Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

Yeah I think you and she probably know @Ubertomusic that if she wants to be a violinist she will need to cut back on other things at some point over the next few years, but not even necessarily now. And if it’s trumpet then she’s got a lot more time and freedom to decide. She’s only early secondary I think? She should be enjoying herself and trying out as much as poss. Maturity for rep will sort itself out with time.

I also think keeping non-music options open is an incredibly valuable thing to do. DH and I will be actively dissuading our kids from going into it professionally as it’s so incredibly demanding (and difficult with family life) for so little financial reward.

@Ubertomusic. It's a good job she's young. Also incredibly good. I'm maybe naive but since people who start on wind and brass far older have successful careers in music she could probably take her foot off the pedal a bit with the music for a while and do some things she likes?

DD has now got MT and singing out of her system, but she certainly hadn't when she was younger. And she was in her Senior play even this time (with a smallish main part so she could still do Symphony).

But what do I know - I've raised a dilettante!

It's such a complex question with lots of factors involved... I don't think it's about an instrument choice only as the choice is pretty much obvious - violin is extremely competitive so why bother BUT it's her first love. First love BUT is not being practised 40 hours a day :) I could continue with lots of ifs and buts... but I'm thinking more about the psychological side of it, the mindset. I simply do not know if it's good to strive for perfection in music and if not how you could actually balance that "good enough" mindset and the quality of your performance.

I mean live performances are never ever perfect and perfection is not that music is about, but surely professionals don't jump off the stage happily thinking "I managed the notes and rhythms, I did dynamic and some phrases, I played well". Notes and rhythms are not what music is about either :) She played Tchaik 2nd movement for auditions two years ago and "managed" that too, but does it mean she played it well - certainly not.

DD is still very young so it's a matter of psychological maturity too, but she's been performing for years and knows all this full well. She's learning concertos now and maybe they just require much more depth than a normal pre-teen or even a teenage musician is capable of, I'm not a musician and don't really know if there is some turning point or disparity between the age and rep. Playing full Tchaik with understanding and sensitivity is certainly a very difficult task for a teenager unless they're a prodigy, they simply don't have enough life experience, but some baroque fanfares are not that deep and surely shouldn't be a problem to understand and relay to the audience? 🤔

There is also the physicality of brass that might be an issue, DD is not tall and big so can't breath in enough air for longer phrases but it's another story, and any case one cannot become a musician by making excuses for themselves all the time. There are lots of star brass players who are not big tall men either.

DD wants it all, and more MT and dance and maybe singing lessons too... 🙈 It's absolutely impossible and I said she wouldn't be auditioning for the next show - she got upset but we just have to be realistic :(

She wants to be a professional orchestral musician but is also thinking about studying biology so I don't really want her to neglect academic subjects either. I changed my mind very abruptly when I was a teenager, dropped art school to study science, lost one year to resit maths - it's doable but hard, and my parents were in a better financial situation than I am and could support me with my zigzags of studies. I could help DD with biology as I studied it at uni, but music is terra incognita.

I’m hesitant to recommend apps for piano @Compsearch but at that age Simply Piano or similar might make piano more of a fun activity than officially learning another instrument requiring lessons, practice and exams.

@CompsearchMy eldest started at 12, but to help
with composition. He picked it up really quickly. I think it depends tho - he was playing both clefs already. Maybe give it a whirl? He can always go back to it later if it doesn’t work out first time.

To be fair, I know two kids who have arrived at NCO in slings and a harpist broke her arm whilst there, so they are used to it!

Goodness that sounds painful @northerngoldilocks - we have had a lot of relief with arnica cream in this house for bad sprains. Hopefully she feels better soon.

Sorry @northerngoldilocks that’s really rotten luck. Hoping she can rest up and recover double quick!

@Ubertomusic is it an instrument choice thing? If your DD wants to go into the profession she will need to choose one instrument at some point, but probably not for a few years? I know a lot of talented multi-instrumentalists and a front runner emerged usually by mid teens, but slightly depends what it is as you can get away with much less practice on wind and brass as compared to strings and piano, so easier to juggle more if that is your thing.

Ive been thinking about encouraging DS to start piano as it’s so useful, but he’s not asking to learn and I think he does plenty of music atm with violin + choir now ramping up (he’s still 7, in year 3) so my inclination is to leave it for now. Does anyone have thoughts on when is a good stage to add it?

@northerngoldilocks poor kid! Healing vibes from here. Mine definitely fell over a lot when they were growing, so maybe it's that.DD2 also falls over just walking about sometimes but that's because she's in a world of her own.

@Ubertomusic that sounds like a tough decision. What does your DD want - as I'm sure you've realised mine is not a 'narrowing down' kind of girl - more a kind of 'widening out' one . Lots of different musicians needed - depends what they're aiming for. School supportive to both types,

I think recognise DD2 isn't the type to spend all her days perfecting one thing. Unless it's making a bassoon/recorder thing out of a carrot, which seems to have been the excitement of the last few days.

"I was going to tune the orchestra with it, but it's gone a bit mouldy"... classic comment on the phone this week.

Oh so sorry for your poor DD northern! Hope she recovers quickly.

Oh no! Hope it improves soon!

What awful timing, and not once but twice too.

sending healing thoughts.

Oh no @northerngoldilocks that sounds horrible! 🙈 Hope your DD recovers soon!
They're also tired towards the end of term and probably less focused as a result.

I think mine got asked about what music she listened to, other than classical. I also wouldn't stress too much as as I can't imagine she gave more than one word answers and was fine!

But we do have an amazing youth orchestra on our doorstep.

@Comefromaway thank you, we are in a dark spot and everything is miles away (but at least in the same country).

@CelloMumFlums - our curveball was how much practice she did - it was very little compared with her peers so they pulled a lot of faces but she pointed out that she had got to where she had by practising efficiently rather than extensively..........

We've had a crazy March so far... with lots of concerts, three days of MT and a solo moved two months earlier so really half baked... with chops bleeding from an allergy and a blocked nose on top of that 🤦‍♀️

I keep telling myself that it's a good preparation for the life of a musician 😂 but it certainly feels less than ideal.

As the workload is only going to increase, I wonder if it would be better to keep all options open for the sake of versatility or start prioritising and focusing for more advanced and nuanced performance. DD has been stagnating for a while and the solo was particularly disappointing.

@horseymum @Londonmummy66 thank you so much for the super helpful advice! Re the “interview” component of the audition, we have discussed the usual points re instruments chosen, repertoire, experience, why that particular JD and future plans but wondered whether anyone has been thrown a curveball of a Q that we may not have anticipated?! Thank you!

So sad re the Welsh JD. I recall signing a petition at the time as it all felt so unfair and short-sighted..

@chocolateisnecessary I remember when that happened, so sad for everyone.

In Scotland you have to pay the full fees for RCS juniors unless eligible for some bursaries or scholarships.
I would say it's not a must do if you want a career but you would then need to seek out other good opportunities for ensembles etc if none locally as that is a big draw for many. Some of the JDS do occasional sessions for instrument families as well, like double reed days etc. Also not all those going to ours want a music career. Many are there because their parents believe it helps their academics, or they enjoy playing in higher level ensembles.

It really was heartbreaking for the kids and handled in the worst way possible. Quite a few families left for England. The rest of us are basically muddling through! Some provision has improved, some has tanked. I don’t think a JD is necessary as such, but a good one would be a phenomenal experience I think.