Music scholarships

[Mt2025]

Hello

I'm currently looking at applying for a music scholarships for my child. They have currently st grade 5 piano with distinction and grade 4 clarinet with distinction. Also doing music theory at the moment and play grade 7 on piano and can also play grade 6/7 clarinet pieces.
Has anyone got any idea on what schools like merchant Taylor's in Northwood are looking for?
I assume by sept/October they would have at grade 5 clarinet aswell as. Completed music theory and able to sit grade 7/8 piano. Forgot to mention grade 4 singing too.
Any feedback would be appreciated

If you go on each school's website, they will tell you the requirements needed for scholarships. On here you will get people who either have personal experience, you will have people who only know through rumour and you will have people who are annoyed and will tell you things that are not strictly accurate. I would contact the schools or read up on their criteria.

Hi, Op. speaking from personal experience, having just finished the 11 plus journey and having received 8 music scholarships out of 9 schools where DD did auditions.
Your daughter has a great combo, my DD is also clarinet(2nd instrument) and piano (1st)

orchestral instruments are always an advantage ( provided there isn’t a surplus of those already at a specific school!)

note that most schools state approximate G5 in the first instrument on their websites , but practice shows that in highly selective schools those who get a scholarship tend to be at a higher level.

they are mostly relaxed about actual grades ( however, two out of our 9 requested to see actual grade sheets with examiner comments). Most schools wanted to see a child perform “ at a … X grade standard” rather than actual numbers on her grade sheet

in most selective schools you will do two rounds- they will most likely ask you to upload your DC’s videos and then, if they like her performance, they will invite her for the second round, where she will perform, do aural tests ( in some schools, not all), might be required to sing and have an interview about her musical interests:)

good luck , it’s a fun journey, provided she doesn’t over- stress about it and goes into auditions to enjoy herself and her music

At our school the grade itself isn’t as important as the actual natural talent and ability. In one year a scholar already had Grade 8 by the age of ten, but in another they had “only” Grade 5. What sets them apart is that they are exceptionally talented - you can just see they are streets apart from others by the way they perform. One pianist plays everything without sheet music, for example.

So whilst the grades are important, if natural ability isn’t there then the scholarship isn’t given.

Sounds like your child loves their music. I would just be cautious about assuming they could sit piano grade 8 by October if not already playing pieces at that level as it's a big step up from grade 7 and unless they are really quick at learning them, needs a lot of time and effort. There's a huge amount of scales too! I guess not all places require you to have sat an exam, which would be helpful as they can focus just on playing well and not stress about a deadline for an exam. Hope it all goes well.

@Mt2025 I'd pop onto this thread as there are lots of people on there with specific experience of music scholarships etc https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/extra_curricular_activities/5274567-spring-summer-25-music-thread?page=4&reply=144228625

FWIW my DC both had music scholarships at 11+. In both cases they took Grade 5 theory shortly after the 11+ so the audition pieces were selected to demonstrate the level they were playing at rather than the grade achieved (which is what any sensible DoM will be looking at given a lot of DC skip instrumental grades due to theory and not all DC do grades anyway).

Schools will be looking at your DC vs others to see which are likely to be the most useful for them. So can they play in the orchestra (violas especially valuable....), can they play in a windband/jazz band, will they be useful in the choir etc etc. Piano clarinet and singing is a good combination but you need to bear in mind there may well be older DC with more advanced clarinet grades covering the orchestral element so have a think about how you might make your DC still useful - eg they could express an interest in playing percussion to help out and get orchestral experience. Also maybe they'd be interested in playing piano with a chamber group of other musicians in their year and or playing hyms at assembly etc. (If the DoM is not an accomplished pianist this can be a great offer.....).

These are all so helpful.
i am hoping the school will see that my child is quite flexible and able to work with everyone. At current they are literally in every music group in school and naturally musical.
but thank you all for such wonderful insights

Hi Can i ask where she applied for and her level? Just to get a sense of perspective?