Winding down extra curriculars for GCSE years?

[issabel]

Specifically music lessons. DC will be starting GCSEs in September. Currently has lessons for two different instruments - one lesson during school hours and the other at the weekend. I am considering suggesting we stop all music lessons come September and I'm really just thinking out loud here and looking for other experiences.

DC enjoys playing but is not particularly bothered is the best way to put it. It is not a "passion" and they aren't exceptionally talented. They don't even listen to music for fun (which I find weird because music has been a massive part of my life since I was about 11 and I can't play a note on an instrument!). DC sees music in a very practical way whereas for me it is an emotional experience I suppose.

They don't practice regularly but will sit down and play "for fun" a few times a month which I think is nice for them to be able to do that. Currently, they are aiming towards grade 4 in one instrument but don't take exams in the other.

They have not chosen music at GCSE but if they stopped lessons then they could continue to play as part of the school band - important for friendship reasons.

If we stop the lessons it saves us money and time at the weekends - I just hate the thought of them giving things up when they have worked on it for so long... But the skills won't disappear and they can go back to it later if they want to? DC will still have a couple of extra curricular sports which I feel are very important to keep for their future health and wellbeing.

If your DC enjoys the lessons and you are able to afford to continue, let them. I think it's really important for teenagers to be supported to understand that not everything has to be assessed/competed in and that it's perfectly acceptable to spend time on something 'just because', with no lofty aspirations and no pressure to be the best. Continuing music lessons, playing a sport non-competitively, developing nail art skills or dedicating themselves to speed-cubing are all hobbies of teenagers I know. There is so much pressure on teenagers these days for everything to have to 'count' that activities that are done for their intrinsic enjoyment/engagement are very easy to sideline.

By all means, talk about a change of direction in the music lessons but I would treat the start of GCSEs as the perfect opportunity to help your DC consider what work-life balance could look like for them.

My child continues to do 9+ hours of extra curricular activities during Yr 11. I feel the pressure of GCSE's makes it more important to do other things they enjoy.

Currently we are planning that Weekend activities will continue right through exams. They will however miss any sessions that are the evening before an exam.

We stopped two (musical production and drama lessons) but we had the added issue that DD suffered from anxiety and panic attacks. She missed too many rehearsals for musical production thanks to mocks to enjoy it.

In addition the drama lessons involved exams which were duologs and her partner often skipped lessons during mocks which weren't at the same time as DD's mocks as the girls were at different schools. Also the drama teacher insisted on doing the exam paperwork during GCSE exam times and we just had enough. We and the other parent decided to skip the exam and that wasn't good enough it seems so we cancelled the whole thing.

DD did other hobbies, Explorer Scouts and also volunteering at the Beavers and horse riding. So there was enough non-school activities to keep her mind rested.

She actually went back to drama in 6th form with a different teacher and theatre and it's a lot more relaxed.

If your sons enjoy playing the instruments I would leave it and just let the teacher know it's more for fun and relaxation than exam pressure.

Hobbies/activities/contact with friends/downtime/exercise/fun is as important, if not more, in their study schedule as studying itself.

Let them decide if they enjoy and want to continue, and do their GCSE studying around the music lessons, or drop.