Gifted at music

[bubbles1112]

Hello, do any of you have children who are classed as musically gifted? When and where was this identified. If they are in state school has the school taken much of an interest?
Thanks

Hi!

My son is classed as musically gifted (as well as academic, but that's another story!).

Until recently he had extended instrumental lessons with the Local Authority - the extension was paid for because he is G and T.

Realistically, if your DC is gifted in music, then you need to invest in instrumental lessons. Yes, it is expensive, but worth every penny whether or not they make music their lifelong career. Playing a musical instrument can open doors eg. music scholarships. It will also require a big time investment - ferrying to orchestras etc.

If you are entitled to free school meals you may be able to get a reduction in your music fees depending on your LA. Speak to the school. If finance is really a big issue, then would your DC be interested in joining a choir, is there one locally?

Hope this helps. This board seems a bit slow at the minute, but hopefully someone else will come along and comment.

We were lucky, their small (4 groups of 5) nursery head had a mathematician father and musician husband, and she was very perceptive.

Don't rely on the school, as Emsoboe says, look for other opportunities. As long as you start one instrument when you first suspect a musical interest over the ordinary, they will pick up more quite quickly. e.g. grade 8 in 3 years from 9 in 2nd instrument, in 2 years in 3rd from 12. Which was as nothing, others played 5 or 6. Practice and group music-making demands may seem heavy, but they're probably lighter than if you have a swimmer, dancer, sporty child.

Music places in senior school (state or ind) are a bonus. Playing and composing supports them, long after they leave school, even if they do something else for a living.

It was quite magical for us seeing it all unfold. Good luck!

Hi PipinJo

Do I understand that your DS is in private school? Or is he in special school? If he is in private school it is very unlikely that he will receive assistance from LA.

If he is in private, who pays his fees (I appreciate answer to this maybe complex, and am prepared to mind my own business)? But is there a possibility that they could pay for tuition?

Don't think it's discrimination. Different LAs have different policies. His being in private school would definitely complicate issues. State schools have to have a charging policy, which may have helped you, but private schools are very different.

Is it a specialist private school (SEN)? Have you discussed it with them? If it is them who gave him the G and T in the first place then I would expect them to have some plan of how to help him.