August Music Thread

Ds has chosen his options already so he's doing music and drama plus RS . I'm secretly hoping that he will be allowed to drop at least 1 ( probably RS) so he actually has time for music practise . He has now decided he wants to go to music school to focus more on that and less on other subjects !! I'm hoping school will be a bit flexible so that we get to keep him at home for longer - also much kinder to our bank balance !!

Tabbytigger that sounds like a great combination!
DS2 will be choosing his options this year and definitely wants to do music. He already does a bit of composing for fun, whereas DS1 came to it a bit late, so I think he will find it easier in that respect.

Glad to hear your DS enjoyed U11s patrick.

Interesting discussion about pro corda/NCO. DS2 did Both this summer and had a great time. His playing has come on hugely. Unexpectedly, he arrived back from NCO with his technique improved rather than full of bad habits (thanks to a great tutor). The sensitivity of his playing improved from Pro Corda, but the parts were very simple so not much scope for technical development.

So both had different benefits! And I don’t know which he preferred. He will audition for NCO this year and we will see what happens, also in terms of holiday choir commitments. We already know he can’t do pro corda at Easter

Tabby

DS did music (and is doing A-level); DD does art.

Neither could have done the other's choice - DS is hopeless at art, DD is not interested in music - but guiven the choice between them I would DEFINITELY go for music, especially if your DD does some kind of music anyway.

The workload for art is bonkers. DD is very good, and her teacher raves about her work, but to get enough done to the right standard she spends every weekend in term time and pretty much every day in holiday time working at it. On the other hand, if you are already doing a bit of music practice fairly regularly, and like composition, then music just doesn't have the same level of 'over and above' workload.

Lovely concert at U11s today and glad I saw you again Patrick, if only briefly. DD2 seems to have enjoyed herself even more than the last 2 years. I think she is getting a little more confident and talking to more people which bodes well for the change to secondary school. She’s told us more about this week than we’ve heard about the others.

Patrick, make sure you go to Annecy itself. The old part of the town is beautiful. Have a lovely week.

On the GCSE front, DD1 is doing both music and art. Trying to keep out of it and not nag her to get on with it, but it can be hard.

Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone! I think she’s going to go for music because the workload seems more manageable and predictable. She loves composition so I think that element swayed her - her and DD2 make quite a team for improvisation and composition (their musical is coming along nicely...). Music, triple science, Spanish and Latin also seems like a better variety than her previous plan - which was German in place of music. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise...

with most of these things what you get out of it depends on what you put in and what you take on board and remember
Totally agree. One can learn from anything if one is willing and ready to learn.

folk, interesting to hear from someone who knows both organisation. I agree both are good organisations so won't go wrong whichever you pick - it may simply be down to personal preference and what you are looking for out of those residential courses.

Ideally being able to do both would be great but we also have to make priority due to the limitation of time and money. DS seems to have had amazing time at NCO and is keen to go back next year. As Pro Corda goes up to much older age, he may try it once he reaches post-NCO age (as long as his keenness on NCO lasts). Also, I would like him to do some orchestral work outside of school as his new school has fabulous chamber music but not full orchestra.

We had lunch at a lovely pub after today's concert. Can't believe it's finished already... We changed our holiday plan so are back to London. We'll be here for a few days, then go to Lake Annecy for a week. It'll be our final family holiday before DS sets off to his next adventure.

druidsong* yes indeed! the only thing is the sixth form will have to agree to him changing but I'm pretty sure they will.

Tabby, I have no specific knowledge of GCSE music but I would say that for a student who is good at maths/science/subjects involving logic, then music theory really shouldn't be an obstacle.

Re art GCSE, the most talented young artist I have ever known (and I studied fine art at a big name London art school) got an 8 ... she has professional-level illustration skills and is almost certainly a better artist than the person or people who assessed her. That sort of randomness in marking makes me think that music may be a better bet.

Loose, it must be tough having to narrow down your studies at such a young age. So much easier here in France where there is a core curriculum across the different baccalauréats and you don't have to close any doors. DD did a science bac but all her higher education applications were for humanities and social sciences.

Hi Patrick! As you know, we are big fans of Pro Corda over here. Aside from the parents choosing it over NCO, lots of the kids do too. We know several members of both who if forced to choose would do Pro Corda.

The tuition is excellent on Pro Corda, Noo's playing seems to shift up a gear with each course. We recently discussed what she wanted to do next year as we struggle to fit everything in, and also to afford it all. She has decided not to do NCO next year and to focus on her first year at JD plus Pro Corda. I didn't influence this decision at all! (In fact, I'm a bit gutted she doesn't even want to do Regionals...).

They both offer very different things though - I would recommend giving Pro Corda a go (Noo and DS will be on the same course! 😘) and then letting him choose depending on whether he enjoys the big orchestra vs chamber music. They are both wonderful organisations.

I think NCO are trying new things out this year which is good . I think whether NCO provides detailed teaching or not depends on the instrument and the tutor . This time around especially Ds's trumpet group all got an individual trumpet lesson where they focussed on technique he seems to have learnt a lot throughout the week with regards to warm ups technique etc as well as learning how to play the pieces !! Might be different for violins as they always have such a lot to cover . Also I think as with most of these things what you get out of it depends on what you put in and what you take on board and remember . Ds only took part when he was older so maybe he was more ready and able to assimilate all the information ? Pro corda is also very good and rated by my friends and their children
Enjoy the concert and your holiday !!

On way to Dorset.

A couple of patents I know have shifted their interest to Pro Corda from NCO claiming Pro Corda provides more detailed teaching and attention due to their focus on chamber music. They said NCO was fun but too large.

Interesting that NCO has introduced chamber music this year. It's our first year so don't know if they always did but I think I read somewhere it's a new attempt. If NCO can provide both worlds (chamber and orchestra) that would be great.

I spoke to DS yesterday and he said he would not be playing in the chamber concert but we are going to attend the concert anyway. It'll be nice to see how they put all together for such limited time.

The new art GCSE is far too heavily skewed towards analysing your artistic journey, as it were, rather than producing artwork, and it's an insane amount of work. I would steer clear unless you have a real passion for it and spend lots of spare time doing it already. It also needs a very organised art department that understands the marking criteria because it turns out it's quite easy to get it wrong!

From what you say there it seems like music might be a good choice.

The final block is now really limiting for her - it’s only got French (which’s she’s done) geography (which she doesn’t want to do) food tech (see geography!) performing arts BTEC (again, see geography!! Plus it sounds like a lot of work and she prefers exams) and then art or music... I think she’s more naturally drawn to art because it’s something she’s always been good at, but then music is something she’s recently taken up. I’m worried that because she plays very casually the GCSE might force her to be more serious, and then she might lose her interest. Thanks for the useful experience - she’s really been stressing about it today and yesterday. It’s a tricky decision. which could all be solved if Spanish wasn’t in the same box as German twice

Tabby if workload is bothering her I'd steer well away from the Art. DD did Photography, and she still shudders thiking about her portfolio. I have three huge folders tucked away on the loft in case she wants to look at them one day.

DS1 did old style GCSE and DS2 is 1 year into the new syllabus. There doesn't seem a huge difference. Grade 4 and 5 is fine for the start, it would be fine at the end. Ds1 did learn some theory outside class but that was partly because he had a rubbish teacher for most of Y10 and they were behind.

Neither boys have found it impacted on their playing enjoyment

DS and I were talking about music GCSE today, in fact. DS did exactly the wrong thing and chose art and music. In his case this was too much coursework overload but mostly his experience of GCSE music was quite positive and grade 5 level is definitely ok!
DS got a 7 (old A) in the GCSE. He only dropped 1 mark on performance and dropped 3 marks overall on the compositions - but that's just as well because he seemed to spend most of his GCSE slowly plodding his way through them. The written paper he found really odd - the essay bit was fine but he said there are questions about the set pieces where several answers could be right but only one will get the marks. So clearly he was struggling a bit there! But he genuinely enjoyed it.

Good news about the gcses! And mistri i am in awe of your kids. No idea about music gcse, sorry.

Dd1 was very nervous this morning but both survived and thrived

Well done to your DS Loose!! Getting results has definitely relieved tension in this house.

What do people on here generally think about music GCSE? DD1 was recently informed her original combination of GCSEs can’t be faciliatated any more because of timetabling. She’s now essentially got to choose music or art but can’t decide between the two. She’s only grade 4 and 5 on her instruments and has only been playing for 2 years so is worried about the heavy theory element and the workload taking away from her main GCSEs (maths, sciences and languages are the ones she excels at really). She also doesn’t want it to take away from her enjoyment of playing, because she’s quite casual in her interest. Would be interested to hear experiences!

Mistigri your DS is amazing!
DS keeps changing his mind. At the moment he's set to do 4 subjects in Y12 as the school still does AS levels. So currently those are English, maths, philosophy and psychology. Mind you, we'll see what happens when he goes to enrol!

Well I had a brief chat with DS2 earlier, thoroughly enjoying himself. He'd been to three concerts last night.

Two of the three boys he is sharing with are also organists which is brilliant.

Well done to your DS Loose