Junior Department parents, What do you do with yourself from 9-5? Options

[Organistin]

Maybe you could find an unoccupied practice room while you are there, or tackle grade 5 theory?.?!

Er...why would I need grade 5 theory? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

For when you want to take grade 6 practical (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[andante]

For helping JMNW with his grade 5 theory papers.

[sbhoa]

Maybe you could find an unoccupied practice room while you are there, or tackle grade 5 theory?.?!

Er...why would I need grade 5 theory? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

For when you want to take grade 6 practical (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Or like I did.... because I could. No other reason.
The problem with this is that teachers see it as intent to do do grade 6 practical.

[Organistin]

Maybe you could find an unoccupied practice room while you are there, or tackle grade 5 theory?.?!

Er...why would I need grade 5 theory? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

For when you want to take grade 6 practical (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Or like I did.... because I could. No other reason.
The problem with this is that teachers see it as intent to do do grade 6 practical.

MNW could just keep it quiet and then teacher starts making noises about getting grade 5, the certificate can be whipped out!

[notmusimum]

Great ideas Czerny, this may be my year of culture! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

SueHM, in the first year there is a probationary period and I just need to make sure DS is on the ball and he often needs intermittent pep talks on concentration, no blurting out in class/orchestra etc. I think he'll need a term of me just being on hand, reminding him to eat/drink or it could end it tears. Believe me, I'd rather I dropped him of at the entrance and go back to bed! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

You won't be expected to take him to his lessons. Once you get your pack he wil probably have been assigned someone who knows the ropes and can show him around until he finds his feet.

At RNCM all the pupils get a pass as the concourse and some other areas are open to the public. It's not easy to just pop up and meet them outside the lesson or ensemble. You will not be allowed to sit in on ensembles. The rooms are ot big enough to hold the players and parents.

Part of going there is learning to become independent. You will be invited to sit in on his lesson once a school year and visit the small ensembles, The teachers may tell you that you are welcome to attend lessons but that will be entirely up to them.

I'm lucky that I take daughter, wait until after one of her lessons and then bring home surpless instruments. I return to collect her later. As Chrisc said most of the parents sit around with their laptops, some actually do work, others go shopping or spend time chatting.

[Claudia's Mum]

I don't have any problems occupying myself on Saturdays although it's only until 3.45pm. I go off to a cafe for breakfast, go for long walks in the park or exploring little streets, shop, read a book, sightsee, nose around the library, meet Claudia for early lunch, go to the lunchtime concert, do some work on my computer, read the paper, go to retrieve the car and then it's time to go.

Wonderful peaceful time to myself!

The children learn where they have to go very quickly. We helped Claudia the first couple of weeks to navigate the building with a map and then she got the hang of it. Lots of the children just get dropped off in the morning with their packed lunch and collected later and they quickly make friends and hang out together.

Having said that there are reputedly some parents who sit in on lessons but this is their choice and I guess would require teacher approval.

[Dulcet]

Because DS is so disorganised OH and I are going to have to micromanage his time for at least a term at the RCM which means being around for every change over! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) So there will be long boring Saturdays for a while but when he becomes more independent I was wondering what parents do for all that time, especially those who cannot go home. OH is due to move out of his rental apartment this month and we wondered if he should rent somewhere with .25 miles of the RCM but that means doubling the rent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Really struggling to work out what you will find so difficult about amusing yourself in London on a Saturday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) just THINK of the Pimm's you can get through in 8 hours!!! I'll happily come and keep you company window shopping in Howarth's/ Harrods/ Harvey Nicks... or at the V&A/Wallace Collection/Green Park...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif)

[MusicalNitWit]

I could lunch with one member a week! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[Ayshah]

Because DS is so disorganised OH and I are going to have to micromanage his time for at least a term at the RCM which means being around for every change over! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) So there will be long boring Saturdays for a while but when he becomes more independent I was wondering what parents do for all that time, especially those who cannot go home. OH is due to move out of his rental apartment this month and we wondered if he should rent somewhere with .25 miles of the RCM but that means doubling the rent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Really struggling to work out what you will find so difficult about amusing yourself in London on a Saturday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) just THINK of the Pimm's you can get through in 8 hours!!! I'll happily come and keep you company window shopping in Howarth's/ Harrods/ Harvey Nicks... or at the V&A/Wallace Collection/Green Park...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif)

You can also attend pupil concerts at RCM. But honestly, look around you..RCM is situated in one of the most cultural arenas of London - The V&A is full of interesting things and oft neglected in favour of the Science Musem. Harrods is not the only "shop" in Kensington, there are loads. In the Spring, Hyde Park and the Serpentine Gallery therein is full of delights. Take a picnic and a good book and enjoy your Saturdays. Make friends, paint your nails, window shop, knit, do "lunch" watch the world go by. Relax (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I promise you, boring ... No...(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[andante]

Are those of you that spend your day in London or wherever, waiting for them to finish one child parents? I have two other children that have sports matches, gym club, social activities etc that need me on a Saturday. Daughter will definitely be getting herself there and back once the dust has settled.

[Dulcet]

Because DS is so disorganised OH and I are going to have to micromanage his time for at least a term at the RCM which means being around for every change over! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) So there will be long boring Saturdays for a while but when he becomes more independent I was wondering what parents do for all that time, especially those who cannot go home. OH is due to move out of his rental apartment this month and we wondered if he should rent somewhere with .25 miles of the RCM but that means doubling the rent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Really struggling to work out what you will find so difficult about amusing yourself in London on a Saturday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) just THINK of the Pimm's you can get through in 8 hours!!! I'll happily come and keep you company window shopping in Howarth's/ Harrods/ Harvey Nicks... or at the V&A/Wallace Collection/Green Park...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif)

You can also attend pupil concerts at RCM. But honestly, look around you..RCM is situated in one of the most cultural arenas of London - The V&A is full of interesting things and oft neglected in favour of the Science Musem. Harrods is not the only "shop" in Kensington, there are loads. In the Spring, Hyde Park and the Serpentine Gallery therein is full of delights. Take a picnic and a good book and enjoy your Saturdays. Make friends, paint your nails, window shop, knit, do "lunch" watch the world go by. Relax (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I promise you, boring ... No...(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[Claudia's Mum]

Are those of you that spend your day in London or wherever, waiting for them to finish one child parents? I have two other children that have sports matches, gym club, social activities etc that need me on a Saturday. Daughter will definitely be getting herself there and back once the dust has settled.

Yes of course it depends on the child's age and whether there are suitable transport links. Claudia will also make her own way there when she is a bit older, 14 or 15 maybe.

[andante]

D1 will be 17 by the time she starts there, although not at all streetwise.

[MusicalNitWit]

I was talking to a teacher the other day who studied at the RCM full time when she left school. She said that the students virtually never got drunk because they always had to perform or watch evening performances and hangovers and blowing bassoon for eight hours the next day just did not mix. Knowing my son I think I may coerce him to go down this route now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Back to weekends in London: I do get your point about there being so much to do but I lived in London for years so I've been there, done that and once you've exhausted the possibilities then it does get a bit dull.

Does anyone know if they condense the littl'uns timetables into a few hours or if they spread it out so they can have lots of breaks?

[SueHM]

When you?re tired of London, you’re tired of life….!

Exhausted the possiblities...? Really? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)