Music Junior Programs

@MissScotland , just a thought, does your daughters teacher have connections at any of the JD's or have experience of coaching other kids through the entry process? If not it might be worth trying to get a couple of consultations with teachers at the colleges you are interested in. At the very least you will get an invaluable steer on what's expected at that particular college and any specifics your DD needs to focus on ahead of auditions. And if your lucky, you'll find a champion!!

I second that about guildhall- they are more open to potential and musicality than some of the others where you do usually have to be super advanced to even get through the door... (I personally don't think that means they have lower standards either as I know of post G8 at 11 kids that have been turned down by GH).

Piano department at Junior Guildhall is absolutely amazing - DC1 was there and had a very busy and well structured day (compulsory keyboard workshop, group sightreading class and piano duets as well as musicianship and second study etc). They genuinely do select on potential and have a distinct slant to pupils who play with musical sensitivity rather than churning out the notes of a flashy piece. Grade 6 at age 9 would be acceptable so long as the performance is musical rather than mechanical.

It all sounds terribly impressive to me @missscotland - but then there do seem to be a LOT of very impressive violinists and pianists out there and not very many spaces... It might also be worth looking at Trinity (though it's not central) and the London CYM (which is also classed as a centre for advanced training and has guildhall links). Both my dds are at CYM -one would probably make it into another junior department if she wanted it enough (and believed in doing more than 15 minutes practice every other day!) and the other certainly wouldn't. Both are very happy with the ensemble work they get, and I understand the composition training is very good too (also they're more likely to let your DD use her violin as well as piano). Worth a look, anyhow, along with the rest.

But you never know ... they look for flair as well as grades. Worth a shot.

Hi I have two DCs at RAM Primary. I also recommend to audition other JDs because piano and violin are highly competitive. Violin grade 3 is not the standard to help her to get in RAM. Piano grade 6 at Year5 is not strong as well. DC joined RAM at Year 6 and there were only two places for pianists at that time.

DD1 absolutely loved junior Guildhall- lovely vibe there. We know people at RCM and RAM too and they are all fabulous, but each us it's own feel so worth going to open days etc if you can.

DD1 started in Y7 but with hindsight I wish we'd done it in Y6 as she did struggle with secondary school transition and starting JD at the same time (and this is a child who had sailed through life until then!).

With DD2 we are going for a mid-year start at RWCMD, she will be starting either after Feb half term or Easter depending how things pan out with Covid. She's currently in Y6 and we didn't want to repeat the double whammy in September. Cardiff have been super supportive about the timing.

Good luck!

You can use the same material for all the auditions! Y6 fine, probably less stressy than Y7. Both of mine did RAM and got into Guildhall and RCM too, worth applying to more than one. It's useful for the musicianship and chamber music classes for a pianist who might otherwise be lonely. One of mine loved it, one loathed and one was indifferent!