November Music Thread

fitter I'm so sorry for your loss, I don't have words xxx

Yes I know what you mean Floot. DS heard someone saying that Saturdays became the highlight of a week for most DCs at JD and he was wondering if it would happen to him also. His first day was at the end of September, so he is still very much a newby there, but yes it has happened to him already. I hope there is something near where you live.

Awful news Fitter, best wishes to you and your family.

Fitter I’m so sorry

Thanks, Kutik and Trumpet - I'll do some research about JD equivalents in our region. He has a fantastic cello teacher, plays in one of the county orchestras, is a music scholar in an excellent cathedral school...and has pro musicians for parents, so I'm not sure what else I'm looking for, really, but my own time at a JD was so wonderful, it's hard not to want the same for him.

Fitter, I am desperately sorry for your loss.xxx

Fitter, so sorry to hear your news 💐

Hi all, my ds who is 11 had a pre audition assessment at Junior Guildhall last December and loved it but has decided to leave it for another year or so.

Kutik could I ask which JD you son goes to? Perhaps pm me? Your son and mine sound quite similar in their musical ability and both play violin.

Fitter... [Flowers]

Fitter .

Oh my goodness Fitter, I have no more words

Very long time poster with an alternate account. The child has applied for conservatoire and has audition dates two and three weeks away. My husband died suddenly on Sunday night and the funeral will fall smack in the middle of the two dates. He would have been absolutely livid about that and very upset about the lack of practice this week. Hopefully the music teacher will help us decide the way forward at the lesson next week. I would rather just go for it and plead extenuating circumstances rather than it slip to the second round of auditions after Christmas but then it's not me that has to play.

Floot if you look on the dfes music and dance scheme page they list all the places that offer advanced musical training as well as the jds in London. Ds attends Aldeburgh Young Musicians at snape maltings as that's closest to us and the emphasis on creativity was a good fit

Mini, pursuing a solo career would be more suitable to your DD me think. I didn't know anything about clarinet but having read all the comments made by those who know the world, it seems like your little one's progress is extraordinary.

Did anyone see the NCO news about the appointment of a new managing director?
Second question - which JDs do everyone's DCs attend?
Many moons ago, I went to the GSMD as a junior exhibitioner - was there for 6 years and absolutely loved it. We're nowhere near any of the London JDs, so it looks unlikely DS will go to one.

ealing i am aware we are living in an unsustainable bubble with the time demands of both music and dance increasing by the term.... I dread to think how we will work it all through when homework is a thing beyond a bit of reading or spelling & tables practice in the car. But she currently wants to be a music teacher/orchestral player and teach dance.... so for now I'm going with it!

Trumpet, love that positivity! But I’m very much aware of that schools in general love to see the commitments, not just last six months but longer.... Let’s hope DS’s shabby application will be picked up for calling to auditions!

Just realised I’ve got references for only one school although we applied for two.... As long as I can remember one school didn’t ask me any reference. I just had to fill a form. Oh dear. I must ring and check next week...

drummers I know he will keep surprising you! Actually the diploma is a great idea if he can work out how on earth to fit everything in!
ealing I’m starting to tell myself to be pragmatic if we have to let a plate or two fall. I am not convinced DS1 can handle this much music and the GCSE workload. It’s important for it to come from him, though.

Kutik, I was having a bad MONTH last so don't beat yourself up over a couple of days . We just popped what we had in the envelope (forgot one) with all the other forms, and got 3 out of 4 auditions. Not advocating our way, but I wouldn't also lose sleep over it.

Oct wasn't really so bad, I just needed to get my head down, even disabled my MN log in from phone so I couldn't be tempted. But, I have been keeping up with all the posts, including drummer's particularly poignant one and the responses. So much sense and resonating with many.

So not in the same league as many of your budding and very busy musicians (I LOVE hearing all the updates on NCO/JD/school stuff/performances etc)...my DD is 14, taking G7 piano this term and been at, I guess, G8 violin for donkey's years now. Sings too.

I've posted less so to not scare those with younger children, as DD's music creation is not as it was in the junior days, and school/other stuff takes over so much that unless you have an aspiring musician, you learn to mourn the old days less, and just relax in the phase you're in. I relate a lot to those with all rounders, this aspect has been a particular challenge for us, as making decisions on what to progress or cull is not easy, so compromise is our household word of the year. Reality is more like keeping as many plates spinning but not getting too upset when some fall, as they are now...

But kutik if it shows that he wasn't doing loads until last year it also shows that he has great potential as he's now suddenly doing so much . I am so pleased we didn't have to do the school thing hang on in there it will work out for the best I'm sure

I'm having a bad day yesterday and today, so I may be being so negative. I'll try to think how to present my DS's 'cv'! Great advice, thank you string!

string... Really...? That sounds so professional and great and impressive. Do you know how common to make a full cv...? I may be tired today. Maybe I feel I'm up to it next week after a long sleep. I don't know. I haven't done my own CV for years... What did you put on the cv? Like performance and orchestral experience and so on? This time last year, DS was just having school lessons, no orchestra, no exams, no auditions, nothing. To be honest I don't have many things to write about on the cv... Maybe three lines for the best results?

Kutik - I made up a folder and printer out refs plus stuck in the kndbjn the envelope; we did a full cv after others told me too

Hello again everyone, regulars and new contributors! We have a busy month coming up.
DS1 has 3 conservatoire auditions over the next few weeks so is busy preparing for that. He also plays organ in the cathedral and has roped DD into page turning for that. DS2 plays clarinet and sax and is hoping to study English with music as a minor from next year so waiting to see if he gets offers soon. DS3 decided he didn't want to continue music lessons so potters when he feels like it.
So it could be pretty quiet here if all three go off to college or university at the same time. I will probably think I've gone deaf!
DD plays clarinet and piano and is in her GCSE year.