Conservatoires

[rogueantimatter]

Would anyone like to join me on a thread for parents (or anyone with interesting info) of DC who are at, starting in sept or applying to conservatoires?

I'm envious of the MT/acting thread

DS will start Guildhall to do a BMus in jazz (bass) is September. I'm thrilled for him but very nervous. And of course the costs are eyewatering.

His sister started a BMus at RCS a couple of years ago.

Roll up, roll up all welcome.

[rogueantimatter]

Any takers?

Anyone up for comparing notes?

[SaltyMyDear]

My DS wants to do this in a few years. But I think he'll be nowhere near the standard required. :(

How good do you have to be?

the course he's looking at require grade 8 on your main instrument and grade 5 piano.

But I assume that's the minimum and most people who get accepted are way better than that?

[rogueantimatter]

What makes you think he'll be nowhere near the standard required?

Minimum standard depends a bit on your instrument. Piano and violin are probably the most competitive but less commonly played instruments are less competitive eg bassoon and double bass.

My DD passed her G8 on piano when she was 14 but DS hasn't sat any exams on his instrument.

I'd advise looking at junior conservatoires and specialist schools. The junior conservatoires do summer schools too.

[SaltyMyDear]

I think he can make grade 8 sax / grade 5 piano by year 12 or 13. Currently he's year 8. And he's only just started piano.

Summer schools an excellent idea. I'll start researching. Thanks

[GetAHaircutCarl]

DD is currently going through the admissions process for RADA.

But statistically it's a looooong shot. She's got through the first two rounds of auditions. Stage three today!

She has also made applications to UK and US universities as back up. That process has been easy in comparison.

[Icouldbeknitting]

DS may be interested for 2018 entry. He's got as far as registering for an open day so far. The alternative would be a university music course that has a performance element unless of course he has a sudden change of mind in the next year and decides to be a lawyer (a career as a rocket scientist is out - wrong A levels) He has not looked into it enough (for "enough" read "at all") to know that the standard offer is EE which would take all the pressure off him for A levels.

[rogueantimatter]

GetaHaircut I really admire the bravery of drama applicants. It's so incredibly competitive. Very best of luck to your DD. Has she auditioned for RCS? (my nearest)

knitting What does your DS play?

My DD decided to go for music at a conservatoire when she was 14, but her bro was 17 when he hatched his plan A - successfully apply for conservatoire, Plan B unsuccessfully apply, take a gap year and reapply, Plan C unsuccessfully apply twice, give up and do a science-y course.

[GetAHaircutCarl]

Thank you rogue.

She said today's round went very badly, but then she said that about the last round.

TBF she was horrendously jet lagged, having only returned last night from the states where she is currently working. She is now fast asleep having wolfed down toad in the hole .

[GetAHaircutCarl]

And no, she hasn't auditioned for anywhere but RADA. Long story.

[PurpleAlerts]

My DD is attending a third recall for the BA in Music Theatre at RCS on Sunday and has two other first round auditions for Trinity Laban and Arts Ed next Monday and Tuesday. Also has a second recall audition for Mountview in April.

It's a very competitive and stressful process- just hoping she gets offered something this year and we don't have to go through it all again next year!

She doesn't want to do Music Theatre at a university as the
Vocational training doesn't seem to be as intense or well connected in the industry . Shame as many places don't come with the usual student loan funding making it very expensive!

[rogueantimatter]

Fingers crossed for them. The audition process sounds excruciating. The music auditions are bad enough.

DS was very lucky to be the last one to play at both his auditions so the panel were able to tell him there and then that they were going to offer him a place. Suddenly after the stress that's it - by the middle of December, before lots of people have submitted their ucas applications! It would be quite smug-making if it wasn't such an insecure path to follow compared with his friends who are about to start engineering and law degrees.

How do other parents feel about choosing these very impractical follow-your-dreams courses? We talked about this as a family such a lot before our DC applied.

[PurpleAlerts]

It is a difficult call. They say it's a hard industry to make it in. But I would hate for DD to get to 30 and regret not having tried.

So few make it- why not her? Don't try and you will never know.

I wanted to go into acting. People said I was good but my parents just wouldn't let me. My head of third year dragged my parents in after I had put my options in and said I was too bright to take drama... So I wasn't allowed to do it. End of story.

I always resented it- did a bit of drama at uni and people were astounded I hadn't pursued it- don't want her to have the same regrets. You are only young once.

[GetAHaircutCarl]

I am very supportive of DD following a career in the arts. I'm a writer myself so I know how rewarding it can be.

Personally, I suspect DD will become a writer/director/ producer in time, but at 17 she is probably too young. What has a white middle class girl got to say yet? So acting is a good way to learn how the industry works and learn the skill of inhabiting other skins and lives.

What about the musicians on the thread? What % of students actually make a career in the industry? And do those that are successful make a reasonable living? I only know a few jazz musicians through DH and they mostly do it on the side.

That said I've met some successful composers for telly who seem happy and wealthy.

[MrsJayy]

Dd has an audition for RCS in March for BA in acting she did apply when she left school but didn't get in she went to college and is applying again so fingers crossed

[Icouldbeknitting]

All DS has ever wanted to do is to be a teacher (I know, I know) so he can follow many paths to get there. The family has several examples of parents attempting to force their children down a particular career path and in all cases it's ended with rebellion part way through the degree they were nagged into doing. What this shows me is that they should do what they want to do because it's their life not mine.

For many jobs any degree will do so it doesn't matter whether they took music or geography or roman history because they aren't necessarily going to specialise afterwards (said the accountant with the degree in chemistry)

[BoboChic]

There is some fantastic arts HE in the UK for the talented (there is also quite a lot of rubbish arts HE for the enthusiastic but less talented). Sadly, all those who are talented and pursue great arts education do not have lucrative and/or successful careers as artists and it is useful to realise early on that teaching (not necessarily in schools) might be the way artists end up supporting themselves. There is nothing wrong with that though it might not meet expectations.

[MrsJayy]

Dd says if she can't act she will teach she really isn't looking for that instant fame iyswim so would happy teach

[rogueantimatter]

RCS seems to include 'soft skills' such as presenting individually and as part of a group, multi-disciplinary collaboration etc in its core degrees programme. I'm not sure how it compares with other conservatoires but in theory anyway, these skills should be very transferable.

Getahaircut - you know some jazz musicians!

One of the consoling facts about DS' choice is that he plays double bass and bass guitar so he should in theory be able to get more work than someone who is only proficient in one genre.

DD in third year is clear that she doesn't want to work full time as a musician. Far too stressful and intensive. She plays the piano so she already gets lots of bits and bobs of teaching and accompanying work.

I think being successful as a performer must depend quite a bit on having good people skills and being very organised and disciplined so that you can find and be ready for opportunities.

[rogueantimatter]

Good luck to your DD MrsJayy

[MrsJayy]

Thank you I think she is just going to see how it goes she had a few conditionals for elsewhere they tend to take in 2 scottish females a year so she might not even get a call back. Good luck to everybody elses dc. Dd1 was tempted to go for music but she changed her mind she freaked at the open day never mind applying

[gnushoes]

DD got 2 auditions lined up for acting and a third where she has to sort the date, plus a fourth place to apply to. So glad there's a thread for this - it's all new to me.

[MrsJayy]

Oh good luck to her gnushoes

[GetAHaircutCarl]

So DD got through to the final round of RADA.

Very proud of her but still a long shot.

[user1457824083]

I agree with PurpleAlerts. Both my son and daughter want to act. Son applied 2 years running and is now very happy at BSA, DD is going through her first year of applications. After much thought she decided to go for straight acting rather than musical theatre. They have no illusions about the difficulties they face, we are of the opinion that if you can do what you love you will never 'work'. They will never be rich but at least they wil - hopefully - be happy.😁

[MrsJayy]

👍 getahaircut she must be chuffed to bits well done her