Hello

This is my first post, I hope you all like me, and I get to know you all very soon.

I lack a lot of self-belief and I've been told I'm not very good at music. I'm 22 and am thinking of going into university to study music but I'm not sure if I'll get in. I got an A in A-level Music but I know the competition is so high and I don't think an FRSM would suffice.

What do you think? I like Music and if I got a career in it, I would be quite happy.

Thanks for any responses.

y0u would certainly easily get in music colleges, and it maybe an idea to have a few lessons with some of the teachers to see if they think yo should do a Bmus, or go straight onto do a postgrad diploma....An FRSM is usually the standard most people come out of music college at

good luck, you are really really good

BB

Hi and welcome to the Forums!

Good luck with your studies and I hope you make it. Who told you weren't very good at music? Whoever it was, they obviously didn't know what they were talking about. Since when are three Grade 8s and a Grade 5 bad?! You've achieved a fantastic amount already and I'm sure any university would be keen to accept someone with your qualifications. Are there any particular areas of music you're thinking about going in for?

My music teacher when I was doing A-level told me that I'd never make it. That is why I am 22 and not yet applied for university.

I like performance and would love to concentrate mostly on that. I already do a bit of teaching on the side and would to continue with this.

What universities are known to be excellent for music tuition. I do not know much about it I'm afraid.

Wonder how many people have had similar things said to them and then gone on to prove their teachers wrong?

Wow you are so good!

I would love to be FRSM sax, but that is sooo never going to happen!

I am going to Bangor uni to study music but as you are so good maybe you should consider somewhere like Oxford/Cambridge or the Royal College's etcetc

What instrument do you think I ought to concentrate on? Do I stand more of a chance of succeeding if I concentrate on the cello rather than saxophone?

With an 'A'in 'A' level music, you can get into university to do a music degree. Which one depends on your general academic standard - the more 'academic' the higher your basic qualifications need to be at the age of 18. I think that aged 22 you are classed as a 'mature' student and so the rules are different - check with the uni's of your choice to see.

Getting into a music college such as the Royal Northern College of Music depends entirely on your performing ability. Age and academic qualifications are irrelevant, within reason.

Steve

Teachers are not always right, and sometimes they are very wrong.

FRSM suggests you are very talented, plus you have several more instruments on the go, AND you achieved an A in your A Level so your academic side in music can't be too far behind. I would guess that you wouldn't have much of a problem finding a uni or college (or many) who would LOVE to have you.

Surely it's obvious that you'd get in?!

It doesn't do much for the confidence of others when you are questionning your ability with an A at A level and numerous grade 8's and an FRSM to get into uni. How is everyone else supposed to feel?????

Thats exactly what I was thinking. You're just making them feel inadequate. How many 18 year olds wanting to do music at uni have several grade 8s and FRSM? Someone calling themselves 'magnificent_musician' doesn't indicate that you lack much self belief. Some others here are going to study music at uni with one grade 8 and maybe a grade 5 second instrument. With 3 grade 8s a grade 5 and FRSM I don't think there's any doubt you're really good at music, so if thats what you want to do, then go for it. Music teachers aren't always right as your case proves. Its 4 years since you left school. Maybe when you were at school you weren't as far on as you are now.

The first time I saw this thread I was dying to use the smilie, and I've been staying out of it.

Surely anyone who had the intelligence to get an FRSM - equivalent to the performance level from a music college masters course - would realise that they were good enough to get onto at least an undergraduate course at university studying music. To get an FRSM one has to have a knowledge of the repertoire and key recordings of one's instrument; to have that, exceptional performance ability, and no idea what one is capable of in comparison seems very contradictory.

In 2004, 14 people in the world were awarded an FRSM. Whether the events of a few weeks ago have made me a little more cynical about people coming onto the forum with grandiose claims, I don't know; on this one, though, I remain unconvinced. The 14 FRSMs were across all instruments in all three disciplines - performing, teaching and directing. One of them went to Margaret, so that leaves 13.... Given the over-popularity of piano compared to the other performance diplomas, it leaves me to wonder - has an FRSM in sax ever actually been taken? And, if it has, have we found the only person in the world ever to have done one? Besides, if they were, why on earth would they think the couldn't get into university given they were, in all likelihood, the only person in the world to have an FRSM on their instrument

precisely what I was thinking!

Liz

Wow, is that all? Do you know how many people actually TOOK it?

Liz

That occurred to me too. I thought I was being too sceptical because of other 'unlikely' threads recently which also started at the weekend. No-one arrogant enough to call themselves 'magnificent-musician' has a problem with self-belief.

Apologies for any confusion. I have taken LRSM saxophone but am FRSM standard and ready to take the Diploma exam in the December session.

Oh, I thought for a second then I had an LRSM; best put the Schumann Fantasie back in its box then

Apologies accepted, it's just recently we've had more than our fair share of false claims and wind-ups, so I hope you can forgive my cynicism . Well done for the LRSM; I'm sure it's more than enough to take you seriously - it's equivalent to the performance standard at the end of two or three years. So given you're a mature student, have an A at A-level, grade 8 theory and an LRSM you should be able to get into pretty much anywhere you want; assuming you audition well, of course, as really that's all they care about



No idea, the names of people who have been awarded diplomas are listed in the Annual Review. The failure rate for all diplomas entries is 50%; I suspect, though, that the FRSM rate would be lower than this as to have survived the previous two diplomas one is probably taking it seriously enough and know what's expected.

This so awakens the cynic in me. They have to ensure a good failure rate to keep the coffers full. You don't make money in any Institute by passing everyone (unless the government wants to prove that British education is turning out ever-brighter pupils)

I think what is perhaps more likely is that given the relative youth of the DipABRSM - it came out in 2000 - people are underestimating the standard necessary to pass the exam, seeing it as grade 9 rather than a professional qualification with high expectations of performance and knowledge. The failure rate is higher in Hong Kong, too - not because the AB are trying to make lots of money from the people living there, but because the way in which exams are treated there (grade 8 in three years is the norm) leads to more people who are ill-prepared for the DipABRSM when they come to take it.

I expect the DipABRSM pass rates will go up over time, though, as people get a better feel for the standard necessary.

i am soooooooooooooooooooooooooo stunned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i so want to take my diploma....it's just that my academic life makes my musical life impossible....and many other reasons...

therefore, i will not stand a chance during my audition....

Don't make this guy think that you need to have an LRSM to stand a chance in an audition! What they are looking for is not absolute technical mastery, but an understanding of the music and a potential for talent - if you have that, they'll be interested. Technical matters they can address over time with teaching and practice.

LRSM is the standard they expect at the END of a three year performance course, not the entry standard! At Huddersfield, for example, LRSM of an equivalent standard is required for entry to the Master's degree in performance. I still think the troll smilie applies!

Liz

That's a relief! I had just started to get really, really worried... I hope this still applies when I come to apply for university. Would requirements be different if I didn't want to take a performance course?

don't you have to be a king or queen, or a sir or dame to get in?

?