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…

You mean the school didn't have a music department which could cater g8+ pupils at the entry point? I think school has right to select ones who suite to the programme they can offer so it's not always the award should be and will be given to those who are at highest standard I'm sure. But g8 or even diploma is nowhere near you can say 'completed' or 'sharpened enough' and they can still have full of potential to take their music further like those who are g4 or g5 standard with lots of potential. So they still needs and appreciates help and guidance to continue improving. Hopefully those who reached relatively high standard at younger age and want to keep improving can find a right place/school and teacher for them.

Once someone said kids who go to jd were all arrogant because they seemed to think they were the best. None of kids at jd I know are arrogant. I found the comment very sad.

Today!

I spoke to a parent whose dc studies at the school. She said if the school liked DS but no place was available for the September entry (that's what the school said at the beginning), then they would probably offer regular private lessons with one of their teachers until a place became available. That happened to someone she knows apparently.

I don't know druid. I haven't thought about any detail yet. We are having a meeting with MoH at the state secondary next Monday. We can find out more about their music programme. That would be interesting.

Would you be able to do JD as well as music school? Surely you wouldn’t need to do both?

Teaching standard at YM is far better than average of JD. It is a good choice If you are very serious.

There are quite a few DCs who do both at DS's jd, Paul. But it does sound a bit too much. If DS goes to music school, he will do some sports at weekend to balance up.

Better, I agree, though fair amount of DC at jd do very well (like Sheku!).

When do you hear next steps from the specialist school?

Many JD students learn with senior college professors. I doubt Sheku as well.

What happened when you picked him up Kutik??

How did it go kutik?

The specialist schools are different...
Kids at YMS get 2 lessons a week with one of the teachers there, plus an hour (flexible) or more with the assistant. Everyone gets second study piano lessons. YMS pupils have things to do on Saturday mornings too, choir and often rehearsals (maybe this is more as they get older though). A few older YMS kids bass players go to the Academy on Saturday afternoon to help out in the orchestra.

I think perhaps kids from the Purcell school sometimes go to Junior Academy.

At YMS the school and teachers decide who should teach each child, and parents don't get much of a say, unless there are problems and it turns into a difficult situation later on. Maybe the new regime will change this slightly, but I doubt it.

I know quite a few Purcell DCs at DS's jd. They usually have the same teacher at their school and jd so no teaching clash there. I personally think YM DCs would benefit greatly from attending jd as otherwise their orchestral experience would be very much limited. But then as claraschu pointed they have lessons on Saturday mornings so it's not a popular choice apart from bass players I guess.

We collected DS yesterday. We had interviews/meetings with several school staff including the Head. Somehow I was very tired and my brain was not working properly so I couldn't really answer properly to the questions asked by the Head. DS was very quiet also. I don't know why!

The Head said DS's performance was very impressive and his ears were incredibly sharp. As I wrote in the other music thread, DS's performance is far from perfect, so I am impressed by DS managed to impress the Head of such school (I hope it's true)!

We don't know what's next, I'm afraid. I think we'll be in touch by the school. I know they don't have space for another boarder, but then in the meeting they stressed the importance and benefit of boarding. So if DS is successful, he may be given a chance to receive regular individual lessons as someone told me. However, not sure how it works with jd and secondary school commitments, or if it'll really happen at this moment.

When I unpacked his suitcase, I found a few sweets inside. I asked DS where he got them from. DS said kids at the school gave him. He said everybody at school were very kind and sweet. They went to see other students' concert at lunch time and they cheered and gave massive clapping once it's finished. He said there was encouraging and supporting atmosphere everywhere, like brotherly and sisterly love. Even during independent practice time, other kids came to help him and gave him advice. In his bed last night, he said he was already missing the school....

Well done mini- kutik - sounds like it went very well!

How lovely that the children are so supportive of each other. This is what DS's choir is like. Although they are not allowed to cheer in chapel, they are always jumping about congratulating each other on solos etc as soon as they get back to the song room! The supportive atmosphere makes all the difference in an high intensity environment...

Thanks Taggie. Yes supportive atmosphere is so important in such environment. Mental health should come first!

DS also told me he chatted with a student who is already famous in the music scene (DS watched his performance on TV). DS told him very well done to his great work, and apparently the boy thank to DS for being so sweet. Ahhh...

He said he even didn't miss me AT ALL.... Not sure if I am happy about it...

Glad he had such a brilliant time. Don't worry though, not missing you in one week of new experiences/adrenalin is really not the same as not missing you in the long term. Just like you can go away on holiday and not pine for home.