September Music Thread

Kutik: all the best to miniKutik!!! When is the test? I have never heard of it where I live.

Oh my god Fleur, did they not learn the last year lesson. I wouldnt tell miniFleur about any change though so she will be less stressed out. Hopefully they will reconfirming soon.
We wont try the music scholarship route though, we are still thinking about visiting schools, it might be too much of love and hate too soon. However String or someone here made a good point it might motivate her well and that is something we really need. (or do 2 schools which are in the middle, just for her feel excited about the whole process).
I bought few reeds for the clarinet, lessons will start from next week, the clarinet is loaned from her school, she is very excited. We have a new violin teacher, lesson starts tonight. I am keeping everything crossed for it. Has been more than a year without a permanent teacher now.

Kutik have you considered a private where you could reduce the fees by both music and sport scholarships- I know this is possible at the senior school attached to dd's school and your son certainly sounds able at both

Oh dear! I need a hug!!!

Yes kutik 1 mark or even half a mark could make the difference. Hopefully it works out for you but yes definitely need a plan B and C. I have just heard that for our school this year more than 400 will be taking the aptitude tests - that is for around 10 places! (some music and some language)

Thanks for the info, hertsandessex. Can't stop feeling depressed as our fist choice (though still haven't seen the school yet) is only one which does MAT... I must prepare for plan B and C and D and....

So far, DS has done MAT mock twice and done well both of times but you never know how he performs on the day and he could lose a place by 1 mark (also he is a dreamer like miniFleur). I think audition/interview would be much nicer for us as at least DS has a chance to show his enthusiasm. I could also accept any bad news more easily knowing someone more suitable than DS was offered a place if the procedure involves interviews.

I should add that they all three got music scholarships to a good private good. The state MAT music place was much harder to get!

At the state school my children go to they have a MAT (no auction/interview) and take top 5-6 students purely based on MAT scores down to the 0.1% level. They never make clear who got the music places (although possible to figure out if it was possible for your child by digging into data.) I've had three children do the test now all at quite a high standard age 10 by traditional grading measures and performing experience. They are now older and doing very well with music but none of them got music places based on the MAT. I know one person who did a few years ago who is playing in NYO now but generally seems the relationship between grades and MAT success seems very unpredictable.

Alex - one organ piece that could possibly work (if your Mum liked that sort of music and those remaining do too) is Howells' Master Tallis' Testament.

Alex really sorry about your Mum.

Niggle I so know what you mean about the lack of ambition being depressing. We are the other end of NZ from your origins, so far fewer options here educationally, and the best ones that are here are just so politely mediocre. The Playcentre we go to is great but all the parents say the transition to primary is a massive disappointment for them and the kids because it is all just about fitting in and being like your neighbour, doing just well enough and no more lest you stand out.

I really don't understand this MAT business at all. The selective options seem to have become a torturous for applicants and families. We live in a part of the country where it just doesn't exist. State or private is the choice. In some ways I think it makes the state schools complacent though. And from my experience, they are obsessed with timekeeping and appearance, so children can become good employees. The lack of ambition is a little depressing.

Alex, I'm sorry to hear that your mum has died. It will be a strange time for you. My DH has an excellent knowledge of organ music for these occasions so I'll ask him and get back tomorrow.

DD has managed to catch the first cold of the new school year. Day off school. Still made her practise composition pieces for g5 theory though.

Well it's well known that aptitude improves with practice just as mental ability improves with learning. I believe IQ is not fixed but a flowing thing.

DS2 hadn't had any individual instrumental tuition when he took the MAT in Y6. He had played the descant recorder in group lessons at the local music school, and had done his bronze medal, but didn't play any other instruments.

He chose to sing a rugby song at his audition. He scored 33/45, which that year was high enough for a music place at all but one of the schools in the consortium.

I've noticed that a lot of the most talented musicians in his year group are there through sibling places.

Argh fleur you must be going nuts, that's appalling. I really hope they put all those kids and parents out of their misery soon.

kutik im with the votes for wearing it. DD has this on a hoody, she wore it for her last exam and the examiner liked it.

Much excitement in our house... we heard last night her ensemble are playing in the schools prom at the RAH. She was beside herself with excitement

drummers our state schools are not allowed to select by ability but by aptitude (hence the MAT). There is a lot of anecdotal evidence where kids never playing a musical instrument in their life got to the second stage where they sang. Now I have never met such a case, the two kids that never played an instrument in their lives and took the test that I know didn't get through to the second stage. I am sure there are exceptions though but I think it is rarely that they do go through.

Kutik I'd get dd to wear it.

No news...

Alex I'm so, so sorry. flowers]

Fleur hope you hear definitively today. Its really not acceptable.

Girl welcome, and I've replied on your other thread

To be fair he never called it that. It was me who decided it was his kind of lucky charm. DS would rightly say the only thing bringing luck is how you play.

That's interesting! I'm curious to know if anyone has such an item (lucky charm) for performance/audition/exam.

I had a unlucky charm in my youth. It was my favourite white cotton shirt. Every time I wore it, I ended up having a bad quarrel with my boyfriend. I stopped wearing it although I loved it!

DS has a very cool t-shirt my parents bought him with a famous quote about music in it. Because it became his lucky charm and he loves it too, he wore it at every audition last and this year. Not only it was noticed, but it sparked a conversation about the quote at every audition he wore it, which he didn't expect. It was an unashamedly musicophile/musicnerd thing to wear and that was OK.

Waffle, that may be so true that they may not notice. DS wore his NCO hoodie for a youth orchestra audition a while ago. No one asked him about it. They did asked DS if he was in any other orchestra though. At the time, DS had just done a couple of the regional rehearsal and they were far apart so somehow he forgot he belonged to them and said, 'no'. What's the point of wearing it...

drummer, that's my Lesson Two of today. Right, I must wash and iron the hoodie now!

The school DS is auditioning next week was telling other parent that the competition would be depending on who you were competing against, so the standard would change every year. He said Grade 5 was not good enough for one year, and Grade 3 was great for another year. I remember someone on this thread was saying NCO U10 in 2016/17 was fiercely competitive, which means DS's year could be quite competitive for a music place also!!!!

Thanks, Waffle. Actually I was hoping to hear from you also, as I know you are on the other side of people (though, yours is private, I assume). DS would wear it proudly so no persuasion is needed. He queued up to the counter where they took an order of JD hoodie at the introductory day. I didn't mean to order as it was expensive. So Waffle, if a child turns up in his/her proud hoodie, you don't feel negative about it? I hope you don't.

I'm now coming to realise that people put extra information even when it's not asked. I filled a music scholarship application for two private schools too, but how donkey I was, I just wrote down idiotically honest (grade exams) and didn't add any extra... Lesson One learnt...