How difficult to get in JD in London?

Hi Pippap1. Just thought of the consultation lesson date. I vaguely remember RAM Primary's audition season being slightly later than other London JDs. You may not want to leave too much gap between the consultation and the audition if your DS is planning to play the same pieces? Or is he playing different ones at each occasion?

Mine went at 14 and G8+ so I'd say he's certainly about the right standard. Give it a go!

One of the BEST places....

I realized I may sound such a pro-jd.  I met some people who weren't as excited and didn't feel the high expense and hustle didn't match for what they got. But for DS, it was all positive and one of the places to be on Saturdays. I appreciate everyone is different.

Good luck to your DCs, elevenfuss, and a big yay to Pippap1 for the booking! You've opened the door of the adventure now!

My DS had been just taking lesson at a non-musical primary school when we went through the process. So all those of applying for the auditions, visiting JDs, etc made his rather quiet musical journey suddenly a lot exciting and DS was thrilled at every step. We were not just visiting the places, but got to see interesting people, and what's more, DS was performing to them and got the comments... How not to be excited.

I was scared but enjoyed the excitement too.

Great advice - thank you Neleus

You can play something impressive, or easier, or avoid something too well-known, etc. Whatever you decide to go for, I would say pick something you feel comfortable, well-connected, and really enjoy/love playing. As folkmama said, they would love to see musicality/personality and reasonably good skills but I don't think they look for super solid techniques for that age. Some DCs can get in by playing something very stretchy, or by playing something simpler. As long as you can display what they want to see, it really doesn't matter I think.

DS played two violin pieces and one piano piece, all of which were well-known, better to avoid to play at auditions pieces. But he liked them and wanted to play them. While the choices may not be perfect, they were good enough for DS to demonstrate what the JDs wanted to see, I guess. DS wasn't particularly super advanced at the time so didn't play any wow pieces neither.

Also, RCMJD usually provide their own accompanist for the auditions so you don't bring your accompanist.

Thanks v much folkmamma that's super helpful. Good tip about the accompaniment too!

Sorry, not sure I answered your question! I would say go for one they love and one that shows how technically proficient they are :-) Especially if they contrast well.

I would say that the most important thing is that the pieces they play are well within their capability. The panel will want to see musicality and personality above all else, combined with solid technical ability and a good sound. If you go for pieces at the limits of their technical ability, they will be more nervous and potentially hanging on for dear life just to get through so the musicality may not come across. That said, standards at RCM (which I think you refer to in your other thread??) are very high so you don't want to go too simple either!! I don't think it really matters if it's off a grade syllabus or not, although they will probably hear those pieces more often so even more important to play them really well.

As an aside, unless you are going to accompany them yourself or take your own accompanist, it's worth practicing at a variety of tempos - in DD's JD audition the pianist took her Mozart a good few notches faster than she was used to. It was fine as she knew the piece really well and it was well embedded but on another day/piece, it might have thrown her!

Good luck :-)

Good to know - thanks folkmamma

Also, re audition pieces. Would you say it's best for them to play the most advanced piece they can play proficiently? Or the one they like more?! Should grade pieces be avoided do you think?

People definitely move around Eleven...

Ah, just stupidly started a new thread without reading this one. My DDs (just 11 and almost 9) are going to have a shot at this (on viola and cello). It's all a bit last-minute so very helpful indeed to read about your experiences.

Out of interest, if you get offered a place on a JD and decide to take it up, do people ever move to a different one or are you generally there for life so to speak?

Sorry, not MoD (what's that??) but HoS( Head of Strings).

You can ask the JD of your choice if they offer a consultation lesson. If they don't, ask Guildhall. You get to meet the MoD and he would tell you his honest thought on the playing.

Looking back now it wasn't necessary, to be honest. We just ended up paying extra. But as I said it was good to know where DS stood.

Why don't you book a consultation lesson prior to the audition? DS's chosen JD didn't offer any pre-audition lesson so we booked one at a different JD. Each JD would be slightly different but it helped us see where DS was as we didn't have any indication like grade (he hadn't done any). They even told us if DS would get in or not on spot...

The ones I know expect a grade 5-8, they don't judge on grades passed as anyone can pass a few exams, they look for potential and musicality.
Give it a go, you never know, but yes, violin is very competitive, there are just so many kids playing them.

DD1 attends one of the London JDs and when she auditioned she'd taken grade 4 and had sidestepped to the AB jazz syllabus. She didn't offer a second instrument at all. Admittedly she's not a string player but she was accepted on the basis of her musicality and potential rather than formally assessed standard. Since she's been at the JD, she has taken her last jazz exam and then stopped doing exams - she may do grade 8 at some point but exams aren't a priority.

Well done for the first big step! Hope you and your DS enjoy the experience.