Spring /Summer 24 - Music thread

@Legato00 Hi, I've no personal experience of RCM - DD is at another JD, but auditioned at RCM on two instruments including the violin. When I went to RCM open day, my understanding was that their programme is more flexible for multi-instrumentalists, that's why we applied, but that might be just an outsider's view.

@Legato00 my DS has been at RCMJD for 6 years. When he started age 11, he did 10-4. This included his lesson, choir, musicianship, a chamber group and an orchestra. Since yes 8 I think he has done 9-5 (often with a large gap during the day). Since covid choir was cancelled, but I think it might be compulsory still for younger students. He has had 2 Chamber groups for a while. I'm not sure how fees compare with the other JDs. We only have the basic programme with no additional time/studies. The fees go up every year as well. I hope that helps, if you have any specific queries let me know. Btw, DS is a flute player, so I can't comment on violins specifically

Hi. I would appreciate your advice please. My DD would like to apply to the Junior Departments next year. Her first instrument is the violin. I am just doing some research at this stage but I noticed that the RCM fees are much higher than those of the other JDs. Does RCM offer more? Also which JD has the best program for violinists atm?

Hi, just after some advice, well, not that DD will follow it ...so I should say other's opinion...
DD is due to sit her grade 8 oboe performance exam later this week.
I was at a practice session and saw she kept drinking water. I made a comment about it and she said she would need to do that during the exam as well as she gets such a dry mouth during playing .
She did say she would use a nice glass instead of a plastic bottle...

Is that "normal" thing to do for oboe players?

She didn't do this for grade 5 few years ago but pieces were shorter.

Also, she has decided to play sitting down. Abrsm website mention this is not an issue but wondering what others are doing?

Thanks, yes, definitely aware of advantages of going for Uni's with good overall standing. Does need balancing with how much they like the course and how much they like the setting of course. Which is what then makes it tricky. Not looking at big cities so Manchester/Leeds etc not an option.

DD looked at some of these but went to RCM in the end. She has a friend who went to York and loved it - quite academic with an early music bent apparently but a great campus and a friendly vibe. Holloway is a great department for research but can get a bit empty at the weekend as a lot of people go into London and Egham is tiny and pretty dull. Southampton is a good department with interesting research and a nice university - my niece went for a different subject and really loved it there - so much she's settled in the city. DD has a few friends at Cambridge reading music who like it - lots of opportunities and lots of good musicians (even if they're not reading it) to play with.

Don't know anything about Cardiff or Bangor as music departments - Bangor is quite a small town. I know people studying other subjects at Cardiff who love it (and its cheap to live in by comparison to some of the others). The only issue I could see is that if they want to do lots of playing there is a conservatoire there - same applies to Birmingham -which means that there will be a bigger talent pool that will have its plusses and minuses. Manchester might be worth a look - I know someone there whose main focus was composition who loves it and has lots of great opportunities/experience despite not being the worlds greatest performer. Also I know someone at Leeds whose focus again was composition who is loving it there.

Somewhat off piste but it is quite easy to overlook Huddersfield which has a surprisingly good reputation for music. It depends on whether he wants to go into music long term or not - if the latter then (being snobby) it isn't as good a CV booster as some others on his list.

BIL did music at Durham and also really enjoyed it. He works in the City now (some kind of data analyst) and I think it was helpful to him that his degree was from Durham (as opposed to say a non-RG uni), so it might be worth thinking about that aspect too - not everyone who studies music ends up in music!

Yes, thanks, C is in the mix, but concerned about pressure and generally being rubbish compared to everyone else. Also looking at Durham, Birmingham, RHolloway, Bangor, York, Cardiff, Southampton. Visiting and reading the course modules tells you a lot, but of course nothing tells you 'what is it actually like doing this course in this place'! Not really looking at being solo performer but enjoys ensemble playing, composition and the technical/analysis bits.

@FrancisBottomhill DH did music at Cambridge if that’s any help? (As did loads of our friends).

It’s quite an academic course (as you would expect!) with a load of compulsory papers in the first year but you have much more freedom later, and can do a performance “paper” in third year. The performance opportunities at the university are unbelievable and loads of students go on to become professional musicians (including DH).

I went to uni to do a music degree joint with another subject. (An MA but in Scotland some unis do that instead of a BA) I really enjoyed the lectures. It was so long ago we listened to records in the library to study! However the department was a bit stressful in the admin so I dropped it for honours. I couldn't do performance modules in first two years but could have from 3rd year. You could also do a BMus which was more practical and got lessons paid for. There was lots of music going on for everyone. If you look at the music society social media you'll get an idea. I think there's a much wider range of modules nowadays so it's probably a case of looking at the choices and seeing whether a BA or Bmus is what you want. BA would usually allow you to do subjects from other courses, Bmus might be more prescriptive to start off.

I think that people on this thread have lots of experience and knowledge about Conservatoires but wondering if people have words of wisdom about Uni Music degrees? Have visited quite a lot of places with DC and of course everywhere has pluses and minuses.

Thanks @Alwaysplayspicc - I've just had confirmation that someone else can do the full lot of residentials so they'll take them instead of DD2 (fair enough). I just couldn't reorganise all of the summer hols - which also involve getting the foster daughter back to Ukraine- when it looked at it. Still, a boost for her that she was asked, and I have explained that she is keen but our family circumstances are a bit complex - I think it must be much easier to do this music stuff when you're not a sibling! Hopefully they won't take it as us not being keen.

I will try and make sure she puts an audition in, but obviously from far away I'm not much help at the encouraging and it will be down to her teacher, who doesn't seem to be a massive fan (and of course she's very much the worst/least experienced of his pupils which doesn't help!). So excited for all of yours who do get to play at the Prom though! What a huge deal for them and you must all be so proud.

Feeling guilty as I missed a woodwind concert last night, and then thought how weird it was that I though 'oh, she's only playing flute so it doesn't matter' - up until September that was her first instrument. At least she sent me a recording.

It's brilliant that she's already on their radar, mini, so don't worry about turning it down.
I would encourage her to audition, regardless of whether you think she's ready - it's good experience AND keeps her in their mind.
DS's experience was that he was offered opportunities each time he auditiined, which gradually became more significant, and paved the way to him being offered a place.

Sounds amazing @Alwaysplayspicc - sadly I think the summer holiday is just too precious. I've emailed and pleaded and it is possible she'll just be able to do the July - depends on whether the next person can do both. Fingers crossed they find a solution that works for all.

DD2 has never auditioned, and to be honest it will be a stretch if she does this year, though her HoD is supportive of her doing so. She's only done Inspire but has enjoyed it.

Amazing, minisnowballs!!
DS was asked to do the summer residential last year, and it clashed with a previous commitment (another orchestral course). He hesitated, but we knew it was a huge opportunity for him, as he was going to be auditioning for a place for the last time that Autumn.
He did it, had a fantastic time, we went to the Prom (which was INCREDIBLE!) and he successfully auditioned for this year.

Oh wow @minisnowballs that’s very exciting! Where is your holiday? I’m guessing there’s no possibility of her going for just part of it?

I’d probably let your DD choose - I don’t think there’s a wrong answer as it’s likely she will get into the orchestra in future years and family holidays are precious; on the other hand it’s an amazing opportunity!

I was in NYO and honestly had the best times of my life and made lifelong friends. Sorry - that’s probably not very helpful!

Well done all for getting Prom tickets. On that note, DD2 has just had an invite to do both the NYO Inspire orchestra in July, and the summer residential, including playing at that Prom.

RIGHT in the middle of our summer holiday.

What would you do in our situation, musical people? She could have done the orchestra but apparently you have to do both to do one.

Prom

I forgot about getting Prime tickets until after 10.30am, by which time I was 38,000+ in the queue.
3 hours later, I managed to get pretty bad seats for the NYO prom DS is playing in. Disappointed, but at least we'll be there.

Reading these posts makes me glad proms wasn't an option this year! On the bright side, we took our girls to our local concert season finale last night. They got to meet Sir Mark Elder and Sir Stephen Hough and thoroughly enjoyed the (ice cream filled) evening. This morning the eldest was trying to copy Stephen Hough technique on the piano. It's nice to see her so energised and motivated. She even chose to record herself playing a Bach piece - something completely unheard of. For her, anyway!

You can turn up in person (and the night tube makes it easy enough to get there). DH did leave the house at about 2.15 though so it was a long wait for 9am. He's usually more like 3.30. They had 7 desks open in the box office so he was in the first batch through usually he's second or third batch but never had a problem getting what we want. The first year we tried this he queued and I waited on the phone line and he was back home before my call had been taken!

The advantage of the box office is you can pick a particular seat eg an aisle, frontish stalls behind the pianist to watch his hands etc. If you're taking the whole family you can also book a whole box (and bribe the children to go as they deliver pizza to the box....)

I had to swap from laptop to phone so went from 14,000 in the queue to something like 27,000…it’s crazy! But actually brilliant to see that there is such demand.

I didn’t realise you could go in person to RAH @londonmummy1966 - might try that next year!

My husband did the proms tickets - well a friend who was 8,000 places ahead got most of them but my son hadn't confirmed he was coming by then so he stayed in the queue - took 3.5 hours I think! So exciting though, can't wait.

@Compsearch joined the Proms waiting room at 8:45. When it went live at 9 I was 52,553 in the queue. A mere 3 hrs and 33 minutes later I had my tickets!

Did anyone else spend about 5 hours in the proms booking online waiting room today? We did eventually get the tickets we wanted!

Glad you got the tickets you wanted @Compsearch - DH very nobly got up at very silly o clock to join the queue at RAH (was 6th) so we got everything we wanted too (and everything various others asked us to get). He was home before 10am too!