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Original poster

Camden School for Girls - Information needed

54 replies

MissScotland · 05/09/2020 15:31

Hi mamas,

My daughter is in Y5 and we have kicked off the process of looking into secondary schools. Both our children have attended private schools from day one and so we have been focusing on private secondary education but then came across CSG which looks like it may suit her very well.
We do not live in the catchment and do not intend to move there (we are quite close though).
So we are aiming at entering through the music channel. DD is uber musical, currently working on Grade 6 piano and Grade 5 theory and will most certainly progress to Grade 7/8 before finishing primary school. She's a gifted little composer too. We (and her teachers) believe that she has a strong shot at getting a music scholarship or a place at a school based on her music skills and potential. She's also an excellent student academically and loves school.
I have read the information on the CSG website but would like hear more, ideally 1st hand, about the music application process and the aptitude test. The website is rather vague.
Anything you can tell me about the school would help, tips and insights are welcome :-)

Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
Original poster
MissScotland · 08/09/2020 11:55

Thank you!
Yes, I have listened to some of the exercises and indeed they use an electronic sound, not a musical instrument so the person taking the test can't be familiar with it. My daughter did pretty well on all 3 sections except the texture which is apparently the hardest one.
I'll have a look at St Marylebone, thanks!

OP posts:
cingolimama · 08/09/2020 11:17

OP, just a word of warning - these aptitude tests don't always work for accomplished musicians. My daughter failed to get a music place and she had Grade 8 in violin/Grade 6 piano/Grade 5 theory and was a Saturday conservatoire student. Ditto an older friend of hers, who's now a professional musician. I don't know why this is - but one of her teachers said it had to do with the test being digital and used electronic sounds rather than acoustic instruments. Who knows?

That said, you have nothing to lose by going for it, and wish your DD luck. Have you considered St. Marylebone - they also have admission via the music route?

Original poster
MissScotland · 07/09/2020 19:51

Thank you so much OhCrumbsWhereNow, this is very helpful.
We are looking at other options. I'd love to hear what schools you think are best for a gifted little girl.

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 07/09/2020 19:05

DD sat the CSG music scholarship last year.

The aptitude test was fairly long and from what DD reported back covered 4 sections. It was all things like saying whether a note was higher or lower, or a phrase was the same or different.

If you scored in the top 50 (and there are hundreds who sit the test) then you are invited back for a performance section.

Until that point there is nowhere that you indicate what level your child is at or even what instruments they play etc. The scholarships are based on aptitude not prior attainment.

Having sat a lot of music scholarships (state and private) I would say that the CSG one was one of the better ones, but definitely not the one that covered the most areas - some had written tests, aural tests, interview and performance - some only had a very cursory aural test.

We liked the school, but it wasn't the one we eventually went for - and we were looking for a school that prioritised music. There are a lot of very good options if you are happy to travel.

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