How hard is to get in the Junior academy of the Royal Academy of Music or RCM

[makai]

My DS is turning 7 in May and started Piano last September. He is very passionate and plays everyday. He can play with two hands already several classical pieces. By memory mainly. His music teacher is proposing he should join the RAM at 8 or even before. It sounds daunting, spending all his Saturdays studying music...Although it looks like he loves the idea..But he is not even 7 yet.. How stressful are the auditions? We have one year to prepare but I want to make the experience fun and informal.. Is it very formal? Competitive? Is he too young? Anyone with similar experience? Please help..

The "Primary Academy" for children from 8-12 years old is linked with but not the same as "Junior Academy" which takes slightly older children. To enter the "Primary Academy" which runs on Saturday afternoons (not all day), children are expected to be of a grade 4 distinction or grade 5 level on their main instrument. That means that they should be really at that level, not just 'I can play one piece that hard'. The also assess on musicality, not just being able to get through the notes. Even with good practise it'll be a couple of years, at my guess, before your DS is ready.

Click on "Prospectus" and scroll through until you see "Primary Academy" in it.
www.ram.ac.uk/study/junior-academy

And besides just playing, and maybe starting to understand a bit of Theory, it is also important to LISTEN to as much music as possible; piano, but also chamber music, orchestral works, and other genres as well. This is a good place to start:

daniiltrifonov.com/

Jr RAM has Open Days... just call and ask if your son can go and hang out... he might not even like it!

there is also Jr RCM (Royal College of Music) and there's Jr Guildhall and Jr Trinity Laban.. (the London conservatories) ... of course - the most important thing is finding the right teacher and if your son is happy with the teacher he has.. then maybe leave it. Although, the saturday schools can help fill in with other essentials - choir & theory, maybe some Dalcroze etc and it's fantastic to be with other similarly interested, motivated kids.

Just to really confuse you - there is also a nice (children's) course at Roehampton & there's also North London Colour Strings (www.nlcolourstrings.co.uk/) for good music education.

don't be put off by 'grade requirements'.. these are guidelines and a good teacher/assessor will be friendly, approachable and can assess musicality and potential without a bunch of ABRSM certificates.

(and yes - mine have done the Saturday schools and more...)

best of luck to your son!