Junior Trinity College of Music

[doris]

Good luck to your dd orangebear, hope you get the best of everything, whatever happens!

[Taximom]

Good luck, let us know how you get on. My DD was a late audition and had a wonderful time there for her 2 years.

Heather

[warbler]

I read the above discussion with interest. However as a member of the staff teaching singing at JT I feel I must correct some of the information posted on this site.
First of all, each of the conservatoires have their own criteria for admitting students to their junior departments. At JT,we are interested in providing a holistic music education for every student. We audition students from a wide variety of backgrounds and levels of experience and are interested in potential and creativity as well as the level that the student has already achieved. We do not accept every student who auditions but take those who we feel meet our criteria. This may not be the same criteria as some of the other conservatoires.
At present there are six singing teachers at JT which indicates the level of interest in singing amongst our students. We all take incredible care of our student's voices and the type of teaching we do, does not put strain on the voice. Younger students do not do the intensive exercises which might cause vocal health problem and their voices are never pushed or stretched beyond what is appropriate for their age.
In younger singers, vocal health problems are usually the result of singing for too long often in group situations. A good singing teacher monitors their student's vocal health and is on hand with help and advice if there are any difficulties.
None of my students has suffered from a diagnosed voice problem when having lessons from me at JT. It seems extremely unfortunate if a child is not able to take up lessons, because of unfounded rumours and misinformation.
JT has an open day each term where visitors are welcome to come and visit. We also hold regular masterclasses and concerts where anyone is welcome to come and hear our singers for themselves.

[orangebear4]

Thank you for your post Warbler, and welcome to NAPM.
Having just read back all my posts on this topic I feel my dd and I have been through a lengthy decision process to get where we are now, which is that she starts at Junior Trinity this Saturday where she will study flute 1st study, singing 2nd study and piano 3rd study. Eventually the problems involved in making our decision were solved for us, as firstly her former singing teacher resigned from teaching due to personal commitments, and then my dd was offered a full bursary from the Department of Education Music and Dance Awards through Trinity, for which I am so grateful.
We always preferred the atmosphere at Junior Trinity to the other junior conservatoires we saw (Guildhall and RCM), and the director has been very helpful whenever I have asked for advice. I am content that we have made the right decision now, and the other advantage for us is that it is close enough to us that we can drive there and save on the rail fare! There are a few little things I would like tweaked a bit, (e.g dd's theory lessons can't be fitted in), but these are timetable issues, and it must be a nightmare trying to fit in everyone's demands!
I will try to remember to visit this site again after the first term to let you know how dd has got on, and whether my views are still the same!

[sophiesocks]

good luck orangebear