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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Music aptitude test

16 replies

minefieldmess · 01/02/2023 18:56

My dd is learning an instrument & loves it. There is a secondary school I like the look of that offers places for musical ability. How good do you generally have to be to get a place?

OP posts:
Hersetta427 · 01/02/2023 21:36

You don't. Most MAT's test pure aptitude not ability or level you have obtained. Assuming it is a straight state school with a small percentage for aptitude

VerbenaGirl · 01/02/2023 21:53

As PP says, the test measures aptitude not ability or level reached. However, enjoying learning an instrument and finding that it comes quite naturally also quite probably indicates aptitude. It certainly doesn’t enable the school to pick the best current musicians and offer them places. They are well worth sitting and you should get the results just in time for them to inform the rankings in your application, but best to keep an open mind and not to pin your hopes on them.

FancyFun · 01/02/2023 22:01

It's definitely worth a try if your dd is musical and loves her instrument. If it's an orchestral instrument all the better. Do you know any parents with kids already at the school, they may be able to help.

Original poster
minefieldmess · 01/02/2023 22:03

Yes, it's a state school, which we would otherwise be out of catchment for. I suppose the clue was in aptitude but I wasn't sure if they expect Mozart level aptitude! It's not the only option but good to have as many options as possible, thank you very much.

OP posts:
Original poster
minefieldmess · 01/02/2023 22:08

Unfortunately don't know anyone at the school. It is orchestral so that's good to know. The teacher seems pretty impressed as dd took part in the school strings concert after 3 lessons.

OP posts:
phobiaofsocialmedia · 01/02/2023 22:47

A school near me takes on music aptitude and sport aptitude.

Initial stage for music is apparently to show you can clap in time to some music. For the second stage they have to play something on an instrument.

I suspect they want children who can participate in the school orchestra and similar.

There is no harm in emailing the admissions team at the school.

Original poster
minefieldmess · 01/02/2023 23:34

That's a good point re asking the school.

Thanks all

OP posts:
HerbertChops · 02/02/2023 08:15

My ds did a music aptitude assessment for a state school that would have been out of catchment for us two years ago. The tests were done in the school but someone in my ds’s class tested positive for covid the day before so his bubble closed (remember bubbles!) so he couldn’t attend. Anyway, because of that he did the test at home on zoom so I got to see what was involved.

From what I remember there was a general discussion about music and what types of music he enjoyed. There were some questions which included identifying different instruments from pictures, they were all orchestral and things like violin, trombone, trumpet. Then there was some sheet music and saying what timing it was in terms of beats per bar, what some of the symbols were for things like double clef. Then he played a prepared piece of music. At that time he was grade 1 clarinet, he was used to performing on zoom as had had music lessons on zoom.

They let us know a few days later that he passed the test with a high score and they would expect him to be offered a place at the school if he put them as 1st choice. We did put them as first and he did get an offer on offer day.

HerbertChops · 02/02/2023 08:17

Oh and as I was listening in he didn’t get all the questions right, some of the pictures of instruments he didn’t know and there were some about the wording above the sheet music and what they meant, things like staccato and pianissimo which he didn’t know. His piece of music was played confidently with good timing and a nice sound though.

Original poster
minefieldmess · 02/02/2023 08:23

Thanks @HerbertChops that's really insightful.

OP posts:
Hersetta427 · 02/02/2023 08:59

All of our local secondaries take between 5-10% on musical aptitude. They share a common test so you only have to sit one. There is nothing practical about this whatsoever. It is a 60 question multiple choice test in difference sections which all test your musical ear. They play a chord and you have to say if you can hear 2,3 or 4 seperate notes. Whether a note is the same or higher or lower in pitch than the previous note, then listening to two patterns of notes and saying if they are the same or different and if different what note was different.

Think it is a standard state school MAT and doesn't test actual ability in any way.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 02/02/2023 12:55

DD sat a lot of these back in 2019.

Every school is completely different in terms of what they ask for, so you need to check carefully what is involved.

From what I can remember:

  • one school only had aural tests - sing a note back, clap in time etc. They didn't want any info on instruments/grades etc
  • two schools had big sessions where lots of children sat an MAT where they had to do tests on pitch, rhythm and so on. The top 50 or 80 were then invited back to an audition where they played two pieces on first study with optional piece on second study and there was a short interview.
  • one of those schools offered 2 place to top scorers on the MAT and 5 places to top performers in the audition
  • other school offered 25 places to the top overall scores
  • one school had the MAT test, then aural tests, two pieces on first study, option for piece on second study, optional sight reading test and an interview on their musical interests. Students were scored on each section and then ranked with a % offered full scholarships, then half scholarships etc. The top 10% or so (not sure exactly) were guaranteed places.

All of these were state comprehensives.

DD is on a music place. She's never done grade exams (none of the schools cared about that at all), but at the time had been having lessons for around 4/5 years and was about G6 level in first study and G2 in second.

Mardyface · 02/02/2023 13:04

You can google the school name plus musical aptitude test and there are loads of examples of the different tests. If there's an initial listening type test it's worth hearing some examples because the tests are a bit weird and your DD won't have heard one before.

DD got a music place to her current school and did an initial test and auditions. From what she said the interview was mostly about how much they actually like music. They want people who will join choirs and orchestras.

They are supposed to be based on aptitude, all of them, rather than experience but it's worth remembering that if your DD hasn't done any music exams it'll be a new experience for her and that will affect the outcome whatever they say. If there's a way of practising practical tests and 'having a go' at things and failing that would really help her I think. Enjoying music making is a great advantage for her though.

MissScotland · 02/02/2023 20:52

There are some samples on YouTube you can use to familiarise your child with this test.
My DD took one for a state secondary that allocates a few places based on music for out of catchment. There were hundreds of girls and the test is pretty tricky. Other than getting familiar with the components of the test, there's not much else you can do to prepare.
We did find that girls with rich musical background did better (but that of course goes hand in hand with talent in most cases). My DD, along with a friend who's with her at the Royal Academy of Music, got 2 out of 3 top places.
I hope this helps.

HelloMrsMc · 27/02/2024 11:50

Hello,
Posting if anyone is still looking for support with the MAT!
My bother and SIL are music teachers and are developing an app to support children with the 11+ music test, this is launching in May 2024. They have prepared about one hundred children for the test and have had great success rates. There's definitely a skill to it!

My SIL has actually just made a helpful tutorial on texture and rhythm on YouTube. Here's the link: there are other videos which aid as great preparation for the test too.

Check on their website if you need any further guidance - https://www.ashbeamusic.com/

Recognise individual notes in chords! Music Aptitude Test (11+ MAT test) Texture tutorial and tips

This is Ashbea Music's 11+ UK Music Aptitude Test (MAT) Texture tutorial. Learn and understand how to identify and work out individual notes in chords, in th...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-g8CnaYE94

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