Music Specialist School Discussion

[Kutik73]

Sorry, this is rather long…

We’d never considered specialist school route for our musical DS, especially at such a tender age (he is Y6). However, we’ve recently started seeing it could be an option in possibly near future.

The state secondary school DS is supposed to start from September has good reputation with a wide range of extracurricular activities and music is one of their strengths. However, they also hand out heavy amount of academic work daily, and basically keep their pupils pretty busy. Keeping teens busy could be a good thing, especially for those who may get in trouble or glue themselves to screen otherwise. But DS loves music and he likes to immerse himself in music more, but in reality, he’ll have less time for such freedom once he starts secondary school. The additional journey time is another thing. It takes 45 mins to get there, whereas it’s only 5-10 mins currently.

A friend suggested we could see specialist school as a small private school with strong music activities rather than a place where all DCs were aiming to be professional musicians.

Her logic is, the class size is a lot smaller than the state secondary school so pupils get more attention hence learn more efficiently, all the while there is no compromise in music studies. DCs who are keen to keep up academic work on top will manage to get good enough GCSE results for decent sixth form if they decide to pursue other than music for A level/uni. Although sixth form seems the most popular (and sensible) time to join specialist school, KS3 is actually the best time because if DCs change their mind on course, it’s easier for them to return to ‘normal education’ possibly at sixth form with good enough academic record and musical ability strong enough to be a music scholarship material. But if they stay focused on music and in fact decide to take it seriously, starting early will only become beneficial. Though, it depends on circumstance of course, and instrument. DS plays violin/piano for instance - hence early start can be rather important.

However, I heard and read some scary stories about music specialist school while I was researching. Some claimed they felt like they were living in a prison, some expressed unhappiness (even though they recognised the benefit and appreciated their fortunate position), some teachers talked about very able young musicians going to specialist school as a huge mistake, etc…

DS innocently expresses strong desire to go to music specialist school. I, as a parent, wish him happiness more than anything. By accepting his desire and letting him go where he says he likes to go, am I pushing him into a harsh and scarily competitive world unnecessarily? Or, like my friend suggested, it could be a lot more flexible than I may have been thinking and in fact could be good alternative KS3 education for musical and academic DCs?

Any thoughts/knowledge/experience would be greatly appreciated…

A bit of update...

I dropped DS and stayed there for a while for an interview, a little tour of the accommodation and a lunch time concert. It was a lovely school, perhaps really ideal for DS. Yet I left the school with mixed feeling. I don't know why. I had similar feeling at the open day too. I felt, though a lovely school, it was not for DS. But surprisingly DS had totally opposite reaction - he loved it and was convinced it was his future school.

I got a quick phone call from him just now. He said everyone at school was so kind, and he enjoyed their food. DS played some piece on the violin and also on the piano to someone and he felt he did very well (well, he always says 'he did well' so I usually half listen to him ). So again, like how we were at the open day, we had different views. He sounded very happy and loving being there.

folk, you are so kind. I hope DS is one of few 10yr olds who CAN have a valid opinion in this situation as you say. But I am not really sure. He can be very sensible and mature but at the same time too innocent and too immature. He believes things too much too easily including himself. He is a strong self believer and it appears to be 'knowing confidence' and also being too naive. I am not sure if my little concern is mother instinct or simply coming from my worrying nature.

But anyway, having attended the concert, I can confidently announce that the standard is almost impossibly high. I am honestly surprised DS was called to stay a few days. It's a totally different league, seriously.

So my concern could disappear like a bubble. If this few days stay doesn't take DS any further, he can go to the state secondary without wondering 'if' and 'but'.

Ooh. A tricky one.

My DS was offered a place at a specialist music school, and a music scholarship to a stupendously good 'all round' school. We went for the latter. Partly because he is also an academic high-flyer (many other, less desirable, aspects to him - so don't think I am trumpeting his brilliance), but also because we thought an 'all round' school would potentially give him more options later on. It helped that he wanted to go to the 'all round' school, even though it's 300 miles away. If he had been desperately keen on the specialist school, though, that might have swayed us. He did look at it, and liked it - but didn't love it in the way he set his heart (aged 10) on the alternative.

I think that if something good is on offer, it is a good idea to accept it. It isn't forever. If it doesn't work out, you can re-think.

Just seen your update, Kutik73. I know how high the standard is. Similar to my DS's school. But if your DS can get in, that would be a very good reason to accept. And if he doesn't, you can, as you say, enjoy his state secondary and his music without worrying any further.

Kutik.... you know my views on this.... !!!

Yes, BoardingSchoolMater, it's a bit like leaving the decision to the school. But if he couldn't get in somehow it makes our life a lot easier. And if he could get in.... Well, having witnessed the scary level of standard, if the school thinks DS is good enough to join, then it may be a good idea to accept it!

MidLife

2ndSopranos, When is her audition? Good luck!

if he decides, for instance, to retrain as a lawyer in his 30's then it's possible. It would, I feel, be more difficult to do the reverse.
I agree. It''s definitely harder to do the reverse, though it may depend on the genre and instrument. Mine is a classical violinist, so hell, no. Def no reverse.

When do you find out for sure Kutik- will they speak to you at the end of the week- once his trial board ends?

Although I think they will offer him a place, they wouldn’t normally ask for a trial board without thinking of offering a place anyway.

2ndSopranos Good luck with your dd's audition next week. When our ds applied it was very much on the basis that he might as well give it a try. I'm glad that he did!

We moved our ds from the state system in year 5 due to a complete absence of music in our local rural secondary school, so I understand where you are at present.

It's interesting observing dd & her friends in a musical all round school. Out of all the kids there on music scholarships, there is probably only a small handful who really enjoy all the musical activities scholars are expected to do. There are many more who hate attending orchestra/band/choir & are really only soloists. I think the biggest difference between them is how well they take criticism- if you think about it, young flyers can often have got there on pure talent not necessarily technique & the best teachers will be reinforcing better habits every week. Those who can change their habits quickly will do very well but they are generally in the minority. Many more get past grade 8 have a huge ego that they got there so young & stop trying to change. I would be asking myself which camp your ds falls into before making the final decision.
I hope that helps!

Paul, I don't when yet. We do have a meeting with several school staff including the head on the last day of his stay.

stringmealong, sorry I couldn't really understand what you mean when you said WHICH CAMP. You mean one who enjoys lots of musical activities and one who doesn't? Then DS will be def the former one. He loves all sorts of musical activities. He's done g8, but doesn't think 'he got there so young' so 'stop trying to change', partly because he knows so many great musicians he knows he is still at the very start line, and also he's musical education has never been focused on grade system (g8 was only violin exam he took) so grade X and Y don't have much meaning for him - hence he doesn't have the thought of 'he got there'. Whether he is quick to change his habits - I am not very sure. I think he is a quick learner, but it's different from 'being able to change the habits', isn't it? I hope he is but not 100% sure...

So far I've got only one call from DS today - it was about his packed clothes so nothing to do with music nor school... He'd gone as soon as I answered to his question. Dying to know how he is getting on, if he slept well, what he ate for breakfast/lunch, etc..!

2nd sopranos hope she enjoys next week - at least you're nice and close

2ndSopranos

Oh dear, I think I should have packed more music or skill books for independent practice time. They asked me to bring music DS would be playing in the audition so I really packed only that. But this morning DS said there were 3-4 hours independent practice time allocated through a day so I asked him what he was doing during the time and he said a few runs of those audition pieces (but the auditions were already done yesterday...) and had a bit of fun on the piano. He said he was fine, but I think he doesn't really have any extra music to work on. I assumed they would provide something but apparently not.

Good luck for Tuesday 2nd- if it helps- they are very nice to them in the auditions (as you would expect).
Let us know how it goes.
What is she playing?

Camp 1 - soloists who have passed grade 8 at an early age & don't enjoy group music making because it isn't "all about me". These tend not to listen too much to technical guidance from teachers as they know best.

Camp 2 (the rare one)- love Chamber music, playing with others & really take on board teachers technical comments

stringme, if choices are only those two, then DS is Camp 2. But i don't think it's rare. We have loads Camp 2 around us. I am sure Camp 1 would be rarer? If one is committed enough to reach g8 standard at early age, one should know g8 is still a baby so very strange to think 'they know best'...

What I've witnessed from my (very little) experience is, the higher you go the more modest people seem to be. I'm fortunate to know very high standard musicians (at DS's age) and none of them behave like 'they know best'.

I think my Ds straddles the 2 !! Loves playing with others ( his new love is brass band) loves playing with others better than him . But definitely thinks he knows best if I dare to make a suggestion during practise though on the whole he is good at listening to his teacher and he's starting to reflect more on his playing and think about how to fix it if it's not quite right.

That's the problem Kutik- they hit puberty & often it's those who were pushed as youngsters who rebel! Not suggesting for a moment that this is your ds, but there are many more post grade 8 students who do it under duress or give up entirely than you might think. Schools are generally very good at keeping these kids under the radar, it just so happens dd shares all the arguments she hears 🤣 & they are numerous

Maybe I don't know enough teens to witness that then. But I can imagine those who were pushed as youngster turn to rebel one day. That could happen not just with music, but anything if they were 'pushed' unnecessarily. To be honest, though, anyone who is not super serious about music, I don't see huge problem with them plodding around post g8. They are at good standard already to be able to enjoy school music without putting too much effort. So they can just have fun with music while reserving all the tedious hard work for tackling academic work or any other 'more serious' activities. Tough their instrument teacher would be frustrated.