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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 21 music thread

183 replies

squintsoftheworldunite · 25/06/2021 07:49

Hello peeps....

Decided (on a grey, drizzly late June morning!) that it was time for some summer music thread fun....!

My DC is coming to the end of a first term at specialist school, just had first public concert and was reminded of the absolute joy of public performance. We got a couple of exams out of the way before the new beginning, a theory exam coming up this summer but that's all. Some exciting summer music, including a solo performance at a "grown up" concert and some music courses to keep said offspring busy. Excited to see NCO auditions return, even if they're recorded only... Hoping for actual courses next year!

Thanks to those who paved the way in times gone by with the music threads!

OP posts:
chocorabbit · 29/08/2021 19:55

thirdfiddle thank you! I did use the official ABRSM practice test and I achieved a good score so I thought I should do the real exam hence asking if they are very similar. While doing it it seemed that one scale was ambiguous but I might have to focus more. I have used unofficial practice materials too. It's just that I am an adult and I am teaching DD and would not like to make such mistakes if DD progresses more.

yodaforpresident thanks for the warning. It's brilliant that schools use their premises to let children sit exams. Our study has 3 billies almost up to the ceiling. I might have to use a laptop in the next room then.

thirdfiddle · 29/08/2021 21:05

OK, I'm sure the scale in the ABRSM practice isn't ambiguous as i did go through that one with DD - as far as I know there's only one from them directly. Thanks for the hint to alternative practice papers though, that's really helpful actually and how kind of people to put them together.

minisnowballs · 31/08/2021 10:12

Dd2's concert was really impressive and she was high as a kite afterwards. Amazing to see children performing again - and she didn't look completely lost so that was a win. She even played the piccolo (very briefly) and now wants one. Sigh.

Now back to the joys of back to school - does their uniform fit, why have their feet grown, etc etc

yodaforpresident · 31/08/2021 14:12

Wonderful @minisnowballs - it’s a delight to hear them again. DD had her summer residential a few weeks ago and we were allowed to be part of the ‘sharing’ - it did bring tears to my eyes.

Trumpetdad · 03/09/2021 17:16

@SE13Mummy. In case you’ve not got the email, NCO dates announced today

Main Orchestra (for those aged 13 on 31.08.21)
Spring 3rd - 9th April 2022
Summer 14th - 21st August 2022

U13 Orchestra (for those aged 12 on 31.08.21)
Spring 9th - 16th April 2022
Summer 7th - 14th August 2022

U12 Orchestra (for those aged 11 on 31.08.21)
Spring 10th - 16th April 2022
Summer 31st July – 6th August 2022

SE13Mummy · 03/09/2021 21:13

Thank you @Trumpetdad, I did receive the email and the relevant residential doesn't clash with our holiday!

horseymum · 09/09/2021 10:53

JD starting on Saturday here! First few weeks will be alternating online/ in person so she won't meet one of her teachers in person till next week. Thankfully she has already met her main one in person. It will be great to get some live music in a group finally.

Siriusmuggle · 09/09/2021 19:20

Does anyone else have a child applying to conservatoires for September 2022?

PaddingtonPaddington · 10/09/2021 06:10

@Siriusmuggle

Does anyone else have a child applying to conservatoires for September 2022?
Yes my DD is. She is applying to RWCMD and Leeds. She’s doing RWCMD online open day today and booked in for a tour next Friday. Then going to Leeds conservatoire in person open day tomorrow. How about your DC?
horseymum · 10/09/2021 08:39

Well, mine is just starting so I'm no expert but might be able to answer the odd question. We did an online open day then a video audition which consisted of two pieces, some scales, an interview where they were given some questions and you could either ask them those, or they just did a kind of talk, answering them. I think live would be less stressful!

minisnowballs · 10/09/2021 09:12

Good luck to your DD horsey. And v exciting to see these bigger teens looking to go further.

Saturday school doesn't start til the 25th here (but I think is normal, not hybrid), some teachers already popping in some extra lessons, and school music lessons now back.

DD2 exhausted from trying to learn the ropes at secondary (she's Year 8 but wasn't really allowed to move from her classroom last year so she keeps getting lost), and I'm feeling like a fool as having confidently asserted that her comprehensive school doesn't have a piccolo, it of course does have one for her to borrow for free, she can pick it up whenever she likes and can play it in two different bands.

That'll teach me to underestimate the music department. (though I've literally never seen anyone play one in anything and her sister has been there three years).

Comically, we now have the offer of two piccolos (her CAT has offered her one too), as well as the two bassoons, cello, viola, violin, flute and piano. People are beginning to comment on our 'music room' (which was meant to be the living room! ) - I'm just so grateful that people lend us these things - don't think we've ever paid for instrument hire.

thirdfiddle · 10/09/2021 09:18

Cripes mini, that's quite the collection. Great news about piccolo options!

Comefromaway · 10/09/2021 12:47

We are off to Leeds tomorrow too (or rather we are travelling up tonight).

horseymum · 10/09/2021 13:00

Thanks mini, she's excited to get going. Sounds like a good collection of instruments. It's amazing what schools have stuck in the back of cupboards. We discovered our music service had two bassoons. I'm just wondering if there is a cor anglais or contrabassoon lurking somewhere!!

StevenTillson02 · 10/09/2021 13:01

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Siriusmuggle · 10/09/2021 13:11

Apparantly he's now taken RWCMD off his list. He's now going for RNCM, Birmingham and all 3 Londons. He wants to go to London, I want him to got to RNCM. I don't think he's booked any actual open days or anything like that, he'll just wing it and expect to get a place. I do know he's practicing and has been rehearsing with his accompanist.

Knotaknitter · 10/09/2021 13:16

I would have liked DS to go to the northern, he wanted to go to Birmingham. No prizes for guessing where he went. Had it been left to his sixth form college he wouldn't have got the form in on time because they didn't do enough applications to be aware of the early submission date.

Having just moved the contents of a flat (again) I am glad that he didn't consider Wales, the extra driving is more than I'd fancy.

Siriusmuggle · 10/09/2021 13:28

How is he finding it?

Knotaknitter · 10/09/2021 16:27

The last two years have failed to meet expectations but that's the pandemic for you. I thought they did well last year with playing, he was having a group ensemble every week at a time when it was not possible to play anywhere else. They performed a couple of times to an empty concert hall and he was able to have his year end recital with his accompanist. Having him at home for chunks of the year meant I was witness to much ranting about whatever essay he had to turn in (#bloodyballet), it's not all playing and doing what interests you.

I am hoping that this is a normal year where I get to go to a couple of concerts and his final recital (providing he invites me).

Siriusmuggle · 10/09/2021 16:34

Sounds really difficult for him. I hope this year is nice and smooth and normal.

catnidge · 12/09/2021 07:16

@Siriusmuggle, I have a DC strarting RNCM this year.
@Knotaknitte, sorry your DS has had so much disappointment, I'm hoping things will be improved this year.

nomorehorses · 13/09/2021 06:21

@Siriusmuggle my DD is currently doing applications for 2022. Three London and three or four in Europe. I haven't been on here for a very long time, but thought I'd pop in to see if anyone else was applying this year.

horseymum · 13/09/2021 08:36

@nomorehorses That sounds exciting, my dd is only just starting at JD and would love to go to a conservatoire when she leaves school but hasn't even thought about Europe. Are these courses in English or is your DD good at other languages? I wouldn't even know where to start thinking about institutions outside the UK, she's currently assuming she will go locally but that is partly as it's the only one she's really heard much about.

Siriusmuggle · 13/09/2021 09:18

Just had a message from mine- trinity, rcm & Birmingham are in person auditions but ram and RNCM are online. So the two favourites are now online and therefore likely to go less well. Typical.

Comefromaway · 13/09/2021 11:19

At the Leeds open day they said that applicants would be given the choice of either an online or in person audition. Ds wants to go for in person. He is applying for Popular Music so a bit different to most of you but has ruled out places like ACM as he also wants access to more classical based musicians and/or musical theatre singers for hopeful collaboration.