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

[MusicalNitWit]

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)

[ChrisC]

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)

At RNCM a lot of parents just sit in the cafe with laptop, book or newspaper, or go shopping in Manchester, plus there are usually some performances going on.

There are plenty of museums to browse round near RCM, and some nice cafes, or you have time to go further afield. Even if you went on a shopping spree every Saturday, it must be cheaper than renting!

Chris

[andante]

Was just going to stick daughter on the train! * Am I expected to be there to speak to the staff?

I think I need to take over the "Most clueless parent" mantle. MNW and TDM seem to have got their acts together and I feel completely in the dark about what happens at JC.

* I found a brilliant bit on the national rail enquiries website describing how to get from A to B in New Street Station. It gives directions with pictures and says Turn left towards the door (picture of door) Walk forward 2 metres (yes really!) (Another closer picture of the door) Go through the door. (Another picture of the dorway open and what is beyond. ) It looks like it might be daughter proof. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[tonedeafmum]

I think I need to take over the "Most clueless parent" mantle. MNW and TDM seem to have got their acts together

Yeay! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) See my act! It's together!

Given the vast distances kids travel to JDs I imagine the place is swamped with parents (in varying degrees of confusion, pushiness, panic, debt .. and all other conditions associated with parenting the more musical child) so there's probably a policy about where and when all these people should go. Presumably there will be a handbook or something sent out in the summer?

[andante]

At the moment I'm hoping something is sent out, as so far I've had nothing apart from a letter saying she's got in. I'm beginning to wonder what I've let us in for. The website is as clear as mud and the prospectus is better, but still a bit vague. It mentions ensembles and orchestras, but I don't know if you are assigned to them or choose them or how any of it works.

Oh well if I'm left hanging around I can always go next door to the museum to look at the dinosaurs. (I loved going there as a child, rushing through until we got to the room with the life size model of a T-Rex!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Czerny]

I think renting somewhere would be a very expensive option when there are so many interesting ways to spend a Saturday in London. One thing you could perhaps do if you want a "base" is join a members' club, or become a Friend of a museum or suchlike. The Friends' room at the Royal Academy has a nice room which would be a quiet place to sit and drink a cup of tea. You could study French at the Institut Francais, or do a class at the City Lit, both within easy striking distance of the Royal College. There are also lunchtime concerts at places like Cadogan Hall and St James, Piccadilly and umpteen theatres and cinemas showing matinees. Alternatively, join a nearby gym, go swimming, or just sit in Kensington Gardens with a book and an ice cream.

[ChrisC]

At the moment I'm hoping something is sent out, as so far I've had nothing apart from a letter saying she's got in. I'm beginning to wonder what I've let us in for. The website is as clear as mud and the prospectus is better, but still a bit vague. It mentions ensembles and orchestras, but I don't know if you are assigned to them or choose them or how any of it works.

Oh well if I'm left hanging around I can always go next door to the museum to look at the dinosaurs. (I loved going there as a child, rushing through until we got to the room with the life size model of a T-Rex!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

If RCM is similar to RNCM you'll get a load of information over the summer, including which classes, which teachers, which ensembles etc.

Chris

[SueHM]

MNW do you mean you are going to have to be at the College and get him from one session to the next? Surely, surely, the college will do this for you? Don’t tell me they’ve never dealt with a clueless child before - musical types are stereotypically disorganised, head in clouds etc. Or have I completely misunderstood?!

[Listener]

Andante, that's what we did with daughter of similar age and it worked fine. Got her used to a different rail network, not to mention navigating around London and the tube. It definitely paid off in terms of fostering independence, apart from anything else! And if your daughter learns to navigate Birmingham New Street, she could make a living helping lost travellers... members of my family for a start.

But some parents get involved and spend their day at the JD, especially if they're there for years and start with young kids, MNW, so you'll find lots of people just like you. Don't know about JRCM, but as Czerny says, the cafe at JRAM was absolutely wonderful, run by and with food provided by parents, and a lot of parents got involved in that. And lots sat there with laptops, books - one I met had started a Master's. It's time away from the home so you can plan to use it to your advantage. Daughter spent ages weighing up whether she'd rather be near the Zoo or the Natural History Museum, until it finally dawned that she wasn't going to have time to visit either. You could spend years just working your way around a different places each Saturday; no doubt other folks here can suggest lots, but outside South Ken, the Handel Museum isn't far (~Bond Street I think). And if you don't rent a flat in South Ken, you can probably afford the odd trip to Harrods!

[MusicalNitWit]

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)

[SueHM]

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

[MusicalNitWit]

[quote name='SueHM' date='May 23 2011

[Little Elf]

I found a brilliant bit on the national rail enquiries website describing how to get from A to B in New Street Station. It gives directions with pictures and says Turn left towards the door (picture of door) Walk forward 2 metres (yes really!) (Another closer picture of the door) Go through the door. (Another picture of the dorway open and what is beyond. ) It looks like it might be daughter proof. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

New Street really isn't that hard to navigate (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I go through it at least twice a day. If you want any help then send me a message.

[andante]

At the moment I'm hoping something is sent out, as so far I've had nothing apart from a letter saying she's got in. I'm beginning to wonder what I've let us in for. The website is as clear as mud and the prospectus is better, but still a bit vague. It mentions ensembles and orchestras, but I don't know if you are assigned to them or choose them or how any of it works.

Oh well if I'm left hanging around I can always go next door to the museum to look at the dinosaurs. (I loved going there as a child, rushing through until we got to the room with the life size model of a T-Rex!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

If RCM is similar to RNCM you'll get a load of information over the summer, including which classes, which teachers, which ensembles etc.

Chris

It's Birmingham Conservatoire not RCM



MNW has the thought of grade 5 theory made you faint?

I found a brilliant bit on the national rail enquiries website describing how to get from A to B in New Street Station. It gives directions with pictures and says Turn left towards the door (picture of door) Walk forward 2 metres (yes really!) (Another closer picture of the door) Go through the door. (Another picture of the dorway open and what is beyond. ) It looks like it might be daughter proof. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

New Street really isn't that hard to navigate (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I go through it at least twice a day. If you want any help then send me a message.

The problem is that she needs to exit the station by the Victoria Square exit, and I think her train comes in on platform 1b, the only one that isn't connected to that exit, so she will have to go up to the concourse, down to platform 2 , along the platform and up to the other concourse. I was very relieved to see the pictures of what each step looks like.

[MusicalNitWit]

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)