Home Education, for musical reasons, would you? Options

[onemoretime]

Has anybody taken the decision or deriously considered leaving school to allow children greater freedom to practice/ partake in musical activities?

Just recently, it seems as though there are not enough hours in the day for viledin to practice/ do all she wants to musically. She has no homework so this isn't a problem.
I then found an interesting thread on another parents site where all the home ed parents seemed happy and their children thriving especially in music, the arts and sport.

I then started to consider this as an option myself, although I think I must be mad or something.

I know there are many other reasons parents choose home ed, but I am obviously looking at the extra time at home for music.

[FullofWind]

I'm doing it....

[onemoretime]

I'm doing it....

Fullofwind
If you don't mind me asking has the music practice/playing improved a great deal as a result of he. It would be good to know how its working for others with similar interests as I have only just started considering the options.
I think it may be better for me to wait until high school entry as viledin has always attended school and I think it may be mean to take her out now, she is y3 now.

[Halka]

I'm doing it....

Fullofwind
If you don't mind me asking has the music practice/playing improved a great deal as a result of he. It would be good to know how its working for others with similar interests as I have only just started considering the options.
I think it may be better for me to wait until high school entry as viledin has always attended school and I think it may be mean to take her out now, she is y3 now.

Waiting will also give your daughter more time to decide what she wants out of her education. If she is still dead set on music perhaps a specialist music school - with "proper" teachers for the other bits of the curriculum might be a better bet. Certainly, I would not feel qualified to teach my children very much of the secondary school curriculum, though others may feel some of this is better neglected anyway..

[FullofWind]

How much practice does she need to do and how long is the school day? At Year 3 age we had plenty time after school for practice and music clubs. Our senior school options required travelling and extensive homework so it would have been impossible to fit in practice and continue with extra curricular music and activities. Something would have had to give and this way it doesn't. Being very flexible also allows us access to teachers at conservatoires who would normally not teach a young child but have some time free during the day so are happy to slot us in as and when they can. We also supplement with a large number of residential holiday courses - mainly music, but also adventure holidays - for more socialisation and my sanity! Evenings are filled with activities, again for socialisation. Some home ed groups run day schools, some structured and some fairly hippish - bushcraft etc. I'm planning to send mine to one of those one day a week.

[onemoretime]

How much practice does she need to do and how long is the school day? At Year 3 age we had plenty time after school for practice and music clubs. Our senior school options required travelling and extensive homework so it would have been impossible to fit in practice and continue with extra curricular music and activities. Something would have had to give and this way it doesn't. Being very flexible also allows us access to teachers at conservatoires who would normally not teach a young child but have some time free during the day so are happy to slot us in as and when they can. We also supplement with a large number of residential holiday courses - mainly music, but also adventure holidays - for more socialisation and my sanity! Evenings are filled with activities, again for socialisation. Some home ed groups run day schools, some structured and some fairly hippish - bushcraft etc. I'm planning to send mine to one of those one day a week.

Her school day is good really. We leave at 8.30 and she is home at 3.30. She just seems to have to cram in all her activities and everything seems to have come at once. She plays violin, sings, choir, practice on voice and violin and now wants to play saxophone and piano. I know she won't probably keep these up but I would like her to choose what she wants to keep. Besides music she dances and performs in shows and as she started at age 2 its hard to say no. Obviously she will give this up in due course as already she seems as though music is more important to her, but for now she is commited to all of it until at least feb next year.
She loves practice and says if she didn't have to go to school she would play music all day. Not that we have discussed home ed with her yet. She also wants to audition for a jd when she is 11 and knows the commitment she will need for practice. I would hate her life to be school, practice and no free time.
You seem to have a good balance and confidence in your decision, I'm glad it works well for you and thank you for sharing your experience with me.

I'm doing it....

Fullofwind
If you don't mind me asking has the music practice/playing improved a great deal as a result of he. It would be good to know how its working for others with similar interests as I have only just started considering the options.
I think it may be better for me to wait until high school entry as viledin has always attended school and I think it may be mean to take her out now, she is y3 now.

Waiting will also give your daughter more time to decide what she wants out of her education. If she is still dead set on music perhaps a specialist music school - with "proper" teachers for the other bits of the curriculum might be a better bet. Certainly, I would not feel qualified to teach my children very much of the secondary school curriculum, though others may feel some of this is better neglected anyway..

A very good point, she seems to know where she is going but could change her mind with so many of the instruments/ dancing she does. I am a qualified FE teacher and would feel ok with some subjects but think a maths tutor would be needed. We would keep her music teachers as one is private and the other could be persuaded to be. I know what you mean about the curriculum, personally I favour the academic subjects and feel that their is too little choice in languages and humanities are dropped too soon in many schools. But thats another story.

[sunil]

We did considered this seriously as daughter wants to embrace music. None of the Secondary school Heads were interested in the education-off site clause, whilst our discussion on 11+ open days. So, we left out with only 2 options! Either home-ed or a Specialist music school. But she won a place in Music School.

There are Home-Ed Facebook groups, where you can find wealth of information. Also, mumsnet and other forums has good info in this area.

[sunil]

Daughter started Music only at Summer term of Year 3, but she practiced a min of 2 hours during year 4 and year 5. Now she is in year 6 and practice a minimum of 3 hours on piano on weekdays and 5 hours during weekends / holidays.

We dropped many other lessons including Gymnastics, Dance and Drama in favour of Music but still find time for Martial Arts, Kumon Maths and Ashtanga Yoga. Regarding school homework I'll do most of them for her, so she is completely free from 4PM.

From my limited experience, I'd think the right time is switch to Home Ed is Secondary.

I think it may be better for me to wait until high school entry as viledin has always attended school and I think it may be mean to take her out now, she is y3 now.

[andante]

What is the point in doing her homework for her?

[notmusimum]

Her school day is good really. We leave at 8.30 and she is home at 3.30. She just seems to have to cram in all her activities and everything seems to have come at once. She plays violin, sings, choir, practice on voice and violin and now wants to play saxophone and piano. I know she won't probably keep these up but I would like her to choose what she wants to keep. Besides music she dances and performs in shows and as she started at age 2 its hard to say no. Obviously she will give this up in due course as already she seems as though music is more important to her, but for now she is commited to all of it until at least feb next year.
She loves practice and says if she didn't have to go to school she would play music all day. Not that we have discussed home ed with her yet. She also wants to audition for a jd when she is 11 and knows the commitment she will need for practice. I would hate her life to be school, practice and no free time.
You seem to have a good balance and confidence in your decision, I'm glad it works well for you and thank you for sharing your experience with me.

[

I think if you give her time she will decide for herself where her heart lies. I can't tell you how much your situation echos our position. My daughter took herself inot her sisters dance class at 2 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .

We've never had any concessions over school work daughter made her choices around year 7 time. It's not always been easy but it has been doable. You will find a routine that allows her to practice and you may find that she has a focus for a while and that changes. Just be careful if you choose to feed the music passion as it gets harder to persuade them to specialise later on.

I don't know what is best in the home ed V school debate. I'm sure both are equally worth considering. Most schools these days do offer drama and dance as part of the corriculum so there may be a way for her to keep up these activities too whilst being in school.

[SaxLad]

Perhaps another option- Flexischooling, if the school is amenable to it? Would mean she/he would be able to do the school work for say 2-3 days out of a 5 day week and then home-schooling for 2-3 days a week perhaps focusing on music more?

Plus that way you still get the benefit of more subject specialist teachers as well as having the time to do music.

I don't have any firsthand experience of it, but I think the Cellist who won BBC YMOTY Strings final used the system to do her music.

[serendipity]

Regarding school homework I'll do most of them for her, so she is completely free from 4PM.

Are you serious?

[onemoretime]

Perhaps another option- Flexischooling, if the school is amenable to it? Would mean she/he would be able to do the school work for say 2-3 days out of a 5 day week and then home-schooling for 2-3 days a week perhaps focusing on music more?

Plus that way you still get the benefit of more subject specialist teachers as well as having the time to do music.

I don't have any firsthand experience of it, but I think the Cellist who won BBC YMOTY Strings final used the system to do her music.

Thank you for the idea of flexi schooling. I have heard of this but don't know any who openly offer it round here. I would certainly look at it as an option nearer secondary stage.
Her Dad has bought her an alto due to arrive today but it is only for messing about with as a treat when other practice is done. I know this may seem a bit odd but her Dad will eventually teach her and her teeth are nearly fully formed but not quite yet.

[sunil]

Yes! That turned out the best for her.

Are you serious?

This link has reference to rules on Flexi-schooling
http://www.home-education.org.uk/articles/...lexi-school.pdf

[FullofWind]

It's very difficult to get permission for flexi schooling as it sets a precendent for other parents asking to do the same thing and that can create chaos for teachers. I also feel that it singles a child out as being different or getting special treatment.