We've sent off the form for RCM and now need to wait for an audition date. I was just wondering if anyone else was applying to any of the Junior departments this year and whether anyone has had an audition yet (I think Trinity ones have started) and how it went?

I know reauditions are in progress at the moment. I would imagine the new recruits will be auditioned afterwards. I think RNCM was end of March/April last year.

They are looking at potential as much as performance on the day.

good luck to your daughter.

Thanks Notmusimum. I hope so with the potential as I know there will be many/most much better than her but possibly having been playing for longer which I think they also take into account (I hope!)

Do you have to reaudition each year at RNCM?
We don't in Birmingham but you do have to pass a performance platform and a technical exam so I guess it is the same thing it just isn't call reauditioning.
Dora



I'm sure they take it into account. Best of luck.
Dora

Yes the reaudition is every year as far as I know. They had sight reading and aural tests a couple of weeks ago. The performances have to be auditioned for and you can only do that on recommendation of your teacher. Emsoboe is auditioning for the next performance day on Oboe.

She will also get a report and work is done in the theory lessons that counts towards it.

Still not very sure of all the aspects but we're learning

All students except the leavers audition every year at RNCM. Its mostly work in progress and its a good opportunity to perform for the Director and discuss with her your progress and/or any concerns and goals for the coming year. So, its a nice opportunity really.
There is one informal concert/performance every term which has a few highly sought after places. These do not count towards a formal audition but its a great achievement to get a chance to play in it. After being there for an year, my daughter was selected in the one last term and was she proud of that! All these concerts are also recorded so its wonderful to have a CD of your child's performance. Most people wouldn't get an opportunity to perform in their first year but of course there are exceptions to this. The older and more experienced students also get performance opportunities in external concerts. Then, there is the dreaded (but very helpful) sight-reading and scales test every January.
The end of the year report is really detailed with comments on progress from all tutors, including any chamber music and orchestra tutors, and also has very helpful comments on what to focus on for next year.

We have weekly Performance Platforms. Teachers can ask a student to do a Performance Platform at any time during the year. The Director attends all Performance Platforms and gives a written report after each one. But the half term either side of Easter are used for compulsory PPs which everyone has to do, even the leavers. Except for Beth and one other child this year.
Beth and 10 or so other students did PPs at their teachers' requests in January. When the list of the compulsory PPs were posted Beth and one other performer were given a pass and their names didn't appear on the compulsory PP lists. Her teacher wants her to do another PP this year anyway but it was very nice to get a pass like that. It caused quite a stir among the students when the lists were posted so Beth feels good about it too.
We get a written report from each of her instrument, and voice, teachers but not from the aural or theory teachers or the orchestra and ensemble leaders. I will admit to keeping a close eye on what is going on so the reports are not a big deal for me. I'm not sure how useful they are to other parents and students. I think the technical exam is a study and scales but not sight reading.
Dora

Audition dates have come through for RCM and for violins only, there are two rounds of auditions! The competition for violins must be much greater than for other instruments because this must be the most commonly played instrument but I guess they must need a balance in their orchestras etc.

Claudia is now seriously considering taking up the bassoon!

She hasn't been rejected yet. I'm sure she has as much chance as anyone else.

Has she thought about Saxophone? Cheaper than Bassoon and we have experienced a shortage of Tenor players

Now having a panic about what Claudia should wear to the audition. She's not going into school first so school uniform seems wrong. Are casual clothes OK (which she will be most comfortable in) or should she dress smartly?

I think they are used to seeing all types of atire from the mundane to the flamboyant. Clean, tidy and smart casual should be fine. Good luck to Claudia.

I would also go for clean tidy smart casual making sure it is comfortable and facilitates playing.
Beth's flute teacher suggested buying a clean copy of her music. We didn't and it would have been a mistake I'm sure.
Beth was asked why she wanted to study at the Conservatoire. I was so worried about whether she would be offered a place I never thought that she might be asked something like that. Fortunately she said that she wanted to play with other children who liked music. It is worth thinking about such questions. If I had my time again I would probably also prepare her for questions about what music she liked to play or listen too.
Dora

Thanks for that.



You are right about the questions. Luckily they asked similar questions at the music scholarship audition so she won't be completely thrown (I hope). They asked who her favourite composer was, what music she had on her IPOD, who was her favourite pop group and why and other things I can't remember now. I don't suppose the RCM will be asking about pop music though......

Presumably she's going to school afterwards? I would go with school uniform at that age.

Emsoboe went for reaudition in school uniform. I'm sure they are also used to that.

I'm not sure she was asked any questions last year at audition so don't read anything into it either way

No it's right in the middle of the school day so she won't make it to school at all what with the longish journey.

Most of the kids in London seem to turn up to the auditons quite casual. When my daughters auditioned for JDs both their tutors said to wear what was comfortable. You dont want to be thinking that your shirt/skirt/shoes or any piece of the clothing you have on so uncomfortable, that you are twisting, figiting, scratching or similiar.

I have see auditonees wearing jeans with rips plus trainers that should be in the bin...(yup that was my youngest's attire!) and one having a blazing row with her father just before the audition about her short skirt

Well it seems to me that the panel focus on listening to the performance on the day

I've been waiting all this time for someone else to leap to the defence of bassoonists - sigh!

Take heart though, they'll need an awful lot of violinists and only the odd [sic] bassoonist.

If she likes to feel smart, go with that and dress up; comfortable with what she's wearing is probably more important. 'Clean' probably gives a good impression, though that used to be hard to achieve around here - and still can be.

Thanks everyone!

We are back and we decided on casual in the end for comfort and one less thing to feel uncomfortable about.

Of the children we saw there were two smart, one in school uniform and another casual so I think it really doesn't matter.

Claudia actually really likes the bassoon but you are right that they don't need so many so it is probably equally difficult to get in to things.

I wonder which instrument has the best ratio of demand v. people playing just out of interest?

At JRNCM horns seem to be in short supply.

Chris

Hello, I'm new to the forums but just had to share somewhere that violinson has been offered a place at RAM with violin as first study. We are obviously really proud and he is relieved and excited! Just wondered if there were any other (12 year old) violinists starting in September? Or any other musicians for that matter?

How did Claudia get on at RCM?

So I guess we start the whole searching for funding process now - any advice would be gratefully received...

First place to start is with the Conservatoire themselves.

Good luck to your son I hope he enjoys it.

Congratulations, Violinmum and Violinson - and welcome to the Forums!

Hi Violinmum, well done to violinson.

Claudia didn't get into RCM but did get a place at Trinity so we are over the moon and she can't wait to start.

Congratulations to Claudia! I hope she enjoys it.

That's great news - well done to Claudia. So I guess it is all change for us from September...