Spring 21 virtual music thread

Hello everyone is anyone on here auditioning for the Junior departments of the music schools? We are trying to decide between offers from RAM and Guildhall JD ...RAM have offered Primary but I understand there is no proper orchestra?
Thanks in advance

I shall have to be patient.

I think so yoda. My dd did hers two weeks ago this coming Saturday and nothing yet…

Grade 4 singing and Grade 5 theory finally done this week - very relieved. Is it four weeks for the theory results still?

Rewards after the exams are very necessary! It’s usually a trip to Costa, here. ☺️

thanks! Maybe will talk to dd for next year then - it's not at all clear from the website!

Good luck minisnowball’s dd!
lulu / my dd skipped g3 cello. She was due to take it the Friday the schools closed for the first lockdown in March last year so it was cancelled. By the time things were opening up she’d moved on a bit so there seemed no point. Good luck with whatever you decide - would a fixed date for the exam focus your DS’s mind a bit or just stress him out?

Hi lulu- no hers is in person, at school. She’s never done a digital exam - sounds like a very different process and not sure she has the patience! Congrats to your two- amazing progress!

not long to go now of the term but we still have a couple of things left to tick off!

7yo DS trying to take G3 cello before the holidays but still borderline whether he'll make it, still can't quite get the pieces tidy enough and battling with a couple of scales...for long and boring reasons he either does it now or skips and goes straight for G4 at a later date.

9yo DD has been asked to play harp at school end of year assembly - they are still debating whether this will be Live or pre-recorded, praying for latter as don't have a car that can fit the harp (bought it in lockdown so it's never left the house!). she just got a merit in her G5 violin and is a bit disappointed, she'd hoped for a distinction.

well done to MendingFence's Dd, and to Mabby's for getting theory done.

We have little left for this term now - one grade 4 cello exam for dd2 (cello becoming the afterthought instrument rather rapidly here, which is a shame as it is my favourite even if not hers but Covid got in the way of the lessons), and she has a local orchestra course booked that she's a bit nervous about, but at least she gets to play her flute.

Pro Corda always sounds amazing. Is it just strings though? Dd2, at 11, is the right kind of level on her flute but nowhere near on cello!

Hello @Pes0penguin ! Long time members of Pro Corda here. We absolutely adore it and both my girls develop so very much each time they go. It's a real family, and they make friends that they meet with year after year. DD2 is a particularly anxious character and is autistic, and even she loves it! (They are amazing with her).

This year the course fees were £864 for 8 days. But when you consider the quality and calibre of the tutors and the overall experience I feel this is good value for money and compares with similar high-level musical training residentials.

Standard varies- DD1 went in at 10 around grade 6 standard. She was about middle of the pack. There are some absolutely amazing kids, and some more 'normal' standard. In Junior (12-14) they prob range from grade 6 to diploma! Intermediate is Grade 7+ I believe. But the boundaries have a little flex, both in terms of age and standard. Eg DD2 age 11 grade 6 will be joining her sister in juniors for the next course rather than is have them split across 2 weeks.

Before they go on the course, everyone fills in a form and sends a video of recent playing so they can group them with peers of a similar plying standard. It's very well done.

Hello all!
dd’s music teacher has just recommended (for next year!) the procorda courses. Could anyone give me an idea of the cost of these residential as it’s not immediately clear on the site and I’m thinking I might need to start saving now…!
From a quick look on the website I’m also a bit confused as to the audition process/expectations/likelihood of getting a place. Basically any info to allow me to steel myself for this some time next year would be ideal 😂

One week to go here in Scotland. We had a lovely 'recital' with the girls and their teacher doing some duets and trios, in place of any other performance opportunities. Middle DD doing a Nyos orchestra, and youngest doing Nyos wind training, both online sadly. Not sure if we will want to do any more online things, they need to be live now. Not sure how next year will pan out with activities starting back, hopefully youngest will skip regional wind band and get into orchestra with her sister as they are on different days.

Still a few weeks left to go for us although DD’s piano duet lessons have finished as they have recorded their performance for the end of year concert so will wait til September now to start a new piece. Less taxiing for us than you I suspect Mending as she does all her music in school but I too dread the start of the school year for sorting out lesson timings.
DD is going to the Chetham’s piano summer school in Manchester this year which she’s very excited about and has a two day (non residential) orchestra workshop locally for her cello which will also be good. 🤞🏻 they both happen!

Thanks 🙂 summer holidays have started here now so I (and DH) get a bit of a break from being a music taxi. Not sure im looking forward to the start of term timetable management but i think it Will be easier than last years so thats something.
Does anyone have any summers courses or the likes booked? We dont this year....

Yay! Well done to Mending’s dd. Glad she got the yes from her favourite.

That's really great news

That's great mending! Makes the decision easier.

Some good news here, dd2 did 2 auditions in May and we now know the outcome 1 no (but please audition next year) and 1 yes (which was the one she really wanted) so we're all happy

Not sure. She hasn’t taken any theory exams before now and has really only done theory by osmosis in lessons, she’s never had any formal teaching. We’ll see. She’ll definitely do music GCSE though so.