junior dept / saturday music schools - standard / atmosphere?

[notquitetonedeaf]

DC has been offered a place in the saturday / junior dept at one of the well-known tertiary music schools. They are very musical and it seems like a good opportunity. I am wondering about the standard of the other kids and how competitive / collegiate the atmosphere is.
DC is in Y6 at primary now but would have transferred to secondary by the time they start. they're working on grade 8 pieces on the "main" two instruments that they'd be studying there. They might on average practice an hour most days, split across 2 instruments. They enjoy it and learn fast, but probably not immediately interested in cranking up the hours.
If anyone has had a child at one of them, could I ask:
Would their standard be in the middle of kids their age in a typical junior dept or somewhere near top/bottom? (not particularly concerned, but curious)
Is something like an hour a day practice going to be enough or are they more intense? (I'd be keen to see them make progress but not at the expense of school work or to the exclusion of all other interests)
What's the atmosphere like when they're actually there? DC is generally upbeat and quietly confident - usually comes out of new settings having made friends but would enjoy it less if they're all intense and jostling for position.

I have DC at a conservatoire JD. They're not at a London one though, and from what I hear the London ones seem to require a higher level of achievement prior to admission than where my DC go. Neither of my DC was at the level of your DC at that age. The elder one had been in the local youth orchestra for a few years and had nowhere else to progress to. The younger one auditioned out of FOMO. TBH my DC are kind of bumbling along near the bottom grades-wise, but they are really good ensemblists and punch above their weight in orchestral and chamber groups.

Neither of them minds not being one of the superstars. They have brilliant friends and just really like spending the day doing their thing. The kids all seem really supportive to one another. I had hoped that my DC might be inspired to practice a bit more, and DC1's second study teacher does pull her up on that (second study was a mistake in hindsight). Obviously the kids who practise more progress faster, but DC1's first study teacher apparently said to her that 60mins is about right unless you're competing to become a professional.

I'm afraid mine were at CYM and not JD - and nowhere near the level of your child at that age!

Lots of people on the music thread in here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/extra_curricular_activities/5036199-spring-summer-24-music-thread?page=6&reply=134769141 would be able to help though as their kids have gone through it. I suspect the answer may vary hugely by instrument in terms of levels, and possibly atmosphere too.

Mines at a JD. Didn't start till 3rd year high school, was about grade 7-8 then although had only done grade 6. The standard ranges from pre juniors at about grade2/2 to those winning/ placing in international piano and violin competitions for whom grades have not been relevant for several years if ever. I imagine like kids in a sports team can, that they could line themselves up in order of who is 'best'' but that's not really relevant. Some want to be soloists, some orchestra players, others just enjoy playing. Also my DD plays a rarer instrument so gets lots of good opportunities even though she has friends who are objectively ' better ' than her. They all cope with this and are super encouraging of each other. They often attend each others student concerts and go out for tea together on concert days ( mcds of course, they're teens!) I would say she's found her music crew. They don't really mind who's better, as long as you don't let the side down by not turning up etc. They always help each other out when there are instrument emergencies etc. I do think it depends on the instrument possibly, she's woodwind and they are a great supportive team, I don't know any of the violins etc to know about them. Also, it's not possible to do as much wind practice as strings/ piano - I imagine some will be doing much more than one hour. Some will be home schooled to accommodate this. You just have to plough your own furrow. You will also probably find they get taken back to absolute basics - DD was just doing breathing exercises to start with. Youngest DD is not wanting to be a professional but I can see her wanting to go too maybe next year.

thanks all. If anyone has info on differences in atmosphere between the London JD's that'd be of great interest. At this stage DC doesn't have professional aspirations but seems to get a lot out of it so to some extent we'd rather tick along on an hour a day's practice, if that'll fly, and see how things look in 18 months.

The only I'd say is with repertoire, scales, exercises and maybe music for a couple of ensembles, you might find that hard at that level on half an hour a day for each instrument. But maybe not if organised and efficient. They don't mind if you don't want to be a professional but ours certainly treats them like mini professionals.