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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Summer term 2019 music

855 replies

thirdfiddle · 01/04/2019 14:50

A new installment of the long running music parent threads. Everyone is welcome from complete beginners to grade 8 and beyond. Thanks as ever to the lovely waffle for starting the threads up and looking after them for years. What are your plans for the coming term? Any exams, auditions, festivals, new instruments? Please come and chat.

OP posts:
MargiaStevens · 20/07/2019 13:47

@rivierliedje hello from another parent working for diplomas! I’m back having piano lessons in the hope of doing DipABRSM and am thankful that my teacher (the organist and choirmaster who has to deal with my DD on a weekly basis) encourages me to swear at Bach fugues!

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 20/07/2019 14:36

Bravo rivierliedje and margia. I'm much better at getting kids to practice than practising myself - lost the will to get off the sofa by the time they're finally asleep.

New practice technique for DD - every time she won't slow down or gets wound up about it, we stop and jump up and down 20 times. Really helping her to be more laid back. I used to get her to jump around when she was 3 to get the wiggles out before playing, apparently it still works for impatient 7 yr olds.

OP posts:
Brasstacks · 20/07/2019 15:35

Do composition teachers normally put their name on a piece of music in addition to the student's name? The musical ideas are the student's but of course the teacher is helping to develop them. I was a bit surprised but have no idea how these things normally work.

rivierliedje · 20/07/2019 19:20

@Margia Ooh good to have someone else doing the madness.
@thirdfiddle I've found it really helpful to have a set practice time in the morning. Also my partner is a professional musician which is encouraging.

mbell · 21/07/2019 16:17

Hello,

First posting from me!

I have two cellists DD12 and DS8. Eldest also just passed Grade 2 piano with Distinction. DD will sit grade 6 cello next term but basically held back a year by not having done Grade 5 theory (just passed with Distinction). Her teacher has insisted that Grade 6 can not be skipped so we’re going with it. It’s likely we’re going to have a change of teacher soon as they haven’t really gelled.

My question is about the JDs in London.

I’ve just dropped my daughter to her second Pro Corda course. She loves the course and several of her friends are at RCM or RAM. DD is playing alongside these children with no problems and loving the music.

Can anyone give an indication about expected standards for these JDs. My view is that DD is playing at Grade 7 standard presently and we would be looking at the 2020 auditions. Is this realistic?

Original poster
thirdfiddle · 22/07/2019 08:56

mbell not in that system but I think they're more interested in how you play than what grade. Might be an idea to look into advice auditions in the autumn term to give a better idea of where she is at? But not an expert, think there are some JD folks around?

OP posts:
mbell · 22/07/2019 15:48

many thanks thirdfiddle

One of the JD parents has kindly PM'd me with some advice. The standard is very high but DD has been very inspired by these other children so she might want to put in the extra effort.

It's really nice to know she is enjoying her music once again after not the best year with current teacher.

magnaconcordia · 22/07/2019 23:10

Hello, mbell. No worry about grade. It's all about how you play and suitability to the course they offer. I saw quite a few children who weren't so advanced at the entry improved massively very quickly. So musicality and potential would be more important than attainment at the time of the audition, I believe. Once you are in, they usually expect you to be fully committed to their programme, so willingness and enthusiasm would also be what they look for. Your DD sounds a perfect candidate. Smile

mbell · 23/07/2019 18:41

Hey thanks Magnaconcordia!

She’s bursting with excitement about her music this week so who knows.

I suspect that she’s not at the expected standard presently but likely to work hard knowing she might be able to immerse herself in the music world of JDs!

magnaconcordia · 24/07/2019 19:10

She is 12 and around grade 6 - 7? If so, I wouldn't say she is not at the expected standard. There are some very advanced children but not all are like that. I know a girl who just passed grade 5 in Year 6, for instance. Don't forget it also depends on the teachers' availability. Even if your DD is good enough if they don't have many free slots for new cellists they can't offer a place. So 'no' this year doesn't mean 'no' for any year. It's good to try as she is at the expected standard for her age.

Boyskeepswinging · 24/07/2019 19:32

Also wanted to chip in to say all is not lost if she doesn't get into JD. By having his Saturdays free my DS has been able to explore a huge variety of musical opportunities. He's done a recording with the BBC, attended all sorts of workshops and played in loads of different ensembles. At age 14 he's got his first permanent seat in a semi pro adult ensemble. Couldn't have done any of that if his Saturdays were all at JD. Having said that I know a lot of kids absolutely love JD and get a lot out of it, I just wanted to demonstrate that not being at a JD can open up other opportunities. But very best of luck!

mbell · 24/07/2019 22:06

Thanks for all the encouraging advice Magnaconcordia and boyskeepswinging. Much more positive after all the nice responses here.

It will be very much down to DD. Yes, she’s Grade 6/7 but I didn’t want to set her up for inevitable failure! Really missing her this week but she’s so happy at Pro Corda, I need to be happy for her too Smile

Boyskeepswinging · 25/07/2019 06:09

mbell and be proud of yourself that you've raised an independent child! I have no worries about my DS leaving home to go to uni in a few years because he's so used to being away from home on residentials and tours. Yet another plus for having a musical child!

PetraDelphiki · 25/07/2019 11:21

Dd (also at procorda this week) refuses to contemplate jd as she won’t leave her teacher and has activities on Saturdays that she doesn’t want to give up!

Boyskeepswinging · 25/07/2019 17:01

Yup, we're the same Petra. DS struck gold with his teacher and he doesn't want (or need) to change. The opportunities that arise from having Saturdays free have really only hit home to me recently when DS did his NYO application and he had so many experiences to talk about.

MidLifeCrisis007 · 27/07/2019 08:29

Thoughts on this?

A good idea in principle?

Do your kids have photo ID?
Would you allow them to take their passports to school/exam centre?

Summer term 2019 music
Boyskeepswinging · 27/07/2019 11:27

To be honest I'm amazed they're only just introducing this. It's certainly not unknown for people to take exams on behalf of other people to get the grade they want. Obvs for things that require an audition it makes no difference because you still need to prove your playing ability but the higher level grades attract UCAS points plus some uni's don't audition and will simply look at the grade certificate as evidence. When in actual fact anyone could have sat that exam for you.

This is particularly rife in English language testing eg to gain entry to uni so a lot of security measures have had to be put in place to be sure that the person themselves took the test and not a mate or a professional test taker (some people make a good living doing this).

So for me I don't have a problem with it because I'd rather have a system that isn't so open to fraud.

PetraDelphiki · 27/07/2019 14:08

I wonder if that will apply to special visits in schools too?

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 27/07/2019 14:35

I would have thought it wouldn’t be needed at a school where the teachers can identify the children.... but I suppose it’s not a bad idea for the privately taken exams. I’m shocked that people would cheat but I suppose it must have happened for them to bring in the new rules...

Boyskeepswinging · 27/07/2019 15:43

Lotsof you'd be amazed at the lengths some people will go to.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 27/07/2019 16:11

apparently so! I would have thought the whole process was stressful enough without the added subterfuge of substituting your child for someone else’s.. the mind boggles!

Boyskeepswinging · 27/07/2019 16:46

It's not stressful at all if you pay one of those professional test takers to do the exam for you or write an essay for you. Happens absolutely everywhere - why do you think students have to show their ID in exam rooms? The stressful bit is whether you get caught or not.

NoodlingAlong · 27/07/2019 16:53

We also received one of these leaflets with a certificate in the post today. I am also surprised that it’s only now being introduced. I remember taking DD’s passport along to her first exam as I just assumed they would ask for ID.

Not sure what children who don’t have a passport could show as photo ID though? Some secondary schools have lanyards with photo IDs I think?

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 27/07/2019 17:22

I didn’t know they had to show ID for student exams, I’m clearly very out of date! It’s not been mentioned by DDs school, but she’s only just finished year 9 so I guess we’re not quite there yet

Boyskeepswinging · 27/07/2019 17:52

I don't know about school exams but I know at uni (certainly large uni's) you need to show ID. You can imagine in a massive exam hall with hundreds of students it's the only way invigilators can be sure the person doing the exam is the actual student. It wasn't unusual for people to send in subs, hence the need to check ID nowadays.