City Of London School For Girls, Any good for music? Options

[Tess]

Hi folks,

Random query - Is the City of London School for Girls any good for music? I'm inclined not to trust any glossy brochure or its own website and would like comments from either parents or music teachers or those who personally know friends who go there. I know its 6th formers have a connection with GSMD but no more than that fact. Transportwise, it's very near where we live as it's only a half hour train's journey but our top most consideration is whether it's strong both musically and academically. The latter is yes but it's the former concerning which I need info. Thanks in advance! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Tess

[parent_l]

I have heard children playing there - and they have been very good. Of course one has no way of knowing if they are taught at school or outside, but the standard of playing was very high. The reputation is good, both academically and musically.

Great facilities.

I know of people who go there who speak very highly of it, and more importantly, seem very happy with it. I don't personally know any children who have gone in at your daughter's standard, and how the music department has dealt with them.

My elder daughter auditioned for a music scholarship there (didn't get it) - they were very nice and helpful, spent a lot of time on her and sent a nice and also informative letter when she didn't get it. She came away happy from what could have been quite a stressful process. Altogether my (very small) view of their music department was that they handled the whole thing very well. The standard needed for scholarships seemed high.

At the time they discouraged children from having singing lessons until their mid-teens - probably sensible, but a different view from other london schools.

I suspect the thing to do is to go to an open day - they have them in the summer and the autumn.

Are you looking at other schools too ? Is this for eleven plus ?

[Tess]

Yes, parent_1, it's for 11 plus / year 7 in the future. It's a shame your girl did not get the scholarship but she could try again the following year. A lot can change in the space of a year and there's no telling what a consultation lesson on technique can do! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks for the advice! Glad to hear the kids are happy there.

My girl's teacher says that she'll be grade 8 std at her 11 plus audition whereas the school says they are looking for grade 5 distinction. She has every intention to keep her teacher so the "quality" of the school's teacher is not an issue. Her teacher is very inspiring! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) We figured that if RAM let her keep him, CLSG will hopefully not be so unreasonable as to say "no" although we have heard from her teacher that they have done so in the past! Apparently, one of his colleague lost a student when she entered CLSG a very long time ago (this was many years ago) because the school had then insisted that the young talented girl must use a famous GSMD prof but it didn't work out at all and had a knock-on effect on her confidence in the end. Very sad. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I was thinking more in terms of performance opportunities - all sorts like orchestral, concertos and more particularly chamber music as this seems to be her top favourite at present. She told me she likes being a "soloist" in a quartet. She also enjoy her orchestral and solo playing. However, most schools are keen on orchestras and do little to encourage the set-up and active promotion of such small ensemble groups.

The other nearby schools are Bancrofts which does not seem to have a strong music standard in that its music scholars are required according to the school's flyer, to have a grade 4 "merit" standard by 11, and Forest School which is known to have a strong music dept but we can't try just one school, I suppose?

East of London above the Thames (speaking mapwise) I can't think of any other good schools, can you? Let me know...

Finally, they are quite right in limiting singing lessons to 15 and above. I got this advice from a singing prof in RAM at a masterclass. She told me that in her opinion, classical singing (as opp to choral) any earlier will damage the voice in terms of the technical practice to be put in each day.

Yes, there's an Open Day soon but unfortunately it clashes with an important appointment we have on that day! Perhaps there might be another one for the "whole school" entry in the autumn. Will call them. Thanks again!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[parent_l]

I'm afraid I don't know much about schools further east, as I live a bit west of you - City is about far east as she could travel to ...

There are also some state options which might be worth looking at ...
You might want to look at St. Marylebone - state school, meant to be very good music and academically sound, opposite RAM. A lot of my daughters friends go there, and think very highly of it. Also Camden School for Girls - state and good at music.

It sounds to me if your daughter is going to be grade 8 at eleven she should be able to try for any scholarships, (and probably get them!). She sounds very talented. You must be proud.

You probably shouldn't dismiss a school because the requirements for scholarships are lower - they are presumably just trying to see a range of children, and it will depend on the instrument what grade they want : I would have thought it was likely to be lower for a rare instrument that is started later like the French horn for instance.

As for singing - you are right - but the children do enjoy their singing lessons, and assuming no pressure is put on them and that the lessons are kept quite low key, it is very good for their confidence.

[sarah-flute]

However, most schools are keen on orchestras and do little to encourage the set-up and active promotion of such small ensemble groups.

In my limited experience this is more due to the difficulty of putting a quartet together/finding music/getting them to rehearse etc. In my secondary school (a comp) the organised chamber music activities were pretty thin on the ground (though we did have a small chamber orchestra which was fun!) *however* - groups which got themselves together and proved they would rehearse etc got a lot of help and exposure in concerts etc. Friends of mine were in a quartet for several years at the same ordinary comp, and played in most of the school concerts etc. They had got together independently of the school but the school were very very happy to have them play.

[bohemian]

Scholarship requirements don't really mean much - the school which gave me a scholarship only wanted G7 (!) for 6th form scholars, I turned up for my audition having only taken G5 but got a full scholarship, another school which I considered going for wanted G8 Distinction minimum, but realistically gave them out to pretty much anyone because the standard of audition was poor - people were put off by abnormally high requirements. Pick the school for its music, don't even ask about the standard!! Tess, VN could get most 6th form scholarships if she's G8 - she will be 5 years or so ahead of the game (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Experience in small chamber orchestras is harder to get at school because you get fewer outstanding musicians at a young age. That will be a problem at all but the best schools, at which you might find the academic standard is lacking somewhat. Are you looking specifically at a day school for 11+?
(Seriously, I spent about 3 months researching music/academic scholarships, if I can help, I will!)

[Tess]

I think Sarah was very fortunate with her school. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) VN 's present school has no real budget for music. Bo, I'm looking for a secondary school which is not too far from east London where we are and sound both academically and musically. She's keen on Purcell (and Menuhin) which is just an hour's away (and 1.5 hr)but we are not keen on the boarding aspect. Her special needs brother has a lot to offer/teach her now and vice versa. We did tell her however that come year 9, we may let her board. Will think about it then (not now) and in the meantime, take one day at a time.

Bo, perhaps you can e-mail me if you know anything about the ones near me like Bancrofts School , Forest School, Chigwell School and CLSG? They have 11+ entry.

Thanks!