At the moment, I'm trying to juggle the pressures of coursework and exams with my music practise, which hardly any avail. I either finish school work late at night, so it is too late to practise music, or, I practise music first but practise sessions not going that well. When I have the time to practise (e.g. Sunday afternoon's) I'm too tired. I am feeling really gulity because my parents are paying for my music lessons, and I'm not progressing and sometimes I hate practising. Teachers have been understanding, but I am fustrated as an hour's bus journey to play whatI should be able to play, is just taking the mick. I know the forum's concert is coming up- I need to practise- but I can't and I'm going to sound dreadful.
I know many people have been through this dilemma. I am wondering how you did/are juggle/juggling school and music commitments.
Tired,
Ceri
Full Version: Juggling Music And School Work
::hugs:: I think this is a problem that nearly all of us face, sometime or another. What year are you in at school? I'm in Year 11, and the teachers are practically showering us with coursework - on top of which they expect us to start revising for our GCSEs. It was particularly stressful several weeks ago, because I had been practicing for my Grade 6 piano exam as well. In fact, I haven't practiced the clarinet properly for several weeks now. I really need to do something about it, but I am in a similar position as you: when I finish studying, it's always really late at night and I can't practice, but I feel constantly guilty about it. For the past few days I seem to be staying up well into the night and I'm always so tired.
I try to practice the piano every day, or at the least every other day. What I do is I practice immediately after I get home from school. Usually, when I come home I spend about 30 minutes just chilling out and sitting around - I use that time to practice the piano. It's only 30 minutes, but it's better than nothing... and when I'm taking a break from work, or if I'm waiting for the kettle to boil or something I practice quickly. During the weekend, I have more time so I practice for longer.
I'm sorry if that came out like a long moan, but just to let you know that you're definitely not alone.
One more thing though: at this particular time of the year, perhaps you should place more priority on your schoolwork, as (I assume) you'd have exams in the summer & coursework is very important. That is, if you don't have any looming exams. Just try and fit in as much practice for the Forum concert as you can.
I try to practice the piano every day, or at the least every other day. What I do is I practice immediately after I get home from school. Usually, when I come home I spend about 30 minutes just chilling out and sitting around - I use that time to practice the piano. It's only 30 minutes, but it's better than nothing... and when I'm taking a break from work, or if I'm waiting for the kettle to boil or something I practice quickly. During the weekend, I have more time so I practice for longer.
I'm sorry if that came out like a long moan, but just to let you know that you're definitely not alone.
One more thing though: at this particular time of the year, perhaps you should place more priority on your schoolwork, as (I assume) you'd have exams in the summer & coursework is very important. That is, if you don't have any looming exams. Just try and fit in as much practice for the Forum concert as you can.
QUOTE(anakrron @ Mar 24 2006, 08:59 PM) 
::hugs:: I think this is a problem that nearly all of us face, sometime or another. What year are you in at school? I'm in Year 11, and the teachers are practically showering us with coursework - on top of which they expect us to start revising for our GCSEs.
I'm sorry if that came out like a long moan, but just to let you know that you're definitely not alone.
One more thing though: at this particular time of the year, perhaps you should place more priority on your schoolwork, as (I assume) you'd have exams in the summer & coursework is very important. That is, if you don't have any looming exams. Just try and fit in as much practice for the Forum concert as you can.
I'm sorry if that came out like a long moan, but just to let you know that you're definitely not alone.
One more thing though: at this particular time of the year, perhaps you should place more priority on your schoolwork, as (I assume) you'd have exams in the summer & coursework is very important. That is, if you don't have any looming exams. Just try and fit in as much practice for the Forum concert as you can.
I'm in year 11. My exams start on Monday (French Speaking), followed by art on Wednesday, thursday and friday. I have had several teachers tell me off for not putting their subject first and/or not going to twillight sessions because of music lessons.
.It didn't come out like a moan
Ceri
I would hazard a guess that part of the reason you're not finding the time to practise is because in your own words you sometimes 'hate practising'.
I have a pupil, now nearly 17. This time last year she was in the thick of her GCSE's. She was determined to well at them, but she was also determined not to allow her GCSE work to get in the way of her violin. She managed to keep her lessons going right through GCSE's (I think she only missed one or two lessons), and kept practising half an hour to an hour a day most days right through years 10 and 11.
She managed this because she finds practising the violin so enjoyable, and actually 'does it to relax' in her own words. I hasten to add I was nothing like her at her age, and gave up all practice during the GCE term (they were called GCE's back then in the distant mists of time).
I messed most of my GCE's up, incidentally, while this pupil managed 4 A*'s, 4 A's and 1 B.
She is most emphatically not a geek, but is a cool sort of girl who enjoys going out to gigs, listening to music and chatting on msn as much as the next teenager.
In the end we tend prioritise the things we enjoy.
Another pupil of mine who is always telling me she has no time to practise because of pressure of homework let it slip in a lesson that she's 'addicted to msn and spends 3 hours an evening on it'. She blushed a deep shade of purple when she realised what she had told me.
Ask your teacher to give you repertoire you really, really enjoy and love for its own sake. Your enjoyment of practice sessions will immediately increase and your playing will improve as a result, I guarantee it. If you can begin to see practice sessions as a welcome release from coursework, as my student did (and still does, now she's in the throes of AS's), the whole balance will shift. It can only be a welcome release, though, if the content of what you're playing resonates with you, not with your parents, or even necessarily your teacher. It has to make you happy deep down inside - then you'll want to do it even at a stressful time like this.
Good luck, and I hope you can find your way through this one.
Violinia
I have a pupil, now nearly 17. This time last year she was in the thick of her GCSE's. She was determined to well at them, but she was also determined not to allow her GCSE work to get in the way of her violin. She managed to keep her lessons going right through GCSE's (I think she only missed one or two lessons), and kept practising half an hour to an hour a day most days right through years 10 and 11.
She managed this because she finds practising the violin so enjoyable, and actually 'does it to relax' in her own words. I hasten to add I was nothing like her at her age, and gave up all practice during the GCE term (they were called GCE's back then in the distant mists of time).
I messed most of my GCE's up, incidentally, while this pupil managed 4 A*'s, 4 A's and 1 B.
She is most emphatically not a geek, but is a cool sort of girl who enjoys going out to gigs, listening to music and chatting on msn as much as the next teenager.
In the end we tend prioritise the things we enjoy.
Another pupil of mine who is always telling me she has no time to practise because of pressure of homework let it slip in a lesson that she's 'addicted to msn and spends 3 hours an evening on it'. She blushed a deep shade of purple when she realised what she had told me.
Ask your teacher to give you repertoire you really, really enjoy and love for its own sake. Your enjoyment of practice sessions will immediately increase and your playing will improve as a result, I guarantee it. If you can begin to see practice sessions as a welcome release from coursework, as my student did (and still does, now she's in the throes of AS's), the whole balance will shift. It can only be a welcome release, though, if the content of what you're playing resonates with you, not with your parents, or even necessarily your teacher. It has to make you happy deep down inside - then you'll want to do it even at a stressful time like this.
Good luck, and I hope you can find your way through this one.
Violinia
Yeah, that's interesting about enjoying playing.
I remember when doing my 'O' Levels (another oldie here), I put my Grade 5 off for a bit and just played relaxing pieces. My teacher had high expectations and I worked hard ...she got me to Grade 5 in only a few years....but she was very understanding during this period. My friend 'took a break' from which she has never returned.
I find playing very relaxing and used to be reminded by my parents that I had exams looming and to stop playing!
However, this was because all the pressures were off as regards playing...and it was just relaxing, easier pieces. Maybe this is what you should do. Maybe your teacher could suggest appropriate pieces to play to keep your skills up but without the pressures.
Good luck to all doing exams at the moment!
...Oh, and Ceri...a big hug...don't get yourself in a state....it is not worth it!!
You do seem to have alot on your plate, and to do a Forums concert...well, too late to pull out now...but after the concert, concentrate on one thing at a time.
We've all been there...pressures and expectations...
I remember when doing my 'O' Levels (another oldie here), I put my Grade 5 off for a bit and just played relaxing pieces. My teacher had high expectations and I worked hard ...she got me to Grade 5 in only a few years....but she was very understanding during this period. My friend 'took a break' from which she has never returned.
I find playing very relaxing and used to be reminded by my parents that I had exams looming and to stop playing!
However, this was because all the pressures were off as regards playing...and it was just relaxing, easier pieces. Maybe this is what you should do. Maybe your teacher could suggest appropriate pieces to play to keep your skills up but without the pressures.
Good luck to all doing exams at the moment!
...Oh, and Ceri...a big hug...don't get yourself in a state....it is not worth it!!
You do seem to have alot on your plate, and to do a Forums concert...well, too late to pull out now...but after the concert, concentrate on one thing at a time.
We've all been there...pressures and expectations...
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week 
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!
Best of luck
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did
Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!Best of luck
I used to manage to juggle them OK but I didn't have any real social life during my O level and A level years. I used to mingle homework and practice - so if I was getting a bit stuck on homework, or my mind was blank I'd go to the piano and do 30 mins practice or so and then come back...and quite often my mind would have cleared so I could do the next bit of homework. And then maybe 30 mins later when things were grinding to a halt I'd go back to the piano for another 30 mins or hour or whatever.........And if when I was practising something wasn't working out and I was beginning to get frustrated, rather than push it, I'd go back to my homework........ I HAD to do it all during the week as I was at the RNCM junior school all day Saturdays and Sundays was church and family day, as much as possible - I might have needed Sunday afternoons occasionally to finish homework off, but generally I think Sundays were a day of rest. But I loved practising - so it really was a welcome break from homework. (Well, I loved practising the piano! Flute was a different matter - I did it because I had to but didn't really enjoy half as much......... )
(Well, I loved practising the piano! Flute was a different matter - I did it because I had to but didn't really enjoy half as much......... )
Hugs Ceri and all other year 11 people out there
I've had to juggle all the coursework we've had from maths, RE and history (coz history teacher has set ours a month late) with practising for my grade 8 piano on monday. I suppose I cope but really I and my parents put schoolwork way before music. I think my parents want me to quite lessons after grade 8 to concentrate on GCSE's (*sob*) but I'll deal with that hurdle when I get to it... Usually I find I need 8+ hours sleep but in the last few weeks I've had to have a lot of late nights. I'm lucky to have a digital piano so I can adjust sound, and live in a detached house anyway so hopefully the sound of me practising from about 9:15 to 10:15 each night doesnt disturb people TOO much
School bought loads of Yamaha U1's at the start of this academic year so they're good to practise on at lunch and stuff...
Pracrising for an exam apart from being stressful has taught me that I really do enjoy practising, as given the time I would happily practise for 2 or 3 hours.
I'm really looking forward to finishing piano exams as I've decided to continue lessons (hopefully) but not do Dip or anything. This will make things loads easier for the rest of this year and next year and I concentrate on school work.
Good luck for music/GCSE's everyone!
I've had to juggle all the coursework we've had from maths, RE and history (coz history teacher has set ours a month late) with practising for my grade 8 piano on monday. I suppose I cope but really I and my parents put schoolwork way before music. I think my parents want me to quite lessons after grade 8 to concentrate on GCSE's (*sob*) but I'll deal with that hurdle when I get to it... Usually I find I need 8+ hours sleep but in the last few weeks I've had to have a lot of late nights. I'm lucky to have a digital piano so I can adjust sound, and live in a detached house anyway so hopefully the sound of me practising from about 9:15 to 10:15 each night doesnt disturb people TOO much
School bought loads of Yamaha U1's at the start of this academic year so they're good to practise on at lunch and stuff...
Pracrising for an exam apart from being stressful has taught me that I really do enjoy practising, as given the time I would happily practise for 2 or 3 hours.
I'm really looking forward to finishing piano exams as I've decided to continue lessons (hopefully) but not do Dip or anything. This will make things loads easier for the rest of this year and next year and I concentrate on school work.
Good luck for music/GCSE's everyone!
Yes i know what this feels like. One thing you may wish to try is writing yourself a timetable. Slot everything you do in a day first (sleep, meals, travels etc). This may mean estimating when a good time for going to bed is and a time for waking up. That way you will have a sort of set time to work with each day. Then you can look at the time you have left over. Now arrange when you will practice music, study and just as important- relax. Make sure you take time off. I think it is important to have a balance, but stay strict with how much time you spend relaxing - you can get carried away and then you have lost time. Perhaps also set some tasks which you can do on the bus.
This method may not work for everyone. But it could be worth a try. I used it when i was at secondary school and found it helped me a lot. Uni is different though for me....not as strict with the timetable but i set myself dates for tasks to be completed.
Hope this helps
This method may not work for everyone. But it could be worth a try. I used it when i was at secondary school and found it helped me a lot. Uni is different though for me....not as strict with the timetable but i set myself dates for tasks to be completed.
Hope this helps
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did
Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!Best of luck
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did
Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!Best of luck
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did
Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!Best of luck
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
Try, Nicki, it may work as you do NOT have to follow it slavishly. Just follow it as faithfully as you possibly can. I did 10 GCSEs (in those days, it was called O Levels and I got 6As and 4Bs by relying on a 24hr time table advocated by some teachers) and I had seriously heavy church and choral commitments but I ENJOYED them so much they were like a release/relaxation time for me just like Violinia observed. Yes, I had a 24 hr timetable for 7 days just like Bo and yes, I followed it well and broadly. Sometimes if the particular homework takes more than the 1.5 hr daily you allotted it, no worry as you can either set it aside temporarily to be continued at the end of the day when you may have found you manage to redeem a little extra time or maybe tomorrow. The teachers don't normally ask you to pass up your coursework in 1 or 2 days, anyway. Try planning carefully the 24 hr 7-day time table. Then go for it. It does work! For most people I know, anyway, and hopefully for you.
My schedule was different each day from another because of extra-curricular commitments! I also had to hold down a part-time tutoring/teaching job at the time as I needed the money. That's why EVERY half hour had to be tracked down and accounted for!Another pro is - If you know you ONLY have 1.5 hrs to finish your homework, your mind becomes more alert during "homework time" and you also stay more focussed than normal at it!
Personally though if my child still wants to be a musician by year 9/10 when serious homework begins, I'll negotiate with the school to let her take less subjects like 7 or maybe 8. Any chance that your parents can do this for you, too?
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
That's disgraceful! General Studies, more important than music? That'snot even funny. My school don't LET me miss assembley, but I do anyway Teachers are silly, and they always say it's a "legal requirement" to register, but when I don't, no-one actually cares.QUOTE
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I do a different timetable every day, because some days I have free lessons and some days I have loads of homework. And some of my blocks change every time, so some days it's violin, some it's homework...
QUOTE(Tess @ Mar 25 2006, 03:43 PM)
Personally though if my child still wants to be a musician by year 9/10 when serious homework begins, I'll negotiate with the school to let her take less subjects like 7 or maybe 8. Any chance that your parents can do this for you, too?
Although for year 11s this isn't ideal right now (having done 1.5 years of work, it would be wasteful not to take the exam), it may be practical for A levels. I am allowed to do just 3, on the condition that I am fully involved in the music life of the school, and take certain diplomas at certain times, and use at least 1/2 of my frees for practice etc. Like General Studies - waste of time, so it can't hurt to try and drop it. Unis make offers on the basis of 3 A2s, so doing more might interest you, but if you are really serious about music, it may be a more practical option
QUOTE
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time.
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
Personally though if my child still wants to be a musician by year 9/10 when serious homework begins, I'll negotiate with the school to let her take less subjects like 7 or maybe 8. Any chance that your parents can do this for you, too?
Sadly I think a school which forces an intelligent girl like Nicki who's already doing 4 real A Levels to do general studies and core skills may not have the sense to negotiate with her parents. Might be worth a try though.
Tutorials and assemblies were compulsory at my school and they did chase you up if you weren't there
I do a different timetable every day, because some days I have free lessons and some days I have loads of homework. And some of my blocks change every time, so some days it's violin, some it's homework...
Yes, that is exactly what I did. Each day is different.
I hated assemblies. They were always compulsory!
Yes, that is exactly what I did. Each day is different.
I hated assemblies. They were always compulsory!
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did
Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!Best of luck
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
I was very lucky in my Upper 6th year as my school allowed me to stay at home on Monday mornings to practise as all my Monday morning lessons were General Studies or Frees. By the time I was 6th form it was obvious
that I was going to do music at college so they allowed me the extra time for practice because of auditions etc
Being in high school with different extra-curriculars and different finishing times every day, timetabling is very hard. I will be able to get out of registration for a piano lesson next year, but other than that I am required to be in pastoral period (which is the most wasted 30 minutes of my day) and assembly (which is OK but still a bit of a waste of time). I also don't get any free periods and this won't change.
The only ideas I've come up with for timetabling so far are just amounts of time - an hour of Horn practice, 30 mins of piano (I think this'll probably only happen every other day really), an hour on the computer (extend that a bit for homework), and then an hour of homework and/or theory in conjunction with TV because that's something I can multitask well. Other than that, my week is a mess so timetabling it could be rather interesting.
Monday - finish at 3:15 but no extra-curriculars
Tuesday - finish at 3:35, no extra-curriculars
Wednesday - finish at 3:35, Steel Pans (could go to a complete evening of Steel next year, which would be very interesting with homework, though incredibly good fun)
Thursday - finish at 3:15, Choir and Band
Friday - finish at 3:15, Guides
So I have a varying number of hours each day, ranging from about 5 to just 2. Any suggestions for what I can try doing?
The only ideas I've come up with for timetabling so far are just amounts of time - an hour of Horn practice, 30 mins of piano (I think this'll probably only happen every other day really), an hour on the computer (extend that a bit for homework), and then an hour of homework and/or theory in conjunction with TV because that's something I can multitask well. Other than that, my week is a mess so timetabling it could be rather interesting.
Monday - finish at 3:15 but no extra-curriculars
Tuesday - finish at 3:35, no extra-curriculars
Wednesday - finish at 3:35, Steel Pans (could go to a complete evening of Steel next year, which would be very interesting with homework, though incredibly good fun)
Thursday - finish at 3:15, Choir and Band
Friday - finish at 3:15, Guides
So I have a varying number of hours each day, ranging from about 5 to just 2. Any suggestions for what I can try doing?
QUOTE
Ask your teacher to give you repertoire you really, really enjoy and love for its own sake. Your enjoyment of practice sessions will immediately increase and your playing will improve as a result, I guarantee it. ... It can only be a welcome release, though, if the content of what you're playing resonates with you, not with your parents, or even necessarily your teacher. It has to make you happy deep down inside - then you'll want to do it even at a stressful time like this.
I'm trying to tell my bassoon teacher not to mention grade 5 bassoon every lesson, as it is not helping. Also, with bassoon, anything I like to play is in tenor clef and/or is too hard for me to play
. WIth flute, I find it slightly easier to practise (I know I shouldn't leave my old flute on a stand for too long) as I leave my old flute out with some music on the stand- I play for about 10 minutes a day (if I'm lucky). Amazing, the piano has been played for the first time in years...even though I'm just finding it fun trying to play simple two-hand compositions and/or Phantom of the Opera easy version.QUOTE
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration?
I wish I had some free time at lunch. I'm either at school doing rehersals/ practises/ meetings or I walk home, eat and walk back. When I try to get a practise room at school, they are always booked out by the time I get there. I have to go to assembelies and registrations as they only last 10 minutes and otherwise I'd get a detention.QUOTE
Personally though if my child still wants to be a musician by year 9/10 when serious homework begins, I'll negotiate with the school to let her take less subjects like 7 or maybe 8. Any chance that your parents can do this for you, too?
I don't want to be a professional musician, as I think I would not cope with the extra pressure. I enjoy music as a release, just sometimes it seems that it becomes more and more like a chore.
QUOTE
I do a different timetable every day, because some days I have free lessons and some days I have loads of homework. And some of my blocks change every time, so some days it's violin, some it's homework...
I might try this time-tabling out, as I've tried to do "To-do lists", but I find I cross one thing off and I get an extra 3 things to be put on to it. I know when I do this time-table, I must stop working earlier in the evening, so when I go to bed, I don't dream about coursework.
Thanks everyone so far,
Ceri
QUOTE(Firebird @ Mar 25 2006, 05:21 PM)
I have a varying number of hours each day, ranging from about 5 to just 2. Any suggestions for what I can try doing?
Well, I think ifnishing so early is quite lucky really! My school lessons only finish at 4pm, every day, and then I generally have extra-curriculars afterwards. Maybe you could bargain with teachers about when you hand in homework. I have to, because on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday I have only 4 free hours in total, and 3 of them have to be violin, so some of the nicer teachers allow me to hand in my homework on Friday instead, or after my free lesson on Thursday. A lot of my friends do homework at lunchtime this year because they travel for about 2 hours a day on top of everything else. Would that be possible?
Ceri, if it's so bad, how about spending the time you're on this forum practicing or working?
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 25 2006, 07:39 PM)
Ceri, if it's so bad, how about spending the time you're on this forum practicing or working?
I never practiced the piano so much as when I was in the sixth form when I used to practice for two hours a day during the week and more at the weekend. I was supposed to be sitting grade 8 in the summer term of the Upper sixth although in the end I decided I couldn't cope with the stress of A levels and a piano exam and never entered.
Like Violina's pupil, I used to find it relaxing to play when I came home from school. I found that technical exercices (such as Hanon) which I knew by heart "emptied" the mind and so I would plan essays in my head while my fingers were going up and down the keys. Sometimes I would even "write" whole paragraphs in my head and never had any trouble recalling them word for word when I had finished practicing and needed to write them down.
I made a list of which scales to practice each day so that by the end of the week I would have played all the grade 8 scales and I used to use scale practice time to revise and/or learn school stuff (eg French irregular verbs) off by heart. I used to prop whatever I was learning up on the music stand and learn it while my fingers went into automatic mode. When I had a blank in a test I would think back to the scales I had been playing when learning and this was often enough to jog my memory. (Don't ask me why or how).
Only when I was playing pieces did I concentrate fully on the music.
Like Violina's pupil, I used to find it relaxing to play when I came home from school. I found that technical exercices (such as Hanon) which I knew by heart "emptied" the mind and so I would plan essays in my head while my fingers were going up and down the keys. Sometimes I would even "write" whole paragraphs in my head and never had any trouble recalling them word for word when I had finished practicing and needed to write them down.
I made a list of which scales to practice each day so that by the end of the week I would have played all the grade 8 scales and I used to use scale practice time to revise and/or learn school stuff (eg French irregular verbs) off by heart. I used to prop whatever I was learning up on the music stand and learn it while my fingers went into automatic mode. When I had a blank in a test I would think back to the scales I had been playing when learning and this was often enough to jog my memory. (Don't ask me why or how).
Only when I was playing pieces did I concentrate fully on the music.
QUOTE(kerioboe @ Mar 25 2006, 08:44 PM)
When I had a blank in a test I would think back to the scales I had been playing when learning and this was often enough to jog my memory. (Don't ask me why or how).
Association can really help your memory. My memory works really strongly like that so sounds, smells etc can all take me back to a memory instantly. A trick well worth taking advantage of
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week :rolleyes:
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax :)
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did :) Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!
Best of luck :)
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
:)
Oh, Ceri, I know how you feel because from February half-term to Easter, I've done/ have to do the following things:
French and Spanish speaking test questions, Spanish coursework, Science coursework (x2), music composition, performance (x2), Integrated Assignment, grade 5 viola, choir concert, orchestra concert (1 1/2 hours worth of music!) and grade 5 viola, in addition to normal homework and other commitments. I think the best thing to do is to prioritise (ie, will your maths teacher really care if your homework is late?) and make the best use of time (the number of times I've had to do work in formtime/lunchtime).
Nicki, the secret of missing lessons to study is to go to a teacher who you get on well with and who cares about your health and welfare and ask them to let you miss a lesson to study, explaining how bad things are becoming. My head of history, who's also in charge of the most able students programme that I'm involved in, said to me that if I became stressed I had to come to him and he'd sort it so last week I missed games and sat in his office and worked on my Spanish! It was better than trampolining!
G
QUOTE(sarah-flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:55 PM)
QUOTE
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time.
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
Personally though if my child still wants to be a musician by year 9/10 when serious homework begins, I'll negotiate with the school to let her take less subjects like 7 or maybe 8. Any chance that your parents can do this for you, too?
Sadly I think a school which forces an intelligent girl like Nicki who's already doing 4 real A Levels to do general studies and core skills may not have the sense to negotiate with her parents. Might be worth a try though.
Tutorials and assemblies were compulsory at my school and they did chase you up if you weren't there
Up to level 3 Key Skills is a legal requirement in my county.
I would join musical activities if there were any....
QUOTE(Rainbow @ Mar 25 2006, 10:18 PM)
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 25 2006, 03:08 PM)
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 24 2006, 09:33 PM)
Year 11er here. I do 3h practice per day, as well as 10+ hours orchestra weekly, and all this while dealing with 10 pieces of coursework, and an A level. I manage. And my work is good, I put loads of effort into it, except in Chemistry. I'm expecting 8 A*s. It can be done. I'm going to carry on with my violin lessons right through GCSEs for certain, ditto all my orchestral commitments (except if I'm actually in an exam at the time). I went to a chamber orchestra rehearsal which finished 15 mins before the start of my French speaking exam this week
Do you have free time at lunch? Most schools will allow you to go and practice then, and take a packed lunch to eat while you're there. How about assembley? Registration? For me, they take up 40 minutes per day, and are a complete waste of time. How about academic music? If you're meant to be learning something which you have covered in theory, there's no point being there - go and practice your "performance" skill instead! Even before school - on busy days, it's much better to get to bed earlier, and then wake up an hour early to practice/study, you will feel much less tired, and by the time you get to school, you'll feel a load more awake. Weekends, sure they're good for a lie in, but not til midday. You should be able to make up lost practice time at weekends, and still have time to relax
The way I get all this done is to make a 24 hour timetable. Block out the necessaries - (unavoidable) lessons, mealtimes, practice time, homework time, and relaxing time. I'm sure you'll discover more time than you thought you did
Also, when you practice, make it REALLY worthwhile! Know what you're going to do, and work at it!Best of luck
The thing is that, in my school whilst assembly, registration, General Studies, tutor time are all worthless to me, but my school wouldn't let me miss them to practise. They won't even let me not do masterclasses to study.
For a 24 hour timetable, I would find it difficult to do, as you cannot block off say 1 hour for homework. It changes from day to day, and I cannot say how long a task will take me.
I am not saying, it cannot be done, but it can be impractical, as not everything takes the same time every day.
Oh, Ceri, I know how you feel because from February half-term to Easter, I've done/ have to do the following things:
French and Spanish speaking test questions, Spanish coursework, Science coursework (x2), music composition, performance (x2), Integrated Assignment, grade 5 viola, choir concert, orchestra concert (1 1/2 hours worth of music!) and grade 5 viola, in addition to normal homework and other commitments. I think the best thing to do is to prioritise (ie, will your maths teacher really care if your homework is late?) and make the best use of time (the number of times I've had to do work in formtime/lunchtime).
Nicki, the secret of missing lessons to study is to go to a teacher who you get on well with and who cares about your health and welfare and ask them to let you miss a lesson to study, explaining how bad things are becoming. My head of history, who's also in charge of the most able students programme that I'm involved in, said to me that if I became stressed I had to come to him and he'd sort it so last week I missed games and sat in his office and worked on my Spanish! It was better than trampolining!
G
The thing is, we don't have to do PE, and I have tried countless times to miss pointless things so I can study but it doesn't work. If I could, I would. Plus, I need all my proper A Level subjects I can get.
It can be hard to juggle practice and schoolwork for GCSE (I'm finding it easier for A-level because there are far fewer subjects). My GCSE year coincided with a slight loss of interest in piano and I coasted for a year without really getting anywhere, only getting back into it during study leave and the long holiday after the GCSEs ended. I made my decisions from the fact I knew I wasn't going to go into music for a career of anything, so in the long run GCSEs were more important than what was essentially a hobby. So when the coursework got tough, piano practice was the first to go (and it didn't always reappear when the coursework went away ).
This year, I've got long boredom-inducing amounts of free time stuck at school (once had to wait 3 and a half hours between lessons) but due to my lack of association with the music department, I haven't always got a place to practice. Although I usually end up in a music practice room while skipping 2-hour PE lessons, mostly because they're fairly secluded rather than to do any real practice.
I really believe it depends on the person as to how much they can cope with. Sometimes, there comes a point where there simply aren't enough hours in a week to do all the work, music practice, extra-curricular activities and (and this often gets overlooked) relaxing one needs to. Nothing is accomplished by working yourself into the ground. So it may be necessary to prioritise activities and stop doing, at least temporarily, whichever is least important.
).This year, I've got long boredom-inducing amounts of free time stuck at school (once had to wait 3 and a half hours between lessons) but due to my lack of association with the music department, I haven't always got a place to practice. Although I usually end up in a music practice room while skipping 2-hour PE lessons, mostly because they're fairly secluded rather than to do any real practice.
I really believe it depends on the person as to how much they can cope with. Sometimes, there comes a point where there simply aren't enough hours in a week to do all the work, music practice, extra-curricular activities and (and this often gets overlooked) relaxing one needs to. Nothing is accomplished by working yourself into the ground. So it may be necessary to prioritise activities and stop doing, at least temporarily, whichever is least important.
QUOTE(Trebor @ Mar 26 2006, 12:07 AM)
This year, I've got long boredom-inducing amounts of free time stuck at school (once had to wait 3 and a half hours between lessons)
I used to be either talking to friends, doing homework, or in the art department. Never had much time to be bored...
QUOTE(sarah-flute @ Mar 26 2006, 12:11 AM)
I used to be either talking to friends, doing homework, or in the art department. Never had much time to be bored...
I spend the whole time talking to friends, but there comes a time you really want to be doing something. Barely get any homework. There's not a lot to do at my school (in the mornings, you're not allowed into town officially).
We used to play cards if we got really bored... how about taking a book, listening to music - or if you're feeling really studious, do some independent study of one of your subjects.
It can take imagination, but if you're bored then there are ways to use your time!
It can take imagination, but if you're bored then there are ways to use your time!
I am luck in the sense that my longest gap between lessons is 1 hour 40 minutes, and this is on a Friday, and my friends and I use this time to study for the first free lesson (each lesson is 50 minutes) and then treat ourselves and get a baguette from the local shop.
Apart from that, all my frees (6 - supposed to have 4, but have 2 hours of music after school) I spend working, and I need to!
Maybe I'll try this 24 timetably method today...I have so much work to be done!
Apart from that, all my frees (6 - supposed to have 4, but have 2 hours of music after school) I spend working, and I need to!
Maybe I'll try this 24 timetably method today...I have so much work to be done!
QUOTE(nicki_flute @ Mar 26 2006, 10:22 AM)
Maybe I'll try this 24 timetably method today...I have so much work to be done!
Join the club! I've got revision for some tests tomorrow and I don't feel motivated to do it all. I think once my breakfast is ready (didn't get up until about twenty minutes ago...whoops) I'm going to draw myself up a timetable - half an hour of online time, an hour of revision, half an hour of theory, an hour of revision, an hour of horn practice, etcetera.
I like the idea of talking with teachers to miss lessons...might try this next year but can't think of any teachers to try this with successfully (my very nice and lenient English teacher's just gone on maternity leave).
There seem to be an awful lot of us juggling, don't there?
I talked to my 16-year-old student about this thread yesterday and told her I'd written about her (she was tickled pink). She said the reason she was able to do all that and violin was because there was no pressure with violin, just pieces to play that she really enjoyed and that relaxed her. She used to do a bit of revision and then break it up with bits of violin practice - she said it really helped her to recharge her batteries.
She said she really couldn't have handled it if she'd had the time pressure of working towards a violin grade at the same time. She also told me she made sure she got early nights and organised her time very well - she's a very organised kind of girl.
This year she's under a lot of pressure with 4 A-levels - there's a lot of work particularly for her chemistry which is putting her under considerable pressure, but she's still managing to do daily violin practice, see her boyfriend a lot, hold down a Sunday job and play in the college jazz band. I guess it's a matter of structuring time very carefully and being very focussed on your goals - and having the temperament for all that. I do accept that everyone's different and we can all withstand different amounts of pressure - she's obviously someone who can withstand a lot.
Interestingly I read in the paper today that the government are considering reducing testing for schoolkids by one third as they've realised it's gone over the top. Yes well, most of the country realised that years ago. Also, happily, they are intending to reduce the compulsory part of the curriculum by 25% to give more time for sport and the arts.
Not before time, huh? Or is that the understatement of the year?
Violinia
She said she really couldn't have handled it if she'd had the time pressure of working towards a violin grade at the same time. She also told me she made sure she got early nights and organised her time very well - she's a very organised kind of girl.
This year she's under a lot of pressure with 4 A-levels - there's a lot of work particularly for her chemistry which is putting her under considerable pressure, but she's still managing to do daily violin practice, see her boyfriend a lot, hold down a Sunday job and play in the college jazz band. I guess it's a matter of structuring time very carefully and being very focussed on your goals - and having the temperament for all that. I do accept that everyone's different and we can all withstand different amounts of pressure - she's obviously someone who can withstand a lot.
Interestingly I read in the paper today that the government are considering reducing testing for schoolkids by one third as they've realised it's gone over the top. Yes well, most of the country realised that years ago. Also, happily, they are intending to reduce the compulsory part of the curriculum by 25% to give more time for sport and the arts.
Not before time, huh? Or is that the understatement of the year?
Violinia
QUOTE
Interestingly I read in the paper today that the government are considering reducing testing for schoolkids by one third as they've realised it's gone over the top. Yes well, most of the country realised that years ago. Also, happily, they are intending to reduce the compulsory part of the curriculum by 25% to give more time for sport and the arts.
Not before time, huh? Or is that the understatement of the year?
Not before time, huh? Or is that the understatement of the year?
Sound goodd BUT it won't come into effect until 2009, which is bad for me because I'll take A levels in 2008!
However, I hope it benefits people as the amount of testing in this country is ridiculous - two friends and myself have been going into school on Sundays from 10-2 to do our GCSE compositions!
I'll be in the middle of university by 2009!
I understand where Ceri is coming from though, even with the best laid plans, when you come to do something, say practice, and you're too tired, it isn't about how well you have structured your day. For instance, today, I have school and then Music A Level til 5. I know that even if I went to be really early on Sunday night, and had a really structured plan for how to get music practice, homework and revision done, then it just wouldn't work. I think you need to balance it out, and overall it is how much you play over a longer time period than a day.
I understand where Ceri is coming from though, even with the best laid plans, when you come to do something, say practice, and you're too tired, it isn't about how well you have structured your day. For instance, today, I have school and then Music A Level til 5. I know that even if I went to be really early on Sunday night, and had a really structured plan for how to get music practice, homework and revision done, then it just wouldn't work. I think you need to balance it out, and overall it is how much you play over a longer time period than a day.
QUOTE(kerioboe @ Mar 25 2006, 09:44 PM)
I made a list of which scales to practice each day so that by the end of the week I would have played all the grade 8 scales and I used to use scale practice time to revise and/or learn school stuff (eg French irregular verbs) off by heart. I used to prop whatever I was learning up on the music stand and learn it while my fingers went into automatic mode. When I had a blank in a test I would think back to the scales I had been playing when learning and this was often enough to jog my memory. (Don't ask me why or how).
I used to do that! I have a friend who reads the paper while playing the piano!
QUOTE(Violinia @ Mar 26 2006, 09:54 PM)
I talked to my 16-year-old student about this thread yesterday and told her I'd written about her (she was tickled pink). She said the reason she was able to do all that and violin was because there was no pressure with violin, just pieces to play that she really enjoyed and that relaxed her. She used to do a bit of revision and then break it up with bits of violin practice - she said it really helped her to recharge her batteries.
She said she really couldn't have handled it if she'd had the time pressure of working towards a violin grade at the same time.
I should think that is also a tribute to you as a teacher - to have the sense not to pressurise her into working for exams when she already had a lot on her plate. Go you!
Glad to hear they're reducing the testing, not before time indeed
Oh, we are definitely over-examined. Compared with the other countries I've lived in (America, Japan and Canada) I think Britain is on the border of obsessive exams! SATs are useless for our future, so I really don't see why we should have them. I would also prefer to do GCSEs in Year 10, and have three years for A level studies - my sisters' sixth form years went by in a flash, with one exam after another. I guess the problem with this system is that people would leave school too early (15), and perhaps some kids may not be ready for public examiniations at age 15.
On the other hand, I wouldn't agree with 'dumbing down' the curriculum to include more extra curricular activities. They just have to get rid of some of the exams (impossible, I know...).
On the other hand, I wouldn't agree with 'dumbing down' the curriculum to include more extra curricular activities. They just have to get rid of some of the exams (impossible, I know...).
My school go one step further and has given us 'end of year' exams from Y7 to 10 with January exams in year 10...its helped a bit..but talk about piling pressure where its not needed...!!! 
QUOTE(crazy_purple_piano_freak @ Mar 27 2006, 05:43 PM)
My school go one step further and has given us 'end of year' exams from Y7 to 10 with January exams in year 10...its helped a bit..but talk about piling pressure where its not needed...!!!
I have to say, we have exams at the end of every year from year 7. You get used to it... and in the end it doesn't really seem like you are doing an exam, but just a large amount of homework.
Anyway, to the threadstarter. I i'm in year 11 too and find sleep boring and unneccesary (don't laugh, i just don't like sleeping). So, i made a large list of everything work related that i had to do and did an all-nighter. I cleared all my work and it really really helped. I went from one of the most work piled people to someone who had finished all their coursework 3 weeks before final deadline! Now, everyone is losing sleep stressing about their coursework and i can practice or come on here more. I must mention too that i balance an 8am - 7pm school day (private school - i don't get home til 7:30) with 3 instruments, 11 GCSEs, about 7 music ensemble rehursals and gold duke of edinburgh award stuff. I just make a list of everything i have to do and then do it all. Good luck!
Violina: Far from great. You realise that the minimum science time will be cut from 30% to 25% over GCSE years?I am in a good private school, taking seperate sciences, and we started the work in year 9. I am in the top set, and yet we will not finish the science syllabus before study leave starts. That means extra sessions during our GCSEs to ensure we cover the necessaries! A good grounding in factual subjects is, I'm afraid, more essential to more people than any education in school as far as creative subjects go...because those interested in creative subjects will pursue them in their own time, but few people enjoy researching sin/cos/tan curves for fun (although they're quite pretty). Until the science curriculum is cut drastically, this should not be allowed to happen. And science should not be reduced.
I feel we are very over - worked at school. Since Yr 9 we've had non - stop talk about GCSE, sometimes it's hard to remember whether you're supposed to concentrate on S.A.T's or the GCSE options!
Having lots of Music Practice and Exams added to the pressure as well. I never used to practice until the last 5 minutes before I had to have lessons and I hated my Music Lessons. I don't know why, I just felt that it wasn't anything and I didn't get any feeling from it.
But to help with fitting Practice into school worked I made a time table and I stick to it, i'm doing quite well and now i'm not making so many mistakes i'm getting better.
Having lots of Music Practice and Exams added to the pressure as well. I never used to practice until the last 5 minutes before I had to have lessons and I hated my Music Lessons. I don't know why, I just felt that it wasn't anything and I didn't get any feeling from it.
But to help with fitting Practice into school worked I made a time table and I stick to it, i'm doing quite well and now i'm not making so many mistakes i'm getting better.
QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 27 2006, 06:12 PM)
Violina: Far from great. You realise that the minimum science time will be cut from 30% to 25% over GCSE years?I am in a good private school, taking seperate sciences, and we started the work in year 9. I am in the top set, and yet we will not finish the science syllabus before study leave starts. That means extra sessions during our GCSEs to ensure we cover the necessaries! A good grounding in factual subjects is, I'm afraid, more essential to more people than any education in school as far as creative subjects go...because those interested in creative subjects will pursue them in their own time, but few people enjoy researching sin/cos/tan curves for fun (although they're quite pretty). Until the science curriculum is cut drastically, this should not be allowed to happen. And science should not be reduced.
We finished our Biology syllabus about a week before the exam
And if we EVER manage to complete the Humanities syllabus, I'll eat my hat!
2 years ago I wrote my iGCSE's ( i got 7A*s 2As 1B +1B for AS maths which i wrote a year early), at the time I was playing gr 8 pieces but not actually ready 4 my exam which i planned 2 take the following year.
I was going 2 do A' Level (Maths Bio Chem Accounts) but switched 2 IB (International Baccalaureate), which seems to suck up all my time!!! I had no time 2 do my gr8 last year, I have no time 2 do it this year!!! so no im taking a gap year to study music and FINALLY get my grade 8 which ive been putting off for 3 years!
Oh well........
I was going 2 do A' Level (Maths Bio Chem Accounts) but switched 2 IB (International Baccalaureate), which seems to suck up all my time!!! I had no time 2 do my gr8 last year, I have no time 2 do it this year!!! so no im taking a gap year to study music and FINALLY get my grade 8 which ive been putting off for 3 years!
Oh well........
QUOTE(Rainbow @ Mar 27 2006, 06:38 PM)
And if we EVER manage to complete the Humanities syllabus, I'll eat my hat!
Ditto, but replace Humanities with either 'Spanish', 'Physics', 'Biology', 'History' or 'ICT'.
QUOTE
QUOTE(Rainbow @ Mar 27 2006, 06:38 PM)
And if we EVER manage to complete the Humanities syllabus, I'll eat my hat!
Ditto, but replace Humanities with either 'Spanish', 'Physics', 'Biology', 'History' or 'ICT'.
And if we EVER manage to complete the Humanities syllabus, I'll eat my hat!
Ditto, but replace Humanities with either 'Spanish', 'Physics', 'Biology', 'History' or 'ICT'.
Lol, it would kind of help if my humanities teacher started teaching us and stopped giving out detentions like sweets because my class is getting rather fed up!
I do feel that there are too many exams- what is the point of taking citizenship and ICT short course??
I started to timetable my week today, and today after school, I was going to finish psychology coursework, have a music practise and go to work. Well, my school have been closed since 11.10am, so I've done 20 minutes flute practice since I've been home. I'm going to do some bassoon practise later after I've done some coursework.
Thanks all,
Ceri
I started to timetable my week today, and today after school, I was going to finish psychology coursework, have a music practise and go to work. Well, my school have been closed since 11.10am, so I've done 20 minutes flute practice since I've been home. I'm going to do some bassoon practise later after I've done some coursework.
Thanks all,
Ceri
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