Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

Not residential but its worth keeping an eye on the CYM/Trinity Laban and guidlhall websites as they do a range of more general music courses over the summer (details not out yet). TBH most summer courses are either instrument specific or focussed on windband/orchestral experience. At Grade 3 I would think there wouldn't be that much on piano but plenty of courses for clarinet. The Gloucester one I mentioned above would be suitable (and mine loved it at that age).

The problem with piano is that there is very little orchestral/chamber music for non advanced piano. My first study pianist DD managed to get a slot for piano and cello on a national chamber music course after she'd done her Grade 8 but even then the piano part of her trio was far far harder than that for the cello and violin playing with her.

On the subject of courses does anyone know of a course where a 9/10 year old, on around G3, can do piano and clarinet? Not sure if such a thing exists! Residential in the South-ish of England ideally. Thanks!

Pro Corda also do strings and piano courses - I can only comment on strings (which DD enjoyed).

One of mine did NCCB this year - the younger bit of this - following a recommendation on here and she had an absolute blast. She can't do it next year because of the dates but she would highly recommend it

I thought that - then I realized they were still showing 2025 dates!

Thanks for the recommendation. It looks like the Wells course is already full though.

@StuntNun - only downside is it isn't residential so you'd have to book somewhere nearby and stay. Nice area though! If you can afford it I'd recommend the Wells one - Joe Tong who runs it taught DD1 and is a lovely guy.

The piano course looks like it might be an option for my DS. There don’t seem to be so many opportunities for pianists as for orchestral instruments. He is in year 8 in a state school with only one music teacher for all seven years so, apart from getting wheeled out for the Christmas and summer concerts, there isn’t much for him to do at school.

I'm taking notes for next year when NCO no longer an option.

DD absolutely loved Chetham’s orchestra course during the summer

Well, it depends on the woodwind of course - flute a problem, bassoon not so much (DD2 is probably the only person to have done cello, then flute, then bassoon and contra in various SLYOs - though she's never done 3)

It's great if you're lucky to get a spot in a section that you;re happy with and it works for you. DD2 is back in SLYO 1 for December.

Elswhere, Wells has residential courses available for those at a variety of grades - they are residential and take childcare vouchers etc. DD2 does NYCGB, which she loves for choral music - have heard great things about Rodolphus too.

Thanks @Londonmummy66and @se22motherkeep the suggestions coming!!

SLYO is pretty grim for cellists too - too many of them so they end up with boring repertoire that is too easy for them - it was fine for the violinist here but not the cellist.

If he doesn't mind church music the Royal School of Church Music Bath residential is good (my daughter did staff on it recently).

@rainycoldboo The Gloucester one I linked to is for age 8+ and standard from Grade 1 to Grade 8 - they group by ability. Mine went when they were quite young and enjoyed it.

DD has done 4-1 on one instrument, then a couple more years on 1 on the other instrument . She also did DYO on both instruments at a younger age.
Dulwich definitely has a thing for cellos 🤣🤣

they also do a wind bend now for younger wind player…. Def recommend Slyo as the higher standard of the two. DD has done both

Also interested in choral ones - found Rodolofus (sp?) but very expensive!

Thanks @northerngoldilocksill have a look at both!