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Original poster

Specialist Music School

79 replies

curlew · 22/11/2006 09:37

Our best non-selective Secondary School is hugely oversubscribed and we are outside the catchment area. The school takes 10% of its intake on "mucical ability" My dd is going to have a go at getting a place - she has played the clarinet for 18 months now and although she hasn't taken any exams yet, her teacher says she is at grade 3 level and she will take the exam early next year. She also sings - has always sung solos at nativity plays and things since reception. However, the school gets 200odd applicants for 18 places, so I know that realistically she has very little chance of a place. Has anybody got any advice for me about how to prepare her for the audition, both musically and in terms of the almost inevitable disappointment? Any contributions gratefully received!

OP posts:
Original poster
curlew · 23/11/2006 17:56

Anyone?

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tamum · 23/11/2006 18:12

Do you have any idea of what the expected standard is? I know that our local private secondary is looking for grade 5 as a minimum for music scholarships. It's impossible to know how it compares really, but I think I would get some honest advice from the teacher about her potential, as opposed to the level she has reached. A decent school will probably judge more on that basis than on actual grade level. I have to say that if I was in that position I would be inclined to get a very honest answer and if it's anything less than raving, think again. It's so hard not getting into a school of your choice, and even harder if it's because you weren't good enough at an audition. That's easy for me to say though, I don't know what the alternative is

Original poster
curlew · 23/11/2006 18:26

Thank you for replying! The school is being very non-committal about the standard it expects - there isn't a minimum grade "we quite often take people who haven't taken any exams at all - we're looking for potential"Her teachers are encouraging, but once again non-committal. We live in 11+area, so we have 3 options - grammar school, this music place and the local high school which is OK, but not a choice I'd make if there was any alternative. She's very keen to have a go, and I've explained the competition - but I'm not sure she really grasps ithe reality of it. The problem is, they've had nearly twice as many applicants this year than last - if I had known that in advance, we probably wouldn't have gon in for it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

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RTKangaMummy · 23/11/2006 18:27

DS did this last year

It was a test with tones that he had to write down how far apart they were

like semitone etc

he had to pick out notes in chords

then if got through that would go to do a solo

THIS WAS FOR 10% at grammar and local comp

BUT we used it as a practise for the school we wanted him to go for and the one he got into - the private boys one

The music scholarships are then for grade 5 or higher

RTKangaMummy · 23/11/2006 18:29

All the children did it as a written one in a huge hall and some of his friends didn't play any instruments at all

BUT they are deffo looking for potential

tamum · 23/11/2006 18:42

It sounds as though you should go for it then and just try and keep it as low-key as possible- good luck to her

Summersun1972 · 23/11/2006 19:35

Hi Curlew
We are doing the same thing here, Our son is music and performing arts orientated and always has been. He played piano for 3 yrs but gave up last yr but his real love and passion is singing. He eats and breaths it ~ god I sound like Sharon Osbourne. The school we have seen had the most amazing performing arts and music department. It is just outside of our catchment and only takes 10% on music we are waiting our audition date to come thorugh, nothing so far.
There are a few children I know around here who are going to try and also get in on music but are not that interested in music. They are just trying to use it as a pathway into a good school. I understand there point of views but it seems unfair when their are children like my son wit a genuine interest and he might be overlooked by for one of the others just because they have passed an exam.
We are in Kent LEA which is a nightmare, where are you?
Sonia

snorkle · 23/11/2006 20:01

Message withdrawn

RTKangaMummy · 23/11/2006 20:15

Summersun I beg to differ

DS friends were going in for it to see if they had the potential

IMHO and IME that is what they were looking for

These children had been in the choir at school but didn't play instruments

if the child has the potential they could get a place if they don't then they don't

After all they may have come from a junior school that didn't offer music or from parents who didn't do anything extra cirricular like music lessons or singing with them

So IMHO it is fair to offer it to whoever wants to try, isn't it?

Then they can all have the chance otherwise they may be the next yuhudi Menuin {sp} and no-one would find out would they?

wangle99 · 23/11/2006 20:34

When DD went for her scholarship assessment she had to play a piece on the piano (she was working towards grade 1) and sing a tune (she chose Lord of the Dance), the music teacher also carried out some tests for tone and pitch.

DD was 7 at the time and got in. I think they all have different criteria on how they test the children.

Summersun1972 · 23/11/2006 22:16

Hi
I think you may have misunderstood me kanga.
My son has not passed any exams but does have an interest. What I was saying was I know of people who because of circumstance play an instrument once a week and have passed exams but have no real interest or passion.
They have just has opportunity, and some are now using this opportunity to get into a good school but not for the music benefits. I agree with you that all children should have an equal chance. I am having trouble explaining my self on here.
Sorry if I am coming across wrong.
Sonia

Judy1234 · 23/11/2006 22:22

Depends on the school.
My son got a music scholarship at 12 years, and he had passed grade 8 singing, grade 6 piano and grade 6 trumpet and grade 5 theory exam and he was 12 and quite good. If she is good then get her to do the exams, may be a singing exam too like grade 5. The private schools expect I think something like grade 5 on two instruments to apply for the scholarships.

The real specialist music schools are places like Chethams and the Purcell School.

RTKangaMummy · 23/11/2006 22:43

Summersun

oke doke

crossed wires

No problem

RTKangaMummy · 23/11/2006 22:47

sorry

Original poster
curlew · 23/11/2006 22:56

Oh, Xenia - please don't. We don't move in the rarified circles you inhabit, I'm afraid, and Chethams is way outside our reach, musically, geographically and financially. (And, I may say, philosophically!) I am delighted that your son has done so well, you must be very proud of him but you'll forgive me if I don't engage with you on this one. I was looking for encouragement and advice on how to deal with the real situation that's in front of me, not (on this occasion) a debate on the relative merits of educational systems. I am happy to have that on another thread - on this one I think I've more to learn from people in a similar situation to mine.

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julienetmum · 23/11/2006 23:23

Xenia, Grade 8 singing at age 12 purrleease. If it is true (and my dh is a very good, well respected singing teacher) I feel sorry for your son as the technical demands of Grade 8 is too much for a 12 year old voice and he could end up wrecked.

They used to set a minimum age of 16 to do Grade 8 singing, shame they abolished that.

Cheethams will not accept first study vocalists below the 6th form for this reason(very occasionally they will accept a GCSE student)

robinia · 23/11/2006 23:46

My 2p - if a school expects an 11 year old to have grade 5 then it will be turning away a lot of talented musicians. There are some instruments which it is just not practical to start on until the age of 8 or 9 at least, so to then get to grade 5 would require some serious hothousing.

fortyplus · 23/11/2006 23:52

julienetmum - surely you're not implying that X would invent such a thing?!

Summersun1972 · 24/11/2006 18:49

Curlew
I agree with you, which school is it you are interested in getting into on music. We are after a place at Canterbury High School, while it may not be 'Chethams' I looked around and it just felt so right for our son. We looked around the others and he said they were nice, we went in Canterbury High and he said 'Wow, that school is mine!!@ Now we have the waiting game and an audition as we just outside of the catchment being nr Faversham.
Are u in Kent also? Seems we get the raw deal here.
Sonia

Original poster
curlew · 24/11/2006 22:25

Sonia - we looked at Canterbury High too and we really liked it. We're trying for Fulston Manor because its nearer to us. We know a lad at Canterbury High and he's very happy there.

OP posts:
Original poster
curlew · 24/11/2006 22:26

Are you doing the Kent test as well?

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Summersun1972 · 24/11/2006 22:46

Curlew,
No we decided not to do Kent test. We were told that Sam could do it if he worked hard but that they didnt feel Grammar was the right school for him. He is a child who likes to be noticed and stand out hence his love of performing arts. At grammar we feel he would give up as everything would be a huge effort all the time.
We were going to look at Fulston Manor but were advised that it was that bit too far out for us to stand a chance. We loved Herne Bay high too but that was no good for catchment either.
Sonia

Judy1234 · 24/11/2006 22:59

jm, he was just a brilliant treble. You just sing 3 or 4 pieces for grade 8 and you need to be good at sight reading and aural tests which he was. Boy trebles in cathedrals all over the country sing well. It's perhaps one of the few areas where a child of 11 can be as good as an adult in a sense. It certainly wasn't hard or a strain. The amusing thing was his public school were particularly keen on the voice part because they needed trebles in the choir and then his voice broke within the first year.

julienetmum · 24/11/2006 23:18

Interesting Xenia. What was his choice of repertoire?

I guess he must be good at languages, which ones did he chose to sing? I prefer Italian myseld, all those open vowels but did French for my degree recital.

julienetmum · 24/11/2006 23:19

Interesting Xenia. What was his choice of repertoire?

I guess he must be good at languages, which ones did he chose to sing? I prefer Italian myseld, all those open vowels but did French for my degree recital.