Changing school for better music provision?

[Supposedtobeworking1]

I'm really having a battle in my head with this at the moment so wonder if anyone else has done this or has any advice? My DS is nearly 8 and obsessively musical, he currently plays three instruments, all to a good standard for his age but not I wouldn't have said exceptionally so, and is currently begging for a fourth (we've said no!). He also sings as well. This comes as a shock to myself and my DH as we're are most definitely not musical!
My DS currently attends a very lovely but very small prep school where none of his instruments of choice are taught so pretty much all music activities take place after school and at weekends. This is proving to be a real struggle as by the time we've sorted lessons and practice and orchestras and ensembles which my DS insists on going to we have no time left for anything else as my DH and I both work full time as well and we now have to do school homework at 6am to fit it all in (my DS gets up at 5am of his own volition so it's not that we drag him out of bed to do homework it's just that we would quite like to have a more relaxed start to the morning!). My DS headmistress has suggested to us that we consider putting DS forward for a music exhibition for yr 4 entry next year at a bigger local prep school that has very strong links with his current school (couldn't afford their fees without some sort of bursary hence considering this entry route) where he could be far more involved in music making. This would be great in terms of freeing up time after school and at weekends as he could join their orchestra and have lessons on two of his current three instruments in school time with the same teachers he currently has outside of school. My worry is that he loves his current school, academically is doing very well indeed there and that although this current musical obsession is totally driven by him, if we move him to somewhere much more musically focussed it might have the adverse effect and put him off just enjoying his music?
Has anyone else moved their child to a different school to give them better access to facilities that suit their needs like this and was it the right decision for them or did it not work out as you'd hoped?

No advice to offer, but I think I would be concerned at what other lessons he would have to forgo to be able to fit the music into the normal school day, so I would want to explore this trade off.

I moved my son, at 11 in fact, to a place with a strong music department and extra-curricular arrangements that allow him to focus his XC activities on that, in preference to sport which was the dominant thing at his prep, and given priority over everything else. No regrets whatsoever. The instrumental lessons are as usual a rotating interruption to lessons, but orchestra, choir, string group,... are all in the XC area.

It sounds as though he would be suited to being a chorister in a school where they ensure that the choristers have proper instrumental tuition and practice time. It might be worth considering.

My dd was very similar at this age and still is very much.
He sounds very motivated and driven, just the same.
Our dd asked us to H. ed whilst she concentrated on music as the main focus of her education.
4 years later she has just started at a specialist music school and she is in heaven, with like minded people.
I'm not suggesting you do the same but please let him follow his dream and get him the best teachers you can.
Is he very hard work with an insatiable appetite for playing? I think her school is musical boot camp but she loves it, as yet.

Thank you very much for your replies. It is a worry regarding what he'd miss to be able to do the music lessons in school. The school we are considering are very careful about making sure that core subjects are not missed in favour of music lessons so I was reassured by that but still, something to think about nonetheless as I don't want to restrict his learning and end up artificially funnelling him down a musical path at this age as things can change over time of course!
We do have cathedral school locally too but whilst he'd probably stand a good chance of getting in (based on a comparison between him and his friend who has just started there as a chorister) they have to board and he would absolutely hate this.
NewLife4Me, yes the appetite for music is currently insatiable, just as an example, the other day he asked me for a particular piano music score which I had to order online so when we got home and he found it had arrived in the post he was so excited that he had torn it out of the wrapping before we even got through the front door and an hour later I had to drag him away from the piano to get him to eat something and get ready for bed! Music of any sort has a profound effect on him and after lessons or a practice session or watching/participating in a concert it??s like he??s taken something illegal! He??s literally as high as a kite, bouncing around like a mad thing. If I ask him to calm down or walk nicely he physically can??t for ages afterwards!

No advice but lovely to read about your ds and his passion.

All I can add is I know how you feel and if he is anything like dd he will be begging you for a music school at 11.
We found it extremely hard finding opportunities because even though our LA is excellent for ensembles she had grown out of these by the time she was 9.
It is hard work, they are difficult, I know.

I'm sure if you find every opportunity you can he will be fine, he may even want to join as a chorister when he is a little older, it's surprising what few years can bring.

The other alternative would be to explore the possibility of junior associate at a music college if you have one that is commutable. Usually that allows some instrumental lessons plus music ensembles to be fitted all during Saturday plus the opportunity to mix with other like-minded DCs. If his prep has Saturday school there would be a good chance that they would be flexible and allow him to go should he gain a place.

I wouldn't worry about the impact of doing music lessons in school. It is after all very usual - about 75% of the boys at my sons' academic prep do at least one and many two

It is lovely for children to be surrounded by other good musicians and for excellence to feel. Oral mainstream and indeed "cool" and to have ensemble opportunities right at hand with their buddies. I would strongly consider it. It is many many steps short of diving into specialist music education