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Education

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Original poster

Do state school children ever join independent school clubs (after school)?

93 replies

thedolly · 24/09/2009 19:46

I'm thinking particularly about orchestra. The local state primary doesn't have one but the prep school does.

Does anyone have an experience of this happening?

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MmeProf · 24/09/2009 20:20

I have seen it with peripatetic teaching, such as ballet and Lamda.

I would be surprised to see a ringer in a school orchestra.

Why does your primary not have an orchestra?

Original poster

thedolly · 24/09/2009 20:25

It is a small rural school and it has no extra curricular music to speak of.

DD(8) is at the prep school atm and will be moving to the primary next term.

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Morosky · 24/09/2009 20:25

You could always ask, some of dd friends do horseriding in a local independent school , even though our state primary offers it.

I do ccpet though that horse riding and playing an instrument are quite different

Original poster

thedolly · 24/09/2009 20:34

Would I ask the Head?

Email/letter/phone?

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Original poster

thedolly · 24/09/2009 21:30

Anybody else?

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showmethewaytothenextwhiskybar · 24/09/2009 22:36

why not ask the head? it might help them fulfil their charitable status obligations ...

lol at MmeProf's surprise at the state school not having an orchestra - our huge inner-city state school doesn't even have a recorder group

KembleTwins · 24/09/2009 22:45

I did. Admitedly, it was several (thousand) years ago, but I was a real keenie with music and drama, and it was the 80s so all the teachers at my school were on strike. My Dad called the local (very expensive and famous) public school in the town nearby, because he knew that they had a "community" choir. The Director of Music said that I was far too young for the community choir, but that I was very welcome to join the school choir. I ended up doing 4 years of concert and chamber choir, plus numerous school plays there. Wonderful.

Phone and ask - you never know.

SueW · 24/09/2009 22:51

DD used to go to an orchestra which rehearsed at an independent boys' school but it wasn't the school's orchestra although a large proprotion of those involved came from that school and its sister school.

(I'm not sure any of our local independent primaries have an orchestra, tbh. But the pupils do get referred to the city orch by their peris once they are G2-3+)

Are you saying your DD is already at the independent school and would like to continue in the orchestra after she has left to go to state primary?

ABetaDad · 24/09/2009 22:53

thedolly - hang on a minute. Have I understood you right?

"The local state primary doesn't have one but the prep school does.

"DD(8) is at the prep school atm and will be moving to the primary next term."

Are you saying that your DD is at the Prep at the moment but you are moving her to a Primary but still hoping she can carry on with the extra curricular at the Prep?

If that is the case, I cannot see them agreeing to it? There would be an outcry from parents still paying fees.

senua · 24/09/2009 22:54

Ask them - they can only say no.
Will her departure leave a 'hole' in the orchestra? Is she the 99th violin or the one-and-only trumpet?

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 24/09/2009 22:59

Where do you live? Our county has music centre orchestras that any child can join. Perhaps your area has something similar.

Original poster

thedolly · 25/09/2009 08:06

ABetaDad and SueW- That is correct.

I did wonder about the possible 'outcry'.

To be fair, she is an asset to the orchestra (although one of many violins) so I was hoping it would be a win win situation.

LGP - there are no orchestras in the surrounding towns for her age group, they seem to start at age 11.

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senua · 25/09/2009 08:13

Actually, is this a good idea?
DD will be leaving the prep and all her friends. She should be trying to make a new life in the new school. Orchestra will be a constant 'looking backwards' and therefore be unsettling for her.

Merrylegs · 25/09/2009 08:26

LOL at Abetadad's 'outcry'!

My DD is at an independent school and in the orchestra and if there was a state school kid in the orchestra I wouldn't cry, out or otherwise, especially if that child was previously a valued member of said orchestra.

I guess it depends when they rehearse. If it is purely after school, it might work. But what if they have performances in school time and at festivals etc? Might be logistically difficult?

I say you can but ask... why not run it past the music teacher first, see what the reaction is? It would be nice for her to keep in touch with old friends- kids have all kinds of overlapping networks.

Original poster

thedolly · 25/09/2009 08:43

senua - she likes the idea of it and as none of her immediate friends play in the orchestra I don't think she will necessarily see it as a 'school' thing. Also the teacher is new to her and therefore associated only with orchestra.

Merrylegs - she does violin outside of school (and piano in school) so there is no music teacher that would be particularly relevant.

They do rehearse purely after school atm but I did wonder about performances. DD says she wouldn't mind missing them (1 per term max) but I can see that it may cause a problem.

She has carved a little niche for herself at the school (musically speaking) and has performed solo/duet many times in the past year. I guess I am hoping that this would work to her advantage. We also have lots of encouraging notes from the Head and the new music school benefactors.

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Original poster

thedolly · 25/09/2009 09:10

KembleTwins I am spurred on by your story .

I may email the Head and copy in the Director of Music.

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SueW · 25/09/2009 09:12

Well that makes it so much easier for you to approach the head, if you are already involved with the school, assuming your relationship has remained good even though your DD is leaving.

snorkie · 25/09/2009 09:17

We had a drummer from the comprehensive next door in dc's school swing band a few years ago.

You can but ask - it could go either way, but if you don't ask you won't get.

Original poster

thedolly · 25/09/2009 09:26

Relationship good, school wonderful, finances not so .

I am glad to hear that it is not totally unheard of.

Snorkie - I am very much of the 'if you don't ask you don't get' ilk but I like to build as strong a case as possible .

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senua · 25/09/2009 09:42

I am also of the "if you don't ask you don't get" ilk but belong to the "think of it from their POV" tendency.

Does it set a precedent? What are the insurance/liability implications? Is there a detrimental effect on the orchestra if DD is there for rehearsal but cannot make the performance? Do they perform in uniform - if so, what will DD wear?

Litchick · 25/09/2009 10:14

I should ask.
DCs prep has an orchestra and I couldn't see it mattering a jot if someone stayed on who subsequently left the school. It's not the philharmonic.
I can't see any of the parents caring a kipper either.
Why are you leaving the school, though?

Litchick · 25/09/2009 10:16

Sorry, just saw you last post.
I just thought it might colour things if there'd been some sort of breakdown in the relationship.
If you're leaving for money reasons I really, really cannot see any of the parents minding.

snorkie · 25/09/2009 10:35

Litchick, thedolly lives in Surry as I recall. While in most places I'd agree nobody would worry at all, it just might not be the case there. (I grew up there & remember it for its snootiness).

Original poster

thedolly · 25/09/2009 12:22

Suffolk actually- probably altogether less posh .

senua I have thought about it from their POV too. She would wear her new school uniform and doesn't seem to mind that she would be the odd one out.

I am not sure about the impact on performances though.

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Original poster

thedolly · 25/09/2009 13:20

Also, I am not sure of the insurance/liability implications - does anyone know?

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