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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Music Aptitude Test

33 replies

Sittinginthesun · 27/04/2017 17:52

Just wondered if anyone has bought/enrolled practice for this test? Our local secondaries all have a certain number of places for music, and these start with an aptitude test, and then an audition.

A quick Google has taken me to Hofnote, which seems interesting. I just wondered if anyone had experience of this?

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Fleurdelise · 28/04/2017 08:46

You may be in the same area as I am as a similar arrangement is done for a small proportion of music places being offered on music aptitude. First the test and then the audition if enough marks are scored in the MAT.

I found a website that offers some sample tests, if you google musicaptitudetest.co.uk you'll find it. No experience with Hoffnote. I wouldn't say it brings a huge benefit, except familiarising the dc with the format. You can either do it or not, it isn't something that you can learn to hear if that makes sense.

Let me know if you need more info with regards to the format.

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 28/04/2017 16:15

Thank you! I will have a look at that website. I'm not overly worried (if are are in the same area, he has a sibling place at R if he wants it, and we are catchment for CD, but he's pretty musical, so would like to give him as many options as possible).

I just saw from various websites that people were prepping at home, and didn't want him to miss out for lack of preparation.

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Fleurdelise · 28/04/2017 18:10

It does sound like we are in the same area by the initials. Smile Good luck, is he also taking the academic test?

Dd also has a sibling rule at one of the schools part of the consortium (Q) but I fell in love with the girls Grammar. She doesn't even want to go there but I wouldn't refuse it therefore she'll take the tests.

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 28/04/2017 19:49

Smile We are neighbours then.

He will probably do the academic test, but he's a dreamy boy, so not sure he'll be quick enough. Also, as we don't have a real need for him to do well, I have been very laid back with preparation. Spent our year 5 doing music and his other hobby instead.

DS1 had high enough for the Boys, but he had fallen in love with R (even over CD etc). Best thing we could have done - he is absolutely thriving, academically and personally.

DS2 might like the Boys. His instrument is unusual, and he is good at it, so it would be good to give him the option.

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Fleurdelise · 28/04/2017 20:02

You seem to have the male version of my dd and our story is similar, DS had high enough for the boys but on visiting it he refused to go there on various grounds but the single sex part was a major decision so we let him choose Q over it.

We've been very relaxed with dd as she's guaranteed a place so no preparation (very little, once a month I remember about the exam and get her to do a test) but she's quite musical so maybe she'll gain a place at the grammar on that. I'd have to trick her though as she's adamant she's going to Q.

What instrument does you DS play? Come and join us on the music thread Smile

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 28/04/2017 20:11

He plays the Double Bass. That's probably going to completely out me, as he's the only one in his orchestra etc.Grin

How about your dd? And where's the music thread??

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Fleurdelise · 28/04/2017 21:03

Dd plays piano and clarinet, pretty common instruments so less chances.

Further down is the April music thread. It is nice as there are people who care about music education and speak the same language.

TheSecondOfHerName · 28/04/2017 21:34

My children are at the schools you are referring to.

The pros: in general I'm very happy with both schools. Pastoral care is wonderful at both, and obviously academic teaching and musical provision are excellent.

The cons: there can sometimes be an excess of talented musicians playing certain instruments, so moderately musical children sometimes can't get into orchestras, don't get given solos, don't place in music competitions etc, especially if they play a popular instrument.

DS2 qualified for a music place (sang in his audition) and I would consider him to be musical. He has been learning the clarinet for less than 4 years and is about to take his Grade 6. He got merits or distinctions in Grades 1-5.

There happen to be at least three more accomplished clarinet players than him in his year group alone, plus a couple who are better than him in the year below. I can't imagine that he will ever get into the senior orchestra, even if he gets to Grade 8.

The good news is that with the double bass, hopefully this won't be a problem. There are some excellent double bass players, but most are older, and will be leaving in the next couple of years.

TheSecondOfHerName · 28/04/2017 21:40

Sittinginthesun I remember you from previous threads about the consortium. How is your older one getting on at R?

Fleurdelise my comments above are more about the boys' school. I don't know as much about the competition for orchestra places at the girls' school. DD does play the flute, but is only Grade 4 and is more into Art.

TheSecondOfHerName · 28/04/2017 21:43

Having a sibling qualification at R, a distance qualification at CD and a chance at a music place elsewhere is a very fortunate position for your DS2 to be in.

Fleurdelise · 28/04/2017 21:55

Thank you TheSecond I hoped you'll join on here.

I remember the times DS did his 11+ I thought it would be ages till dd will do it and there we are. I keep repeating that we are in a fortunate position just like you said about Sittinginthesun, but while when I visited the schools with DS I knew instantly that the Boys is not right for him and allow him to chose Q over it I now actually know that the Girls would be fantastic for dd. But that doesn't mean I'd be disappointed with her going to Q.

TheSecondOfHerName · 28/04/2017 22:09

They're both v.good schools. DS1 (Y12) has some good friends at Q who are doing really well.

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 28/04/2017 22:10

Hello TheSecond . Good to hear from you again - seems only yesterday that we were here chatting about our dcs.Smile

We were right to trust our instincts with R, as DS1 has thrown himself into the academic side and sport.

I spoke with the music teachers at CD and R, and both were very excited about a bass player potentially joining them. The music school have been incredibly supportive as well, and it is completely the right instrument for him.

I'm still not sure, though. I'm finding him hard to read!

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TheSecondOfHerName · 28/04/2017 22:27

There'll be a chance to look around the schools again in October once he has his score. Does he have any preference about single sex or mixed?

Fleurdelise · 28/04/2017 23:01

We visited the schools last year, DDs application will look like this Q,R and girls school. I find it quite funny as there wouldn't be a point to put the Girls school third.

Mine would be the Girls school, Q, R. As I am the adult I win if she gets a music place. Grin

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 29/04/2017 11:03

Morning. I don't think he cares about girls or boys. He's quite nerdy, and not particularly bothered about friendships. He loves people, makes friends very easily, but is as happy with 70 year olds, as 10 year olds. If it looked fun, he'd be happy on Mars!

It's finding a school with enough to interest him, but not stifle him.

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Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 29/04/2017 11:04

I'm not a fan of CD, for various reasons, but they do have a lot of clubs.

Do you know if the Boys has a chess team?

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TheSecondOfHerName · 29/04/2017 12:10

Yes, there is a chess club/team. Unfortunately it is scheduled at the same time as the Maths club/team - did they not realise there might be an overlap? Smile DS2 alternates each week.

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 29/04/2017 12:16

He'd rather play chess than do maths. If it clashed with coding, that would be an issue.Grin

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TheSecondOfHerName · 29/04/2017 12:28

Fortunately Python club is on a different day. Smile

Gazelda · 29/04/2017 12:35

Hope you don't mind me joining you. DD is 1 yr behind you (Y4). Hers is a bulge year, so will be even trickier to get into one of the consortium schools. She's learning piano and seems quite good, but I'm starting to fret about her chances of one of the better SW Herts schools.
Would you recommend her also getting tutored for the academic test? (Although I think we've already decided to do this - she has an academic mind so I'm not concerned about her being 'over tutored' where she to get in).
Do those who pass both the academic as well as music have any advantage?

Fleurdelise · 29/04/2017 13:02

Gazelda I'd definitely prepare academically if you see potential. There is no pass mark as such so there's no concept of passing both academic and music test. Once both exams are taken you get the score and apply to the schools in order of you preference under the right criteria. They go from the first criteria to the last so say you qualify for academics they don't even look at music score which is a lower criteria if that makes sense.

Obviously taking all the tests give you more chances so academics, music, sports at one school and technology at another.

DS only took the academic one and got into one of the 8 schools, dd will do both music and academics but as I said we have a sibling rule so I didn't really prepare dd for the academic test.

Oh and ours was a DIY job with DS, but you can definitely hire a tutor if it is easier.

As an advantage/disadvantage once you get a place in the school they don't really care which criteria you gain your place on, so you don't get to join the orchestra automatically just because you got a music place. Which I do find a bit strange.

TheSecondOfHerName · 29/04/2017 13:16

Would you recommend her also getting tutored for the academic test?

Yes, because occasionally musical children don't score high enough in the listening test to be invited for an audition.

Better not to put all your eggs in one basket.

TheSecondOfHerName · 29/04/2017 13:20

they don't really care which criteria you gain your place on

The sibling rule comes higher, so some of the most musical children won't actually have got in on a music place. I think that's why there's no relevance to which criterion once you're there.

Original poster
Sittinginthesun · 29/04/2017 13:38

We didn't hire a tutor for DS1, but prepared at home. If you look at the 11plusforum website, it will guide you to the right materials. PM me if you need any help.

Once he was at the school, the Consortium Test was never mentioned again!

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