Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

Can anyone here help me with the difference between National Youth Choir (which now has a junior section from age 9 up) and National Children's Choir (which goes up for 19)? I can't really work our what the difference is, or which might be a better bet for my son to audition for in the autumn. He's a cathedral chorister, will be heading into yr 7 in Sept so will hopefully have a couple more years singing treble.

Anyone recommend best musical things to do/see in Salzburg and around? Some of you may have been.

Glad you got sorted! If you child hasn't been before, they will feel a bit more confident if they have had a chance to listen to the music and do at least a wee bit of practice ( don't have to have mastered it!)

Thank you! That was a really kind offer. It turns out that, for once, it was them not me. So we now have parts and allocations 🙌

Oh yes. A bad acoustic piano - out of tune, clanky keys - is far worse than even a mediocre digital one!

Thanks for the input on grants, everyone. It is made a bit trickier by them wanting a hefty deposit to secure the place, but I think I'll risk it. Good point about hyperbole, @achangeofnameisasgoodasarest, I hadn't thought of it that way. I'm sure they are talented at specialist school, of course, but they can't all have been playing Chopin at age two!

@N96 I realise the moment for advice may have passed, but... I think there's a lot of survivorship bias with pianos. The people whose kids went on to do great things hang out on these threads, while the ones whose kids lost interest don't. The latter may have serious regrets about the unused piano hulking in a corner of their house! My daughter started piano lessons, aged five, on an ancient keyboard on loan from the music centre, then I bought her a mini piano (like this https://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and-Pianos/Keynote-Junior-Digital-Piano-and-Stool-White/6ODO), which was replaced with a 25 year old digital piano when she grew out of the tiny one. I turned down numerous offers of free acoustics along the way. I bought a proper digital piano this Christmas, several years in. Maybe she would have done better with a proper piano from the start, but other things would have made more difference (not playing everything by ear for four years, for example, or me noticing that she was only reading the first line and then improvising the rest in many of her pieces). If I were you I'd either buy a cheap, second hand keyboard for messing around on, or prioritise getting some lessons set up. You may find that the teacher has a lead on a loan or cheap second hand instrument, and you can always upgrade once you know you don't have to have a daily argument about practice.

Musicians are definitely into 2nd hand keyboards!

I generally advise weighted keyboards but for a very young child anything will be fine to start as long as you are prepared to upgrade if necessary.

Hey @MockCroc - I have a DC going to one of the Inspire things over half-term. I can access the woodwind folders fine. Perhaps if you're still struggling I could try to email you the relevant bits?

According to DC2 loads of them hate the improv bits so there are always plenty of people to sit with on the struggle bus! She did the same residential last year, plus the summer one, and had an amazing time. Most people are really up for making new friends even if they know a few folk already.

Thanks @horseymum - I did use the password and just tried again in a different browser with the same issue. V weird! Oh well, they still have plenty of time so I will try and sort it next week.

Mine is one of the very youngest going so it is good to hear about repeat attenders who love it. She's pretty pragmatic about it and gets on fine with older kids generally so hopefully she will find her feet.

@MockCroc I can see things in the folder. Did you use the password?
The improv has sometimes been as a transition between items, sometimes led by a conductor, sometimes the musicians, often the percussionists as they seem more confident att that sort of thing. Not a big part of it as they don't have ages but a bit different for most of them.
Having the names beforehand helps them rem people quickly as when they meet someone, they can always check their list!

I don't think DD minds random improvisation things - though maybe more fun at NCO where they do it in small groups so more opportunity for individual choreography and melody. Sweets and card games is excellent advice!

Pleased to see the positive words about Inspire. For those who received the music / parts allocation email today, the links take me to folders that have names of the music but are empty. The orchestra list has the list of kids attending but no parts list for woodwind. Just wondering whether I have done something wrong/ it's just me?

@TreeAtMyWindow I would definitely try. I feel trusts are often more supportive of niche instruments. You just lay out your story and the trustees decide. Priory farm looks idyllic. Don't think it would work in Scotland as it would be more drizzle or midges rather than birdsong and sunshine!

@thirdfiddle hope she enjoys it. This will be my youngest ones third time. She's really looking forward to it. I think some people have mentioned they felt the tuition wasn't up to their expectations but mine have loved them. It's definitely more of a taster with the pieces but they make so much progress in a short time. They also usually do a bit of improvisation for the concert which might be out of their comfort zone! Thankfully it's relatively near for us but we also take the opportunity for a weekend away. The staff are great if kids are traveling independently too. It's quite a short time to get to know people so they need to be brave. My usual advice of a packet of sweets and some card games to help make friends always applies! The pastoral staff are lovely too if you have any issues or anything you need to flag up.

@TreeAtMyWindow afraid I don't know that one, but re grants etc there's a whole lot of hyperbole in the world of music - often I think linked with private schooling where the marketing speak is strong.

Since DD2 moved from state comp to private specialist school I've noticed people are 'thrilled' a lot more and there's a lot more describing everyone as 'exceptionally talented'. Even she rolls her eyes at it

Don't be put off! If you don't ask you don't get..

TreeAtMyWindow, not familiar with that one - but if you don't ask you don't get with grants. If they decide she's not exceptional enough then you won't be offended. In my role as a musical charity trustee I detest filling in grant applications, but have been successful with some I thought very far fetched, you just never know, if they haven't spent their allocation for the year they want to spend it.

Horsey, DD is going to one of the Inspire string sessions at half term. Not quite sure what to expect and it's a long way away for 3 days. Hopefully it will be fun, she enjoyed the October Inspire day a lot. And absolutely loved hearing NYO proper at one of their shimmer concerts.

Today I'm dealing with dreary January by making summer plans and looking at residentials for my bassoonist.

Does anyone have experience of Priory Farm Music Camp? (https://prioryfarmmusiccamp.co.uk/pfmc) I applied because it's in my part of the country and does bursaries, but they're indicating that any funding will be small amounts and I'm asking myself if it's worth the stress of trying to find that much money. I’ve spent a while today researching grants, and they’re all for ‘exceptionally talented musicians’. DD’s going well, I’m proud of her, but I think ‘exceptionally talented’ would be stretching the truth a bit!

Thank you all for the replies. It has certainly given me a lot to think about. Your advice is very much appreciated.

A slightly smaller keyboard will be fine to try out with. There's a ready second hand Market for keyboards so if you bought one and he really took to it and wanted lessons you can upgrade and still get a bit of money back. FB marketplace can be good. Musicians are definitely into second hand instruments as things can work out costly otherwise! Also don't be disheartened if he tries piano for a while then wants to swap or add another instrument, sometimes it takes a couple of goes to find what they really love but no learning will be wasted. It can take a while to get going with piano as two hands are reading different clefs but it's a lovely instrument. He may get into classical piano, or end up writing songs and accompanying himself singing, who knows!

@N96 two of my children started lessons at age 6, on trumpet and piano respectively, and continued playing to a high level. The trumpet player, in particular, insisted that he wanted to play the trumpet from age 3. So age 6 isn't too early for your son to know he wants to play piano. We have a full-size acoustic piano but my son also practices on a 61-key keyboard which might be an inexpensive investment for a beginner if you were thinking about getting an acoustic piano later on if he sticks with it. This is the one we have https://www.andertons.co.uk/yamaha-psre473-keyboard-61-key-piano/ although there are lots of options out there and you can often get a full set up including stand, seat and pedal if you buy secondhand. The smaller keyboard is ideal for us as my son can have it in his bedroom as it's only slightly wider than the end of his bed.

My DS started his keyboard journey on a Bontempi organ I had, at about age 7. He'd enjoy the pre-programmed tunes and beats, and start noodling along on the keys.

Once he seemed to be actually getting the hang of playing from sheet music, and started having lessons, we got him an electronic piano with weighted keys, etc. And then once he got to grade 5 we got a proper piano. He's now doing his second diploma! So that pathway worked!

Thank you, that is very helpful, He seems really interested in music so to give him a feel for it and assess the level of his interest. I will have a look at the 88 keys as I have no knowledge on this and have been looking at the smaller size due to his age.
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

Hi
I am new to this area of Mumsnet so apologies if this is not the right place. I am looking for recommendations for a six year old child who has made a birthday request for a " keyboard with a stand and a stool " I have seen small sets which seem more suited to toddler or younger child.
He has no experience with any musical instrument and this may only be passing phase so do not want to spend too much.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you