all you choir school MNs out there...major decision help needed

[inthegutter]

Right, situation is this... ds v.musical, wonderful voice - i'm not just biased, have been told by people in the know that he'd stand a pretty good chance for place at top choir school. BUT.... bursary would cover major part of fees but then once he's finished in choir and loses funding we'd really struggle to keep him there... DP has good job, but NOT reliable, ie depends year to year on contracts. I work but not a big enough earner for school fees. Do we go for it on the grounds that if he gets in it would be an incredible experience for however long it lasts, or is it fairer to forget the idea if he might have to leave in yr 9/10??? I keep thinking hey we might win the lottery, inherit a million etc, but realistically with the rate school fees ar likely to go up we just ain't gonna be able to do it.....

Oh blimey that IS a dilemma....of course you want him to reach his potential, specially being as talented as he is.......

but the transition from top choir school to local comp. just sounds nightmarish to me, specially in yr 9/10.

Is there any other way that he can access some top teaching which would mean that you can rest assured you are helping him reach that potential, but which would also mean you did not have to put him in that position of having to leave at a difficult age and stage?

There is someone on here I think whose son is at choir school and I have to say if I remember rightly his school days were INCREDIBLY long, I wouldn't have wanted my ds to have such long, full on days myself, I'd prefer my ds to be free to play and be a child after 3pm, maybe you wouldn't like him in this (ahem, no offence) 'hothouse' atmosphere anyway? There are ways of kids using their musical talents outside the 'top' schools, surely?

Why not investigate your ds' options outside the choir school, and then your decision will be more informed, and hopefully easier?

Speak to the schools honestly about this.
first off, they are unlikely to remove the bursary and kick him out after choir finishes, they will stand by him. secondly, ex choristers are usually first in line for music scholarships at senior schools, and if you choose the right school these can pay a huge chunk of fees. most of them are means tested now, but still valuable even if you don't qualify for full funding. I think you should speak to all the schools about this in exactly the way that you've set it out here - and they will tell you the options. don't be embarrassed about it AT ALL, remember what they really want is the best voices, and they all have funds to pay.

PS the best funded schools are likely to be the oldest and poshest - ie you may well get more financial help from winchester than from wells, for example.

very good point PPH - of course it isn't just YOUR responsibility as a parent ITG, it is surely irresponsible of the school if they offer a child a place when they are fully aware the child won't be able to continue at the school after a few years - sounds like good advice, get them to explain the options for having help with fees once the choir bit is over!

But I also still think don't be blinkered by his talents - make sure the school, the hours he's expected to put in as a chorister etc are going to suit him.....

Thanks for advice...plenty to think about here. Yes, school's are prob unlikely to literally kick a child out in this situation, but i suppose it's the wider issue of whether the fees would go up so much that it becomes a real struggle. Yes i value education but i also know we'd find it really hard to lose things like living in a nice house in a nice area, being able to take the DC on trips out/holidays, eating out now and again... i'm just not someone who could sacrifice all these for the sake of a private education...
so dilemma not solved really...!!