Junior Departments, How much practice? Options

[Minuet3]

This is really a question to those parents who have children at Junior departments of the Conservatoires.

I have a very talented piano student, new to me this term, and I am considering mentioning the possibility of JD to him as an option for next year. Obviously, he would have to be very enthusiastic about the idea as it involves such a regular commitment and I don't know really him well enough yet to know if he might be interested. But auditions would be in the spring so I can't leave it too long before having a chat with him about it.

At the moment, he practices 50 mins a day on piano, his first instrument, and he also plays guitar as his second instrument. He is 12, and working at Grade 8 level piano, he is less advanced but doing very well on his guitar.

How much practice do they expect at JD? I am just after rough guidelines, so when I talk to him I can give him a realistic idea of the demands of this kind of study. Have your children had to give up other hobbies, or struggled with homework as a result of JD expectations? Was it worth it for your child?

I would love to hear your experiences of this, thanks in advance.

[notmusimum]

I think guidelines have been mentioned on the forum in the past but I cna't remember what they are.

JD's are great in some ways talking to other forum members it soon became clear that they don't all operate in the same way.

What your pupil could do is see if the JD he's interested in would allow him to shadow someone for a day. That should be a good way for him to see what it's all about and decide if it's the right place for him.

[tonedeafmum]

Not a JD parent but I remember this thread from last year.

Hope it helps. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[MNW]

It depends on the instrument. Piano or strings could be up to two hours each day and wind less. If DS goes to Purcell he is expected to put in 2 hours 40 mins on wind and strings put in 5 hours!!! Split up of course!

[BerkshireMum]

It depends on the instrument. Piano or strings could be up to two hours each day and wind less. If DS goes to Purcell he is expected to put in 2 hours 40 mins on wind and strings put in 5 hours!!! Split up of course!

That doesn't leave much time for academic work, does it? I thought children had to do 5 hours a day by law, with extra time for homework, but maybe it's different for specialist schools - or maybe he won't have any free time at all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Still, I expect he will have long holidays to recover from it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You still don't sound completely convinced about sending him to Purcell. I hope you will know one way or the other after Saturday.

[MNW]

They have a 7:20-8:20am, 10-10:40am and 6:30-7:30pm with homework done before this so from 7:30-9:30pm they have free time plus standard lunch breaks and if prep isn't long then free time too. It's extreme but less than what he's currently doing as a chorister.

[Claudia's Mum]

We have been told 2 hours practice at 12 but we have never done anything near this although still trying to build it up. Total playing time including school ensembles and Saturdays probably does amount to 2 hours on about 4 days per week.

TDM I see that thread was mine! Nothing has changed! Fitting it in isn't so much of a problem but stamina/tiredness is an issue on school days when there's no real opportunity to break it up.

Yes, brass is less time.

[andante]

My daughter's not doing that much! I just don't see how it is possible during term time. Two nights a week she has 2 and a half hours of orchestra and all day Saturday at JD so that only leaves four days when it would even be a possibility. Add on homework for 4 A levels and practice time at home is limited. She does do some piano in study periods at school, but she only has two of those a week.

[ChrisC]

I would say 1 hour a day on the main instrument is plenty. Practising every day is more important than the number of hours, and the quality of practice is more important still.

Chris

[MNW]

If DS had gone there he would have remained a chorister and the absolute maximum he could have done was 40mins four times per week. With bassoon he cannot sustain more than an hour without his lip going. If possible a practice in the morning and evening would be best. Focus on scales/technical aspects before breakfast and leave pieces until the evening.

[Claudia's Mum]

I know one JD student who spends an hour and a half just on scales before even starting the rest of his practice.
He is older though and hoping for Conservatoire entrance.

Our guidelines say if you want to go to Conservatoire you need to be doing 4 hours a day at age 16. I can't see that this will ever be possible. Oh well, we'll see......



I'll dig out our guidelines later and post them in full as there is a big difference according to age and instrument.

I get the impression that people learning the piano tend to practise more.

[andante]

We've been given no guidelines at all! Very little communication with them of any kind. I'm not very impressed with the organisation side of things so far, but willing to keep an open mind and assume they know best.

[Roseau]

I'll dig out our guidelines later and post them in full as there is a big difference according to age and instrument.

I get the impression that people learning the piano tend to practise more.

I met someone last summer who had just finished her first undergraduate year at a Conservatoire. She said that they had been given the following guidelines:
Wind and brass instruments: 2 hours (never more than 3)
Strings: 3 hours (never more than 4)
Piano: 4-6 hours (no upper limit)

[barncottagecat]

Yes we tried for some time to reach that zenith of two hours practice a day..... In actual fact though, it is rarely possible or practical and at 12 I worry that it could put Epiphanya off completely. I am also well aware that 2 hours of what she can achieve alone (which usually includes using her violin as a mandolin, pretending to be Paganini etc) can be achieved in about an hour and a quarter with a bit of guidance! In the week she practises within ear shot of me - and it's an exercise in analysis and working only what needs to be done.

[Capriccioso]

Yes we tried for some time to reach that zenith of two hours practice a day..... In actual fact though, it is rarely possible or practical and at 12 I worry that it could put Epiphanya off completely. I am also well aware that 2 hours of what she can achieve alone (which usually includes using her violin as a mandolin, pretending to be Paganini etc) can be achieved in about an hour and a quarter with a bit of guidance! In the week she practises within ear shot of me - and it's an exercise in analysis and working only what needs to be done.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Sounds just like my daughter - also 12! Am trying hard to supervise less but have to stay in listening range to gently shove in right direction when she gets distracted!