Page 10 | Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

northerngoldilocks · 2026-03-12T16:36:31+00:00

Time for a new thread as the old one is filling up and think we can claim its spring now! Come and talk about music lessons, choosing instruments, exams, auditions, specialist schools, orchestras or whatever other music activities are going on. Everyone is welcome, from those with total beginners to those whose children are studying music at advanced levels. Ask for advice or share successes or struggles.

678socks · 19/07/2026 20:16

northerngoldilocks · 19/07/2026 10:34

DD applied 3 times before she got a place. She had the same orchestral experience each time and the only thing that changed was her playing. So my take is that it is really their playing that counts and the rest is useful info as set out below.

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Good to know. What standard was she when she first applied? It is interesting that they apply so far ahead too as all will have progressed (hopefully) before they actually turn up.

yodaforpresident · 19/07/2026 18:52

DD is away on a music course in the US for six weeks and Lark allowed me to change just the instrument she was taking to worldwide online for a minimal fee which was very helpful to me.

Comefromaway · 19/07/2026 17:22

New Moon have a lot of ex Allianz employees working for them & seemed great on instrument insurance but they couldn’t, when I asked provide the public liability he needed.

Original poster

northerngoldilocks · 19/07/2026 16:43

I did use lark but @Comefromawaymentioned new moon on here and it was at least 10% cheaper and the terms seemed more reasonable to me. Definitely worth checking both

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Londonmummy66 · 19/07/2026 15:07

Well done to little @Siriusmuggle - a great result

We use lark for all our instruments.

yodaforpresident · 19/07/2026 15:06

We use Lark for insurance too.

StuntNun · 19/07/2026 13:13

Once you add in a mouthpiece it’s just over £1000 for a decent second hand tenor horn. I don’t think he has the commitment for French horn!

Thanks for the recommendations, @northerngoldilocks

Compsearch · 19/07/2026 12:09

Ah tenor horn @StuntNun - I love them! Has anyone tried to encourage him to switch to French horn yet?

And do they really cost over £1k? Have you looked for second hand?

Original poster

northerngoldilocks · 19/07/2026 11:55

For insurance we use new moon (with cover in a locked vehicle) - check them and lark. Both cover accidental damage and will be pretty cheap at that value

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StuntNun · 19/07/2026 11:41

Can anyone help me with instrument insurance? My DS aged 11 has been playing a loaned tenor horn at junior school but, now he’s moving to high school, I need to buy him his own instrument which apparently costs over a thousand pounds. He will need to take it on the bus to and from school and it will be left in a school music room as it’s too big for his locker. Do I need to arrange any specific type of insurance cover for it?

Original poster

northerngoldilocks · 19/07/2026 10:34

chocolateisnecessary · 19/07/2026 08:14

I really hope it’ll be called just off the playing and not the other stuff. The form still has a JD down for RWCMD and that department was axed two years ago.

DD applied 3 times before she got a place. She had the same orchestral experience each time and the only thing that changed was her playing. So my take is that it is really their playing that counts and the rest is useful info as set out below.

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chocolateisnecessary · 19/07/2026 09:46

Ha! Yeah. After the way they treated the parents and kids during that, I’m not playing along with their strange idea that one workshop a year per instrument gives them any equivalence to a junior department.

thirdfiddle · 19/07/2026 09:40

chocolateisnecessary · 19/07/2026 08:14

I really hope it’ll be called just off the playing and not the other stuff. The form still has a JD down for RWCMD and that department was axed two years ago.

People who put that down should get extra points for time travelling ability.

chocolateisnecessary · 19/07/2026 08:14

I really hope it’ll be called just off the playing and not the other stuff. The form still has a JD down for RWCMD and that department was axed two years ago.

678socks · 19/07/2026 08:08

Thanks all. Bit like lots of things, if you don’t try then you don’t even have the option of getting in 😂. Very good experience as all exams so far have been face to face.

thirdfiddle · 19/07/2026 01:15

678socks · 18/07/2026 23:03

Right think we have a recording in the bag so will submit tmw and then try to forget about it. Think likelihood of acceptance is low. Quick look at the form and already wondering how they use the answers to regularity of playing in a a big orchestra etc etc 😂😂

Forgetting about it is the trick. One I'm very bad at, but it's so long till the results come back you should definitely try. It's all good practice at the whole audition process and like DD's teacher said with NYO, one thing's for sure, if you don't audition you definitely won't get in. Fingers crossed for a whole new generation of MN NCO-ers!

thirdfiddle · 19/07/2026 01:04

Ubertomusic · 19/07/2026 00:03

I don't think it's a major factor for projects, DD auditioned at 8 and didn't play in a big orchestra then.

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I don't think they're using the questions for picking players. Maybe for planning tutoring - or even seating plans, makes sense to mix experienced and inexperienced particularly at the back of string sections where it's easy to feel lost if you're new to it all. Like I don't think they're using the what grade are you question to pick players, but do use it to share info back to future potential auditioners to give an idea of when it's worth having a go.

But also things like talking to potential funders: x% have never played in an orchestra before, y% from the state school system etc.

Ubertomusic · 19/07/2026 00:03

678socks · 18/07/2026 23:03

Right think we have a recording in the bag so will submit tmw and then try to forget about it. Think likelihood of acceptance is low. Quick look at the form and already wondering how they use the answers to regularity of playing in a a big orchestra etc etc 😂😂

I don't think it's a major factor for projects, DD auditioned at 8 and didn't play in a big orchestra then.

678socks · 18/07/2026 23:03

Right think we have a recording in the bag so will submit tmw and then try to forget about it. Think likelihood of acceptance is low. Quick look at the form and already wondering how they use the answers to regularity of playing in a a big orchestra etc etc 😂😂

Original poster

northerngoldilocks · 18/07/2026 22:31

That’s great @Siriusmuggle- huge congratulations for your DS

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achangeofnameisasgoodasarest · 18/07/2026 21:23

That's brilliant @Siriusmuggle - wonderful stuff!

Siriusmuggle · 18/07/2026 21:02

Thank you. I love seeing where our kids can go from starting out with primary school music lessons. Some of his mates are playing at the proms tomorrow which is mega impressive too.

se22mother · 18/07/2026 21:00

Siriusmuggle · 18/07/2026 20:23

Update on the ensemble competition. They got through to the last 6 out of the original 14 who qualified but haven’t made the final 3. They’re delighted as they were the only British group to make the last 6. The 3 groups that got to the finals are mostly full time pros in their home countries. Their head of department is really happy with them. And they’ve had a great week.

Amazing news

QueenMabby · 18/07/2026 20:45

That’s amazing news @Siriusmuggle. What a fantastic achievement.

Comefromaway · 18/07/2026 20:44

That’s fantastic.