I'm dithering about whether my child should audition for Pro Corda. I have not been very successful in finding out what sort of standard they are looking for in an 11 year old. (The web site says at least grade 8 distinction by the time that they are 'seniors' i.e. 16 -18). The audition requirements sound ambitious in that they include scales and aural as well as the usual two contrasting pieces and sight reading. (Last exam was last summer next probably this summer.)

Anyone got experience out there? (Now wondering whether I would get more response from the teachers forum but that would be cross posting!)

Hi there

My daughter auditioned last January at age 10 in London. It was the usual audition format in that she played two contrasting grade 5-6 level pieces on the violin and was asked to play some scales, had some aural tests for that level and was given sight-reading exercise which she found easy. There was some time to rehearse with their accompanist who was very supportive.

I think the auditions are quite relaxed and friendly so there shouldn't be anything to worry about. They have a little chat with the child to see whether he/she would be ok at a residential course and the kind of music they enjoy etc.

My daughter enjoyed the Pro Corda course at Leiston Abbey especially the Chamber Music although she didn't find it particularly challenging. It was a good experience for her and I would definitely recommend it.

Unfortunately, she can't do it this year as the Easter course clashes with other music commitments.

My daughter has been going to Pro Corda for 3 years this will be her 4th. She played a Grade 5 piece, the other piece was lower as it was a last minute thing. She put her own stamp on the piece and it showed off her ability and vibrato.

My daughter loves Pro Corda, the staff are second to none. I take on board what 'a mum' says about the music not been challeging, but feel it is not justified. The music is not complicated to start with, they have to get to know your child. They keep records of progress and the music grows with the child. In the scheme of things Chamber Music is more than the music, it is the players, the way they interact with one another. They teach your child to perform within the group, its much more indepth than one might first think. Once been there a while they start to expect that the music is played from memory so they can fully interact with one another. This doesn't happen over night and is a process that gathers pace and grows as they nuture your child and the child in turn matures. My daughter can't wait to arrive, they all keep in touch with one another throughout the year.

My daughter had just taken her G5 when she started, she was in the middle. She found it very useful to play with others better than her and she has gone from strength to strength. She is taking G8 this year and thanks to Pro Corda, plays the Viola now also to G7. She is twelve now and Pro Corda has been invaluable for her.

I can also suggest the Lake District Summer Music, not residential 9 to 1 with the afternoons to spend exploring with family. www.ldsm.org.uk A watered down version of Pro Corda. No Musicianship, Dalcroze and Theory, but still fantastic if you can work it into a family holiday.

Thanks for your replies a good start.

An interesting follow up, if people are prepared to admit, what about children that DIDN'T get accepted. That might give me an indication of the range of the band. (More positive replies still welcomed though.)

What standard would lake district/pro corda expect from 13 and 16 year olds?

Pro Corda at 16 would expect Grade 8, this is what they advise on their website. Exams need not have been taken. They give this as a rough guide there are good and bad players of all Grades, which is why you have to audition.

Lakes (LDSM) They can take a wider intake. In adavanced sections Grade 7 up there are a handfull of kids about 12, most are older though. In intermediate which is, I think Grade 5 to 7 again the range is large from 10 upwards, sometimes there is one or two younger ones. They are set in groups according to ability and not age. Most of the kids go back every year so they get to know their strengths and place them accordingly.

Both are excellent!

An ex-pupil aged 11 just got a Pro-Corda place, she took Grade 4 a year ago.

She didn't get into NCO...not sure why really!

I can't comment on Pro Corda, I'm afraid, but my daughter did do the Lake District course three years ago this summer. She certainly thoroughly enjoyed it, though I suspect that the spread of abilities in the most junior group was wider than it might ideally have been. We felt, however, that it didn't really work well for the rest of the family (me, dad and brother). Because the course runs in the mornings only we were constantly watching the clock to see if it was time to pick daughter up, and couldn't stray too far from Windermere. One morning we did, and the car broke down! Fortunately we managed to make it as far as a village on a bus route into Windermere and I caught a bus while the others waited for the AA man to arrive! It's fine if you're happy to loaf around; we wanted to be off doing serious walking!

Last year my daughter did a one week non-residential, non-auditioned, chamber music course in Bristol for post grade 5 string players and pianists of any age. The youngest children were probably 10 year olds. She enjoyed this, everyone worked hard, and the end of course concert seemed really good to me. The course runs annually in August at Clifton College and is organised by one of the local violin teachers. It goes by the name of Nova Corda, and may be of interest to those in the Bristol area. I'm happy to pass on such further details as I can dig out to anyone who wants to PM me.

Here's an update for anyone interested. We had the audition this morning, the result was a place for Easter and if all goes well a subsequent offer for the summer. I think that the pieces were reasonably Ok and she did know how to play with an accompanist i.e. indicate when she was starting etc. sight reading was good (that's a big improvement), aural didn't sing up, scales best not talked about. She and her teacher have worked hard at them in the last few weeks but she still has a legacy of French teaching which really doesn't rate scales.

Others auditioning seemed to be similarish level (grades 4, 5 6 - mine took her grade 4 last summer and played two of her grade 5 pieces which she is preparing for the summer session) but may have on average been a bit younger.

The audition itself was very friendly and helpful though running late (but then for logistics reasons we had booked the 'catch up' slot so there wasn't much hope of subsequent catching up!)

Fantastic news, she will have a fantastic time, well done!

I have just seen this thread, so don't know if anyone will see this!

Daughter was asked to send a DVD to Procorda, instead of the personal audition.
This was made at school yesterday. I don't know how this went.
Daughter is 14 and played a Grade 8 piece, which she said went well, other than one place, where her fingers were tired and not really crisp enough (fast Baroque piece).
The other piece that she insisted on playing is a quite difficult and very exposed piece. She isn't sure that it was great.

Oh dear, I have no idea how it was, but she doesn't feel very good about it. The DVD will be ready on Friday and will be sent then. How long does one normally have to wait to hear?

Violinma

Thank you Violinma for finding this thread. I've never heard of Pro Corda so interesting to read and look into.

Good luck with the DVD audition.