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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

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Original poster

Anyone know about Yehudi Mehnuin music School?

25 replies

snoopy2 · 06/04/2007 21:19

I have a musically g&t dd 8 and have heard about this school but want to know more!

DD plays piano, violin and composes music. she composed a piece today and it actually made me cry! not that it is bach standard but the ideas are very intricat and she harmonises all her compositions herself then transposes them into different keys.

As a musician i thought she might be a bit musical but she is doing things that amaze me. We started grade 2 piano in january this year and she took it and passed with merit in april. (I am not one of these parents obsessed with grades but thought i would mention this just as an example of her quick learning and understanding of music.)

I want to do the best for her. Anyone else have a musically gifted child?

OP posts:

tortoiseSHELL · 06/04/2007 21:23

snoopy, don't know much about YM school, but I would worry at this stage about pigeon holing her into a 'specialist' music school - music is a hard route to go down, and I think music schools can tie you into that route.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near London, there are the London college Saturday schools which dh did and really enjoyed. He was very into composition as well, and they did lots of that.

I sometimes think children benefit more by NOT being at a specialist school - for example, I got far more opportunities for performing being at non-specialist schools, rather than always being in competition with many other musical children.

I would say, make sure she is enjoying it, and give her loads of encouragement!!! Sounds like she is doing well!

Original poster

snoopy2 · 06/04/2007 21:29

is it the london college of music? I have heard that trinitys saturday morning schools are excellent. we are not in london but its not too far so could travel. thanks for your advice.

OP posts:

tortoiseSHELL · 06/04/2007 21:30

Dh did Trinity, his brother did Royal Academy - think they are both good. I just think it's a good compromise - encouraging them without making that decision 'you will be a musician'!!!

Original poster

snoopy2 · 06/04/2007 21:35

I can imagine that it is quite hard to get in to either?

OP posts:

tortoiseSHELL · 06/04/2007 21:36

I don't know - I'd imagine if your dd is talented then they'd want her to go - I guess it i spossibly easier to get into than the YM school anyway!

Original poster

snoopy2 · 06/04/2007 21:39

absolutely! Thanks for your advise, will look into the sat morning schools over the weekend.

OP posts:

babygrand · 06/04/2007 21:40

Unless you live close to YM, she would have to board and I would say 8 is rather young. Not sure about how easy it is to get in there - think they would be looking for distinction level in the most recent exam certainly. Considering her age, one of the Saturday schools would probably be a better idea. They have a variety of lessons/choirs/orchestras and it doesn't detract from their normal school work.

TwinklemEGGan · 06/04/2007 21:47

Here is a link to the Royal College of Music Junior Department which should give you an idea of what to expect from the London music colleges that others have referred to. I did a Gap Year at the RCM and can vouch for it being a truly excellent college.

Please don't take this the wrong way snoopy, but it sounds to me that she might not quite be ready for study at this level yet. Many local authorities run music centres which children can attend at the weekend. I obviously don't know if there's one in your area, but if there is it might be a good place to start?

TwinklemEGGan · 06/04/2007 21:47

Sorry, here 's that link.

Original poster

snoopy2 · 06/04/2007 21:52

thanks for link! thanks for your comments, and no, i didnt take it the wrong way. We do attend a local saturday morning music school which is run by local authority. she is also a probationer with local church choir so she is involved with many musical things (- all her own choice might i add.)

I will look into the saturday morning schools at the london colleges.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Lio · 06/04/2007 21:53

YMS is in beautiful grounds, very international, very nurturing (not personal experience, freind of friend type of thing). Breathtakingly high standard, musically speaking, but they also do 'normal' things - playnig football and what not. Am sure you have already looked at their website.

Original poster

snoopy2 · 06/04/2007 21:55

hi lio, yes have looked at their website and it does look stunning.

OP posts:

Lilymaid · 23/04/2007 14:08

Lots of independent schools have very high standards in music and can offer scholarships. It is quite common in our area for musical children to get scholarships to these schools and also to go to London for Saturday school (we are 50 miles out of London). Have you also considered a choir school as some - e.g. Salisbury - now have a girls' choir?

swedishmum · 23/04/2007 19:51

There were a couple of people on my degree course who went to the Menuhin school and really enjoyed it. On the other hand I remember a boy from Cheetham's in Manchester who used to dip his fingers in acid so he didn't have to play the violin. A couple of attempted suicides there too - but that's the 70s. Actually know another boy from YM - he loved it and seemed fairly normal. Agree about the pigeon holing early on - you also need to love practising.

fannyannie · 23/04/2007 20:01

I'd say of the 5 specialist music schools YM, Purcell and Chethams are probably the 'worst' for pigeon holing (from my experience) them into music. St. Mary's and Wells are both much more 'open' towards academically bright children going off and doing other things.

Blandmum · 23/04/2007 20:03

Friends ds is in chelthams. Competition to get in is ferocious. Musical education is excellent.

Marina · 23/04/2007 20:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

losty · 23/04/2007 20:13

I woudl second those who say go for a Sat music school rahter than a specialsit music school

fannyannie · 23/04/2007 20:19

Just to show that Specialist Music Schools don't 'pigeon'hole you I went to school with science editor - who incidentaly left the school with 6 A levels, 10 Scottish Highers and 8 CSYS - all A Grades

Judy1234 · 23/04/2007 20:21

Depends how you define it. I think they have to love it. Our 5 are quite musical and their fahter is an organist. At 12 one had grade 8 singing, grade 6 piano, grade 6 trumpet, grade 5 theory etc can't remember what else and got a music scholarship but he isn't gifted in the way all the children we know at the Purcell school are which we know (or Chethams asnd YM which you mention).

I am not sure boarding schools are ever good for children which is my main issue with the music schools of that sort. Also you're rather limiting yourself because they might appear keen on music at this age but what if they change their mind - my same problem with stage schools. Why not go to a school which has really good music provision like any of the very academic day private schools which are bursting with orchestras, choirs etc or very high standard and get chidlren into the specialist music colleges at 18 every year but leave the way open that their early music promise turns into a love of bridge, chemistry or sport by the time they're 14.

I think you need to assess is this a young mozart with such a talent it would be a national tragedy if they weren't solely surrounded by children for whom music is their life by their own choice and a very big and who can cope with parental separation and a boarding school environment or are they just pretty good at music, likely to end up with 3 or 4 grade 8s have some natural talent etc like say me.

Thelittlesoldiersmummy · 21/06/2007 10:37

its near my house

flightattendant · 28/06/2007 08:33

My mother was one of the first children to go there, when it opened in about 1963. (There were 11 kids, including a 6yo Nigel Kennedy whom she used to put to bed every night!)

It was certainly wonderful and radical then, in terms of education etc. - they did a lot of alternative stuff like Yoga and were very free. Mum loved it and was very happy there.

She didn't go on to become a professional musician (music therapy is what she eventually went for, she had me and my sister which ballsed things up a bit!) but many of her co-pupils are now professional and well known.

I would suggest investigating it as it is now, I don't think the ethic has changed much and yes, I'd agree it is known as very 'nurturing' in many ways.

flightattendant · 28/06/2007 08:36

Btw the boarding school thing, I'd have concerns too, mum hadn't a very happy life at home, which meant she was glad to be at school

pyjamaqueen · 28/06/2007 08:38

I wouldn't send her to a specialist music school this young. It's much better to let them have a broader experience in my opinion. There's no reason why they can't get into music college from an ordinary school and in most areas there are plenty of orchestras/choirs etc to get involved in.

Anna8888 · 28/06/2007 08:48

Obviously your child is really gifted.

I know nothing at all about musical gifts/education etc. But I suspect that if one of my children displayed true talent, I would want to nurture it. Most people are happy doing what they are really good at.

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