Conservatoire applications

[Violasrule]

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?

@annabelleee We're in Essex so commutable distance, about 90 mins each way but ds wanted to live there for that reason, rehearsals often go on till late plus they get the full uni experience. But, and it's a bit but, it's London and it's not cheap.

@annabelleee do you mean she'll be hanging round between classes without anywhere to practice? It's not ideal, but it's possible to work around. My DD tends to do an hour of scales/warmups first thing in the morning before leaving for college, then tries to be organised about scheduling her two hours in college for any unscheduled time between classes/appointments, and then does the remainder of her practice when she returns to her accommodation for the day. They don't usually have more than a couple of classes/events in a day. The schedule varies week to week depending on projects/performances, which takes a lot of flexibility. It can be tricky if she needs to stay at college late, but then usually she is able to do more practice at home in the morning and go in later. Everyone is in the same boat and they seem to make it work. Your DD will have to spend two hours of her day commuting, but I imagine the practice can still get done at home before or after her day at college?

We're in Essex too! very similar situation as you! She'd love to live near TL but it's sooo expensive. The good thing about Wales is it's much cheaper and we'd be more likely to afford the accommodation there. She just doesn't like the idea of living so far away! Lots to think about...
Thank you for reply :)

@indigopotion I don't think she fully realises how much time she will have free each day in between lessons! The big risk is definitely not being able to schedule practice rooms in free time and then wandering aimlessly around Greenwich for ages. Since she'd have to leave the house at 7.45am to be there for 9am, she couldn't practice before leaving since her younger brothers will be asleep still. If she finishes at 5 she'll be home after 6, ready for 2hrs work at 7 (she's adamant she doesn't want to quit her work). That takes her to 9pm, and by then she'll want to wind down for bed. I suppose a good question is, what's everyone's advice on her working? Does anyone actually work when they're studying at music college or is it just too much?

@annabelleee Re working, I think it depends on a few things. As an example my Ds definitely could not hold down a part time job and study. He has ASD and really struggles with managing time and lots of balls! What they can do is apply to the junior dept as a "dep" where they help out on Saturdays with admin or getting rooms ready and so on. The pay is actually quite good. Ds does this. He's working this coming Saturday as it's the junior trinity end of term concert so will be working all day. He was at JT for 3 years so that did help. All the conservatoires have junior depts so this my be worth looking into. That then doesn't impact practice, however if she comes home for weekends and then gets called in, that's en expense to consider.

All that said, that is just our experience. Ds doesn't know anyone in the first year who has a part time job atm. Certainly for the first term it's good to get a feel for the course.

@annabelleee That's such a long day. The only thing is, I wouldn't assume she would have to be in for 9 every day. It might help to talk to a current student in her instrument to get a sense of what a typical weekly schedule looks like. Although I get the sense that there is no typical week in conservatoire! I do get the sense that everyone in London has some sort of commute they have to factor into their day. Most of these students don't get to live 'on campus' and nip home in the middle of the day to practice. Lots of them seem to still live at home to save money. DD lives in the RCM accommodation and still has to give herself a good 45 minutes to commute to RCM. Regarding work, DD only does casual work in events catering when she feels she has time to pick up shifts. She also gets a surprising number of paid music gigs. I think the key is to keep things flexible until they adapt to this new phase of life.

Sorry keep thinking of things!! Another thing to consider is that I imagine it will be quite tricky to get shifts in between classes because the timetable is quite fluid or at least it is at JT. They rehearse in the evenings for some things, often quite late. The actual academic classes don't take up too much time but then they have to schedule their own ensemble rehearsals, instrument/voice lessons plus practice so an awful lot to do plus hold down a pt job. Its very different if you're studying an academic subject at a normal uni.

wow, so so helpful, thank you @indigopotion and @disorganisedmummy , I'll pass all these thoughts/tips/advice on to dd x
ps.
@disorganisedmummy i don't suppose you know the hourly wages for the JT admin jobs you mentioned?

@annabelleee Just asked ds and his response was "pretty certain it's £12.50/hour or something like that!" Sorry that's not terribly helpful !!

@disorganisedmummy no don't worry that's very helpful, thank you so much!

Does anyone have an idea about RCM interview after audition?? Does RAM do it as well? Thx

I think it might depend on the instrument. For violin at RCM there were a few different rounds, and the panel asked her questions during those, but there wasn't a separate interview. Same at RAM, although they also had an aural test with an individual examiner, wasn't exactly an interview though. Might be different for things like composition?

Rcm was 2 panels asked about what wanted to improve and some items on personal statement
Ram had to wait for email to come through after first audition then wait for 2nd one. In Rcm steward just brought to next room. Was 3 persons then and also an aural/oral assessment with one person
Chamber music questions and questions about how to communicate music to people
Both were different, a little longer in Ram and bit more personal type questions.
Both went well!
Good luck @Baili

So, was the RAM done over two days? And if you don’t get asked for a second day, does that mean they didn’t get in?

RAM was all in the same day, but she had to wait onsite to receive email instructions to attend second round within maybe an hour or two. I don't remember all the details because RAM says you are not allowed to bring anyone with you so I didn't go! Seems other parents ignored that though. Anyway I don't think they like to say that no second round means you definitely haven't got in. From what I know anecdotally that might be the case in strings, but not in other instruments.

Hi Rcm was about 2 hours
Ram was about 2.5 hours
All same day

Offer from RCM on the spot. Said they were really lovely too - vastly different experience to Guildhall

Wonderful news! So glad to hear. DD absolutely loves RCM and is having a fantastic experience.

Glad to hear your DD loves it, DS was made to feel welcome by all he met there - it all helps, doesn’t it?

@Baili Congratulations - again!

@Baili well done to you and your ds

(dd waiting for RWCMD - audition was 22/11 - anyone else still waiting?)

Thank you. Still waiting for RAM, but he is impressed by RCM. Fingers crossed for RWCMD, I heard they were on the slow side.

We are waiting for Scotland for jazz. Got offers from Leeds and Birmingham - will most likely choose Leeds but would like to hear back from everyone first. Decided not to attend Wales as already had offers.

Still waiting on two colleges. Interestingly our experience of Guildhall was different to others. DC left feeling positive about there.

Should have added that I would be interested to hear other perspectives on Guildhall as we’re seriously considering there.