Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

[northerngoldilocks]

Time for a new thread as the old one is filling up and think we can claim its spring now!

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.

@678socks I think people choose their JD for all sorts for reasons and of course not everyone gets multiple offers. I will only entertain sending my kids to the one DH teaches at because after years of having to parent solo on a Saturday they can be his responsibility!!

😂

I think people choose their JD for all sorts for reasons and of course not everyone gets multiple offers.

That's true, we didn't even apply to one of JDs because they were involved in a public scandal and we didn't get an offer from the most selective one on the violin.

We’ve never been involved in any jds (not sure dd would be good enough anyway) but she was thrilled to get presented with school colours for music today. She’s now the proud owner of a hideous stripy blazer.

Mine didn’t do JD either, although he now assists at one.
We went to watch his professional orchestra debut last night- it was brilliant, very proud moment. He is really hoping that they’ll put him on the extras list. Most of the section have been in the orchestra much longer than he’s actually been born which blew my mind a bit.

@herbaceous well done to yours - amazing score, and to yours for debut @Siriusmuggle and yours for colours @QueenMabby .

Have DD2 back now after her symphony concert - three weeks off. Yay!

How wonderful Sirius and fingers crossed for more opportunities.

I don’t think I’ve posted on this thread before, but could really use some advice about JDs. DC has been at a specialist school up to now, but is looking to move. This would mean going to a JD instead, but I am acutely aware of how little I know!

DC has 2 JD offers so far with an audition at a third later this month. DC is also waiting to hear about a school place, so a lot depends on that too. Without the school place, DC would likely remain at the specialist school. Oh, and we will also need a bursary (currently on MDS) otherwise we won’t be able to afford it.

I honestly have now idea how to juggle it. The JDs that have made offers are understandably waiting for a response, but there is still one audition to go. Whether we can accept the offer will also depend on what financial support will be available, so I’m concerned about turning one down then finding out that the other can’t offer the bursary we would need.

Also, teachers - how would we find out what teacher DC would have? There are a couple of other factors that I need to consider, but they would fall into place if I could wrap my head around the above.

Any help/advice would be gratefully received.

Do you need a bursary for the school or do you mean MDS for JD @Nearlyneverready ?
What are the deadlines, particularly for school?

Re. teachers, you could email head of department at JD and ask who they have in mind. They should also offer trial lessons, that can help to decide. The list of teachers on their web sites are not always up to date but I had a look at bios anyway when we applied, in case there is someone who could be a particularly good fit in your circumstances.

Thanks @Ubertomusic

Sorry - I meant a bursary or MDS for the JD. We would not be able to afford a JD without help.

I would need to give notice at the specialist school at the end of the Easter break, but will know about the school place before then. 1 JD has asked for a reply by 1 May and the other asked that we let them know as soon as possible, which is understandable. The bursary decisions aren’t made until a later date though, so I’m worried about picking one and then being turned down for a bursary. The audition for the 3rd JD is a couple of weeks away.

Neither JD has mentioned trial lessons, but great idea to email the department head about teachers.

@Nearlyneverready - do you want to DM me as I think this might be one where being a bit more specific might help? I have JD/MDS and specialist contacts

Can they not confirm at this stage that the offer is for an MDS/bursary place? Paperwork and funds allocation always take a while but if they add the MDS clause to your offer letter, you wouldn't need to worry (well, at least not about their intentions, the gov is another story). Our initial offer letter didn't stipulate MDS, I just double checked that, said we wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise, and they added it.

I guess everyone is a bit uncertain about funding atm due to the government's actions but can the JDs confirm their own T&C at least? Especially those who want your answer asap?

I wouldn't hesitate to ask both heads of department first, whilst you're waiting for the school place anyway, then maybe heads of JD if needed.

Thank you so much @Ubertomusic - I now have a plan for today which makes me feel a bit less overwhelmed!

I will dm you now @Londonmummy66

Hope you can work it out nearlynever. I'm sure there is still MDS/bursary funding out there, orgs work really hard to make music accessible.

I guess the pressure comes from having to do Menuhin, Grumiaux or other major international competitions at some point, this is hard work.

Crikey, this really is top end stuff. A very different world indeed to our youth orchestra and grade exam shenanigans!

Just wanted to flag up that there is a thread asking about life at Wells on the boarding school thread as I know there are a few Wellies parents around https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/boarding-school/5512864-wells-cathedral-boarding-vs-day-pupil-life-insights-needed

Can anyone help me with a music exam question? DC10 is taking his grade 4 this coming term (he’s been playing this instrument for about a year and an half) and I’ve just looked up the Trinity syllabus properly. It says in the face to face exam that he has the option of choosing something called Musical Knowledge instead of sight reading. He’s always struggled with sight reading (I suspect there may be some kind of underlying eye tracking issue, as his dad who is a musician has the same and is dyslexic.) They both are amazing at playing by ear though.

Anyway, would there be any underlying bias against a child who decided to do this option rather than the sight reading? I’m aware there might be pathways considered as ‘easier options’ and I don’t want to hinder his ability to get a higher grade by choosing the wrong option.
I’ll of course discuss this with his teacher, but wanted to gather opinions here first.

That sounds brilliant progress in a short time. There's no bias towards/ against the options within the face to face; as far as I can remember it wouldn't say on the certificate. The only thing some people have strong opinions on is the performance only exam option as they don't do any supporting exercises.
With regards to sight reading, have a look at the Paul Harris improve your sight-reading as they take a helpful systematic approach. The ability to play by ear is fantastic though, I'm jealous of that!

Agree readysteady, musical knowledge makes a lot of sense in this situation. Worth working on the SR too to catch up as I think it stops being optional at higher grades, but there's no bias at current grade, each option is scored separately and full range of marks available.

Also if you think there may be dyslexia or other disability reason for finding reading hard, you may be able to arrange large print, coloured filters or something to help with the sight reading when it comes to it. But just having been playing for such a short time is a good reason too!

@ReadySteadyTeddy1 - can't help with Trinity but second the Paul Harris books - they are very good. Also our DD has slow processing and school did a note which went in with her ABRSM applications and got her extra time for sight reading (3 minutes instead of 30 seconds)

Thank you so much everyone. I’m going to get the Paul Harris, and of course carry on working on SR. That’s also great information about the slow processing @Londonmummy66 , although it’s more eye tracking than slow processing that I think is the issue. I’m going to look into a full evaluation eventually, but it’s tricky when a child isn’t really struggling at school to get these things done.
@horseymum yes we’re quite surprised with his speedy progress. He just seems to ‘get’ it. It’s very lovely to hear him play.

@ReadySteadyTeddy1 - the extra time is the standard ABRSM provision for any form of LD - dyslexia etc also attracts it so if the eye tracking is confirmed then he should qualify (at least with ABRSM).

Oh crikey, mine has slow processing (and therefore extra time in exams) but didn’t even think about music exams 😱😱. Need to remember for grade 6. When I looked briefly at musical knowledge for my son for grade 4, I felt it required a lot of theory knowledge actually and for us wouldn’t have been a good last minute swap. Needs a bit of prepping. Not many of my teaching colleagues have taught it either. Have you seen the sight reading books produced for trinity sight reading tests, a good step by step approach and they are grouped: initial-grade 2, 3-5 and 6-8 so you only need to buy three!

Hi @678socks So we have the Trinity books and have been working through the grade 3 and now 4 sections, but for some reason it doesn’t seem to be improving the actual sight reading. It’s a mess honestly 😂My DS does seem to have good theory knowledge though (he’s very maths-y, so maybe that helps all of that stick.) I can’t even work out how to help as I’ve always been much better at sight reading than anything else (on a totally different instrument though.)
Unfortunately the Musical Knowledge option only goes up to Grade 5, so we’ll have to tackle that beast eventually. But we wouldn’t have time to do any kind of assessments on processing etc before the exam, so probably for us best to go for that option for now and maybe look for extra time if he goes onto subsequent exams.

@ReadySteadyTeddy1 obviously see what the teacher says but I have also taken out the rhythm patterns and done those away from the instrument also have a structured way of tackling each one that he learns and does in the exam, practice spotting the tricky bits etc. Actually though what often helps children is tonnes of duets in every instrumental lesson and even practice they do. It is fun, doesn’t feel like sight reading (but is). Could you delay the exam to have a screening done? My child’s slow processing was picked up in a dyslexia assessment.