Junior Guildhall Kindergarten program versus First String Experience program at Royal Academy of Music

[Snaith]

Quite surprisingly my child got a place at both Junior Guildhall Kindergarten program and First String Experience program at Royal Academy of Music. Which one would you choose? Would you consider sending your child to both? Any advice, recommendation or suggestion will be much appreciated as I have no idea what to do!

No experience of either course, but, having been to both colleges as a student, I'd say that the City on a Saturday is pretty bleak for parents killing time, and travelling there is not as easy as Baker Street.
Obviously not your primary concern, but worth a thought.

I've had children on both courses, in fact DD2 has just finished Guildhall kindergarten and is starting their brass training programme in Sept.

RAM: one year of kodaly then two years of group lessons + kodaly. At the end you find an individual teacher yourself (they have some suggestions) and for orchestra/ensemble, can go to ProCorda close by on Sat afternoons. This is what my DS's and DD1 did. DS3 is still at ProCorda's YSE, DS1& 2 went on to CYM near Waterloo, and DD1 went to Guildhall Junior dept. It's a happy, gentle way to start music.

Guildhall: two years of kodaly & dalcroze, then 5 years of either string or brass training (the timetable is 3 1/2 hours of solid music for my DD (age 6) from Sept - I'm waiting to see whether she copes with that). I don't know anyone who wants to who hasn't progressed to the training programmes - it's quite a commitment for the two years of kindergarten and the fall out has been quite large.

Guildhall STP, BTP & kindergarten has more tiger parents but if you can ignore that (or parent like that!) the thorough preparation for music in general as well as a particular instrument is fab. DD2 has thoroughly enjoyed her first two years.

Guildhall Junior dept where DD1 goes, is an absolute joy. She started there age 11 so travelled into London by herself - I think most kids go there without parents so the 'tiger aspect' is diluted by that point. I don't know how many make it into JD from the STP, but I can heartedly recommend it for a child who loves all things music,

DD did kindergarten. Could not deal with Saturdays in Barbican in the end. I heard excellent things about RAM from friends. There was a boy who was doing both in my DD's year I believe. Could RAM be more personal? I felt Guildhall was a bit unorganised at time, but maybe that's just musicians for you, the teachers were very good and I am sure it is excellent long term once you are in. I felt it was a bit slow going at the beginning, I felt they could have done a bit more earlier on, they don't expect much from the 4 year olds at all, which I found strange.

Regarding the other comments, I did not find the parents at Guildhall to be tiger parents at all, very down to earth and lots of musicians / normal people, it seemed like a friendly environment. There's a playground with an amazing coffee shop in 5min walking distance from Guildhall, so it was not too grim, except when it was raining and you were stuck inside.

Which did you go for, Snaith?
We started RAM at the weekend, and loved the vibe and the staff :)
Guildhall was definitely disorganised - they have a convoluted ballot process, didn’t even respond to my application (rude!), and the course director was extremely snooty when I asked for a response

If you’re at RAM, I look forward to meeting you... if we haven’t met already

I had this choice and went for RAM. You have the park nearby and Marylebone High St.

We started the FSE this year and although it’s a bit of a distance for us, my DS is enjoying it. It is a very gentle introduction and that is what appealed to me.