I post this question every year and have not managed to get my daughter to go on one yet - this year may be different!

It would be helpful if everyone could post any information on summer music for children as I am sure there are other parents who would also benefit from this information.

For me personally I need something non residential for grade 6 strings in the southeast if anyone can help?

Non of these will be what you're after but this is what we've had experience of so far.

The young string venture as part of the lake district summr music festival. It was mornings only, non residential and my two found it a bit hit and miss. Some years they were well placed in ensembles and some years not.

Pro corda North. Excellent coaching and musicianship, residential and very expensive. If you're feeling rich or can manage to get some financial help Pro Corda courses are worth considering.

No 1 went to Musicfest at Aberystyth last year which was great. It is for older more experienced players though 14 & 15 year olds can go if accompanied by a parent.

I know this feeling! I'm sure I mentioned Musicale before. This is something my daughter now always goes off to very happily - though the first year was a bit of an ordeal! I think this will be her 6th summer there (2 years on cello, then she switched to clarinet). However, this year she will be just turned 13 and is playing at around grade 6-7 level, which is very much the "top" end both age-wise and grade-wise where we are. How good/enjoyable it is depends on who else signs up, which is largely out of your control.

If you can get to Musicale in Harpenden that may be a better bet as I understand the bands/orchestras are split - up to grade 3, and Grade 3 upwards. Also there's the "Musicale Young Artists Programme" for Grade 6+, again in Harpenden, which can be, but need not be, residential. I believe you have to be 13 though, which may rule Claudia out.

Musicale is also at Guildford, Sevenoaks and Winchester and in other places less south-easterly.

If SE means London, CYM (Centre for Young Musicians effectively a remanant of ILEA) last week of July, somewhere near Elephnat and Castle the senior course. We are going to try it. We did an amazing junior course run by Lewisham some years ago. Very cheap comapred with many courses.
I have also heard of Dulwich strings (or it might be an orchestra) this is non-residential and recommended by a friend.)

You could have a look here: Cambridge Holiday Orchestra Association It's Cambridge, not really southeast, though, and there's a wide range of ages and abilities (the orchestra is grade 6 plus). I'm a child, not a parent - but I've been to three of these courses before and they're good fun.

Claudia's Mum, thanks for starting this post. Daughter (17) has residential requirements to fulfil for Duke Of Edinburgh Gold (has to be with people she doesn't know and for, errm, several nights). It's belatedly occurring to me that music (viledin and buffoon - loves chamber work) might be the ticket. I can't justify requesting vast amounts more of the stretched family budget for her music (I need new socks, for example) but am watching the posts.
Thanks again

And http://bayswatersuzukigroup.com ... follow the links to summer courses ..

The Bayswater Suzuki Group run three non-residential courses - the chamber music course in Barnes might be good for a grade 6 string player.

There is also a course that mixes strings and singing, where they put on a musical - according to their web site this year they will be doing Oliver. This is in North London. My children did these when they were younger, and enjoyed them enormously.

There is also a strings only course aimed at up to about grade 4 or 5 level, called Sforzando, which is based in Holland Park.

This looks really good. I like the way you have a choice of activities in each session. We're all booked up for this summer, but maybe a family holiday in Cambridge will be in order next year...

Well if we're allowed to leave the south east, Yorchestra (in York! www.yorchestra.org) is great. Yorchestra 2 would fit the bill and you could ask if there were anyone to put your daughter up to fulfil the DofE requirments, or come and have a holiday up here. Yorchestra 2 is four days and costs £132. My littlest has just started going and was heart broken at Christmas when I told him it wasn't every week, only every holidays!

Thanks for that. I've found the Dulwich link - it's here:

http://www.dyodulwich.com/index.php?page=home

Looks interesting and I am investigating.


Thanks for that - I'd investigated them before but couldn't remember the name. The link is here for anyone else who is interested:

http://www.musicale.co.uk/musicholidays.html

Hi Claudia's Mum,
If you are near Oxford, you might try the Oxford Strings Course. It is quite stretching and not residential.
Good luck.
Violinma

My girls went on a piano day at Jackdaws. (Somerset ish ) The day was very good and included lunch they were then aged about 8 and 13 and were probably the eldest and youngest there. There were about 6 children in total and I think it was aimed at grades 4 to 6. My little one was only grade 2 or 3, but the man running it was lovely and just geared it to who was there and their level. Lunch was very good too, (parents were welcome to stay and join in lunch and sit in on the masterclass)

Hindhead Music Centre (SW Surrey) has a "Holiday Music" course at the end of August - maximum age is 12 and I know there will be other G6 standard violinists and cellists there - (it's not just strings - it's for any orchestral instrument).

There are two orchestras (split by standard), two choirs (split by age), chamber groups, games, competitions (composition, piano, recorder), plus swimming every day, barbecues etc

My children will both be going. This will be the older one's 6th year and she is desperately sad that it will be her last year. The course is residential, but doesn't have to be if you live close enough.

If you're interested, you can see more details at www.hindheadmusiccentre.co.uk

Thanks everyone so far.
Going to bump this.
Applied for Musicale brochure but nothing has turned up yet

We have the Musicale "brochure" but it's just a bit of paper with no more information than the website, probably rather less.

Thanks for running this thread.

Stringwise run an event in North London for a range of grades. They are pretty good although last year my son came back and had slipped in to some bad habits that were not corrected. I would still recommend them: http://www.stringwise.org/

Just found this (not just for Kent children):

http://www.kentmusicschool.org/index.php?o...0&Itemid=90

It says the closing date is February but I just called them and they do have some places left if anyone is interested.

Hi fiddlers mumhere-newbie so forgive if last post went wrong!
Surprised no-one here has mentioned the stunning EYSM course at Haylebury College Herts??
It's an awesome 1 week's residential in a fab school with superb tutors in all instruments plus voice. standard needs to be grade 5 upwards. My daughter went aged just 11 & had an amazing time. They are on the federation of music festivals website. Sponsored by John Lewis the closing concert has to be heard!
Must be someone out there who has an offspring who's been there?

I'm aquainted with several people who attend EYSM regularly, and I believe there is at least one forum parents who has children who have gone.

Those I know who have been speak very highly of it.

Yes my daughter went a couple of times and really enjoyed it. As she is a viola player, she applied a month before departure (long past the closing date) and she even got a small bursary (an incentive!?). she also took her sax and played in the wind band and jazz bands.

She really enjoyed meeting kids from Europe and made some good friend. She said the best bit was she had her own room, oh and the pool table. The pastoral staff work really hard to make sure the kids have a good time when not playing music. (Dressing up clothes and a funny wig essential packing)

What about the music; she said it was challenging.

Parents - I recommend should go early on the last day, take a picnic and a couple of outdoor chairs and drink pims in the wonderful grounds of Haylebury College. Oh yes and go to some of the concerts too Oh and they always want to stay the last night for the "disco" dont try to talk them out of it..you will loose

Thanks Fiddler's Mum and others for mentioning this - one to look out for next year. It's good to find a course which has a higher minimum standard. Claudia is on the Musicale course at the moment but the ability range is very wide - from less than grade 1 to grade 8 - which must be very difficult to co-ordinate and means that the music doesn't always suit everyone's level.