Page 5 | Spring 22 music thread

thirdfiddle · 2022-01-09T20:51:03+00:00

Roll up roll up for a new term of music parenting! This is a long meandering series of threads for all things musical. Please do say hi if you're new or lurking. Delighted to see on the last thread that musical things are up and running again in the new term despite some covid nerves. Here's hoping for a smooth normal as possible run.

QueenMabby · 17/02/2022 21:58

Just lost a long post. Grrrr.
Essence was - @Siriusmuggle that is so crap for your ds. Hope he's not too poorly and that he gets another opportunity soon.

Dd cello grade appeal not allowed. This upset her. The other 4 cello grades appealed not allowed either.

Piano teacher called - grade 6 just taken - she got a distinction. 139 marks. That cheered her up again!

Musictimesthree · 18/02/2022 08:46

Many congratulations to your Dd @QueenMabby. Sorry to read about your son @Siriusmuggle.

One of our DCs is at JD and local comprehensive studying for GCSEs. The music teacher there is leaving so Music A level is looking uncertain. No other local state schools offer Music A level.

So our dilemma is; do we look at independent schools (not keen on this option as our other children would find this unfair and there’s no way we could afford it for them all) or specialist music school. Do some children do specialist music school and JD? If so how does it work?

Thanks!

Siriusmuggle · 18/02/2022 08:51

We did specialist music school for 6th form, never done JD. I can’t recommend it highly enough, only wish we’d done it sooner.

Original poster

thirdfiddle · 18/02/2022 09:38

Musictimesthree, could you look at somewhere that does substantial music scholarships if not specialist? How old are other kids, might you be able to offer them private for A levels only in due course to make things fair? I do think it's okay to balance need and individual child though. Not being able to do A level you want is a big reason to move.

Queenmabby can see both your posts now! Congratulations on the grade 6 piano, that's a stonking mark! Shame about the cello but hey ho, she'll replace it with a higher grade soon.

OP posts:

QueenMabby · 18/02/2022 10:19

@thirdfiddle

Musictimesthree, could you look at somewhere that does substantial music scholarships if not specialist? How old are other kids, might you be able to offer them private for A levels only in due course to make things fair? I do think it's okay to balance need and individual child though. Not being able to do A level you want is a big reason to move.

Queenmabby can see both your posts now! Congratulations on the grade 6 piano, that's a stonking mark! Shame about the cello but hey ho, she'll replace it with a higher grade soon.

I can see both my posts now too @thirdfiddle. V strange!

minisnowballs · 18/02/2022 10:45

Congrats on piano QueenMabby, that's fab! Well DD2 has spent all week doing wind band, and now her concert is cancelled because of too much wind. Oh the irony...

At least they get to reconvene next week - she's learned loads but is totally exhausted - four days of 10-5 playing is pretty heavy for a 12 year old, and I think she's found the piccolo a pretty exposing instrument (she's never even had a lesson on it!).

Musictimesthree · 18/02/2022 15:38

@thirdfiddle going to look into the substantial scholarships option. Thinking the children do not need to know the figures! It’s too late for DC1 who would massively benefit from private school but is in Y11.

@Siriusmuggle also going to look into specialist music school. From your positive comments I’m assuming that your DC has had no problems settling in despite joining in Y12? Am slightly concerned though about another change of music teacher when DC is getting on so well at JD.

Siriusmuggle · 18/02/2022 15:40

@Musictimesthree he settled in really well. They have a big year 12 intake, probably 50% join in year 12.

Siriusmuggle · 18/02/2022 15:42

@Musictimesthree also you may find the JD tutor teaches at the specialist school. Mine will carry on with his current tutor at conservatoire next year as he’s opted to stay in the same city as his school.

Musictimesthree · 18/02/2022 15:44

@Siriusmuggle thanks, that’s good to know.

Musictimesthree · 18/02/2022 15:49

@Siriusmuggle, sadly not or without further question I would be sending DC at the earliest opportunity. State school music provision in our area is disappointing or non existent.

I was waiting at JD a few weeks back and I got talking to some parents whose kids did JD and specialist school. Maybe because their teachers teach at both.

doesanybodyhaveamap · 20/02/2022 21:30

@Musictimesthree only one of the music schools is ok with students also going to JD. I think unless there is clearly something the JD offers that the school doesn't, there's little point and it's not supported (and staying with a favoured teacher generally isn't deemed to be a compelling enough reason either...). One of the advantages of music school for us is everything happens in one place without any ferrying around. DD actually has downtime now!! Time is a precious gift to busy kids!!

doesanybodyhaveamap · 20/02/2022 21:34

Although as @Siriusmuggle says, lots of teachers are at both specialist schools and JD's so it's possible DC's teacher may also teach at one of the music schools??

northerngoldilocks · 20/02/2022 23:20

Just a word of warning re substantial scholarships at independent schools - depending on where you are and where you're looking they can still leave significant fees remaining. I think that any scholarship cannot exceed 50% of fees (bursaries are different but means tested). For most of the schools we've looked at music scholarships have been a max of approx 10-25% and academic can be the same. Technically you can get more than one award, but depending on the entry point, there will be one or two of the largest awards!

horseymum · 23/02/2022 11:45

I think at our jd some kids go to specialist school in the week as well. You can get an "ensemble only" place for this.

horseymum · 23/02/2022 11:54

We are enjoying some more things starting up. Actually hopeful of a regional orchestra concert, first since 2019 as they do them only annually in March. Also some festival classes as well as a couple of exams. Nice to have a bit more live music!

Siriusmuggle · 23/02/2022 13:17

We had a county youth orchestra concert last night. It was fantastic and I'm so proud of my boy- he had some amazing feedback from his old head of music centre.

Mendingfences · 23/02/2022 18:36

Lovely to hear about the live music .

minisnowballs · 25/02/2022 14:35

Today I have booked tickets for DDs wind band concert tomorrow night, then her NCO projects 'sharing' the next weekend and a wind band tour in summer. So much real ensemble music again - so exciting for her!

horseymum · 25/02/2022 15:41

Exciting! I won't believe our concert is happening at the end of March till I'm sat in the hall with the kids on stage.

TheSunIsStillShining · 26/02/2022 17:14

HI,

can anyone recommend a violin teacher in Richmond? TIA.

northerngoldilocks · 06/03/2022 20:31

Hi, wondered if anyone else had DC who have auditioned at junior guildhall. Going to audition DD on piano this time. Am aware that its a super popular instrument and that the standard is likely to be way above the advertised minimum, but also feel like nothing ventured etc.

Any insight into the process would be great - like do they audition first and second study at the same time (consecutively rather than some 'one man band' option) or do they audition in the different departments?

Also - more generally, when they say 'two contrasting pieces' how contrasting do people go - ie not same composer or different era etc?

Grateful for any insight really. TIA

horseymum · 07/03/2022 06:26

I don't know about grades for guildhall, our jd says they look for potential rather than grades achieved. Others might know specifically. For contrasting, I would have thought different styles to show different skills ie faster finger work versus lyrical, slow. Probably different periods would be better too. Main thing is she likes the pieces and maybe can say why. We just did a video audition because of covid so they just had to say what music they liked and why they wanted to be there.

doesanybodyhaveamap · 07/03/2022 07:08

Hi @northerngoldilocks .

They say contrasting pieces to see as much of your DC as poss, so as horsey suggests, different speeds and from different periods would be ideal.

They will assess second study in same audition. Also, some scales, sight reading and aural - nothing too challenging, and in line with DC's grade standard. Will also want a little chat about musical experiences and why they want to go there!

Auditions at GH are super relaxed and friendly. As for what they will be looking for, it's a balance between potential and ability.
The younger the DC, the more sway potential has over ability. As they get older, technical ability becomes more important As they are benchmarked against their peers already at GH. You are also slightly at the mercy of how many spaces they have (teachers only have so much capacity!) and who else auditions.

Good luck!

northerngoldilocks · 07/03/2022 13:47

Thanks for that - its helpful. I agree that there is definitely a question as to how many places they have for particular instruments - and we're definitely looking at it as something that she can try but might not work out this time or even at all.

The standard they ask for officially is grade 5 distinction by the age of 10. She passed grade 5 at age 8 but not with a distinction - I'm assuming that by the time she is 10 she'd be at that standard (if she didn't flunk the aural test component again!).

She's thinking of a Bach piece thats all v fast and then a jazz piece but i just had some reticence as we're not applying for the jazz programme, but think it will all be fine.

Thanks for the info on second study too.