Spring /Summer 25 - Music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

Time for a new thread for spring!

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.

My 10 year old is getting ready to sit g6 on pedal harp and piano but is struggling with the aural. Anyone sound things that are helpful for that age?

@sittinginachair fellow harp mummy here - you have my sympathy for the PITA of an instrument....

I really rate all of Paul Harris' books (scales sightreading and aural). This is the one your DD needs https://www.ackermanmusic.co.uk/improve-your-aural-grade-6-book-and-cd-new-edition-from-2010-11.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo0vV3GnRnP3FkbApoGRKCANqkFXrPTeXJG32Rt9I15bg8baXYI

Thanks all. She is thrilled, as am I. Her teacher thought she was ready to sit back in Dec and then I wanted to push it back as there is no rush, wasn’t sure if this was far enough back but seems it was perfect timing for her on the line between ready / over the pieces. She did add a new piece around Xmas and ditched one of the original ones so that helped keep them fresher!

re aural im no help im afraid. Despite a term of 2:1 private lessons DD only got 12 in that section 🙄. When she came out of the exam she said ‘it’s great I’ll never have to do it again’- had to point out that was sadly untrue as gr7 violin is looking likely this year and then gr 8 on that to go!

@sittinginachair i would second that book that @Londonmummy66 revommends for aural. We have used/ use these ones too https://www.scorestore.co.uk/aural-survival-guides.html?srsltid=AfmBOorF4BIdeGvBVRwd9BeNurUjh-Tm03JSKSSQL0uUGAYUUmDFhgrA

I can spell, honestly, just very jumpy internet here…

@chocolateisnecessary Sorry, I'm late to the party, but my DD did A-level Music, Maths, History and RS. As others on this thread know, she's at a US Conservatoire, and all have been useful as there is a compulsory History of Music and Humanities section in the USA. The maths apparently comes in handy for theory! (I have no idea, but I have no musical knowledge at all)
I second the poster who said get good solid A-levels, though. A lot of students seem to do something completely different to pay the bills and keep up music as a sideline/hobby/second job until their musical career gets going.

it would be great if any parents can share their views and program of violin player at RAM primary academy. As the fee is as half of Royal College of Music Junior department. Could anyone can point out the differences please.
TIA

Not that particular programme, but my child has loved their JD experience. Hope you make a decision that's right for your family.

I’d suggest emailing in to find out what a typical timetable for Primary Academy and RCM JD looks like. It used to be that Primary Academy was about half a day long - mainly Sat afternoons - whereas RCM/RAM/GSMD JDs were full days, and therefore the half fees was about right.

I have a brass player at RCM currently and their day runs from 9 - 4 pm this year with a 30 min lunch break and they’ve requested an extra ensemble next year so will run from 9am - 5pm. The same age string players are there the whole day too so it may just be that Primary is a shorter day, hence the lower fees.

RAM JD fees are a little lower than RCM/GSDM anyway which was a definite consideration for us last year when choosing. My small brass player was equally keen on both until they heard the Symphonic Wind Band at RCM and was in some sort of brass heaven and adamant they would be going to RCM to join that group.

Does your child have a preference? Is one place easier to get to? Are you happy to reaudition after Year 7 in the case of RAM?

sorry quoted wrong answer!

I'm in the same position (RCM/RAM/Guildhall).... I've asked RAM about re-auditioning after year 7 and they said that currently, that is the process, but that it is 'under review'. I'd imagine RAM lose a lot of kids to the other centres over this.... There is an offer holder's day on the 26th, are you going to go to that? I think it will be good, hopefully we can ask lots of questions.

We love Royal Academy and teachers there but my daughter likes programs from RCM more. We don’t mind about re audition again in Year 7. It is heartbreaking to choose one. Could I ask what instrument your child play. We might end up in same department and Conservatoire.

Thank you for your reply. As audition my daughter think Royal college is bit more of aural and more competitive. We are more on RCMJD side.

DS sang to one of the organists at Southwark this week and they offered him a place as a chorister on the spot. I was surprised how quick and informal it was. He’s excited but also a bit apprehensive - his main worry is not having any friends there.

Im also wondering how we are going to manage getting him there and back multiple times a week 😬. He starts as a probationer with only 1 rehearsal a week, so I’m hoping that gives us all a good taste of what it’s like.

If anyone has any tips or advice I’d love to hear them.

wow @Compsearch - how exciting! I've no advice I'm afraid but very well done to him!

DD2 is off with the national youth choir this week, Training choir (15-18) for the first time, so the course is longer, which is tricky if you're year 11. She tells me they did the Treaty of Versailles, Surds and 3D trig in the break.

Congratulations @Compsearch - my 2 learnt a lot there. Once he's out of probation and in the main choir it would be worth seeing if any of the older boys are heading home your way. When mine were younger there were a couple of older girls who were happy to drop them off if I couldn't manage a pick up. Or if you can do a rota with a couple of other parents.

@Compsearch congrats! Sounds like a great opportunity ( and a big commitment!) Thankfully mine is older and can generally get themselves musical places. Although we travel around a lot for concerts, but enjoy that.

Fabulous news @Compsearch, what a wonderful experience!

Well used to the travelling here, have already spent three days away with youth opera this break and off to national youth choir (9-15) yesterday for another five days; she is only 13 so I am resigned to travelling around for a while...actually I love it!

Congrats @Compsearch! My DD is a chorister at a different cathedral and absolutely loves it. She is learning so much and it definitely complements her instrumental playing too. The only downside is the huge time commitment, particularly around Christmas and Easter and the clashes with other activities. Some other hobbies have had to be dropped to make time but DD loves it so much she doesn’t mind! She didn’t know anyone when she started either but they work together so well as a team that it doesn’t seem to matter and they get to know each other quickly!

Thanks all. I’m really proud of him! I think he might either really love it or hate it, so will have to see how the probation goes. Not sure how well he will cope with sitting through services, but I guess they get used to that quickly?!

The aural tests were as I think @Londonmummy66 said - singing notes from chords (which he was freakily good at), plus scales, clapping rhythms and then sight singing a hymn (which he’d never done and didn’t have a clue about).

Would be fantastic if anyone lived anywhere near us - I’d be surprised as we are East London but will check it out.

Congratulations @Compsearch- that’s brilliant news. Great that he gets some time to try it out before it kicks off at full intensity too

Congratulations @Compsearch. He’s such a talented boy! Hope he loves it!!

Hi. Was just about to post a new thread here after not getting any response on Scotsnet, but saw this thread and thought it might fit here.

Any recommendations for a summer school, ideally singing, but would also consider musical theatre, for DD15? She hasn't done her grade exams but in her Nat 5 (GCSE equivalent) she had to perform a grade 3, but ended up doing a grade 4 and a grade 7 song. We'll need to book accommodation wherever we go as we're in very rural Galloway, so location not that crucial, but we are fairly equally distant from Glasgow and Carlisle.

She'd ideally like opera, but not sure she'll find opera for her age. She's not keen on any of the RCS offerings. She likes the sound of the Inter one that's based on Six, Heathers and Waitress, but I googled the old name (UK Theatre School) and seems the school may have some issues. It's also dance as well as singing and, while happy to do it, she hasn't done any dance classes since early primary.

Any positive or negative recommendations?

We're in central Scotland so would have recommended RCS but don't know of any others. Maybe some local groups in Central Scotland would be doing summer schools you could travel up to and stay for. Eg Standout theatre school is one I know locally, they did a Wicked Easter camp. My friends daughter goes there and she's a music teacher and rates the school highly.