to 5)) plus frequent evening concerts. He works all Sunday on homework and revision from morning to bed time, so weekends have basically disappeared for us as a family. Individual practice is very difficult to fit in but that's partly because he also plays in numerous ensembles after school. All in all he's coping, he aced all his gcse mocks. But he works so hard all the time. So, in answer to the question, it's doable but depending on school extracurriculars, be prepared for a full on schedule and a stressful year 11! (It's worth it though, he loves every minute).