May Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Have a new thread for May... you all managed to fill the April one!

This is a place to chat about music lessons, exams, practice, aural, theory, performances and anything else you like. We have many regular and occasional posters (some of whom are learning themselves) with children ranging from complete beginners to very advanced. We do try our best to make sure everyone feels welcome!

I am mum to Goo (12) flute and piano, and Rara (9) cello and clarinet. They play in loads of school groups, South West Music School and NCO, although practice isn't going too well at the moment. Later in the week, all three of us are taking part in a big community concert, which will be lovely.

String not strong!

Not quite the same (DDs would never be specialist school standard at music) but DD2 had placed at four prestigious dance schools when she was starting in year 7. She’d have had to board at 3 out of the 4, and our main reasons related to this and the heavy ballet focus (when DD’s favourite styles are hip hop and contemporary).

However, pros we’ve found of her going to a regular day school might be of use to you...

• She meets people who are just as talented and enthusiastic about all sorts of things, not just dance, and people who don’t take hobbies seriously, and I think that’s a very healthy ‘real’ picture of the world.
• Variety of GCSE options are much better - I don’t know what music schools are like but I know at dance schools most take 7/8 GCSEs maximum to make time for dance, and from that choices are limited - mostly just traditional subjects and very few language options. DDs have been able to enter for GCSEs early at her current school and there are so many more options.
• Variety of friend groups, which again I believe is healthy. Both DDs have SO many friends from so many different groups - this evening was netball fixtures for both girls and after I had DD1’s entire netball team in my house until ten minutes ago, then DD2 brought back two friends from netball, then went off to grade 7 dance with a different set of returned an hour ago with four girls from dance. They’ve just started heading home now. At dance school school friends and dance friends would have been the same people, and there’d have been less time for other activities.

However, if mini-Kutik really wants a specialist school then one thing to consider is you don’t want him regretting not going when he’s older. Would it be possible to gain entry at year 8/9? That’s still younger than sixth form and waits for him to mature a bit and both of you to be certain on the decision.

DD is currently loving balancing everything (and she manages 1-2 hours of dance a night plus 5 hours on Saturday and 7.5 hours on Sunday, on top of netball after school one night and fixtures about once a fortnight. Luckily music ensembles and another netball training come at lunch!!), but she may burn out and regret not taking the offers. She isn’t behind in terms of dancing standard in any way and it sounds like mini-Kutik wouldn’t be disadvantaged musically by not going. As others upthread said - just as many capable musicians come from ordinary schools as come from specialist schools. When do you need to make a decision by?

Thank you for sharing your views. You must be so tired of me bringing back the music specialist school. It's probably because I am not fully convinced with my decision so every time I hear something new I feel the need of reassurance.

To be honest I haven't thought about the financial burden nor the boarding aspect properly. I haven't reached the point yet. But if going to a music specialist school now doesn't mean closing the doors to study something else at 6th form or university, then it doesn't sound too scary. Though I'll take a note of Taggie's words on the difficulty of the transition...

As DS keeps banging on the idea, perhaps we can at least let him try and see what happens. He may not get in anyway.

Waffle, I am very much sure DS won't be way ahead in such an extreme environment. He is nothing special at jd/nco/youth orchestra. The standard at the music specialist school would be much higher than anywhere else he has ever been.

I can nod to everything Tabby wrote. I originally told DS to wait for a couple of years so he could see what the 'normal' secondary school would be like. There is no deadline so he can apply Y8/9 no problem.

Is he year 6 now? I remember him doing SATs so I’m assuming he is. If so I’d say give year 7 a try and if after a few months he’s still certain it’s what he wants maybe start looking at the options more seriously to start in year 8/9. He could always change his mind again for sixth form if he decides physics/English/food technology is his calling we always said we would consider DD transferring at the beginning of year 9 but she’s coming up to the end of year 8 and loves her school and all her friends too much. He may feel differently, and then you’ll at least know you’ve given him a shot at both (and be more confident in the final decision).

Plus Sheku was at a JD- which obviously mini-kutik is at already.
If JD hasn’t quenched his thirst for music, in that he still wants more, then maybe music school is the next obvious option.
Of course, musicians come from all sorts of backgrounds, music schools, JD’s, state schools, independents, self taught etc etc.
It’s the desire to learn and improve that will keep a musician going.
Also on an earlier thread- don’t assume that all the kids in music school adore practising all the time- they are still kids, they still mess about, and have days when they don’t want to do it. I guess the difference is they know they have to, and it’s that desire to improve that drives it.

We are currently exploring the possibility of music school for sixth form. I was impressed with DS2 that he has investigated the academic side too, and when we went to an open day he spent time talking to the teachers of the A levels he thought he would be interested in.

DS2 wasn't at a choir school as a chorister, the Cathedral choir here draws choristers from the local state schools, but it was still a big transition when it finished. For four and a half years it was the focus of everything we did as a family, as the Rota came first. I wrongly thought there would be a void when the commitment ended but DS2 filled it very quickly with music activities, (added learning organ, returned to choir on the back row) and joined stem groups at school.

Kutik at our local one, he would be an anomaly, and we get all levels of gifted there. My friend's daughter has just started there - similar level or just behind him, and she's 13.

Is she a violinist? As long as I know the standard for young violinists at a specialist setting is just so astonishing. There are more g8+ players than the places available at specialist schools. So technical attainments alone won't secure any offer I think. Your friend's daughter clearly has something special.

By the way how are you feeling, Waffle? Hope you are steadily recovering.

Violin and voice.

Feeling rubbish but going on holiday on Saturday, yippee!

Hope you enjoy your holiday Waffle and manage to get a good rest

I have been following along the schools debate with interest. I have no personal experience of specialist schools but I thought I would add in some anecdotes about the career paths of those from my county youth orchestra where I played in my teens who went on to 'do music' in different capacities after school.

Musician number 1: Woodwind player. Went to normal state comprehensive school and sixth-form college. Studied music at university and a post-grad at music college. Taught woodwind as a peripatetic for many years but for health reasons stopped teaching in schools. Still plays in amateur and semi-professional ensembles - mainly in musical theatre. Came from family who were non-musical but very supportive of her playing/musical interests.

Musician number 2: Played woodwind instrument as first study but proficient at many instruments across the different groups. Went to normal state comprehensive and sixth-form college. Went to music college as undergrad and postgrad. Met her husband at a young age who went on to be abusive and stopped her from carrying on with music. Divorced him after 25 years and is now, in her 40s, starting to play in amateur groups and to conduct. Came from supportive and musical family where both parents were music teachers.

Musician number 3: String player. Went to state comprehensive and sixth-form college. Very academic. Studied maths at university and then post-grad at music college. Is now international soloist, recording artist and head of department at music college. Came from supportive, non-musical family. I remember him being very driven as a teenager but all-round nice guy.

Musician number 4: String player. Went to state comprehensive to start with then moved to Chetham's for sixth-form. Plays in top orchestra, various other ensembles and worked on classical radio for years. Came from supportive family where both parents were music teachers.

Musician number 5: Brass player. Went to state comprehensive and school sixth-form. Then undergrad degree at music college and post-grad in music at university. Plays as section principal in top orchestra and lots of TV work. Came from supportive family & taught his instrument by his own father - very proficient musician in his own right.

A potted history of those I know who earn their living through music or who are active musicians but non-professional musicians!

I'm not sure whether i envy or pity you all with school choices, wonderful oportunities and agonising descisions. Dd1 starts secondary school in august, her new school is substantially bigger than her primary school but it is still tiny (it's a 6 -16 school her current one is 6-13) there will be less than 25 kids in her year and thats a big year group......
I'm not expecting her new school to bring new musical oportunities so she'll have to hope there are some violin spaces at the jd type program and that she måles the grade.....

Waffle have a great holiday. Hope you get some rest

Waffle, sorry to hear you are still unwell but I'm glad that you have some lovely things in your diary. We are going on holiday from Sunday too - surfing in Cornwall.

Japanese, thanks for the interesting post! A combo of state comprehensive + 6th form college seems to have worked out just fine for many musicians.

In DS's case, whether going to a music specialist school helps him becoming a pro musician is not a deal breaker. Simply because he doesn't really have a specific career plan yet (he is only 10). I am sure he would love the idea of doing some music related work, but he wants to go, not mainly for his future career, but because he loved the school and people and is excited by the prospect of spending time there and also of course the environment gives him more time for what he cares most. If his academic results were going to be damaged badly by going to a music specialist school early, I didn't feel it was right for him. But if there is more flexibility than I imagined like my friend says, then I can certainly consider the option. I mean, at least I can let him try for the audition.

Mending, I always think having choices is a luxury. But then sometimes no choice is good (better!). I am torn where to live in future for instance - whether I should go back to my country or stay here in UK. Sometimes I hope I didn't have such choices. I am not good at making decision (as you can see from my violin hunt, school dilemma, etc) that doesn't help...

We are going to Cornwall too... Lizard.

Hope you have a lovely time Waffle and Kutik. Have a pasty for me!!!! xxx

Ooh Waffle have a fab time! The Lizard is our yearly summer holiday destination - one of my absolute favourite places. Hope the weather holds out for you!! It’s been pretty good lately...

You know, I kind of sensed you are going to Cornwall too. I think it's because it happened last year. We went to Cornwall in May and I guess so did you! We are going to Prepayment this year. Chasing for big waves!! Not me, though. I am scared by sharks and water... I'll read a lot of books while looking after boys' belongings on the beach...

I won't probably disappear just because we are in Cornwall next week. I am pretty addicted to this thread!! I might post a photo of warm pasty, folk!!

Mending only 25 in a year?!?? That’s crazy!! DCs primary school has 60 in a year and that’s slightly smaller than average around here, most have 3 classes so around 90 kids. An almost all the secondary schools have 8+ class intake at year 7 (except for maybe the private ones), but I’m guessing you’re somewhere much more rural than London!!

If dd doesn’t stay after year 8 at specialist school she will go to a high school with more students per year than in her whole current 8-18 school. To be honest I think she would like that a bit too much!

We go to Cornwall every May, and I won't be online much because there's rarely a reception in or around Lizard. We don't go away in the summer usually, and the furthest that the kids have ever been is Doncaster!

Enjoy cornwall waffle and kutik and yes tabby you're right- we're a lot more rural than London 😁

Seeing the many teens we go with try to get phone signal in the car park is one of my favourite parts of the holiday apparently it wasn’t too bad at the football pitch/park area last year either... we stay on a campsite that had a sort of “wifi zone” so they often hang out there for some of the evening until we force them to sit round the fire with us. You’ve made me excited for summer now!! How long are you there for? I’m jealous, we can never go away in half terms because DD always has CAT (dance) workshops and signs herself up for other dance days too.

We’re going to have a manic house over half term - a family of 6 arriving on Saturday and staying until the following Saturday, family of 5 and family of 4 arriving on Sunday and staying until Saturday, 3 families of four arriving Monday, one staying until Friday and the other two until Sunday, and a family of 3 staying Wednesday to Saturday. Wednesday-Friday we’re going to have 16 children (aged 18 down to 2) and 14 adults crammed into our house, plus us!!

We are camping for a week.

We booked a lovely cottage Sat to Sat but going on Sunday and coming back on Friday as DH and DS are joining the crew of daddies/sons for the trip to Wembley (footy) this Saturday and jd is on next Saturday (no lessons this Sat). DS has to miss NCO this Sunday though.

Tabby, you won't probably notice if I stay at yours for a couple of nights.