Summer term 2019 music

[thirdfiddle]

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.

Lovely to hear about your DS getting to sit in the pit for a show Comefromaway - DD1 was lucky enough to do that earlier this year too and had a wonderful evening. Her opportunity came about because we were buying an instrument from one of the deps and he asked the MD if she could sit in - I was impressed that someone would stick their neck out for an unknown 14-yr-old.

DD2 will be jealous of everyone at the Brass Academy residentials as she's done a couple of the Easter ones and had a whale of a time even though she was one of the youngest on both occasions (aged 8 and 9).

Feeling very relieved on day two of the music summer course I booked both my daughters onto. It's not residential, but is at a considerably posher school than the type that either of mine attend(not difficult!), where music is very much prized.

The bottom two orchestras are strings only - which means my just 10 year old has to take her second instrument because she's not over grade 6 in her first - she's really a woodwind player. Turned up yesterday to find huge numbers of very tiny children with violins and cellos - my 12 year old Grade 4 violinist was very intimidated - and felt like a giant among lilliputians. Even my tiny 10 year old looked big. Neither wanted to go in.

Picked them up last night to find them grinning like loonies. They've both found friends their own age, and declare the music 'easy' (I think they're both used to playing orchestral music at the same level of their solo stuff, so the lack of position changes makes it a breeze at this level). The food is apparently brilliant, and the conductor 'so fun'.

Not at all the reception I expected from them - thought I'd be dragging them to it every day this week - they normally fight to do six weeks of drama courses only, and I put my foot down to make them do something different.

Phew - I can get on with my work now!

Thats lovely minisnowballs
On the subject of summer schools, does anyone know of any that would take a 10 year old percussionist (mainly drum kit and world percussion but also plays piano and would love to try tuned percussion), a 12 year old on flute or double bass (grade 5 ish flute 4-5 db) and a 14 year old violinist (grade 8 ish at a guess). Either residential or in London. The eldest is definitely most interested in orchestra stuff but the other 2 are very much open to anything musical... im thinking of next year obviously

Thanks horseymum and cocopops.

The wait continues then! What’s most annoying is that he left Yr 6 this year which his teacher knew - so he isn’t even going to be at the school come September. He does have a younger sibling there but hopefully the music teacher still will be!

Mendingfences - in London, South London Youth Orchestra would take your strings, or Dulwich Youth Orchestra would take them all I think. CYM, which isn't running holiday courses this year, may well next - and that would have something for all of them. They are all quite 'south' though - don't know about the other side of the river.

Violinist/double bass could look at Pro Corda (residential), also investigate wells cathedral school for residential courses - I know there’s a brass/wind one and I presume strings too...

I'm not a regular here but really value the wisdom on this thread each term, so thank you.
I've been investigation the NCO. I think it's probably not for us but we would like to investigate it properly before closing the door, particuarly as my daughter would be in the main orchestra this coming year (she plays the cello, grade 7). I can't seem to find out the level of committment needed for the year. There seems to be a diary on their website but it is difficult to understand. What are the 'musts' for a year in the main orchestra and what are the optional events? I can see there are regional orchestras on Sundays - are these a must?

Thanks.

Welcome Four! For Mains musts are a week residential at Easter and another week residential in the summer plus weekend non-residential course at the beginning of December. Regionals are optional but recommended.

Why not go for it? If you don't you definitely won't get a place, that's for sure. They're not really interested in the grade, it's more about overall musicality and fit for the orchestra.

Yes, there's a wealth of NCO experience here so just shout with any more questions!

Thanks so much, that's very helpful. Where do they hold the weekend non residential course? Presume parent find accommodation nearby?

So, how hard is it to get in for cello? Hard question to answer but is everyone in the main orchestra post grade 8 with tons of experience?The downsides for us are... we are limited by funds too (earn under £30000 after tax but not before, which sometimes makes things trickier with funding) and the residential aspect - not sure DD would be wild about 2 residentials when she doesn't know anybody (and we can't do regionals regularly either).

The weekend non-res has been in London for the past couple of years. It was in Birmingham the year before that. Yes, we stayed in a hotel as it was too far to travel daily.

Sorry no idea about how hard it is to get into Cellos. Hopefully a Cello mum can help with that. My DS is a percussionist so very little competition at auditions!

The NCO office would be able to advise re. the financial aspect - why not email to ask?

I wouldn't worry too much about the residentials. They're cleverly designed so the kids have very little time to feel homesick and ensure that everyone makes friends quickly. For most kids it's the chance to spend time with other musical kids, most of them are likely to be the only one playing at that level at their school so it's lovely to meet others like them. It's great for their personal development, too, spending time away from home and making new friends. There are WhatsApp groups to stay in touch between courses.

Hi four

Both DS love NCO (though the older one s now too old).

From the audition, your DD may be offered a full place (regionals optional), waiting list, or associate membership (ie regionals only).

Regionals changed this year - now it’s 4 full days between Jan-Jun and concert. Regionals give the kids a chance to make friends and are great even if you don’t get offered a full place.

Residential is as Boys described above. Our older DS only did Mains but still keeps in touch and meets up with the friends made there. It’s a small musical world so they meet the same kids at other activities too.

Per NCO website “The financial assistance NCO offers is based on income relating to the household where your child resides. For household income of less than £30,529 a year, full bursaries may be awarded. For household income totalling less than £67,164 per year, a partial bursary may be awarded.

Yay, GCSE results today and DS2 got a 9 for music. Good results in general, but he was really hoping for this one!

Well done MiniRaspberry. That's great news. I hope you're all celebrating!

Congratulations Raspberry’s DS ! That is a phenomenal result!
🍷 all round

That’s great news raspberry ! Well done to your DS 🎉
Sounds like everyone is having a good summer. We’re also still waiting for DSs horn exam result from the beginning of July, I emailed the school but no response so probably will have to wait until he goes back... otherwise all good, DD has been on a flute course this week, going to her concert tonight which should be fun then off home 🙂

Thanks all, yes had a celebration last night. School had already agreed he can do A level music (only one doing it). He is looking forward to the new term when he only has to do Music, Maths and Physics!

He also got his induction details for JC on the way back from school, so he is very excited about that too!

Sounds lovely, Raspberry, and a great choice of A levels, really keeps his options open. Does he know what he wants to do post Y13 yet?

Raspberry I'm glad that everything worked out well in the end. I struggled with the uncertainty because when A levels run "subject to numbers" you really don't know what's happening until after enrollment in August.

Thanks you knot and boys.

At the moment he wants to do music. Hopefully being at JC will help him decide if this is the right way forward!

A level music is still a tiny concern because they are teaching him alongside the BTeC course, so he will have to be very self motivated. There is actually a lot of choice for A level music in schools round here, but less when you also want to do Further Maths. Also the Head of Music of his current school left suddenly. But as soon as the school knew DS2 was applying elsewhere so he could so Music, they spoke to the incoming teacher and arranged to offer it to DS. He also gets a free instrumental lesson,. Its nice to know that they wanted to keep him.

If he's at JC they should be supporting him through A level Music, too, with Musicianship, Theory, Composition etc. So he should be in a great place to do well, better than just relying on the school. Exciting times ahead!

August bank holiday! Does someone want to do the honours and start a new thread for the autumn term?

Definitely feels like autumn term here, schools back, lessons restarted, exam planning underway and application to be done for NYOS. I guess everyone else is still in holiday mode. Had a pleasant surprise when I was trying to see if DD2 would be able to join council wind and and describing her level by email. Afterwards I idly looked up the bassoon grade one pieces and realised she'd played some of them last month. Obviously not to exam-passing standard but since she only started in may that was nice to see and a wee confidence boost for her.

Hi, I'm a rare poster but wanted to let Double Bass mums know about Mittenwald Double Bass week of masterclasses in Bavaria. My DS 16 did the week this summer and learnt a lot. The experience has opened my eyes to all the opportunities out there. All ages from 13 upwards to older adults.

congrats raspberry an amazing result

Anyone know what has prompted the change of leadership at the YM School?