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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Youth Orchestra and finding other opportunities to play

34 replies

spaghettihoopsagain · 04/01/2017 21:28

How do you find out about orchestras/ensembles and other opportunities for playing together in your area? Dd, just 10, is around grade 5 standard and she is too young to join County Youth Orchestra (12+). We also have Ds, just turned 8, grade 3 violin - we tried a Saturday school (also County Music run) but it was not great for either of them as most children were pre-grade 1 standard. We have a great privately run orchestra near us for grade 6+ but most members are much older (age 14+) so it could be tricky socially. If children are young but on higher than average grade level then it seems tricky.

OP posts:
Blu · 05/01/2017 21:48

I think the CYM is London-based and has no regional centres? Sad

bojorojo · 05/01/2017 21:47

In my County, the LA Music Service still runs strings orchestras and ensembles based on ability, not age. The orchestra you describe is "Beginner's Strings" here but the children progress to other ensembles once they start passing exams. If they are quicker to learn, they progress. I would contact the Music Service for your LA and see what they offer. Here we have amazing jazz bands, choirs and orchestras. There is something for everyone at every grade.

disorganisedmummy · 05/01/2017 21:33

Well done Blu,that was a far more useful post than mine!!Wink

Blu · 05/01/2017 21:31

Does your council / LA have an arts officer?
They may have a list of all the opportunities.
And check the neighbouring county / LA too, if within reach.
Ask your regional arts board - find them on the Arts Council website. They should know what provision there is in the area for young people www.artscouncil.org.uk/about-us/your-area

Start a thread on MN asking in the title for junior orchestra opportunities in or near your town!

Secondary school music teachers may know - if you have any access to them. Will your 10 year old go to secondary in September? Secondaries are generally much better for music than primary, with a range of orchestras, ensembles and small groups. After school music clubs etc.

Good luck - I hope you can find something suitable.

disorganisedmummy · 05/01/2017 21:05

Echoing what others have said,my ds is 10 and around grade 5-6 violin and is part of the Southend Music services. We found out about the Southend Music academy through his teacher and then the two other orchestras through the academy. He has outgrown music school now which is a shame because it's so local but the council have cut the funding and it's only 2 hours and they don't do any theory,choral or any of the other stuff. Both county orchestras ds is in have a training orchestra and then the main one is from grade 4.
We're now looking at Junior Guildhall in London for Saturday music school. Hell of a commitment but I know ds wil love every minute.
Keep looking.

rememberthetime · 05/01/2017 20:58

My daughter is part of the hampshire music service orchestras. I don't know if you have a similar set up where you are. But they have a training orchestra, then a youth orchestra (grade 3 and up) and then a senior orchestra. Ir is based entirely on ability, not age and the younger ones are fully supported.

She found about about all this through her school music teacher.

it is a commitment though because she is in two orchestras at one time and each have rehearsals each week, plus performances and residentials (but these are not compulsory).

Original poster
spaghettihoopsagain · 05/01/2017 20:53

Thanks, what are Centres for Young Musicians? Not sure she is good enough for NCO, it sounds so competitive and difficult to get in (also not sure we would cope with the residential).

OP posts:
Trumpetboysmum · 05/01/2017 17:40

You could see if the county offers any sort of in between opportunities that's what we did for ds when he was 9 / 10 as he was too advanced for Saturday music school but too young for the youth orchestra. he now plays in a wind orchestra and a jazz band . as he plays trumpet all of the trumpets in the county orchestra are grade 8 plus ( and mostly over 16) so he will need to wait a bit to do that. To get over this he also auditioned and got into the nco this year which means that he gets to play with people his age rather than being the youngest maybe that's something you could consider ?

hertsandessex · 05/01/2017 13:00

You might find the minimum age requirement is flexible is they are good enough and they need people (seems to be near me) although perhaps easier with less popular instruments than violin. Otherwise are you within driving distance of one of the Centres for Young Musicians? They run on Saturdays and standard will be reasonably high.