Invicta Girls Grammar v Rochester Grammar

orangebear4 · Post by **orangebear4** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:37 am

Can anyone assist me with a problem which is going over and over in my head please? My daughter is very musical, and on high grades for her age. We had almost decided on Rochester Grammar for her, as it has music specialist status. However, we saw the school yesterday, and loved the academic side, and thought the girls were so welcoming, polite and happy. The music really disappointed me - only one orchestra for the whole school, and no cello at the school for my daughter to use (something they do have at Invicta), so she would have to take it on the long bus journey, which I think will be impossible. Everyone speaks highly of the music there, but we just couldn't see it, and we were trying hard. Even the teacher I spoke to was less than enthusiastic.
From our visit to Invicta last year (going on 5 Nov again) we discovered several orchestras rated on ability, and many new instruments. However, we were not as impressed by the general ethos of the school, which wowed us at Rochester.
Does anyone have inside information to help with this important decision please?

reginaphalangie · Post by **reginaphalangie** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:26 am

Hi I am a music teacher in a girls GS. Try not to be too swayed by the fact there isn't currently a cello - i am sure if the music teacher was told this that they could use concert funding to buy one (we have 5!!) or high one from Kent Music. Also with regards to the orchestras - one is absolutely fine as ime the other 'orchestras' may tend to be ones put together at last minute to make it sound good for the concert- what was the general atmosphere like in the music depts - did the kids there already show a passion and love for the subject and the dept. I wish we could have your daughter - we do have 2 orchestras, Baroque Orchestra, jazz band, whole school choir, senior choir, gospel choir, wind ensembles and recorder groups..its hard work but we love it!

reginaphalangie · Post by **reginaphalangie** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:27 am

hire one i mean

reginaphalangie · Post by **reginaphalangie** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:28 am

btw i am not a teacher at either of those schools

medwaymum · Post by **medwaymum** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:33 am

great name reginaphilangie!!

orangebear4 · Post by **orangebear4** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:07 am

I did explain to the teacher I spoke to at RGS that it was important to us that there was an instrument for my DD at the school, but she just shrugged her shoulders and said they hadn't got one. The pupils I spoke to about the music seemed to enjoy it, but I think that was more because a lot of them had individual lessons, and there were good facilities for keyboards and computer-aided composition. This is not what my DD and I are looking for; it's strong traditional groups, a variety of choirs and different levels of orchestras. I am wondering how RGS got its music specialist status.
Does anyone out there have a musical pupil at either RGS or Invicta? I would really appreciate your comments.

Belinda · Post by **Belinda** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:16 pm

orangebear4 · Post by **orangebear4** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:26 pm

I was talking about using the cello for individual lessons. I would be able to transport her own instrument for out of school hours concerts. I wasn't thinking for one minute that my DD would or should have priority!

Kent99 · Post by **Kent99** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:21 pm

Do RGS have secure, overnight storage for musical instruments? If so could you hire a second cello from KMS (or whoever) and store it in school? It's an additional expense but not that costly (eg compared to the costs of the private tuition).

Belinda · Post by **Belinda** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:31 pm