Spring /Summer 25 - Music thread

Wow, what a talented bunch of children you have.

Thanks for all the suggestions for a summer school. Apologies for posting and disappearing - I already had covid and then came down with shingles. I'll check out those options.

@Issy422 Clyde opera are looking for juniors for Carmen

By all means feel free @Compsearch! Any time!

Thanks very much @Legoninjago1, @chickentikkasalad and @northerngoldilocks.

@Legoninjago1 I might DM you if I have any qs once he’s up and running if that’s ok!

Hope everyone has had/is having a lovely long weekend!

@Issy422 I'm a St. Mary's parent and they hold this Vocal Summer School. My DC are not singers but I highly recommend the school and the faculty. https://www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/vocal-summer-school

Congrats @Compsearch- it sounds like he’s really cut out for it musically and he’ll probably love it! My DS2 is nearing the end of his first year as a probationer chorister at another London cathedral. He joined the attached choir school and boards though, so although there are some weekly logistics involved it’s not too heavy. Hopefully, you’ll have a good bunch of families with you and you’ll be able to share travel and lighten the load. I’m sure you’ll want to be at as many services as you can once he’s singing properly too. It’s incredibly moving and rewarding. Hope it’s all brilliant for you both!

We're in central Scotland so would have recommended RCS but don't know of any others. Maybe some local groups in Central Scotland would be doing summer schools you could travel up to and stay for. Eg Standout theatre school is one I know locally, they did a Wicked Easter camp. My friends daughter goes there and she's a music teacher and rates the school highly.

Hi. Was just about to post a new thread here after not getting any response on Scotsnet, but saw this thread and thought it might fit here.

Any recommendations for a summer school, ideally singing, but would also consider musical theatre, for DD15? She hasn't done her grade exams but in her Nat 5 (GCSE equivalent) she had to perform a grade 3, but ended up doing a grade 4 and a grade 7 song. We'll need to book accommodation wherever we go as we're in very rural Galloway, so location not that crucial, but we are fairly equally distant from Glasgow and Carlisle.

She'd ideally like opera, but not sure she'll find opera for her age. She's not keen on any of the RCS offerings. She likes the sound of the Inter one that's based on Six, Heathers and Waitress, but I googled the old name (UK Theatre School) and seems the school may have some issues. It's also dance as well as singing and, while happy to do it, she hasn't done any dance classes since early primary.

Any positive or negative recommendations?

Congratulations @Compsearch. He’s such a talented boy! Hope he loves it!!

Thanks all. I’m really proud of him! I think he might either really love it or hate it, so will have to see how the probation goes. Not sure how well he will cope with sitting through services, but I guess they get used to that quickly?!

The aural tests were as I think @Londonmummy66 said - singing notes from chords (which he was freakily good at), plus scales, clapping rhythms and then sight singing a hymn (which he’d never done and didn’t have a clue about).

Would be fantastic if anyone lived anywhere near us - I’d be surprised as we are East London but will check it out.

Congrats @Compsearch! My DD is a chorister at a different cathedral and absolutely loves it. She is learning so much and it definitely complements her instrumental playing too. The only downside is the huge time commitment, particularly around Christmas and Easter and the clashes with other activities. Some other hobbies have had to be dropped to make time but DD loves it so much she doesn’t mind! She didn’t know anyone when she started either but they work together so well as a team that it doesn’t seem to matter and they get to know each other quickly!

Fabulous news @Compsearch, what a wonderful experience!

Well used to the travelling here, have already spent three days away with youth opera this break and off to national youth choir (9-15) yesterday for another five days; she is only 13 so I am resigned to travelling around for a while...actually I love it!

@Compsearch congrats! Sounds like a great opportunity ( and a big commitment!) Thankfully mine is older and can generally get themselves musical places. Although we travel around a lot for concerts, but enjoy that.

Congratulations @Compsearch - my 2 learnt a lot there. Once he's out of probation and in the main choir it would be worth seeing if any of the older boys are heading home your way. When mine were younger there were a couple of older girls who were happy to drop them off if I couldn't manage a pick up. Or if you can do a rota with a couple of other parents.

wow @Compsearch - how exciting! I've no advice I'm afraid but very well done to him!

DD2 is off with the national youth choir this week, Training choir (15-18) for the first time, so the course is longer, which is tricky if you're year 11. She tells me they did the Treaty of Versailles, Surds and 3D trig in the break.

DS sang to one of the organists at Southwark this week and they offered him a place as a chorister on the spot. I was surprised how quick and informal it was. He’s excited but also a bit apprehensive - his main worry is not having any friends there.

Im also wondering how we are going to manage getting him there and back multiple times a week 😬. He starts as a probationer with only 1 rehearsal a week, so I’m hoping that gives us all a good taste of what it’s like.

If anyone has any tips or advice I’d love to hear them.

Thank you for your reply. As audition my daughter think Royal college is bit more of aural and more competitive. We are more on RCMJD side.

We love Royal Academy and teachers there but my daughter likes programs from RCM more. We don’t mind about re audition again in Year 7. It is heartbreaking to choose one. Could I ask what instrument your child play. We might end up in same department and Conservatoire.

I'm in the same position (RCM/RAM/Guildhall).... I've asked RAM about re-auditioning after year 7 and they said that currently, that is the process, but that it is 'under review'. I'd imagine RAM lose a lot of kids to the other centres over this.... There is an offer holder's day on the 26th, are you going to go to that? I think it will be good, hopefully we can ask lots of questions.

sorry quoted wrong answer!

I’d suggest emailing in to find out what a typical timetable for Primary Academy and RCM JD looks like. It used to be that Primary Academy was about half a day long - mainly Sat afternoons - whereas RCM/RAM/GSMD JDs were full days, and therefore the half fees was about right.

I have a brass player at RCM currently and their day runs from 9 - 4 pm this year with a 30 min lunch break and they’ve requested an extra ensemble next year so will run from 9am - 5pm. The same age string players are there the whole day too so it may just be that Primary is a shorter day, hence the lower fees.

RAM JD fees are a little lower than RCM/GSDM anyway which was a definite consideration for us last year when choosing. My small brass player was equally keen on both until they heard the Symphonic Wind Band at RCM and was in some sort of brass heaven and adamant they would be going to RCM to join that group.

Does your child have a preference? Is one place easier to get to? Are you happy to reaudition after Year 7 in the case of RAM?

Not that particular programme, but my child has loved their JD experience. Hope you make a decision that's right for your family.

it would be great if any parents can share their views and program of violin player at RAM primary academy. As the fee is as half of Royal College of Music Junior department. Could anyone can point out the differences please.
TIA

@chocolateisnecessary Sorry, I'm late to the party, but my DD did A-level Music, Maths, History and RS. As others on this thread know, she's at a US Conservatoire, and all have been useful as there is a compulsory History of Music and Humanities section in the USA. The maths apparently comes in handy for theory! (I have no idea, but I have no musical knowledge at all)
I second the poster who said get good solid A-levels, though. A lot of students seem to do something completely different to pay the bills and keep up music as a sideline/hobby/second job until their musical career gets going.