Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

I didn't know that @Comefromaway- what a very short-sighted policy.

https://www.gov.uk/music-dance-scheme

Music CATs
NameLocation
Aldeburgh Young Musicians Suffolk
Centre for Young Musicians London
Guildhall School of Music & Drama London
Royal Academy of Music London
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Birmingham
Royal College of Music London
Royal Northern College of Music Manchester
Sheffield Music Academy Sheffield
South West Music School South West England
The Glasshouse Gateshead
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance London
Yorkshire Young Musicians Leeds, Hull

Leeds Conservatoire also have their own JD scheme that is fee paying but with bursaries for those with a household income less than £42,875

Not a must and from what I can see those aspiring to be soloists don't bother going to JD at all :)

On the other hand, our former teacher was on a bus from Wales to London every week in their late teens to study with a particular teacher.

@Comefromaway midlands….will have a look then.

I didn't know that @Comefromaway and it's really sad to see what's going on with arts funding in general. I've seen on FB council arts funding has been halved since 2010...

Whereabouts in the country are you? As well as Birmingham there is Manchester then similar MDS funded schemes not attached to institutions in Sheffield, Leeds & Gateshead.

@Comefromaway that is really unfair! Poor children.

Thanks all, guessing also not really a must do if the child is showing signs of wanting to pursue this as a career (today at least 😂)? Would be easier if we still lived down south!

This is a bit off topic but the reason the RWCMD JD was closed was because the MDS scheme only exists in England.

MDS is government funding that pays for the tuition on a means tested basis at both full time schools and JD's (or CATs in the case of dance)

RWCMD had run a JD scheme without MDS funding for many years but it became untenable.

There is also a campaign at the moment to allow Welsh students to undertake vocational degree training at specialist drama/dance colleges. They used to be able to but it has been stopped due to various convoluted funding based reasons. It is really not fair on those from Wales.

There are people travelling from afar at JDs but you would need to ask what time your orchestras/ensembles would be @678socks as these are often inflexible. Some start as early as 8:20 but it depends on the JD.

When we were at the RCM open day, they spoke about how people travelled from quite a long way north, as well as flying in from Ireland every week. I think RAM mentioned something similar and that they tried to design schedules in order to accommodate the long distances being travelled in some cases.

Ours was closed in Wales. RWCMD axed it to save cash. A few go to London but train fares make it prohibitive for most people.

Somewhat inevitably the JD question has now reared its head. My feeling is that unless you actually live in london or Birmingham it is a total nightmare?? Also feels maybe like it would be better at secondary age? No pushiness was intended just an enquiry about whether it is something we are interested in.

Congrats to your DS @Siriusmuggle !

Thanks @Londonmummy66 for the tips on JD audition dress. DD has two coming up for voice and we thought it would be a bit full on to go for concert blacks! Linen trousers and a smart top sound like the way forward; now just the logistics of transport from Easter camp and back again to deal with for one of them!

Congratulations all round for all the exam results and other endeavours!

Best of luck to him

Lots of excitement going on for musial types!

DS had three concerts last week, and this week's excitement is his singing ARSM diploma. He seems pretty well prepared, it's just remembering the lyrics that may prove tricky! He's hoping he can just wing it if he forgets the odd word, as the examiner won't have the scores. So he hopes!

I'm hoping for stellar score, to match previous singing exams, but am trying not to pass on my pushiness to him...

Choral scholarship ambitions continue - he's going to New College Oxford early July to have a sing there.

@CelloMumFlums - when mine auditioned (cello and piano) she wore some comfortable wide leg trousers and a long sleeved fairly smart t shirt. It will be normal for a cellist to be in trousers and they also need to be able to move pretty freely so something like a smart tshirt would be fine.

@CelloMumFlums congrats on the auditions. I'd just go with clean, comfortable and something they feel is 'them'. The dress sense at my daughter's JD is much more varied than you see in our town! On audition day, there was a wide range. Pretty sure mine would have worn jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. She knew from her sister's experience that it's a very warm building so didn't want to be hot and bothered. Maybe allow for layers as it's not fun playing if you are nervous and hot.

Congrats to all on such fabulous exam successes!

Busy time here for DD (13) with concerts, festivals and a musical (pit band). She has auditions coming up with a few JDs and I wondered if anyone who’s experienced these could advise as to dress code? Concert blacks seems a bit full on and school uniform a bit impractical (cello) and odd (school hols). Want her to be comfortable but also the appropriate level of smart! Thank you!

How exciting sirius!

Congratulations! excellent opportunity !!

How exciting.

Big news here. My kid has been asked to dep in an actual professional orchestra for a concert this week. Mixture of terror and excitement. They’re hoping it could lead to making their extras list.

Mine found the Paul Harris sight-reading books good for piano. Also playing at church and not getting up early enough to look at the hymns before the practice sharpens your skills!

The Paul Harris Improve your Aural books are good but do require a CD player. His Improve your scales and Improve your sightreading books are good as well.