February Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Overdue again, this time due to our local music festival. I put in 32 entries, and am now finished for this year, but haven't had a lot of sleep recently!

I am a teacher of woodwind - mostly recorder and clarinet at the moment - and have two DDs. Goo (short for Kajagoogoo in case anyone was wondering - and no, that isn't her actual name!!) is 11 and plays the flute, recorder and piano. Rara is 8 and plays the cello, recorder and clarinet. We are heading towards a half size cello soon, and I think we might have found a suitable one. We're going to try it out this weekend.

The girls have been entered for Grade 7 Flute and Grade 1 Clarinet this term, and I am really regretting it, as they are so under-prepared. But hopefully after a slightly quieter weekend, we can all get back on track.

Please jump right in, ask questions, moan about practice/ scales/ attitude, tell us about your DCs or your own learning... and new members/ beginners are always welcome!

Thank you, Pradaqueen and Wafflenose .

Long way off will be ideal, if it's in April, it won't clash with ds' residential.
I will call if I don't hear anything by Monday. Thanks!

Prada, I have sympathy for those those that have had their offer amended to wait list. Not for those holding multiple offers still, but for those that genuinely, are holding their decision until National Offers Day, who's decision is truly compounded by the financial considerations as to whether they can afford to pay.

The school in question has always been able to attract a more diverse mix of girls, especially from all areas of London (east, as an example) maintaining a strong mix of state, international and local children, as well as those coming from the prep system. It's those on the lower end of financial affordability that the loss of deposit will hurt the most (unless the school is able to refund, like some do). The fees were always lower than the other super selective schools whilst providing the highest standard of education (and of course, music!), and a fantastic option for those that fees are a real stretch, but geographically, a viable school for their girls. This is a really tough decision for them on affordability, even if they are in receipt of scholarship/% bursaries.

The solution is simple, don't over offer as much, but go to waiting list (like most others seem to manage); don't provide an offers day that is meaningless to those that really need the additional visit to decide, and don't call an offer an offer if it really is not. It's a shame that the school has received such bad press, but I don't think it's done itself any favours, even though this practice has been place for 2 years. The result could be the mix of its intake will reflect its strategy, and maybe lose along the way, some of that magic of wider accessibility and diversity, that for an indie, I respected.

Not a pop at you, just seeing this from both sides!

Ealing - I agree to a degree but bursary holders don't have to pay the deposit. I can see it from both sides, but honestly? It was really clear from the first email as to what would happen and the demand is created by parents not the school. I also think it is very unfair for parents to hold onto 5/6/7 offers until March 6th across all 4 corners of London. At some point you must know if you want your child traveling across the city or not. You are right about the fees and the diversity and it is the reason we have chosen it (plus the excellent music department) 2005/6 school year appears to be an unusually large birth year and as a result, an unusually large cohort of bright kids. I think the school will have been as surprised as we all were that the list closed before offer holders day.

@drummersmum you are welcome. I put Vicks on the kids feet also. It really does work.

You are absolutely right, holding multiple offers is completely unacceptable, nor is adding a speculative school into the mix if you have no intention of travelling a hellish commute for those further afield. The school has been transparent, and conducted this strategy for 2 years, so it shouldn't be a shock. Is it in the spirit of offer I guess is the subjective question.

The decision between said school and a good state option is the challenge for some and was my point, and those that are borderline on the financial constraint (but in receipt of a full fees offer) may be more challenged, and are risk of forfeiting a deposit (unless returned, which is great if this is the case). The school has an excellent opportunity to turn the negative on its head, as many successful businesses do in the storm of negative feedback. Or, feel it is justified in its approach and continue as is. Divisive, for sure!

School entry process is a tough time, it's great that you have had a fantastic outcome.

My friend who is in oil trading and has his daughter going to the school since year 3 has been saying all great thing about it. Their second daughter tried 7+ however didnt have a place, she is trying again for 11+ in couple of years. I am very close to the girl, we do chit chat and she is on my fb, I saw hers and her friend status all the time(weaned off fb completely the last 3 months though). Met the girls in real life numerous time too. I could only say great thing about the girls, the school. I wish mine could go there too. You are very lucky Prada. Although I must say the school didnt handle this offer situation nicely. It should have said first come first serve in BOLD or weight everyone equally a chance on the deadline date which for the school benefit should be after the state announcement date(next week?).
Will follow your tip on Vicks tonight!

I hope to be able to record smth soon so I can then share and hassle you all with our children videos.

Alex: hallo!!!

Green - they did say first come, first served. Everyone had an equal chance. I think the issue created was twofold : 1. A group of parents trying to second guess which was 'better' between this school and another north London one. They are both excellent and a bit like declaring which is better: Oxford or Cambridge and 2. Parents who thought that the stated process of 'first come, first served' was a tactic. It wasn't!

hi its complicated itsnt it - our super selective is fully aware that a lot of parents can't decide until the grammar/state offers come out; i don't think that it is always about holding on to offers - nearly 50% of children at this superselective will be on assisted places; if they don't get an AP they get offered a full fee place and then have to work out if they can make the money work and whether or not they get a grammar place will influence that/grandparents etc. Forcing a decision pre the state allocation days doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the agreement which seems to hold across the majority of state and private schools. But of course they are a private school and can do what they want ultimately - i just feel for those who were assuming 6/3 was the key date, and are not holding other offers because they didn't take multiple schools:( Hopefully they will at least sit at top of the waiting list (which may disappoint those that got waiting list offers originally)

Exam date is through here for 13th March, perfect for us, dd is as ready as she ever will be. Have decided not to apply for music scholarships next year.

woolleybear , may I ask you why you have decided not to go for music scholarship?

Was it Greenleave who also said music scholarship was not an option in the January thread? Your dd is clearly very advanced, why do you think it's not an option? If it was not you who said so, very sorry for my confusion!

I am one of the people who've said music scholarships are not an option, although possibly not recently. We can't afford private school with any amount of scholarship/ help, especially as we would have to pay 100% for Rara (who is bright, quirky and funny, but does not excel in one particular area). We should hear about secondary within the next week or so... I will be astonished if we get anything other than the large comprehensive 2 miles down the road. Everyone in the village goes there.

Waffle I'd forgotten about secondary school grand reveal day. DS1 is in the comprehensive down the road and doing quite a lot of music. I'm hoping DS2 can go there too and drum their drums instead of driving us mad.

Only, you are so much better prepared than us, hope your teacher recovered soon so you have it done and dusted!

I said no to try music scholarship. We wont try, schools that we are aiming for dont have any monetary meaning for music scholarship(free music lesson at school which I still prefer to have a tutor of my choice). We will be too shameless to be catergorised to all the talented musical children to be honest because without me sitting/standing next to her none of the practice is happening. To her, Orchestra is fun with delicious biscuits and piano is for tuning her violin and having fun(she learns real fast and could get away with little practice to pass the minimum requirement). I hope she appreciates music, knows how to play little and later on her life always can pick it up whenever she likes. We go to concert almost every month now it has come to as a routine and a part of our life, its all owe to her learning to play.

I need to find a tutor, if anyof you know anyone in south west london please can you recommend them to me. I have paid for first tutor and buy off contacts etc however no availability.

With36 hours, and 1 month respectively till dds exams she is being truly vile with practice. Insisting that too fast and out of tune scales are perfect . Maybe I should take more or a que sera approach and let her learn the hard way as she will not listen to me

stringchild absolutely loved your dd's cello playing! Such a long piece and so well handled!

ealingwestmum - I am totally won by your dd! Not to take into account it is my favorite piece!

Thank you so much for the videos, ladies! Both girls are super pretty too!

Somenoe asked about post grade 8. My son has carried on lessons at school even now in upper sixth. He could perhaps have tried for a diploma. He got his grade 8 around age 14 (and 7 in singing at 12). However he is not going into music as a career (his father did and regrets it - low pay, hard life etc) and he's concentrating on A levels. I would have certainly supported him in a diploma if he had wanted to try one. He does a lot of school music, more than my other 4 children ever did in the sixth form and he's music prefect this year. What I pay in music lessons for two instruments (he has lessons at school) is more than the value of his music scholarship to the school (which is a discount on school fees which his twin also has) but he does like it and I am happy to carry on paying (last term this one - he won't have lessons in the A level summer term I suspect as half the term they are off doing exams).

His siblings stopped lessons by or before the sixth form. His older brother who has the most grade 8s including some at 12 carried on with lessons until he was about 15 I think.

Hopefully it's about the music, not the exams although the exams can be a useful encouragement.

Good luck to people looking at schools. It's very stressful. It was 30 years ago when I first took child 1 as a tiny toddler around a few. My girls couldn't get into each other's school right from 4 up to 18 (they even had another go at 11). When they don't get in it always seems dreadful but I've seen it work out absolutely fine. Both my daughters did as well as each other in different schools.

Re post grade 8, my daughter in the equivalent of Y12 is still having lessons. There is no artificial grade distinction here though - she has started on what they call the "third cycle" programme (equiv. diploma) despite not having officially completed the second cycle. She is lucky to have a very qualified teacher and access to beautiful instruments at the conservatoire.

We are now faced with the problem of whether and how she can continue piano lessons after she leaves school - she really wants to carry on, but doesn't want to do a music course, and the courses she is looking at have an extremely high academic workload.

Mistigri: on other note about French, I have found couple of "summer/sport" camps, working on logistic now as I have to flight there to drop her then pick her up a week later.

Green great idea - where is the camp? Could you consider her travelling as an accompanied minor? Air France offers this service. It's very common for even very young French kids to fly alone. Might be worth considering in one direction at least? (I realise this is very unBritish and might shock people here).

Sorry to be so absent btw: work plus kids doing mock exams. DD just did her first mock for the French baccalaureat, got 19 out of 20 which was the top mark in her year (there are about 10 classes/ 350 students per year in the academic stream so this is quite a coup, especially considering French is not even her first language!). She is now talking about applying for some of the very top courses after her bac, including one that counts Emmanuel Macron as one of its former students ;) Sorry, v. boasty but super proud of her ..

Misti Good luck to DD - is she going to college? Where I was there were pianos on campus where you could book to play them even if you weren't a music student. Hopefully she'll find something.

Planning that option too Misti. Boast away, you are not alone, many congrats to "mini"Misti!

Never her most likely post-18 destination is what the French call a "class preparatoire" which is the route to the most prestigious French institutions. It will be in a lycée (not a uni which in France is the least prestigious place to study for your first degree) - there may be a piano but even if there is she won't get time to play it! We may try to buy a decent electronic piano for her room. Not quite there yet though, she has one more year of school (in France the final baccalaureat exams are split between Y12 and Y13).

Green Eurostar to Paris then an accompanied train could be a solution, if the camp isn't in the Paris region?

Misti you should boast away - that is just such an amazing result especially as your dd is working in her second language. I hope she's got something relaxing planned for the summer.
Green that's a really great idea for your dd.
As for the tutoring if you're in Richmond there's an outside chance ds1's Japanese tutor might know of someone good who does 11+ tutoring - I can ask her. Is this for super selective state or private entrance or both?
DS1 has been focused on his art homework this week with only a brief respite for music lessons and bands. It's going to be a relief to nag him about revision next week! He goes a bit intense when he's got an art deadline.
DS2 is going to do a Y7 music recital next month and I will see if I can video him!

Thank you only!

Misti, great achievement by your DD!

Wafflenose, if you could afford, would you consider private school? I remember you were saying the state secondary your dds may go was very good and you sounded very happy with it. I was so envious as our choices are few OK and lots bad states, or super competitive and super expensive privates... We seriously thought about moving but we love our area and people...

We will be too shameless to be catergorised to all the talented musical children to be honest
Greenleave, sorry I may be being too nosy, but I imagine you are quite a high-achiever yourself? Your dd is doing fabulously well (and she doesn't need lots of time to master things). Those high-achieving parents often underestimate their very able children. I am a very average sort, so I'm amazed by my ds every now and again even though he is no where near your dd!