I would like to know, from you fellow musicians and posters, does anyone know what the chances are of someone getting into a conservatoire after just passing Grade 8?

I'm taking Grade 8 in November - but this is also the time for the conservatoire auditions.

Can anyone give me any feedback on this? Because i'm thinking if there's no chance of me getting into, lets say, the Royal Welsh College, just after doing Grade 8, then there's no point in me going to all the trouble of getting stuff together for the CUKAS application as opposed to the "normal" UCAS form.

I'm just wanting to know because I visited Royal Welsh College a few weeks ago, and I liked the place, and the accommodation and the course and all this, but I'm wondering about whether I could get in.

And before someone posts this as a reply....I know a consultation lesson is a possibility

So any help would be gratefully received

Depends on your definition of 'just' passing, if it's getting 100 marks (without some extraneous circumstances in the exam) and not having improved further then I'd think it's unlikely; if, however, you mean having done well but taken the exam recently then that shouldn't be a problem. I believe that most of the admission to the conservertoires is based on your performance in the audition, rather than any qualifications that you may have, so as long as you impress the audition panel not having any grades wouldn't be a problem. Similarly, if you had a diploma but the audition panel considered your playing on the day to be poor you may also be rejected.

Good luck . I'm sure others with experience of the process will be able to add more.

If that is where you want to study do try a consultation lesson. The tutor will give you good advice about your standard of playing and may make a recommendation that you be offered a place too. That does happen.

I may very well be wrong in this, or things may have changed, but I remember hearing in the past that the minimum requirements to be considered for Trinity College were Grade 8 Distinction and Grade 8 theory.

I'd say just go for it - you may as well give it ago or you might end up regretting it later.. I'm also applying this year and UCAS and CUKAS forms are a bit of a nightmare - but to be honest if you just make some slight changes to your personal statement for UCAS to make it more suited to welsh college... I'm sure it'll do fine. Just make sure you put on your form that your taking your grade 8 cos the closing date is 1st october.. and make sure that your musical reference and your academic reference from teachers are both glowing and you'll be sorted! lol. I just think you may as well give it a shot - you've not got anything to lose! Hope that helps!

Thanks to all for your replies!

And yes, the CUKAS form especially is a bit of a nightmare, it's not helpful at all that my head of sixth form knows basically nothing about it!

It confuses me a lot.

And in reply to AnotherPianist - by 'just passing' I meant as in the date, I'll only have just taken my Grade 8 when they audition - I'm just wondering about this because I've heard rumours and things of being diploma-standard for the audition but I'm not sure.

as far as i know, all the conservatoires ask for an audition of grade 8 distinction level and say you must have grade 8 theory OR equivalent (the equivalent meaning A-level music). they also say you must have 2 A-levels (this is including music i think) and you usually get offers of CC, EE or EC (the C being music).

... level being the relevant bit - it matters far less whether you have taken the exam.

So basically I have to be really really good at the audition

I'm not too sure about this conservatoire lark anymore - at RWCMD, they told me they only have an intake of 6 for keyboard each year, and they audition all week!

I'm just thoroughly confused about what to do
Oh well...