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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Music question

16 replies

itsallaboutiandme · 16/03/2013 08:26

I apologise first but I have no knowledge of music, never studied a musical instrument, only played a recorder a couple of times.

If my ds has achieved grade 3 in drums in a period of 18 months (where he's only been taught for 30 mins a week at school, no extra practice and only during term time). Is this average achievement or above average.

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GoingtobeRuth · 16/03/2013 08:31

I think this is fair achievement, how old is he?
I would have to ask how much more would he be achieving if he practiced regularly?

itsallaboutiandme · 16/03/2013 08:40

Thanks for answering. He's 10.

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NicholasTeakozy · 16/03/2013 09:15

The coordination required to be a drummer is unbelievable. Not only does your hand-eye coordination need to be spot on, you have to be able to move all four limbs independently of each other. So to get to grade 3 in 18 months with only 30 minutes practice a week is pretty bloody good. Imagine if he practices for an hour a day!

If you're worried about space there is a flat pack drum kit (look up the Fabulous Fezheads). It folds away to the size of a luggage case and sounds pretty good. I've played it and it feels and sounds like a normal kit, but you need less space and it sets up in moments as opposed to an hour.

itsallaboutiandme · 16/03/2013 10:40

Thanks Nicholas. I have promised ds a drum kit in July. I never looked at it the way you have put it re hand eye co-ordination and using all four limbs. That's very accurate.

Part of my reason for asking is to see whether it is something an appeal panel would take seriously as I would like him to go to a secondary which specialises in music as it offers great music opportunities.

Just interested to know whether the panel would laugh at me or see whether I had a point.

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titchy · 16/03/2013 11:31

Grade 3 (Rockschool?) in year 6 with no practice would certainly demonstrate an abililiy worthy of a particular school and an appeal panel should recognise this. Buy yourself some ear muffs in the summer

MTSgroupie · 16/03/2013 11:32

I have no experience of specialist music schools but if you are talking about standard selective schools then they tend to look for kids with traditional orchestra-type string and wind instruments.

GoingtobeRuth · 16/03/2013 13:49

You would definitely have a point to make to a panel, percussion requires a very particular set of skills, to make such progress in a relatively short time from very limited hours is showing great potential
I would say that he would be of benefit to a school's music department, if they declare a speciality then they are bound by that to support talent

itsallaboutiandme · 16/03/2013 19:49

Thank-you so much everyone. Your responses (and ds' drum teacher's supporting letter) have definitely given me the confidence I need to fight my corner in the appeal.

titchy - it's not a selective, just a very over subscribed brilliant academy that specialises in music and languages. Just a bit worried that other children might be at Grade 5 or 6!

I feel a bit that I have not noticed his talent! Only became apparent when I spoke to his drum teacher! I blame my lack of music background and no distinguishing of what instrument is playing when I listen to music.

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senua · 17/03/2013 14:47

I do hope that your pitch is not going to be "he's very good considering that he doesn't practise much."
I think that if you were going for an independent school scholarship then you would be talking about Grade 5. In the first instrument - they would be expecting another instrument, too!

MTSgroupie · 17/03/2013 15:30

senua - the OP mentioned grounds for appeal so I suspect that we are talking about a state school.

HarrietSchulenberg · 17/03/2013 15:33

Don't think OP mentioned scholarship and grade 3 in such a short time is pretty damned good.

senua · 17/03/2013 15:45

I can read, thank you! I was just pointing out what sort of level the competition will be at. Grade 3 is very good but there are other very,very good people out there and I bet that they would like to be at the oversubscribed brilliant academy too.

MTSgroupie · 17/03/2013 16:43

Apparently you can't sensua. The OP didn't get allocated the state school that she wanted. She is now hoping to appeal the decision. As far as I can tell, it has nothing to do with scholarships

itsallaboutiandme · 17/03/2013 19:10

Thank-you all so much for your replies. No, it is definitely not a scholarship. We didn't get any of our preferences for secondary schools and have (randomly) been allocated a poor school out of town. Ds is my first and I am learning lots of lessons with him!

I am dreading them telling me at the appeal that there are other better graded children and in two instruments and not just one but I will just have to see. There are other (strong) grounds for appeal too so it's not all hanging off the musical side of things. However the more points the better (I am told).

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senua · 17/03/2013 19:52

I thought that it might be one of those schools that select 10% based on their specialism and you were trying that route.

There are other (strong) grounds for appeal

That's good. Is it worth starting a new thread with a title to catch the eye of the admissions / appeals specialists on here? - they give very good advice.

itsallaboutiandme · 17/03/2013 20:05

Thanks Senua. I might try that.

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