Spring 22 music thread

HI,

can anyone recommend a violin teacher in Richmond? TIA.

Exciting! I won't believe our concert is happening at the end of March till I'm sat in the hall with the kids on stage.

Today I have booked tickets for DDs wind band concert tomorrow night, then her NCO projects 'sharing' the next weekend and a wind band tour in summer. So much real ensemble music again - so exciting for her!

Lovely to hear about the live music .

We had a county youth orchestra concert last night. It was fantastic and I'm so proud of my boy- he had some amazing feedback from his old head of music centre.

We are enjoying some more things starting up. Actually hopeful of a regional orchestra concert, first since 2019 as they do them only annually in March. Also some festival classes as well as a couple of exams. Nice to have a bit more live music!

I think at our jd some kids go to specialist school in the week as well. You can get an "ensemble only" place for this.

Just a word of warning re substantial scholarships at independent schools - depending on where you are and where you're looking they can still leave significant fees remaining. I think that any scholarship cannot exceed 50% of fees (bursaries are different but means tested). For most of the schools we've looked at music scholarships have been a max of approx 10-25% and academic can be the same. Technically you can get more than one award, but depending on the entry point, there will be one or two of the largest awards!

Although as @Siriusmuggle says, lots of teachers are at both specialist schools and JD's so it's possible DC's teacher may also teach at one of the music schools??

@Musictimesthree only one of the music schools is ok with students also going to JD. I think unless there is clearly something the JD offers that the school doesn't, there's little point and it's not supported (and staying with a favoured teacher generally isn't deemed to be a compelling enough reason either...). One of the advantages of music school for us is everything happens in one place without any ferrying around. DD actually has downtime now!! Time is a precious gift to busy kids!!

@Siriusmuggle, sadly not or without further question I would be sending DC at the earliest opportunity. State school music provision in our area is disappointing or non existent.

I was waiting at JD a few weeks back and I got talking to some parents whose kids did JD and specialist school. Maybe because their teachers teach at both.

@Siriusmuggle thanks, that’s good to know.

@Musictimesthree also you may find the JD tutor teaches at the specialist school. Mine will carry on with his current tutor at conservatoire next year as he’s opted to stay in the same city as his school.

@Musictimesthree he settled in really well. They have a big year 12 intake, probably 50% join in year 12.

@thirdfiddle going to look into the substantial scholarships option. Thinking the children do not need to know the figures! It’s too late for DC1 who would massively benefit from private school but is in Y11.

@Siriusmuggle also going to look into specialist music school. From your positive comments I’m assuming that your DC has had no problems settling in despite joining in Y12? Am slightly concerned though about another change of music teacher when DC is getting on so well at JD.

Congrats on piano QueenMabby, that's fab! Well DD2 has spent all week doing wind band, and now her concert is cancelled because of too much wind. Oh the irony...

At least they get to reconvene next week - she's learned loads but is totally exhausted - four days of 10-5 playing is pretty heavy for a 12 year old, and I think she's found the piccolo a pretty exposing instrument (she's never even had a lesson on it!).

We did specialist music school for 6th form, never done JD. I can’t recommend it highly enough, only wish we’d done it sooner.

Many congratulations to your Dd @QueenMabby. Sorry to read about your son @Siriusmuggle.

One of our DCs is at JD and local comprehensive studying for GCSEs. The music teacher there is leaving so Music A level is looking uncertain. No other local state schools offer Music A level.

So our dilemma is; do we look at independent schools (not keen on this option as our other children would find this unfair and there’s no way we could afford it for them all) or specialist music school. Do some children do specialist music school and JD? If so how does it work?

Thanks!

Just lost a long post. Grrrr.
Essence was - @Siriusmuggle that is so crap for your ds. Hope he's not too poorly and that he gets another opportunity soon.

Dd cello grade appeal not allowed. This upset her. The other 4 cello grades appealed not allowed either.

Piano teacher called - grade 6 just taken - she got a distinction. 139 marks. That cheered her up again!

It’s awful timing but at least it wasn’t the day of his A level practical the week before. It’s frustrating as he’s not ill, particularly because we’re so close to self isolation not even being a thing.

@Siriusmuggle - that's such a shame. Poor ds. Hopefully there'll be other chances but it doesn't help much in the moment does it?

Dd heard yesterday that the school's application to appeal her cello grade has been denied. She was gutted. School appealed all the cello grade results from the same session - 4 or 5 I think and were denied across the board. Her cello teacher having had a good listen back to the recording said she should have got about 10 marks more than she did! Still never mind. She's well into her next grade so hopefully that'll go better - it'll be an in person practical grade.

She was mollified by a message from her Piano teacher that she had got a distinction in her grade 6. 139 marks. She was very pleased with that.

That’s rubbish for him.

My child has covid so is missing the school concert. He's gutted as he was playing 1st this time. It's his mate's turn in the summer so he's missed his moment. Half the orchestra are down but they're going ahead with what's left. He's not even poorly.