Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

ALso I think trombone is one of those instruments that often children don;t take up until they are a bit older.

Yeah, had a chat re the NYO stuff. Will put a tape in. Thanks!

@wheresthesunshine I can’t advise but I was looking at the website the other day as also thinking about suggesting my DS auditions, so will be watching with interest! I’d imagine trombone is more unusual so if your DC is at the right standard (which I think grade 3 is?) then definitely worth a try?

My DS hasn’t done any exams - is about grade 5-6 standard but on violin which I’m sure is the most competitive! He will also be just 8 and I think the weekend courses go up to 14 so is there any point? I’m sure there will be loads of kids with much higher grades - do they take age/time playing into account (he started less than 2 years ago)?

Does anyone on here have a trombone player?
What kind of standard does NCO look for? DC is y4 and about to take grade 3. I think they play nicely, and in tune. Do you think they are on track for NCO?
Thank you.

As long as it's not too stressful, it's not a waste of time to do a recording. Doing the excerpts is always useful as similar ones often pop up for things.

A lot of his friends from NCO will be trying so he’ll definitely want to put a tape in.

This is where DD is at too. I don't think she's in the right place this year - even compared to her own best - so we're seeing it as a trial run.

Hope everyone had a good half-term and ready for a music filled March! We have competitions, school exam, concerts galore. And it has finally stopped raining for the odd day.

Thanks @MockCroc - are you in London? It seems to vary a lot by area. From what I’ve read there are some places where tutoring isn’t needed/needed only for familiarisation (like Kent) and others where it is done by everyone pretty much (like some of the north London ones mentioned on this thread). My sister in law is a tutor (albeit specialising in private schools) and says she has people getting on her waiting list from year 2-3 who are already at prep schools which seems nuts to me…what’s the point in paying for a prep if it’s not enough?!

Honestly though the more I think about it the less inclined I am to get into it…just sounds like a stressful experience for everyone involved. I would love to think my DH would help out but the homework/prep would blatantly be a task that fell to me and I have enough on my plate!

Easier piece isn't necessarily a problem, just needs to be played really well! I don't think many would play less than a grade 8 piece but obviously many pieces are maybe technically easier but need great interpretation and others may seem flashy but sit well on the instrument etc and many pieces would sit at the upper end of grades but harder to place. It's also partly down to luck as I know very good players who haven't got into second round. You might be able to look back at their social media as there is always stuff about what pieces they played for auditions etc. They place a lot of weight on excerpts and they all need to be prepared for second round but you don't get asked to play them all.

Yeah, he’s done some Inspire this year. He’d be able to put a solid audition in with one really strong piece and extracts but the other piece would be an easier one so slightly on the lower side. He does want to try though. A lot of his friends from NCO will be trying so he’ll definitely want to put a tape in.

Aw, tricky decisions to make. Is he doing NYO inspire this year to get an idea of the level (obviously not everyone is eligible for that) or does his teacher have an idea if it is realistic? Which instrument would benefit best from the opportunity? There are lots of other orchestra opportunities but I imagine fewer classical guitar ones. ( I think RCS used to do a summer school though).

As a grammar school parent I would caution against getting sucked into the belief that the 11+ requires intensive tuition from Y4. Most grammar school parents are not on internet 11+ forums posting about their regimes, so those who are do not reflect the norm. If kids need that sort of input to pass it probably isn't the right place for them and the view local to us is that kids who are borderline may well do better in the non selective environment where they are in the top % with all the confidence that comes from that. Some tutoring in Y5 to get used to the different skills some of the papers require and to cover the parts of maths that are in the exam but don't get taught until Y6 is a bonus (in our area algebra mainly - never understood why it is in the supposedly egalitarian exam when it's not taught in the state curriculum, but there you go), but the madness some parents engage in around the 11+ is not the norm.

Yes, that’s true re ensemble playing. I think he’d have to commit to doing it really early if he gets in which would rule out NYO.

I think ensemble playing stretches in a different way. There might be social media content that shows some of the music. You could ask what the range of levels that they normally have, I'm sure they will want applicants to be a good fit.

I was on a double bass playing day a few months ago and in the advanced group we were playing a Bach chorale ( so very easy notes and timing) This group included professionals and conservatoire students. We could have spent all day on it, there's so much to playing together in a group. As an aside, I'm impressed at diploma level classical guitar, I found it insanely hard and required constant practice to be able to play anything!
NYO 2nd round audition results were end of September I think, can check back. 1st round was much earlier, maybe July?

Fab, thanks! I'm a bit worried that he won't find that it stretches him enough as he's already hitting diploma level. He'll be auditioning for NYO on his other instrument and if he gets in (long shot I know!) wouldn't be able to do it if he's accepted a place at NYGE. Might cross bridges etc. I'm desperate for something classical guitar wise for him but really struggling to find something that works.

Curiously enough @chocolateisnecessary I met someone I used to know from a saturday school on a train recently whose daughter is in it. She was singing its praises - it's really good for those doing classical guitar who aren't often finding other opps to play with others, she says and there are some residentials at swanky boarding schools which are being enjoyed.

Think it's a lot of travelling the country. The level didn't seem insane - more like Grade 5/6 at Year 10 in her case, though she does play very well, so I'm assuming it's a little less intense on all that than something like NCO...

Don't know if any of that's any help? I

I loved our regional classical guitar ensemble as a teen so I'd recommend it from the musical aspect of playing with others. Don't know the organisation though.

Hello! Does anyone have any experience with NYGE at all for classical guitars? I’m not sure what the deal is for the higher grades if the kids are still relatively
young?

There are many many things that could be better at our secondary school but it largely keeps them safe and they have good friends, everything else is a bonus! Academically it's not so far shut any doors for them but they are all hard workers so would probably have been fine anywhere. I think I would probably have still chosen this school out of all the ones in the council area if we'd had to choose. Thankfully in Scotland it's not the norm to go anywhere else except your catchment school.There are some enthusiastic teachers which I think counts for a lot. A lot of our frustrations are to do with the education system so would be the same anywhere. We have put our energy ( and money) largely into extra curricular music, which has worked for us. The kids then have two sets of friends. I love them knowing people all round the country and it's given them lots of confidence. Good friends are so important.

@Compsearch there is an awful lot to be said for happy. I'd take that above everything tbh.

It took me a year to teach one of DH's choristers to sing in tune - he went on to be a choral scholar at St John's Cambridge and then into ENO so never say never!!!

Thank you all - I think a bit of a reality dose is needed! The kids are very happy where they are at the moment so that is the main thing.

I went to a lovely grammar school with facilities and sports and music to rival most private schools in England, so was very spoiled and feel bad that my children will not experience the same thing. I am sorely tempted to move back home (to NI) and just send them there but there are many downsides to that too.

@Londonmummy66 it’s difficult to say as she’s only 5 but DD has shown none of DS’s early musicality so far 🤣. She’s very good at Maths and we’ve started her on piano which is suiting her well but her singing is still only borderline in tune…I suspect that might be still normal for her age but we have a warped perception because of DS.

@Compsearch - is your DD likely to become a chorister too? If so then there is a very well worn path from Southwark to the girls CofE schools like Greycoat and Lady Margaret.

Indeed. School isn’t everything. Two of DS’s choir contemporaries have got into oxbridge to read music as choral scholars. Both state school, with encouraging parents and lots of extra curricular stuff.