Hi

We are wondering if any parent here has any experience with auditions for Junior Music Colleges in recent years. What kind of level is usually expected, what is the success rate, etc. and how does one prepare the child for the interview/viva voce- what kind of questions might they ask? Also, does anyone have any advise on Junior RCM VS RAM vs RNCM vs Guildhall etc. It is all very mind-boggling for us as we don't have any experience of all this. How soon after the audition does one hear back? And, where might one look for funding as these courses are incredibly expensive (especially after travel expenses, etc.)- there is no funding in our LEA? I've searched on the forums and found some useful information but I'm interested in hearing from other parent's experiences in recent years.

Many thanks!

P.

I'll have more experience soon: my son is auditioning for Junior RNCM next week.
We went to an open day last month, and it was very inspiring, so I hope he's successful.

I imagine the standard looked for and the questions asked will depend on age and experience; for Junior RNCM they expect grade 5 for younger applicants for example, but I think what they're looking for (apart from musical ability) are enthusiasm and commitment.

It's a big commitment, both financially and in terms of time, but if you are sure it's the right thing for your child, then I'd say go for it.

You should be able to get prospectuses from the colleges which answer most of your questions, and I'd definitely recommend going to open days if you can.

Chris

[quote name='ChrisC' date='Mar 6 2008, 12:25 PM' post='673378']
[quote name='a mum' post='673367' date='Mar 6 2008, 11:59 AM']

I'll have more experience soon: my son is auditioning for Junior RNCM next week.
We went to an open day last month, and it was very inspiring, so I hope he's successful.

I imagine the standard looked for and the questions asked will depend on age and experience; for Junior RNCM they expect grade 5 for younger applicants for example, but I think what they're looking for (apart from musical ability) are enthusiasm and commitment.

It's a big commitment, both financially and in terms of time, but if you are sure it's the right thing for your child, then I'd say go for it.

You should be able to get prospectuses from the colleges which answer most of your questions, and I'd definitely recommend going to open days if you can.

Chris
[/quote]

We had sent an application form for JRNCM but haven't heard back with a date yet- my daughter liked it when we visited it a few weeks ago. I agree that it will be a huge commitment especially as we live quite far away. How old is your son and what is he auditioning on? Good luck with it!!

Any advice would be gratefully received... My daughter is auditioning for RCM junior dept. We haven´t got the actual date yet. She´s 14 and first study flute. When we went round, we were really impressed and she loved it, surprisingly, after thinking it would be too intense and full of geniuses.

Sara

Well my daughter´s got an audition on the 1st April for RCM junior dept. Anyone else got a date yet?

Sara

If you click on the Search button on the top right of the page- enter Junior conservatoires or Junior Music colleges, you will find this topic is a regular one and has been responded to extensively.

Good Luck

There is financial help with Junior Music College fees, info here

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/mds/national_grants.shtml

It went very well, and the questions were pretty much as I expected.

They knew he'd done Grade 5 theory, so asked some theory questions at that level (e.g. what major key has 5 sharps?), and then some more general questions (e.g. why do you want to come here? and so on).

Oh, and he got in

Chris

Brilliant news! I hope he has a fabulous time - sure he will.

That's excellent news!! Congratulations!

My daughter also has an audition at RNCM in April.

Well done to your son, Chris I suppose my daughter´s audition will be next. Thing´s not going too well at the moment, because her flute broke 2 days ago, so she´s playing on the old one we kept for spare, sounds much worse and we don´t know when the other one will be back. Ho hum.

Sara

That's very annoying. This story might cheer you up:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle3517049.ece


Good luck for your daughter's audition.

Chris

That´s a really good story. Just don´t want a reenactment of it , though

Thanks for the good wishes.

Sara

Chris, could you tell me a bit more about the audition? How did they let you know he had got in? Do they ask questions after playing an excerpt of a piece, like in an aural exam or do they ask more general music theory type questions?
Preparation is not going well here. Daughter's flute not repaired yet and now she has tonsillitis as well. Never seen such a closed throat in all my life
How is a mum's daughter getting on?

Sara

In my son's case I don't think there were any aural tests, just a few music theory questions (about grade 5 standard), and more general questions like "why do you want to come here?". I imagine that the questions are tailored to the auditioner's age and experience, but this is only one data point and I've no idea about auditions at RCM, RAM etc.

I would hope that they would make allowances for illness, and musicality shows through even on a bad day, so good luck!

Chris

Hi Sara, she is auditioning on the 10th of April at RNCM. Hope your daughter feels better soon- I know how difficult it must be for you. I'm sure that they'll make some allowance for illness and I think you could also reschedule it for medical reasons but not sure. I think I'm finding the process more stressful than my daughter - Let us know how it goes with your daughter! Good Luck.

Hi Sara- How did your daughter's audition go at the RCMJD today?

She's happy with her performance. I think she's relieved and I'm exhausted They had 18 flautists auditioning today... I don't know if that's the sum total, but I'm expecting to hear something this week. His word was "soon" The aurals consisted of singing tests eg singing back notes of a chord, intervals and the lower part of a melody. She said she was asked why do you want to come here, but couldn't remember much else I don't know how many places they have per instrument per year group, so I don't know what her chances are really. At least she overcame the broken flute, back last Thursday and the tonsillitis, now a chesty cough! Oh and I've got it too now!! Us poor parents!!!

Sara

Sounds like she did well! Great!
Now for the wait. My daughter had her audition last Tuesday (25th) but we still haven't heard anything yet. I seem to remember that they have auditions until end of this week so its possible that they'll wait to hear them all before make decisions but with every 'no news' day, I can't stop myself from imagining the worst case scenario. !

I thought her audition was 10th April, didn't know it had been and gone!! Hope the wait's not too long then...

Sara

Hi, and good luck to everyone with children at auditions. We are a little behind you lot, though the topic is very interesting, as we may need to address it very soon! I have an 8 year old who took up clarinet 18 months ago. His progress has been nothing short of astonishing, and while he can barely stertch his arms out to hold the instrument properly, he has justs started on his grade 5 pieces to sit the exam in July. This despite his teacher missing lots of lessons due to illness.

What sort of age are your children starting at music college, and what grades have they reached? We have got here so fast, if he carries on at this rate he'll be needing a lot more than a lesson a week.

Thanks,

Burl

Hi Burl

Yes your son does sound like he's doing very well indeed My daughter is 14 and has got to Grade 8 standard in 3 years, she started at senior school. Her flute teacher recommended we tried her at one of the colleges, so that's what we did. We were a bit worried it would be full of mini prodigies, a bit like your son but when we looked round she really liked it and thought she would fit in well.
Regarding standard, they say Grade 5 dintinction level at age 11 as a guide, but my daughter hadn't even started flute at that age. As for your son, it sounds to me like he could audition next year if you wanted and stand a very good chance, especially if he has a good tone. You could look into him getting a bursary, as you would be paying for a long time otherwise and would have to think if he is mature enough for it in general, of course.

Best wishes, Sara

Hello Burl and welcome to the Forums! It does sound as though your son is progressing very quickly indeed.

We have a local music college that takes kids from the age of 4, for 2 hours on a Saturday, with longer time spent at the college when they are older and obviously more musically developed.

No doubt the child gains an all-round education in music but that has to be balanced against other interests and - dare I say it - time spent just being a child! I have an 8 year old daughter and strongly feel that, given the intensity of schooling nowadays, she needs a break at weekends to slob out and play. If she expresses a desire to join a music college when she is older, and this has to come from her, I will go down that route then.

Sorry I haven't answered your question but this is just my personal view - others will disagree I'm sure!

I'm with looney Tunes on this one. I have a daughter who has been playing the trombone for under 2 and a half years. Last july she took and passed with merit her Grade 6 (she had just turned 9). She was offered a position at a very reputable junior music department which is situated about an hour and a bit away from us. She would have been expected to be there all day on a Saturday so i said thanks but no thanks (money was not the issue as she was offered a scholarship). She goes horseriding on a Saturday and loves it.

Music is something she does as a hobby - okay she does quite a bit of it but not on weekly basis. She only plays in 2 groups weekly, on a Friday evening for 2 hours and on a Saturday morning for 2 hours. in addition to this, once a month she has National Children's orchestra regional rehearsals which are about 3 hours long. These are on a Saturday so would have to go (as would one of her bands and the horseriding) if she were to attend a JMC.

We took the decision (my daughter and I) that, whilst it was a great offer and very flattering to have been asked, it was not right for her as she does not want a career in music (well, at least that's what she thinks at this stage) and so doesn't want to lose out on other things - such as riding and being a kid - by having to attend a music school all day on a Saturday.

Instead, she has done a few residential courses during the holidays. In fact, she has just come back from the National Children's Wind Sinfonia residential course which was a week long and she had a blast! Her playing improves beyond belief whilst away on these courses and she does not seem to be "lagging behind" in terms of exams/progression as she has now passed her G7 with distinction (2 exam sessions after G6 so not slowing down any) and she still goes riding, shopping with her friends, birthday parties, cinema etc on a Saturday.

Please do make sure that a JMC is want your son really wants to do when the time is near.

Thanks to everyone for all of their comments.

We don't know if he wants a career in music, and he does get plenty of time to be a kid - biking, sailing, making garden rockets etc, but in the last few months the music has become almost an obsession with him - not in a bad way, but he's always asking about various composers and requesting CDs from composers that I have never heard of (thank god for Napster). We had thought of an audition at Purcell School, but weren't sure if we or he really wanted that life. He does take himself to another place when he's playing, it's really quite a thing to see. We can always try him for music college etc later. Currently he's just moved from a very unhelpful state primary to Aldenham School, who are giving him every support and have offered him a music scholarship, so we'll see what they do for him before going any further.

Those 1 week residential courses sound like a very good idea - where do I get information from?

Thanks again,

Burl

Hi Burl, Its difficult for kids to know at such early age whether they want a career in music or not and they shouldn't really be worrying about it anyway at their age. Seems that your son has natural talent to progress so fast.

My daughter has just turned 11 and started violin 18 months ago, playing at grade 7 level now. I'm not musical and so have never pushed her into any direction- in our case, we started looking into junior schools as she was a little frustrated with the support that she was getting at school and also she desperately feels the need to be with other kids who have similar musical interests, as according to her most kids in her school don't seem to have the drive and desire to do musical things such as quartets, etc. and sometimes she feels 'out of place' or different. Otherwise, she's what a 11 year old would be- enjoying swimming, horse riding, reading, etc. Like Sara, I thought the music schools would be full of prodigies and also felt that it would be a big commitment giving up each Saturday, but my daughter loved the atmosphere when she went for open days and begged me to let her try for an audition. She said that she didn't mind travelling for 2 hours each way and giving up her Saturday (she said 'I couldn't think of anything better to do on a Saturday'- sometimes she's a little too mature!! ) We've thought about Purcell and Chethams as well but can't bear the thought of her going away to a boarding school and I think a Staurday school would be a good compromise instead. Also, she's quite academic so she doesn't want that side to suffer either.

Regarding the short courses, my daughter has just done the National Childrens String Sinfonia which she loved - information www.ncwo.org.uk for auditions held in October/November every year. Also, she's done Pro Corda and information on www.procorda.com for auditions held in January. There are other summer courses such as the one in Lake District and also the Gloucester Music Academy.

Hope this helps

a mum did your daughter audition today? How did it go? My daughter didn't get in, which was a shock tbh. We're just about getting over the disappointment after yesterday. But anyway she's involved in heaps of musical things so I'll just take comfort in that. Maybe the added strain of Saturday would have killed us off Let us know how she got on anyway...

Sara

Hi Sara- I bet it's very disappointing these colleges have so few places and such fierce competition for every place that we have to keep reminding ourselves that failure to get through isn't a reflection of how good one is as a musician- its just that there was someone else better than them on the day. I hope your daughter got some useful feedback and that her playing improved as a result. I hope that she recovers from the disappointment- sometimes these kids can be so hard on themselves. She sounds like a very promising musician to progress to grade 8 level in 3 years and I'm sure that they'll be very keen to hear her again in a year or so.

My daughter's audition at Junior RNCM went very well- thank you for asking. She was so incredibly nervous and they made her play one of her pieces from memory. She coped with it quite well. Rest seemed to have gone fine too. She got in. We'll make a decision once we find out more about which teachers she gets, etc.

Good luck to your daughter with her music!!

Hi Burl

Welcome to the forum,

My kids start tuition at 5.

No.1 is now 12, has grade 7 distinction on trumpet in just under 4 years and grade 6 violin (96%), he's now in year 7. He has progress through the grades quickly and plays in numerous bands and orchestra, loves it but has no intention of going to JMD. He has nothing to gain by spending a whole Sat travelling and studying with teachers that teach within our area.

No.2 is 11, has grade 7 distinctions in piano/cello and grade 5 theory(96%), he's still in primary school. He has progressed at an alarming rate. He started cello 3 years ago and has done every grade except gr6, he is already in the County Youth orchestra and plays in all the area/county ensembles. He's a prime candidate for JMD but we decided last year that it would completely shatter family life at the weekend if we had to spend a whole day travelling. Besides he already spends over 10 hours a week rehearsing with bands/orchestras not including practice. Another day would just be too much.

My kids have never had more than one lesson a week, in fact no.1. and no.2 were in group tuition for the first year or two and they still have lessons at school with the music service. To go up a level for them would be private tuition!

Good luck to all those who have chosen the JMD route..... no.2. is off to RAM on Sunday for a cello masterclass but he is glad it's just an annual trip When he's older things maybe different but right now he has all the tuition he needs without JMD.

We take full advantage of all the local residential courses avaliable, we've looked at NCO but the cost were far too high to send multiple siblings.


A MUM

You were asking about funding..... we have experience of this. EMI Sound foundation have just given no.2 a grant to buy a new bow and MBF have award grants to both no.1 and no.2 to buy new instruments for advance playing. AYM is another funding body that we have applied to in the past but have never been successful.

If you PM your email address I can email you a list of funding places.

Well done to your daughter!

My daughter is at a Saturday music college, The Birmingham Conservatoire. She did an audition last summer aged 10 where she played her Grade 3 flute exam pieces and some scales and had a brief interview.
We are now 2/3rds of our way through the first year. I have nothing but postive things to say about her experience. Had she not gone I would never have thought of organising as much singing as Beth now gets. It is her weakest area and she is really benefiting from it. Her teachers are wonderful and Beth is loving every second of her time there.
However, I'm sure it is possible to put together a musical experience that is just as good as a music college by a combination of careful choice of teachers and a good variety of experiences of playing in bands, groups, orchestras and so on.
Beth is not currently playing much in groups but I expect that to change in the next few years and right now she really does have enough to do.
I just wanted to add that judging by this thread there are some amazingly talented children. It is so nice to read about their achievements.
Dora

Revived this thread because I am curious to know how many of the parents of the kids mentioned in the thread so far who elected not to go down the JMD route have changed their minds over the last 16 months or so.

My daughter and I am currently pondering over whether to go to a JMD in September. She auditioned in July and was accepted but we are not sure - for exactly the same reasons that I cited in April 2008, plus a few others! She definitely now needs "more" as she has progressed really well since last April and is continuing to do so. It's just such a big decision!

We've been in the situation for the last year or so where we were trying to decide about juniors for our youngest. She auditioned back in April, was accepted at interview and then we had to make the difficult decision on whether to accept or not. Over the last few months we've tried to work on getting funding on the basis that if we got it she would go. We finally heard that we have got the funding covered this week. We had a lot of help from the Junior Department to get the funding. The contact we've had suggests a very supportive environment.


It's something we've been unsure of because fo sacrificing Saturday but it's become clear over the last few months that she needs more in the way of opportunities, teaching and support to move forward.

At the end of the day I suppose it depends on if your daughter is being streached enough with her current teacher (I don't mean pushed), whether there is the right guidance to progress. Some of the things that influenced our decision was the opportunity to do further theory, composition and playing in ensembles at a higher level. I think you will have a good idea of what your daughter needs.

It's not an easy decision and I wish you luck with making the right choices.

My daughter has now finished her second year and has loved every second of it. She is 12 now. The last year have been a bit bumpy for her due to moving to secondary school and more problematically having been diagnosed with a significant language disorder. As a result her Grade 5 Flute result at Christmas was less than stellar but after that things really improved for her and she is now preparing for her Grade 7 Flute. One of the good things about it is that she is making friends with similar interests. She can't wait for 19th September when she goes back.
Dora

I read this thread with interest as we were in the same position 8 years ago. My daughter had gained a distinction in her grade 5 flute exam in year 5 and we had to make a decision about her future as her current flute teacher was unable to teach her when she went to secondary school. We decided that a JD was the best option as if the music all went pear shaped it would have no bearing on her secondary education. She auditioned for the two London colleges which were the easiest to travel to on a Saturday and was offered a place at both. She chose the college where she felt most comfortable and was there for 7 years.

In hindsight would we have done it again? Yes, we would as the benefits were enormous. Hour length lessons with amazing teachers, chamber music, orchestra sessions a lengthy list. And above all with other pupils who don't think enjoying music is weird. But it all came at a price and not just financial. Every term time Saturday my daughter would have to get up at 7 to travel into London making a long 6 day week for her ( also for us parents as she was accompanied for 5 years). Any sports activities at school on a Saturday had to be turned down. The half term at JD is one Saturday only so half term holidays had to bear that in mind. School trips at weekends were also a potential problem. This is one major commitment and affects the whole family.

I read this thread with interest as we were in the same position 8 years ago. My daughter had gained a distinction in her grade 5 flute exam in year 5 and we had to make a decision about her future as her current flute teacher was unable to teach her when she went to secondary school. We decided that a JD was the best option as if the music all went pear shaped it would have no bearing on her secondary education. She auditioned for the two London colleges which were the easiest to travel to on a Saturday and was offered a place at both. She chose the college where she felt most comfortable and was there for 7 years.

In hindsight would we have done it again? Yes, we would as the benefits were enormous. Hour length lessons with amazing teachers, chamber music, orchestra sessions a lengthy list. And above all with other pupils who don't think enjoying music is weird. But it all came at a price and not just financial. Every term time Saturday my daughter would have to get up at 7 to travel into London making a long 6 day week for her ( also for us parents as she was accompanied for 5 years). Any sports activities at school on a Saturday had to be turned down. The half term at JD is one Saturday only so half term holidays had to bear that in mind. School trips at weekends were also a potential problem. This is one major commitment and affects the whole family.
[/quote]

I absolutely agree with this. The cost is scary and tangibly limits our options. No foreign holidays or many meals out here. More significantly it really is limiting our ability to save for when the children go to university at a time when we will be retired, or close to retired.
We get both weeks off at half terms which does help. Currently I attend every day with my daughter, and she has made it clear that she wants that to continue next year, which takes 30 Saturdays from me too and while it is fun I will be happy when I can please myself on Saturdays.
My daughter is really tired at the end of each term too.
But the effect on my daughter has been incredible, and I don't just mean musically. It has been worth all it has cost.
Dora

I'd never thought of that angle, but that's so true... even quite dedicated musicians can be made quite miserable in school if personality clashes mess around with the musical side of things. One can end up either not doing anything musical or having to put up with rubbish from teachers. At least a junior department is only one day a week (though, having worked in the local equivalent, I know how busy, pressured, and time consuming that "one day" can be!)

You can afford to delay if your kids are lower secondary achool or below, but I wonder how long? 'We' joined with just two school years left, just for sixth form. If some aspect takes time to settle down or doesn't go smoothly, you are short of time to sort it out. You also have scant time to get to know a new teacher before you are trying to make plans for tertiary level - if music's the way you want to go. While I wouldn't have wanted to sever links with the local teacher any sooner - indeed it was only on her suggestion that daughter 'J' moved on - it would have been nice to have had time to settle more slowly, and get to know the new teacher. On the other hand, if J hadn't moved to JD at all, I doubt she'd have decided to apply for music at university/etc.

As everyone has said, it's an individual decision on whether you go for JD, but for what it's worth here's my take on some of the aspects mentioned above:
1. You lose Saturdays (and it somehow always tends to be the most inconvenient one in half-term), but it's ten weeks at a time - 30 in all, you have the other 22. And you gain the rest of the week. They come home whacked on Saturday but you don't have (or shouldn't have... ...) homework panics during the week.
2. Everything's in one place and you don't have to negotiate clashes, or drive between locations under pressure only to arrive late anyway, so your hair won't get greyer by the term.
3. Time passes very quickly and you may not be accompanying them for ever. Once they are ready to go alone, independent travel builds their confidence.
4. I still don't know what to do with Saturdays.

Here's how J sees it
1. Although you know in theory that the standard is going to be really high, the reality still hits you like a winter ice storm. She spent a lot of the year thinking she was rubbish (nothing new) and wondering why she was there.
2. Nonetheless, the high standard of people around her has raised her sights and her game. Her playing HAS improved, she thinks, partly because she's become more aware and critical of her own and other people's playing.
3. She's less confident in performing. There are far fewer than the (admittedly shedloads - she was v lucky) of performing opportunities at county level. So she's no longer practised at performing. Performing at JD is a sought-after, fought-for privilege. On the other hand, when you do get a chance to perform, boy are you proud of yourself.
3. She misses the breadth of chamber work she used to be involved in - she has just the one chamber group now - but that's where her heart is and it wouldn't worry everyone. And the standard of that one group is v high of course.
4. Big +++: Conducting and theory classes really, to use an over-used word, inspire her.

No pain, no gain - so I hope being honest about the downsides might help you folks out there. Despite those, she generally comes off the train buzzing about what she's been doing, talks non-stop about it, then falls asleep before we get home.

I've not quoted all of the post but I found it very interesting.

Emsoboe isn't quite ready to give up everything she does with the Music Service so we are going to very much have to see how it goes. I am expecting her to love JD. We have persued it for slightly different reasons. She is committed to doing music at Uni and I think this will be a very good taste of what it might be like. She has 4 years left before that time comes.

I still can't believe how easy it was for her to get in as we had no expectations when she auditioned. It was very much try it and see.

There isn't going to be any pain in getting there as we are lucky that it's only a 15 minute car journey. I don't think I could have faced a long haul. It's not that easy by public transport particularly if she ends up taking the Bari Sax. I'm expecting to taxi lol.

The worst bit has been the roller coaster funding application. We are trying to raise funds for a Cor Anglais so it's not entirely over yet. It's not something I fancy going through again in a hurry.

Staffordshire Music Service do lots in the week as well as on Saturdays. The County Orchestras are out for us but my daughter plays in a group on Monday evenings and is about to join a Jazz group on Wednesdays both of which are run by the Music Service. Then she has joined a folk group in Lichfield "Wildfire Folk" for anyone interested in joining plus there is all the music in school so it is possible to keep several things going.
We had a girl join the Junior Conservatoire last year who had just started the lower sixth and I can see how much more she could have got from the experience had she joined earlier.
I suspect that most people join at about 14 or 15 which seems much better than 16 or 17 to me. While 10 is fun and I would do it all again it does significantly extend the years of financial pain.
Dora

Have read all the above post with interest! My children haven't changed much since my last post.

No.1 is no further in examination but has moved on in playing and style but shows absolutely no interest in JMD as he is now more into school stuff (and girls!) and is interested in non-classical so music tech, sound and lights......

No.2 is now 12, has two grade 8s piano(dist) and cello(merit) still pretty focused on playing but more for enjoyment and himself. He has no desire to go to JMD still and has enjoyed his first year at secondary school finding new paths. He is well supported by his current teachers but has outgrown alot of the orchestras and bands he once played in. This is the area that we aim to change over the next few months and in another 12-18months we will reconsider JMDs again sooner if necessary but we feel no rush

Agree with most of this. For what it is worth I'll share the advice we were given by a head of department at a good conservatoire. I asked him outright whether my son should do JD. He said he would get in anywhere no problem and probably with a scholarship. But in his view it was very expensive, disruptive to family life, he said if there are good regional youth orchestras - use them (we already were) as he would be given more opportunities by them. He would also be making music with friends from his home area, which was important. Save the money not spent on JD and go up to London every now and then for a lesson with a top Prof, just to keep things ticking over. He also made one other interesting point, he said that he could tell where students at audition had been learning from what they played and how they played it. He said that there was nothing he liked more than to audition an 18 year old for conservatoire and not have that happen!
One final thing he said was that it does not give you and edge for Conservatoire at 18 even at the one you attended JD at!
My son has many friends at JDs through playing in national ensembles, they have a really good time and he enjoys hearing about it but most definitely doesn't feel he misses out.

We made the Conservatoire decision very recently and have yet to experience it.

I can understand why people feel they don't need it. I feel like that about the local specialist music school and have done so about Juniors in the past. I am aware if the specialist school for post 16 and this is something when that time comes that we will have to consider carefully.

We are very lucky that the local JD is just that. No more than 15 minute drive away.

The reasons for going down that route for us are several. Financial primarily as it seemed like it would be easier to get funding for a JD than adhoc teaching. The opportunity to do higher level theory and compositon as well as participate in higher level ensembles. The teaching is something we could have organised privately but don't have the money for and there is a definate need.

I think everyone will have different motives for the choices they make. It's not life and death so there will be plenty of scope to change things round if they don't work. As a non-musical parent I find it very difficult to choose which is the right path and I'm just hoping that things work out right for our daughter.