Music Junior Programs

Oh, that's interesting. How did you hear about it? I signed up to their mailing list but did not receive any information about that course.

@LittleVenetian Yes, at extra cost.

NCO have closed auditions, but they're running an online course at the moment (which they gave access to grade 5+ people who weren't allowed to access this year) and it's so far fantastic, so keep your eyes peeled for similar. I saw on another thread that they're not running a summer course this year, so I suspect there might be more online stuff.

Interesting, thanks. Do the 5 lessons cost extra?

As for NCO - that's a topic I have not thought about for a while. Haven't they closed auditions this year? I signed up to their mailing list a year ago and have not heard a peep.

@LittleVenetian I've asked about this at both RCM and Guildhall and @Yr10mom is right - it's totally up to teachers and parents if they want to do that (and some teachers just want the holidays off!) Guildhall have an arrangement where you can request, through them, five summer holiday lessons, and then the teacher either approves them or doesn't. RCM it's done individually with teacher. So it'll really depend on the teacher. But they've both pointed out that a lot of students will be doing NCO / NYO in the holidays as well so there's generally a lot of holiday music-making going on anyway. They both made it clear practice was expected through the holidays though!

Our teachers have always been happy to do a few private lessons in holidays. Some people use the break as an opportunity for courses / masterclasses.

hi it is up to and the teacher to decide but they are not obligated to offer holiday lessons - some don’t and others do; i guess having virtual lessons is an option now if geography is the issue.

Does anybody know what happens to lessons during the holidays? I guess some teachers offer additional lessons at home but some teachers live a long way away. My DC is used to lessons every week when we are not on holiday. It seems odd that going to a JD might result in far fewer lessons over the course of a year. I had not really considered this before. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of how this works in practice?

At Guildhall you had to do musicianship until you had passed their certificate (usually in Yr 11 but some in Yr 10). After than you were offered a choice of subjects including more musicianship, conducting, composition, jazz etc.

DC did conducting which was amazing as they had the specially trained pianists to follow every move/highlight all your mistakes.....

I'll be interested what my DD will get at RCS for musicianship, they haven't really said as she has done grade 5 theory. I assumed most would have but her teacher said some some arrive at the full conservatoire without it and have to sit in a class practising till they can pass it. Seems like it is good to do earlier rather than later!

It is possible to study GCSE and A-level music at Trinity but those are additional options and are paid for separately. They are primarily aimed at those whose own schools do not offer the subjects. Musicianship sessions do not prepare students for any particular course or qualification. They are very flexible and driven by the interests and expertise of the individual tutor as well as the membership of the group. Amongst other things, my DC has covered aspects of theory, composition, arranging, writing reviews of concerts... all sorts!

At Trinity, students are allocated to musicianship groups as their timetables permit. Everyone will be in a group but there aren't options. Composition can be taken as a second study.

so at RAM there is GM, theory and composition (when not a first or second study) - dd isn’t doing GM (but i think would have otherwise) as is joint first study (not actually a. thing at RAM but it morphs into that in practice). all are excellent and whilst i haven’t seen any qualif. associated (besides theory exams). grade specific aural is also offered for those prepping for exams

So kids who already passed grade 6 (or even 7 or 8) can just pick one of those classes listed above for their 'musicianship' slot (apart from pre-con class as it's not for everyone). Plenty of interesting courses available for the kids who have already done higher theory grade at arrival as they won't be alone.

OK I just looked up the old documents I have here. So after grade 6 theory, you can carry on up until grade 8 theory, or switch to composition (for non-1st study composers), improvisation, conducting, or pre-con class which is to prepare Y13 for RCM undergraduate courses (so available only for Y13).

When DS was there musicianship classes were compulsory until grade 6 theory not grade 5, and you could choose whether to continue till grade 8 or pick something else such as improvisation, composition, conducting, etc. It was just a couple of years ago so it's still more likely the same?

When I was there, everyone took musicianship classes until they passed grade 5 theory and it was optional to carry on beyond that.

I also did improvisation and composition classes which were fab!

Hi @dinosaurinmybelly I have similar questions about RCM musicianship. I found this online which you might have already seen: www.rcm.ac.uk/media/RCMJD%20musicianship%202020-21%20course%20descriptions.pdf

Hello - I’m hoping someone with older children might be able to shed light on a couple of things we are mulling over here.

Firstly - was there a discount in fees offered last year when the JDs went virtual / digital?

Secondly - it looks like Trinity support preparation for GCSE and A- level music, Guildhall have a musicianship certificate that looks very good. Have you found that the musicianship classes at RAM and RCM similarly robust, ie with a pathway to a qualification / goal? There isn’t much info available and it’s hard to tell from the info I was sent when I asked.

@TheFamousMrEd Hahaha. That's NOT old!

[quote WordsandMusic2020]@TheFamousMrEd Ah, that's so great to know! What years were you there (if you don't mind me asking - just wondered how recently)?[/quote]
It was quite a while ago now - I left in 2007. I now feel very old!

@TheFamousMrEd Ah, that's so great to know! What years were you there (if you don't mind me asking - just wondered how recently)?

I went to RCMJD for 11 years from aged 7-18 and enjoyed my time there! I’m not a musician now, but I did learn a lot from there. I play cello, piano and saxophone and it was a fantastic place full of lots of very dedicated students.