Summer term 2019 music

I don't disagree with you at all. However,I don't set the standard for things like JD and NCO/NYO. My ds is definitely a "slow burner" and I'm sure that he will be the violinist he wants to be but he has to compete with 10/11 year olds who have got their G8. How do you deal with that?

I have to admit, I'm a bit bemused by some of the thoughts on this thread.
Bearing in mind NYO involves only a tiny number of players in any one year, it's absolutely not the case that not getting in is an indicator of future career success. Nor does not having grade 8 distinction at 10/11/12/13 etc mean you won't get in to NYO, as has been shown by callypso's DS's experience. Nor is JD/ specialist school the only route to a career in music.

There's a danger of hysteria creeping in, when things like this, and BBCYM are mentioned.
IMO and IME, ( as a performer myself, but also as a teacher and now a parent of a young musician) you can't rush progress, it's not linear, and every child blossoms at a different stage. To say that, at 10/11/12/13, a child has already missed the boat/ resigned themselves to the fact that they won't be good enough for X is incredibly depressing and actually potentially damaging.
It's ok to be ambitious, but it's more useful to have ambitions to play well, play the music that you enjoy, have something to say, musically etc, than to be first past the finish line; music isn't a sport or maths. 😁

Thirdfiddle I think it's the stress of school as ds has Aspergers. He struggles with doing homework and then doing practice. We've tried so many things but nothing seems to work. He has a violin lesson every week and his teacher is amazing but he just can't seem to cope with practicing at home. I try to help him but he can't get started. It's almost like he's scared to fail. Does that make sense?

Hi all,I post on here from time to time. I can totally relate to those who say they feel as though their dc have "missed the boat" musically. My ds is 12,13 in June and plays violin and his teacher has assessed him as playing at Grade 7 standard. He will be doing his G5 theory in the Autumn and will then spend the rest of this year and most of next year working towards G8 with the sole purpose of gaiiing UCAS points.
Ds auditioned for JD but didn't get in. He does a lot with his orchestras but I feel he needs to make the transition to a music school of some sort but he can't seem to cope with it on top of school. I'm not sure where we go from here. Music is all ds wants to do but he can't seem to cope with practice at home on top of homework. Without practice,I don't know how he can progress 😬😩.

Taggie, there are those early AND late bloomers everywhere, even in the specialist environment. The early bloomers may look to have a better chance to be a musician but so many things can happen in their teens and as Boys and calyppso said there are more qualities to be considered rather than being brilliant from the early age. So they all have a chance. You certainly never need to feel you missed a boat at 10.

Agree with boys . Thanks Calyppso. Even though DS2 is only 10, I have been feeling that he has effectively ‘missed the boat’ when it comes to instrumental music. It is nice to hear that the early specialisation routes are not the only way. Congratulations to your DC!

calyppso that is great to hear. Sometimes on these threads parents can feel like their kids have missed the boat musically. Like you they may not have heard of NCO, they may not be able to make JD work for them logistically as a family for a gazillion reasons etc etc but here you are, living proof that musical potential will shine through. Although having been in NYO will have been a massive tick in terms of the application to RAM and award of scholarship. Hope your kid is enjoying the ride!

Boyskeepswinging thank you! DC not from musical family either, but normal teenager with lots of interests outside music, and I think NYO liked that and saw potential. Last year got scholarship to RAM - unlikely candidate for that too. Obviously just one experience, but widening participation in elite music is definitely a thing.

Hey calyppso thanks for that really encouraging post! As you say, it proves there is no magic formula for getting into NYO. I think it's all about musical potential and personality fit for the section, hence the group workshops to see how you work with other musicians. Great to hear how much they enjoyed NYO - thank you for sharing.

My DC was in NYO for two years recently aged 17/18. Had got Grade 8 in the autumn, auditioned the following summer. Came from very ordinary comprehensive school, no JD, and no NCO either as we'd never heard of it! Based on their experience there might not be any standard formula for getting in to NYO. Anyway, was massive step up, brilliant experience, and absolutely loved it.

Third - that wasn’t the odd part. Anyway think will dip back out of this thread now 🙄

Ha! @TaggieOHara mini-folk has a very long way to go yet! But time is on her side at the moment, so you never know! I think NYO is one of those things that if it happens, great, but if it doesn't, not to take it to heart.

Apologies for typos

Small world! He is very very good. So, by extension DD2 is in safe hands!

G8 is a big help for private school music scholarships, and generally for avoiding awkward interactions about school orchestra seating etc. But it isn’t very relevant at the levels required for JD and the NYO. I’m sure mini-Folk will be more than fine without.

Lionessque - there are 7 flutes in this year’s NYO; odd comment really.

I wouldn’t worry re g8; a teachers letter is more than enough - and as others have said it’s just an entry criteria, doesn’t make any difference after that - auditions incl the workshop part are most important. Dd won’t apply fir a few years if ever but yes we have also heard it’s goid to use the first year of applying as a good experience and have lie expectations!

Yes, you have to either upload your G8 mark sheet or the letter from your teacher saying your playing of that standard on your NYO application.

It seems like such a big jump from NCO where the application/all correspondence was with me, he has to do it all himself for NYO. We're not optimistic as he is very young but the audition process itself will be another valuable musical experience for him. And thankfully he doesn't get phased by anything so even if the audition is a car crash it won't put him off. Probably just as well given the standard of the other players!

@TaggieOHara the boy you refer to is DD2's cello teacher's little cousin!!

DD's teacher adamant a letter from him will suffice when the time comes... we're not likely to bother with G8 now.

You don’t have to have grade 8 to audition for NYO if your teacher testifies to your standard. Link to an interview with a boy local to us, who got in on the violin without grade 8 [quite clearly diploma+ standard though!]

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11649424.matthew-arnold-school-pupil-tunes-up-for-spot-with-national-youth-orchestra/

Cripes, whatever is the point of that if they took grade 8 at 10 and are auditioning at 15?
Because a Distinction at G8 is the minimum entry standard. It's a bit like me applying for a job. I'm in my fifties, graduated thirty years ago yet still have to show my degree certificate to potential employers to show I have the minimum entry standard for my job. The worst is when I'm applying for a job and they ask me what GCSEs I've got. (a) GCSEs didn't exist when I was 16 and (b) I genuinely can't remember what grades I got, it was so long ago!

For flute in NCO, there are usually six places per year group. For NYO, it's roughly one. She absolutely, definitely doesn't want to try.

Yes, the combo of a pedal and iPad looks a lot smarter than lining a few stands or turning the pages by hand. It really is great for musicians who travel a lot too as they can carry loads of music without a backache.