Autumn / Winter 24 - music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

Feels like time for a new thread for the new school year!

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.

I almost sympathised with the OP in the other thread, as she was saying "by all means do music for fun, but don't expect it to turn into a career." Unfortunately she put it the other way around. All (or 95%?) of those who end up as professional musicians started out as music-students at some level, right? Just not the other way around.

DS has never wanted to be a pro musician, but loves his music. DD is in art school and is increasingly feeling that trying to make a living from it would be too precarious so she's considering a sideways shift to something which might even be salaried (museum conservation). I certainly couldn't live with the uncertainty in many creative/performance fields!

LOL can't argue with this, but not everyone is lucky 😂

I studied art but it was impossible to make a living so I switched to a STEM-related job. I still feel sad sometimes as art and music are very addictive, but it is what it is. There was a poster on that thread who described how their nephew and his wife had to re-train after covid. Our violin teacher was also hit hard during lockdowns as gigs dried up etc. They are planning to emigrate now as the situation has never fully improved. And our teacher is a musician in ten or more generations so there is no question of re-training for them.

I will have to tell DS1 that! DS1 is in Y10 and is also doing GCSE Music. He started on his composition this evening and decided to compose something for a full orchestra! 😅

DS said he'd do that for the 'themed' bit of the task - they have to compose something for a science fiction film!

On a high this evening! DS (Y13) won the Senior Soloist category in his school's House Music Competition (classical guitar), and his rock-band (lead guitar) won Ensemble, which meant that his house won overall and he got to lift the trophy. It's only a school thing, but it's his last year and he's been involved since Year 7, so it means a lot to him.

The evening ends with huge non-auditioning choirs singing pop songs in "The House Shout." This is fun in itself, but it is also a cunning way to get 20% of the school to stay for a concert to hear classical pieces that they would never otherwise attend, and to cheer on "their" musicians.

Fantastic stuff @PhotoDad and what a lovely way to see out the final year of the competition.

Congratulations to your DS @PhotoDad - fantastic!

So NYO Inspire query!

I've been sent a form about travel and I've got confused. Do many of the Inspire people end up travelling by themselves?

I have to tick that we will

*arrive at the school

• meet at the train station at x time (I assume just the child?) *need to come the night before and they'll book accommodation.

I'm so confused. We've already booked a Premier Inn for the night before as we're 3hours away. I'm trying to work out if we're training or driving as if they're able to refund I'd rather train as I don't manage long drives well.

But should I have waited and ticked the accommodation one. Do people normally stay the night before together? Or is that for the teenagers if on their own (mine wouldn't manage that st all I will need to be there)

Hope that makes sense. What do people usually do?

Wow @PhotoDad@PhotoDadCongratulations.

I hadn't. Noticed the new thread so I have 8 pages to catch up on 😊.

My duaghter has 3 nights a week after school at the moment. 2 for the school musical and once for school orchestras. Regional Orchestra at the weekend. First term it's been this much and she's loving it 😊.

@GeneralMusings I've found that the admin staff are helpful if you get in touch so maybe just ask them how it works? Can't imagine that she would need to stay alone.

For DS I have said I will drop him off and collect him as it's a random school in east London so he doesn't know the area at all. It's all on the tube though so don't have input on the travel

@GeneralMusings Mine will be travelling to inspire themselves and getting picked up at the station. 2x14 year olds and one 17 year old. It's less than three hours on the train and done it before. The first day one we went as have friends nearby. For the inspire course in Blackpool in February if they get on that, we might make a wee mini break. Other NYO things DD has had a mixture of lifts / independent train. It's great for their independence. The accommodation and travel is only for certain distances away and not sure if it's guaranteed. The pick up at the train station is just for the child. I guess you could ask if there was space on the bus back to station but often only a minibus I think. Just send them a wee email or phone.

@GeneralMusings DD2 has done several different things. She's been on the train and been picked up at the station (Blackpool from London) - they actually put all the children who were travelling to London together, but they met them and drove them to the venue.

Then they provided a bus from Bristol last year so she went from school (and held them all up as she hadn't read the email properly about where to meet, which was somewhat embarrassing when I was in London and trying to direct her).

Never been offered accom for day ones though, only for the residential.

This time although she has an Inspire day (East Midlands - we had to change from Lewes as she needs to get back to school on the day allocated) they don't yet have a venue or city so we don't know what we're doing! Little bit stressful as we're working round uni open days for the two older ones.

and @PhotoDad that sounds brilliant!

Ah fab so really the options are for if they are travelling independently and need to be met somewhere it looks like. The accomodation one won't apply as I will be going with her it looks like that's accomodation for students travelling on her own.

We're definitely the distance away it would all apply and we will be applying for the costs to be refunded after so want to get it right! I imagine the London teenagers will be much more used to travelling independently! (Mine would if it was literally just pop her on the train and meet her other end but its 2 changes and an overnight and its her first one!)

For the refund I imagine that's just the childs train ticket then and not mine. She wouldnt be able to travel independently (autistic) so now wondering if I ought to face the drive and then have the car with me and turn it into a several day trip this time. For various reasons I usually only drive locally but as we don't have a lot of money need to make sure I get it right.

Anyway I'm typing too much now aren't I. My head is a difficult place sometimes - I really appreciate your experiences so much :)

Congrats to your ds @PhotoDad - sounds like a fine way to cap his school music career.

Much music happening here. Dd has an in-school piano competition starting next month and an external vocal one for the month after.

School musical auditions are next week. She always auditions for a speaking/singing but not main character role, gets told she's brilliant, gets a recall for that character then when the cast list comes out she's random background character 17 or something! Fingers crossed for a better result for her this year!

I think you should contact them, I read it as accommodation might be reimbursed. I'm m more nervous if there are changes as more to go wrong. Although they give you a mobile number for the day and I've just texted if there's a delay.

@GeneralMusings I would honestly ring them and have a chat - that's a lot of moving parts to be managing for a one-day thing, and if they know they might have better options for you (fewer changes, less need for an overnight etc) or to advise you on costs. They are SO lovely and really want to make it work for everyone...

@horseymum cross post! I've also rung the emergency phone number when DD ended up in the wrong bit of Bristol. They are beyond kind and helpful.

@QueenMabby - sounds brilliant and lots on

The casting sounds very much like DD2's experience in school musicals at new school, where she's 'fine' with being in the chorus (ie a bit grumpy but hiding it well). I know some friends who encourage their kids to pull out of musicals and plays when they don't get the part they want, but I always tell her to go through with it, be gracious and learn. She's neither a drama scholar nor a specialist singer/vocalist, and is new to the school so it is to be expected. You can't always have 'main character energy' as the young people say.

However, I hope your DD is luckier/is a better fit than she was!.Sounds like she's got a good chance!

I was hoping to actually talk to dd last night but she decided that she'd rather speak to her boyfriend (we're also having to share her with him during exeat). On balance I think a London boyfriend is better for her exams than a school one in year 11, but still getting used to it!

Dd has chosen the video game for her composition piece, she has been given homework to listen to music from video games about flying this weekend so will find that very easy!

Can anyone with DCs at Conservatoires please help? Where on the UCAS form do you put their music/theory qualifications? Given that it is specifically for Conservatoires I was expecting a question about, it but if there is we have missed it!

If DS doesn't get a lead part in the school production there will be much trauma. He's doing drama GCSE, and is a singing scholar. And has got lead/supporting roles in all plays so far.

However, this time it's Fame, for some bizarre reason, and some dancing may be involved. He is cursed with two left feet.

I'm assuming there's a bit somewhere as I was asked this morning to dig out dates for theory etc. I've not actually seen the application so not sure!

Fame is a tricky one. Our school did it a few years ago - there was some "interesting" dancing in it! 🤣

I can't imagine why the drama guy chose it! There are no real dancers in the school, but lots of good singers and musicians.

The last few years have been Oliver, Les Mis, beauty and the beast and hairspray, so it's a bit of a departure.

Maybe it somehow be reconfigured with less dancing??