Spring /Summer 24 - Music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

The old thread was filling up, so here's a new one to talk about music activities. Come and talk about music lessons, choosing instruments, exams, auditions, specialist schools, orchestras or whatever other music activities are going on. Everyone is welcome, from those with total beginners to those whose children are studying music at advanced levels. Ask for advice or share successes or struggles. There's loads of experience across a wide variety of instruments too(though bassoon's are weirdly popular on here - you'd think that every second child plays one!).

@GeneralMusings one of DS's sixth form friends has done some Inspire events this year when he was in year 12. He plays flute and is grade 8. He was offered the Inspire at the Proms, but was unable to accept as he is on holiday. Being in Inspire gave him the confidence to audition for next year and he has got through to the Final Round Assessment Day. There are 2 2 day guests this residency on flute. Also, sometimes people drop out of a residency for whatever reason and, if NYO have enough notice, they will invite an Inspire person to be a 'guest' on that residency. This happened to another friend of DS's and I think she was 16/7 at the time. Bear in mind re the Inspire Orchestra and keeping dates free that they completely changed the dates this year and this wasn't announced until the beginning of the summer! Hope this helps

Oh wow they changed the dates?!

This is all so helpful. I don't mix in these circles at all so would neve know all this. You're all amazing 😍❤️

@Comefromaway can you comment on the musical theatre question on the previous page. I thought the poster would get more advice here but can't remember who else has musical theatre knowledge.

Could anyone advise on what alto sax would be a reasonable purchase in the following circumstances: never played one before,will have 2 or 3 months of experience when money gets handed over; is G8 on clarinet; wants it for fun/possibly 2nd instrument for uni/playing in pop band/jazz band. Will be hiring to start. If they don't like it obviously we won't buy. Will consult teacher but they are not connectable for the summer. Want a vague idea of the ££££ we are getting into!

Hope you’re all having a good summer. On the back of his grade 8 clarinet result, DS’s head of music has suggested that he should consider auditioning for a junior department (Sept 2025 entry). Should he be successful, this would coincide with him starting year 11. We are a 90 min train journey away from London. DS is quite keen but we have our reservations about him starting this in his GCSE year. Whilst he’s doing quite well academically at school, he’s not the most organised! He also has a good set up locally with lots of musical opportunities and great instrumental teachers, so the ‘value added’ by attending a JD seems less clear cut, particularly as he’s not sure whether he wants to pursue music beyond A-level. He is a music scholar so would still have to fulfill school music obligations. Would be great to hear peoples’ experiences and if there are any parents with teens who have navigated GCSEs whilst at JD and would be happy to chat to my DS, that would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏻

@ZeSpondee my son is a clarinettist - started sax in lockdown 2020 as a second instrument. Having done a bit of a research, we got him a Yamaha Yas-280 - regarded as a very good student horn. My son is now working towards his grade 8 on it. We paid around £800 new - they seem to be retailing at £885-£900 now. Hope this helps.

Thanks very much. I think we may need to look at an intermediate instrument.

Any SWMS alumni on here? DD13 has been offered a place on the Performance Development Programme. We don't know anyone else who's ever attended (we're probably not what you'd describe as a musical family, but keen to learn and very supportive) and would love to hear anyone's experiences before we commit. TIA!

@amr78 - my DD was at Junior Guildhall through the GCSE years. Her Saturday programme was rammed from 9am to 6pm with 2 20 minute breaks. She absolutely thrived on it and used to come home buzzing. She was also a music scholar with a lot of commitments at school although she did manage to negotiate a pass for some orchestra and choir rehearsals. Guildhall was quite a good set up for her as they did a lot of GCSE support - took them through the set pieces and gave them a weekly composition lesson which meant that the school music lessons were basically down time for her.

It obviously meant that school was tough (she was constantly bullied by the teachers trying to get her to give her music up) and she had to be very organised about using every scrap of time she had to study and practice. She is someone who thinks any thing that is not music is not worth her time though so she would not have gone anywhere else on a Saturday. Most of her contempories had lighter programmes so you'd find teenage bodies all over the place studying in their breaks where ever they found a quiet spot.

She went to specialist for 6th form which made her life a lot easier so I can't comment on beyond year 11.

@londonmummy1966 thank you for sharing your DD’s experiences. It does sound like a very full on day even before factoring in the travel - from where we live, we’d likely have to get up at 0530 and probably wouldn’t get home until 2000 or later. I’ve heard that some pupils at junior RCM travel from as far as Nottingham (as did the Kanneh Masons to junior RAM) each week. I’m sorry your DD had such a hard time from school. We’ve already had comments from DS’s head of year and head of house this year begrudging the fact he has only done music for the house and not participated in any house sporting events 🙄 He literally has no spare time to do anything else. It doesn’t help that the music department, although very supportive, aren’t very vocal about individual music successes throughout the year so much of what DS has achieved has totally flown under the radar of his academic teachers. Much to think about - I think DS likes the idea of the prestige but I worry that the weekly grind of travelling to London would rapidly wear thin.

Is it possible to do that journey by train as then he'd at least be able to use the time for homework? DD didn't have a long journey to JG (20 minutes or so) which helped but did have an hour's commute to school so had to learn to work on that one. Is there a JD at Birmingham or Manchester that might be easier than London? DD is away this week but would be very happy to have a chat with your DS about JD/music and GCSEs.

I know children travel huge distances when getting to the JD my child is at. We live super close - whilst not in the city, our journey is shorter than many who even live in the city. When I really notice it is concerts- at the end of term it's rammed and I always think about those having to do those really long journeys after an evening concert when we are home in 30 minutes. Also the impact on the rest of the family. I never stayed as my child was old enough, but staying all day would be quite draining.
As regards exam years, my children have always managed to get some personal practice time during school which helps balance the time.
JD suits one child but the other doesn't want to give up Saturdays although loves going on residential courses.

@Barlaboo 👋 I have a SWMS student at home, he's just back from the older Core residential. It's been good on the whole although workshops can be a bit hit & miss. It definitely teaches them to be well rounded because of the cross genre aspect. It's also stretched my son beyond what he could have got locally and it's great from them to be around other musical kids.

Thanks so much Kitty! Great to hear it's been good for him. It's the cross-genre opportunities that especially appeal, as does the chance to meet like-minded peers.

@horseymum I think we’ve reached the decision that it just wouldn’t work for us as a family. DS was quite keen initially until he realised just how much of a time commitment it would be every Saturday. He’s progressing really well with his teacher locally so I think we’ll explore music residentials etc during holidays as term time is already quite full for him musically.

It's definitely a big commitment, my Dd has missed parties, outings etc although her friends are pretty good at arranging things for other times although she frequently gets off the bus straight to something with friends and hopefully they've saved some food!

Hope everyone is having a good summer. It's been a bit crazy for ds & he seems to have been travelling the length of the country several times. He got last minute call from the theatre company he worked with a few weeks ago asking him to go to London ASAP for opening night of the show there. He got the call around lunchtime, got on an train at 1.45pm, arrived at 4.30pm and the show started at 7.30pm! He then had to go to Manchester for a festival rehearsal, travelled to the festival, back to Manchester on a coach overnight then finally came home to us to get on another train back down to London for a planned family theatre trip (where he bumped into lots of people he knew).

A few things he has learnt useful for any gigging musician to know.

Keep a back of basic blacks packed for last minute shows). He had to make an emergency trip to Primark. Also have an overnight toiletry bag ready to go.

Get a credit card if possible for last minute travel/hotel expenses (he had to borrow £200 from us to cover his hotel in London that the company booked for him but he has to claim back on his invoice).

Try and get ahead of the game with uni work.assignments/resits so you have the freedom to take on last minute stuff without missing deadlines (he has a resit assignment due in next week)

Don't be afraid to talk to people about what you do/message them on social media. He met someone last week in London who has just graduated from RAM & has just started working in the industry. This week he has messaged ds to ask for some examples of his work.

That sounds fantastic @Comefromaway - what wonderful opportunities your ds is getting!

Not much music happening here at the moment. Dd still on a high from her school music tour which sounds like it went wonderfully. She has five days' worth of orchestra this month (not all in one go) which she's looking forward to. She was eager to get back to her practice after our holiday and has the prospect of graded exams and a piano competition to prepare for over the next 12 months.

@Comefromaway 's advice reminded me of the time DD1 grabbed said blacks bag and chucked in a swimming costume and some casual clothes for a trip to a competition. Our first shopping trip in Amsterdam was to H&M to buy socks, knickers and PJs as she had forgotten that you also need to pack those. 😳The blacks bag now contains underwear socks and a pair of black ballet shoes just in case......

yes, a set of underwear for the just in case bag

@Comefromaway it is wonderful to see your Ds's career opening up before him. DD2 is learning on the blacks - she is always losing bits of concert wear and definitely has to have different ones that work with a harness, work with a contra, are only suitable if she's not playing solo as her balance isn't the same in heels etc - but she is loving playing around with having lots of different concert wear.

@QueenMabby lovely that she's got more orchestra. DD2 is playing in Rach 2 with one of the youth orchestras locally which is great as she can be at home for once. I notice there is so much youth music going on this holiday that there aren't enough bassoons to go round - frantic emails about finding bassoonists for orchestras I've never heard of! Guess that's the joy of a rarer instrument.

DD2 is also planning on recording a Grade 3 piano exam this holiday. Sounds ridiculous, given the pianists at her school are insanely good, but she's never had a lesson on it or admitted to anyone at school that she's been teaching herself.

I guess that at least if she passes it it gives her something to work from - she sounds pretty good to my untutored ear but what would I know?! She just knows the keyboard skills will be useful one day.

Yes, I can imagine the extra complication of a harness.

We are still enjoying the memories of last night's NYO prom. Congratulations to all those playing in it. Back to reality now heading home.

Wasn't it amazing @horseymum? DS thoroughly exhausted, he woke up to eat and then back to sleep! The Dani Howard with NYO Inspire was very effective I thought

On the subject of concert wear...
My dd has only ever performed piano solos, so she has just dressed smartly (she likes tailored style jumpsuits and has one very Bridgerton style white and gold dress for exams). What are they typically expected to wear? Longbor short dress/trousers/shirt with long or short sleeves etc? We've been told she will need concert wear for Chetham's, but not being a musical person I'm clueless. DH is... a bloke. Indifferent and oblivious to what female pianists wear in ensembles.