I have just found out that I have got into a band and a flute choir starting in September. I can do the band as it is on Saturday morning and a special bus comes to pick you up and take you back. However, the flute choir is on a weekday and no transport is provided. Next year is my GCSE year (very important exams) and I don't want todo badly in them as it reduces other opportunities. I do other sporting things as well as the flute, so would it be better if I just did the band so I could have more time to revise?

You know how much work you can take on. If you can cope then there is no reason, in my opinion, why you can't do both. Can you quit one if it get too much? For example, leave at Christmas. Then you'll have a terms experience in a new group, as well as leaving time for revision and you exam weeks. Another question would be do you need to be in these groups, are you thinking of a career in music? If so it would be worth it. If not just choose the things you like doing. Good luck in what you decide.
Atari xx

i had a similar situation...

when i started my A-levels, it was the time when i got into bands and i was kind of the *head* flute person, so i had loadsa responsibilities and practise sessions.

Maybe you can stick with band practise first.

As for flute choir, what i did was that i didnt have time to attend every session, so i asked my teacher for the music which the group were practising and practised at home. TOwards the exams, i totally had no music for a month!
but my orchestra teacher +flute+ band teachers understood.

Towards the exams, tell your teacher that you have to revise and that you can attend practise again after the exams

yep:) unless u weally weally weally wanna do flute choir.

to be honest with u...i am this year's GCSEs candidate and i managed to have time on sporting things, 2 choirs (practices), concerts, music exams and lessons and other things within the school... plus all the work load for GCSEs... i did survive and found myself round things... and i think u can do the same as well...don't miss the chance...

but if u can't do all of them... i think it would be better for u to just join the band...

nicki_flute - I am in a similar situation, having just agreed to take on quite a lot of new activities after school. My new choir rehearses every Tuesday, fornightly on Wednesday and also sings a couple of Sunday morning a month at mass. Theres also new violin lessons probably on a Thurs for an hour, but it's quite a way from my house. This is on top of the 3hrs of orchestra on Friday and singing and piano lessons on Monday, and teaching piano for half an hour a week.

I'm going into Year11 in September, and have been predicted really good grades which i wanna achieve in my GCSEs, I'm just hoping I can fit everything in!!! If I get tooo stressed and tired the I've promised my mum i'll rethink and perhaps give up choir at Christmas.

If we put our minds to things, there is nothing that cant be achieved!!! Go for all the opportunities u can!!!

Charlotte xxx

Hay you can fit it all in. Don't worrie about it. I've just done my GCSE's and my best advice is, seriously make your socail life on the downlow and get all coursework done on time as this will make it easier, And start revising very early. Also make a plan. Plan out your revision around your other commitments. This way you wont have to cut out anything. Don't just sit there for hours doing revision, at every oppertuniy revise. Here, there and everywhere. Even in the bath. You can make it work. Trust. I did!

I'm going into year 10 next year so starting my GCSE's, and I've got 2 hours of orchestra rehursals on Mondays, GCSE music (I'm doing it privately after school) on Thursday, viola and violin lessons on Friday, piano and theory on Saturday and on Sundays, plus drama rehursals and I sometimes volunteer for sports if there aren't enough people to make up the teams. You'll be fine, just do what I'm going to do and get all your homework/coursework done on the days where you aren't doing anything, so that you aren't up late at night trying to get it all done, and when it comes to revision, start early, and then revise whenever you can, in the bath, in bed, while watching TV, try doing some online etc.

yeah u can fit it all in. I'm doing my GCSEs this year, and I'm doing an extra one (russian) extra curricularly (about 2 or 3 lessons a week), and now my maths set is doing a statistics GCSE as an extra too, eeek. I also have piano lessons and cello lessons every week, and try to teach myself the harp (I used to have lessons for that). I do waterpolo/swimming about 3 or 4 times a week, and do rowing aswell 3 or 4 times a week. When we go back to school I'm joining the senior orchestra with the cello, and accompanying people for our weekly friday lunch time recitals on the piano. I don't watch a lot of television anymore lol. You should go for it, and if you find that it is too much, cut back after you've given it a go.

Hi!

First of all thanks to everyone who has replied, it has been a great help.

I think I am just gonna stick with training band as you have to sign this contract that says you have to go every week apart from when you have a doctor's note, wedding or funeral.

I am on schedule with all coursework and am not the person to leave it to the last minute

Thanks again

Hi,
I am in a very similar situation as you, I am starting my second year of GCSES in september. It's been bad enough coping with coursework! I am working towards my grade 8 flute and grade 7 piano plus doing thirteen GCSE's. I play regually in three ensembles and I also manage to keep my social life going at the same time. It will seem hard at the time, I was near breaking point in April, but you get used to it!
Good luck with everything!
Sophie