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Higher education

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Original poster

Conservatoire applications

355 replies

Violasrule · 23/01/2024 12:10

Is anyone else looking to apply for a 2025 Conservatoire place? We have just started the process and it’s a steep learning curve!

We’re aware that for some of the more prestigious colleges it’s useful to have an idea of which tutor you would like before you attend the audition. Has anyone else come across this?

OP posts:
Nomorecoconutboosts · 25/11/2024 22:57

Hi @ElfDragon
dd got some really good (honest but fair) feedback at TL today. My impression (from her description) was that they tried to put her at ease.

RBC was her first choice (and we are in the Midlands) but they turned her down.

she liked the TL interviewers (2 of them) - felt they gave her a good chance. She’s waiting to hear formally from them and also from the RWCMD.

what instrument does your dd play?Mine is a singer.

ElfDragon · 25/11/2024 23:02

Dd is a strings player, but she is applying for composition.

yes, from what dd said the interviewer was very much trying to put her at ease. From dd’s recap, the feedback was very positive, but time will tell.

OrangeCorduroy · 25/11/2024 23:49

indigopotion · 19/11/2024 12:05

I just learned something I didn't know. At RAM you must be 18 by 1 September the year you are joining. DS is still a few years away from applying to conservatoires but this will affect him, he will be 18 about a month later (we are in Scotland). DD is at RCM and it isn't an issue there, but anyone heard of this anywhere else? It's a shame to have fewer options available. He doesn't think he'll want a gap year because he wants to stay immersed in music study, playing in ensembles, etc, and not have a year where all he can do in music is take lessons.

Are you absolutely sure about that?
Didn't used to be the case a few years ago so that is definitely a change in policy.

OrangeCorduroy · 25/11/2024 23:52

@indigopotion sorry, you're absolutely right, just looked it up. Used to be 18 by 31st Dec, I wonder why the change?

indigopotion · 26/11/2024 07:05

@OrangeCorduroy I wish I knew. I know under 18s at uni require a greater duty of care but most places seem able to manage that. We have a friend in this position who is auditioning now. If he gets offered a (deferred) place and decides it's his best option, he will take a gap year. Doesn't seem fair to me for kids who have legitimately finished school and are able to earn a place, to not be able to take it up right away. I think they must lose some great talent to RCM!

disorganisedmummy · 26/11/2024 07:11

@ElfDragon Morning! We went through this last year with Ds who is also Autistic. We also live in the South East. Ds didn't want to be too far from home so only applied to the London ones. He is a string player and now at TL and so so happy. He was at Junior T for 3 years previously so it was his first choice as they have supported him so well. Very best of luck to your dd. Please keep us posted. 🤞🏻

Nomorecoconutboosts · 26/11/2024 08:11

@disorganisedmummy
would you mind if I pm you later please.
it’s a query re TL and I don’t want to derail the thread plus it’s more of a specific query. No worries if not.

disorganisedmummy · 26/11/2024 08:11

@Nomorecoconutboosts That's absolutely fine. X

Original poster
Violasrule · 26/11/2024 08:40

@ElfDragon welcome! The more the merrier!

We’re 3 auditions down and halfway there. We’re finding it nerve wracking, exhausting and expensive. It’s all DD has wanted to do for several years. She is a string player and we’re in the North. Nowhere seems very convenient and like others we’ve had a few travel adventures along the way.

OP posts:
horseymum · 26/11/2024 09:25

One audition left to do for our DC. The wait is awful!

Baili · 26/11/2024 10:37

2 down, 3 to go. Good luck, Mums - it will all be over soon

colinthedogfromaccounts · 26/11/2024 10:49

My DS is a recent graduate at RCS. He HATED his experience and the tutor he was assigned was an awful fit for him. He was an overseas student as an undergraduate and just didn't fit in. He had no clue about advanced tutor selection and was assigned a technically brilliant tutor who had no clue how to work with young, eager to please young people.

He decided against doing honours as he knows that he won't cut it (performance - Opera). He skipped to Masters at RCS (not performance based) and is absolutely loving it. He would have been far happier in a less pressurised/non-Conservatoire environment. It is not for everybody.

My point is choose the school for personal fit, rather than for a potential tutor. You don't always get to choose and if you don't gel it can be a miserable experience.

ElfDragon · 26/11/2024 19:44

Dd got an offer from TL 😀🥳

She’s thrilled, obviously, but torn between TL and Guildhall (both have pros and cons). She may not, of course, get an offer from Guildhall so the decision may make itself!

disorganisedmummy · 26/11/2024 19:50

@ElfDragon Wonderful News!! Huge congratulations to your dd. If you want to know anything about TL, pm me. X

ElfDragon · 26/11/2024 19:52

Thank you. I’m sure she will have questions, but for now she’s just trying to let the news sink in 😀

indigopotion · 26/11/2024 20:00

That's fantastic @ElfDragon !!👏

namechanged221 · 26/11/2024 20:09

You can have consultation lessons after your auditions.... not much point doing it before I think. Go audition everywhere, see where you get in and what is said to you during the process.

the head of your department will hear you and be able to advise on teachers.

So you may have an idea you want to study with someone specific, but head of department may say, no that won't work, try x instead?

it's the case that the top teachers will take their pick of the v best students... I'm mainly talking about strings and piano but I guess it's the same to a lesser extent with other instruments

Nomorecoconutboosts · 26/11/2024 22:43

@ElfDragon how wonderful thanks for updating us. Well done to your dd (and actually to you as a parent too - it’s often a lot of work supporting dc in these musical ventures)

Alwaysplayspicc · 27/11/2024 09:16

@ElfDragon , congratulations to her!
DS is in his first term at Guildhall (strings), so feel free to message if you have any questions.

annabelleee · 27/11/2024 15:24

Hiya, Dd has been offered places at Trinity and RWCMD so far. She loves both and will probably end up choosing one of these, even once she's heard from RCM and RAM. She wanted me to ask you guys a quick question though. So, she has a friend at Guildhall who told her they can only book 2hrs of practice rooms per day, which seems rather restricting. Does anyone know if TL or RWCMD have limits like these? And does anyone know which one has more practice rooms? Little things like these will help make her decision I think. Thanks

disorganisedmummy · 27/11/2024 15:35

@annabelleee Hi, huge congratulations to your dd on her offers. 2 hours for practice rooms is fairly standard i believe. It does also depend on what instrument as pianists can sometimes get priority. Ds is at TL (1st year) and this is the case there. He does practice in his room as well.

indigopotion · 27/11/2024 15:36

Congratulations to your DD @annabelleee . I can only speak to RCM, but it also has this two hour limit, and you need to be quite organised about booking or else they all get taken. It's hard to get them in the middle of the day when more people are around and they are also being used for lessons. Pianists and chamber groups can get priority. I would imagine most conservatoires have similar time and space restrictions. I think the important thing is to make sure they can practice in their accommodation as well.

disorganisedmummy · 27/11/2024 15:40

@annabelleee Sorry meant to add that I couldn't tell you which of the 2 had more practice rooms . At TL they do have a lot but they vary in size. Most of them have a piano

disorganisedmummy · 27/11/2024 15:41

@annabelleee Yes agree with @indigopotion that it's hard work being organised to book the rooms! Ds has found it v tricky but as I said, he's able to practice in his room. He's a violist and singer.

annabelleee · 27/11/2024 15:45

Thank you everyone! The only problem is, if she studies at TL she'll live at home and so will be commuting an hour there and an hour back, limiting the amount of time she has at home. I suppose she was just wondering how she's going to fit 2+ hours in at home if she only gets 2hrs at the college, as she likes to do at least 4hrs a day! Any advice appreciated!