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.

Congrats @Compsearch- it sounds like he’s really cut out for it musically and he’ll probably love it! My DS2 is nearing the end of his first year as a probationer chorister at another London cathedral. He joined the attached choir school and boards though, so although there are some weekly logistics involved it’s not too heavy. Hopefully, you’ll have a good bunch of families with you and you’ll be able to share travel and lighten the load. I’m sure you’ll want to be at as many services as you can once he’s singing properly too. It’s incredibly moving and rewarding. Hope it’s all brilliant for you both!

@Issy422 I'm a St. Mary's parent and they hold this Vocal Summer School. My DC are not singers but I highly recommend the school and the faculty. https://www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/vocal-summer-school

Thanks very much @Legoninjago1, @chickentikkasalad and @northerngoldilocks.

@Legoninjago1 I might DM you if I have any qs once he’s up and running if that’s ok!

Hope everyone has had/is having a lovely long weekend!

By all means feel free @Compsearch! Any time!

@Issy422 Clyde opera are looking for juniors for Carmen

Wow, what a talented bunch of children you have.

Thanks for all the suggestions for a summer school. Apologies for posting and disappearing - I already had covid and then came down with shingles. I'll check out those options.

Has anyone tried Wessex summer school? I went last year and was SO nervous but I had a really good time. I’m going again this year. Lovely friendly atmosphere.

I'm searching for a summer school for DS. He loves musical theatre and acting, and is looking for something to improve the acting part. He'll be 16 in July, and wants something fairly serious, and 'not full of little kids doing jazz hands'.

Guildhall, RADA and places like that do them, but they're ££££, even before you factor in accommodation. We'd be either looking at Yorkshire or London... Any top tips? I can always ask on the theatre board instead!

Drama here. The school choral concert is on 10 May, right in among GCSEs. It requires a full afternoon of rehearsing, and concert in the evening. Music scholars and choir members are expected to do it, regardless of exams.

I'm fine with it, as is DS, but one mum has totally thrown her toys out of the pram.

@herbaceous Trinity has one too I think? https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/courses/musical-theatre-summer-school/

No idea if it's cheaper.

Also national youth theatre?
https://www.nyt.org.uk/our-courses/our-courses-2/membership-courses

DD2 is also 16 in July. The parents at your place would be having absolute kittens about how DD2 spends her revision time - she's got so much symphony orchestra it hurts. I think she has a composers concert one evening, and a flute masterclass the day before one of her GCSEs, and choirs all continue too. Last night she was on what seemed to me to be an entirely extraneous drama trip.

I'm learning to chill. Que sera sera

Oh I too am chilled. DS is doing various choirs, orchestras and an opera outside school, and bizarre things like an improvised musical with his friends within school. He still hasn't finished his music composition for his GCSE!

I am also fairly relaxed. He seems to be on top of things, and lessons in school seem to be mainly revision at the moment.

Thanks for summer school recs. We've missed the audition boat for NYT, and the Laban one is while we're away. Those are two more constraints!

Tring Park do summer schools but the upper age is 16 so might be too juvenile for your ds @herbaceous
https://www.tringpark.com/holiday-courses/

Anyone here know about the British Army Music summer academies? They look, er, free- which I always find very attractive in a musical activity.

I'm not massively into the military but wondered if DD might find it interesting to see what they do - anyone else's children been?

@achangeofnameisasgoodasarest - call the CYM office and ask someone like Geoff H - they go in there from time to time so I imagine that some of the winds and brass will know about it.

Geoff is long gone - but I guess they might know @Londonmummy66 thanks!

How did I miss that! Is Elaine still there? She'd know who to talk to - otherwise just ask for the head of brass...

Elaine is still there - Julie has gone too. But I'm sure someone in the office can help so yes, will ask Elaine. Good call!

St Mary’s vs Douglas Academy. DS wanting to go to a music school. If he were to successfully audition, which would be better?

I'm a St. Mary's parent and my kids have been happy and well educated there. I'm happy to answer any questions but I don't know anything about Douglas. Would it make sense to go through the audition process at both and see which feels like a better fit?

I think the vibe is a bit different at each of these schools. Have known children from both. Probably visiting a few times will help, I don't think it's a case of one being better, but which is a better fit for your child.
My impression is St Mary's had more international students ( may be wrong), but Douglas boarders would usually go home at weekends. There is also the City of Edinburgh music school to consider.

Quick urgentish question for anyone who has recorded a Trinity repertoire exam. How do you manage the showing the sheet music aspect? The instructions are incredibly vague. I am thinking hold up each piece to the camera right at the start, get that out of the way, and then start playing. Is that the expectation?

We did one on guitar and just made sure the book was in shot.

Thank you. We went with the whole palaver of showing each piece of music to the camera at the start. Probably overkill but I wasn't confident about getting face, hands and music in shot all at the same time.

Overkill’s better than worrying about it whilst waiting! Hope it went well.

@chocolateisnecessary we went with the first take. Some errors at the start of the first piece, but then she picked up and played beautifully (though not completely error free). Second recording was more correct but not the same performance energy/ musicality to it. I could tell she didn't have a third attempt in her. I was kicking myself that I didn't stop her early into the first piece with an excuse about the camera not working or something because I knew it was a weak start. Ah well, it's done. Next time live, I say!