Autumn 23 Music chat

*neat handwriting obvs.

(I'm just jealous because I'm 47 and I'm still not grade 8 lol!)

Yes all mine would prefer maths to music! I'm told that the two subjects go together though. However I'm also told that musical people often have nearly handwriting and that definitely doesn't apply to my kids!

Grade 8 at age 10 is impressive @minisnowballs what age did she start playing?

DS would always choose a maths test over anything else! Not sure that's a helpful comment here though. Basically sounds like she's ready for a break which is good timing!

We're also ready for half term, though DS has the London Youth Wind Band rehearsals and concert all week. He also needs to fit in more piano practice as is doing his Grade 6 finally this March and his scales aren't there yet! He's also playing in a lunchtime concert the first Sat after the half term break and I've entered him into a local competition but with the same piece, so work on his flute pieces too. Excitingly we're going to look at new flutes for him just after half term, though unhelpfully Altus have just relaunched their range at the exact point he's considering their flutes.

Couldn't find any music activities for DD so she is doing a couple of art classes but hopefully also a lot more practice as her wrist is much better now. She still complains it hurts if she does loads of piano with 'big chords' but its mostly ok. We're skipping Grade 5 violin though. She's chosen an A piece for gr 8 piano now - her teacher made the mistake of letting her listen to them all and given she's 10 she's obviously gone for the one called 'Les Cyclopes' because, why wouldn't you! She's also playing the piano in assembly this friday - amazingly a whole piece start to finish (though it is the Minute Waltz)!

Well done @StuntNun DS - sounds amazing!

I'm trying not to laugh at DD2 who is clearly reaching the end of her tether at the end of the half term. She needs to take a maths test (fair enough) by Friday lunchtime. Yesterday was Bach Day (no time for maths test). Today she is playing contra in Beethoven 5 (no time for maths test). Tomorrow there is now apparently a 'stupid saxophone talk' which means she can't take a maths test.

I can understand her frustration but its Jess Gillam for heaven's sake...versus a maths test!

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He got a part in Dandy Dan's Gang in Bugsy Malone! Not a bad first start into musical theatre.

It's all true, StuntNun. You have to pay a load out for the scenery, theatre hire, costumes etc etc...

Thanks @Comefromaway we haven't heard whether he's got a part yet but wanted to make sure it wasn't a scam!

Good luck and keep us posted. Mine went for 6th form and it was really great for him. It was really helpful in his conservatoire applications too.

Might be more now though

Amateur musical theatre shows? Yes it’s usual. It usually breaks down to something like £5 per week subs.

Thank you, this was really helpful. I also discovered more details on the Yehudi Menuhin school site, with actual amounts and what is considered relevant income. If that's correct then we should be OK financially 🤞Now dc just has to be accepted!

My DS has started auditioning for shows and one is asking him to pay a show fee of £170. Is this standard?

The most useful thing I found was the calculator on the royal ballet school site, randomly... where you can type in relevant income and get an idea of what you'll pay. However, you need to remember that relevant income includes pension contributions (but not child benefit etc)

@minisnowballs yes all very mysterious

@se22mother, I think there are thresholds above which they take a larger percentage of your money- but I could be completely wrong. It's all a bit mysterious to be honest!

DD did get into a local CAT a couple of years ago but they were so disorganised and we had to chase for everything that we felt she was better off continuing PQA instead. No regrets there, she gains a lot from it and it is well organised!

@minisnowballs I thought there were brackets as a small pay rise pushed the fees up by a big step for me/dd this year

We had no parental interview at the school DD is at @londonmummy1966 -perhaps they have changed the system?

it's a good job as I suspect it might have been a black mark against DD's name as we're not exactly music experts but we do ask a lot of questions - mainly about safeguarding, boarding and gender equality- not things specialist music schools really love discussing.

I did meet the Chets head as he wandered past having taken a 'consultation lesson' for DD (apparently the bassoon teacher was busy). He was very nice about dd and had very shiny shoes - and one of the younger children came up to chat with him and seemed to get on well with him.

On MDS I'm not sure whether it really has 'brackets' - those are indicative figures only -our income falls within one of the brackets, but is a different figure - I think it's calculated exactly to the pound on your relevant income, so everyone's figure is different.

That's reassuring. I didn't fancy a musical interrogation!

Thanks for your reply. £2k seems a bit low... I wish they were that cheap! My DC2 is also a gifted musician, but she doesn't like to perform or for anyone to know. Perhaps if I suggested musical Hogwarts she might change her mind! I'm glad it moves up and down though, with the muggle child payment we might be ok.

DH is definitely doing the parent stuff. I am a proper muggle.

The parents interview was really informal and our chance to ask questions. Nothing to worry about. Both the heads (they have two) are lovely and really approachable.

Thank you. I'm hoping we scrape through at the lower bracket.