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.

Oh no, so sorry to hear that! It must be really stressful in the final year... Hope you find other ways forward, surely there must be some?

Oh so sorry to hear that @Siriusmuggle, feel the pain for your DS. I don’t have any wisdom to share just hope he finds out what went wrong. So definitely ask for feedback.

My DS got a broken arm from school yesterday so he can’t do the recording for NYSO audition now. I’m devastated for him. He worked so hard for it as he wanted to get into Sinfonia next year. We were planning to record this weekend…
Any other suggestions if we can’t go to NYSO next year? He’ll be 9 next year and his audition piece was a grade 8 piece but his technique is probably grade 7 only. We could do with an Easter course and a summer course don’t mind being separate courses. He would prefer non residential at least with the option of part residential. Most of the “advanced” orchestra stuff starts from 11 so he’s too young. NYSO sinfonia was the only one I know that starts from 9.

I hope so. But he’s usually so self aware that this will destroy his confidence. They were complimentary in the audition too. He didn’t even know it was possible to go out halfway through the first stage.

Can it be politics as well as increased competition?

In younger years, we've seen amazing young musicians not getting into NYO recently.

I honestly don't know. The 4th years always get first dibs unless they're terrible. He's not terrible but now feels it.

Gosh, hope your DC recovers soon!

Just in case you haven't seen this one https://www.nationalstrings.org/copy-of-about They don't have dates for next year yet but they're doing a few non-residential courses in London too. Tutors on the web site are for older pupils though, but the level in younger groups are high too.

@Siriusmuggle It's so hard. I hope it doesn't change the way he feels about his playing. It's important to try not to let the results of any one audition do that. Sometimes what they're looking for is so specific and their reasons can be so arbitrary. Sounds like he played brilliantly and he should keep looking ahead!

The thing is, his tutor is a long standing member of said orchestra and thought he was really well placed for it.

@Siriusmuggle that must be really hard to cope with. Hopefully some other options will open up and the feedback will be useful. Has he got something nice to look forward to this week to help?

It's hard, I can imagine... Hope he processes this in a constructive way and explores other options.

I always felt DD was in a better position as a brass player compared to violins but we have definitely seen some interesting developments recently...

Not really, poor kid is pallbearer at my dad's funeral in a couple of days time!

Agreed. He wasn't complacent but was confident. Last year they told him it would be his for the taking this year as he did so well then. He feels he played much better this year. It's the fact it makes no sense, he's happy to admit when he's performed badly and is his own harshest critic.

@Siriusmuggle - its so hard out there at the moment. DD has had this over and over again - not got her orchestral scheme last year - neither of the successful candidates for her instrument even live in the UK - didn't make the final of a competition everyone told her she was a shoo in for and didn't get a scheme this year despite being the diversity candidate - yet again they've gone for male Oxbridge organ scholars with a fraction of her experience. I allow 48 hours of wallowing in misery and then encourage her to ask for feedback etc.

@Londonmummy66 feedback request already submitted. Also contacted his tutor for insight. There’s just no reason for this not to go his way- one of two 4th years on his instrument. It would be ok er if he’d completed the whole first stage but to be kicked off before the workshop is just unheard of.

My condolences to you Sirius,

It is so tough out there. Often there seems no rhyme or reason why someone is rejected. He should remember though that to even be in the final year there he is already one of the best. Just keep at it and his time will come.

It can be very political too depending on who is on the panel. It is so frustrating and upsetting when it happens.

I'm so sorry @Siriusmuggle - that must feel absolutely rotten to him.

Sometimes decisions seem so random and unexpected. We had one like that this year as well - it's hard not to let it affect them. What a tough career they are going into.

I hope the feedback is helpful and not perfunctory and sheds some soothing light on this odd decision.

Forgive me for not knowing - are there other schemes?

There are two others. One he’s less bothered about as career prospects are less likely. Both are blind auditions which he struggles with. I don’t know if that’s linked to his adhd in some weird way as he likes to connect with thr panel. It just feels pretty bleak at the moment. Probably the shock of it anx the humiliation of doing worse than last year and not even completing the first round when everyone expected him to do well.

@Siriusmuggle that is really tough - particularly when he feels there are expectations from others. I'm so sorry for your family's loss too. A tough week.

What helped DD2 this term was a teacher pointing out to her that she had been to many, many cold auditions and could 'count on the fingers one hand the ones where she'd got the job' - and yet she's highly successful in her field. It's all so subjective.

May something equally unexpected, but really good, come his way soon. I often find it's the things you don't expect (rather than the ones that do) that are the real gamechangers.

@Siriusmuggle aw, that's really hard for you all, hope you can help each other through this week. My kids also hear from their respective previous teachers how hard things are. One has been 'held' in a lower professional position for years when he constantly 'plays up'. Very unfair but just have to do what you can.

The Scottish government careers mantra is #NoWrongPath. I feel there are plenty of wrong paths but equally quite a few right ones too. Probably nothing you say this week will help.

JFC. Apparantly an admin issue their end and he is able to complete stage one. No idea whether this means they've already decided he won't get to stage two. Still waiting to hear formally though. I'm appalled really-they should have realised when he asked for feedback.

Wowzers- music admin strikes again. Good news it was a mistake but a wholly uneceasary level of stress for you and him @Siriusmuggle😬😬

Phew all is well that ends well! I'm sure it's just a stupid mistake. His teacher is the best person to know the situation, if he thought your DS was on track for the orchestra then he most certainly is.

Unbelievably stressful though, I'd be livid!

Good luck to your DS on his next round.

@Siriusmugglegreat news that it was just an admin mistake, good luck for him for the next step.

@Ubertomusicthabk you I haven’t heard of that one and it looks really impressive! I’ll definitely be in the radar for the 2026 dates!

What a rollercoaster of emotions @Siriusmuggleis he feeling more confident now?