Music - alternative to JDs

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This is going to sound like a stupid question, sorry. Please bear with me.

I’ve been having a browse online of the junior departments for e.g. Guildhall, RSM, RAM, Trinity. Their programmes look brilliant and I’d really love it if my kids could have that sort of musical education. The obvious problem is that the entrance requirements are really high, e.g. grade 5 distinction at 8 years old.

My kids (age 5 and 7) are musical but they’re not prodigies by any stretch of the imagination. E.g. practicing 15 mins a day if they remember, and they sing a lot for fun. Neither do I want them to be professional musicians - in fact I’d actively discourage it. I’d be very happy if they’re G8 by sixth form. Not G8 by Y7!

In an ideal world, they’d have the chance to take part in stuff that’s done in the JD, without the stress/pressure of having to achieve too much.

Are there any alternatives I could look at? We live in the South East, can travel to London at the weekend.

Thanks!

I think there will be some other Saturday music schools which are less high pressure. I've heard of CYM but not sure what it is. Ask on the spring music thread as lots of people with more knowledge on this subject there. It's great to get your dc into an ensemble, whatever their level or aspirations, hope you find something suitable.

Does your local Music Service not offer anything? - oh, are you independent? if so perhaps you could ask if they'll take them anyway.

Otherwise look round for local bands that take children as well as adults.

Church choirs might be a good place to start.

my DC attend a music hub that runs ensembles for beginners with just a year's learning, right up to a county-standard youth orchestra. It's lots of fun and a highlight of their weeks.

I would also look at any outreach/widening opportunities stuff offered by your nearest JD. Ours does half-termly workshops that my younger DD attends (not offered on my older DD's instrument) where they do Dalcroze Euthrymics and aural stuff as well as ensemble playing. They are open entry for any standard of player..

Hi - Absolutely not a stupid question! Some of the very accomplished children on here who started very early are worlds away from my two. The younger one didn't even pick up an instrument until seven - the age of your oldest, and even then it was group primary lessons.

However, both dds love music and are at CYM London (cym.org.uk) - which is part of guildhall. It is auditioning, but not Grade 8 at 8 - they look for potential, then nurture it. Both love it, and they get to sing as well as play. There's another open day this coming weekend, but they're always pretty approachable - would recommend you having a look. I reckon if they do turn out to want to work faster then CYM can handle it, but there's no pressure if they don;'t (so DD2 has just passed grade 7 at 12, but the 14 year old is grade 6 ish, and both are fine for them)

There certainly are students at those levels you mention above, but there are lots of others more like mine as well. Despite regarding 15 minutes of practice as the absolute gold standard, both my daughters have progressed really well there and had great opportunities through it..

Thanks for the advice to look up music hubs and CYM - I didn’t know about either!

The local music hub looks great - some ensembles on weekday evenings not too far from us, and they take beginners.

CYM looks amazing too - with the extra bonus of being near Waterloo.

Great to know these things are out there. Thanks again.

Just to back up minisnowballs CYM is great - I had one DC there and one at Junior Guildhall and they are very different beasts. The one at CYM wanted music as a hobby and it worked really well with plenty of opportunities as she got older and she made some really lovely friends.