Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

[northerngoldilocks]

Time for a new thread in time for the new school term!

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.

That sounds like a great idea @chickentikkasalad. Drama is also really helpful for expression in singing.

I think I need to do that @ViolaMaat least until we can try him on ADHD medications. My oldest son has ADHD and he did much better at trumpet practice once he started medication. There’s also the fact that they can’t get motivated until the exam or performance is imminent.

I believe long-term goals don't work for the ADHD mind, which is motivated by smaller short-term wins. Mastering a tricky piece, or playing a concert or something...

That’s interesting. My ds drives his viola teacher mad as he never really starts practicing properly until he’s a few weeks out from an exam.

@ViolaMamy son’s trumpet teacher wouldn’t put him in for his grade 5 because he wasn’t ready. I told him that my son would never be ready until the exam was booked. It isn’t ideal but he really needs the pressure of something looming over him to be able to really focus. I don’t have ADHD and I’m the complete opposite - I go to pieces when there’s a lot to be done in not much time!

Well this is thrilling. It's now an open secret at DS's school that this year's production is going to be West Side Story. He has a long-burning ambition to play Tony. As they say. 'Could Be'...

West Side Story is a great one! Not nearly enough boys in drama at DD’s school - our money is on Chicago for hers! She has a straight play to do in October first (auditions this week) before they’ll announce the musical though. When are auditions for your ds?

We should be Ok for boys, though I can imagine a fairly gender-fluid approach to gang members!

Think auditions are end of next week... or next. As yet to be confirmed!

Hi,

I have 2 primary age singers/ string players (violin for the 10 yr old (G5) and cello for the 7 year old (G2).

Thinking of getting the little one to audition for a short residential next year as she has seen her sibling go off on adventures for the last few years and seems keen so if anyone has any recommendations for mini cellists please let me know!

Hi @IcyAquaSloth welcome! Music residentials are fab, mine have loved them. I don't know any that do them for that young, maybe others have some ideas. There might be some where you'd have to stay too.

My eldest did nyso at end of year 3 so that's potentially an option if little one gets in, but its quite far distance wise. Tempted by viva strings potentially too but don't know anything about that one.

@IcyAquaSloth your eldest would be old enough for Pro Corda (start at age 8) they are in Suffolk but do run other courses in London and the North. DD enjoyed it for cello - mix of technique, chamber and larger groups. She’s never made it to viva as she had to cancel the one year that she could go.

Welcome @IcyAquaSloth- haven’t done viva but everyone who has seems to only have good things to say. I think it would be a brilliant intro to residentials. It’s about 5 days though!

Hello @IcyAquaSloth Gloucester Academy of Music do fun summer residentials for 8+ mine did them for a few years - they do music in the morning, activities in the afternoon, more music in the evening and have a concert for parents at pick up time. https://glosacadmusic.org/sessions-and-ensembles/holiday-courses/summer-holiday-residential-courses/

Hi @IcyAquaSloth! I’ve got a little string player too (DS, 7yo, violin). I’ve also been looking at courses for him - he will be 8 by next summer which I think opens up a few more - but I’m not keen on him doing a residential at this age. I think he’d probably be fine I’m just very overprotective (PFB syndrome still strong!), so will have a look into ones that he could maybe attend during the day and stay somewhere nearby with me at night. I’ve heard really good things about Viva strings.

Also keep an eye on the Benedetti sessions which are non-residential weekend sessions dotted around the country. DS has done it twice now and absolutely loved it.

Thanks all. Yes big fan of Benedetti sessions, they did one a year or 2 ago. Also big Pro Corda fan but i think littlest may need to wait an extra year before hopefully joining sibling there and it's pretty long for a first residential. I think i would prefer a 2 to 4/5 nights for her first one.

Thanks for Glos academy recommendation, that looks interesting!

Hi all, long time lurker here and occasional commenter. Would love to get an idea of all the different orchestral opportunities in London and nearby for my string player of grade 7/8 standard please? I’m aware of NYO, but have now heard about LSSO, NYSO, LSO? What are the differences please? Feeling a bit overwhelmed. He’s taken part in Chineke! junior’s summer course before and loved it. Thank you in advance for any advice.

BBLY - how old is your string player?

hi, he is 14.

At 14 there are quite a lot of options.

LSSO is london schools symphony orchestra - run by Guildhall Young Artists / CYM from an admin perspective but it isn't part of their weekly activities. It just opened for applications and auditions will be Nov / Dec I think. You have to be 14 for it and for strings they say gr 7/8 but I think it will just depend on the audition standard overall. No experience as my string player isn't old enough to audition yet and my woodwind player is but is sticking with LYWB as the standard for flutes is terrifying!

NYSO has different orchestras but runs as residential - for camerata its Easter and Aug and it doesn't meet in London - its in Stamford School - and auditions close 30 Sept (video)

The only LSO i know is London Symphony Orchestra but there is London Youth Strings Orchestra (LYSO) so perhaps thats the one? It looks like they do a course in February and the ones below gr 8 don't have an audition. They're not residential and i've been wondering if it could be a possibility for my gr 7+ violin player too, although its quite a distance from us.

Depending on where you are there is also South London Youth Orchestra - they have a series of string groups / orchestras but SLYO 2 is grade 6-8+ and is a full orchestra - DD plays in that and enjoys it. SLYO 1 is for 8+ and full orchestral works.

There are also some options out towards SW London and Surrey - if that area is interesting others may have more info

Also - you could sign him up for NYO inspire if you haven't already?

@BBLY _ I had a cellist who did LSSO - standard was roughly Grade 8 but is lower for violas. Worth a try as the focus is on orchestral ability - her auditions included being conducted through the excerpts.

LPO has a Junior artists scheme but the standard is very very high.

Thames youth orchestra is brilliant if you are able to get to Kingston for rehearsals - both of mine were invited to bump for their tours and the younger one then stayed on as principal of her niche instrument and playing violin/viola when that wasn't needed and had a ball. They tour every summer - usually northern Spain departing in the afternoon of GCSE results day.

Mine also did Maryatt Players in WImbledon - not sure if that is still going. It was a strings only orchestra at I think Easter and had some really inspiring coaches/conductors.

Thank you so much @Londonmummy66and @northerngoldilocks, so helpful! I’ll pass on the info to him and see which one he would like to audition. This is the first year he’s able to commit to an orchestra all year round, as he was a chorister and couldn’t get involved in any Christmas and Easter courses.

As far as I can tell Maryatt has evolved to be a festival where they run a series of performances rather than a coaching course now.

@northerngoldilocks - the festival actually came first - its well worth looking at if you can get to Wimbledon as they have some amazing performers - we heard Ben Grosvenor one year. I'm not sure what happened to the orchestra - there is a thing to fill in on the website to express interest.