BBC Young Musician 2014

[Stan Drews]

Aaah George Chisholm?!

Who, let's not forget, was a fine jazz player; it's a shame that he's now better remembered for silly hats & shirts on kids' programmes.

[amateur51]

Who, let's not forget, was a fine jazz player; it's a shame that he's now better remembered for silly hats & shirts on kids' programmes.

Perhaps it's a case of 'and' rather than 'or'

[Barbirollians]

She was different league .

[jean]

In today's Guardian, and article by Mark Simpson, 'the only state-school educated winner in the contest's history.'

And even he didn't go to an ordinary comprehensive...

[Nick Armstrong]

The best thing about the radio coverage of the brass category was to hear David Pyatt's excellent Richard Strauss No 2 with Bryden Thomson - wonderful solo performance, plus some cracking trumpet playing in the BBC Phil of the day, and the conclusion is as exciting as any performance I've heard! (Plus on radio, no need to see Master Pyatt's very late 80s spectacles!! ).

[LHC]

In today's Guardian, and article by Mark Simpson, 'the only state-school educated winner in the contest's history.'

And even he didn't go to an ordinary comprehensive...

The last winner, Laura van der Heijden, went to a comprehensive school in East Grinstead.

[Mary Chambers]

In today's Guardian, and article by Mark Simpson, 'the only state-school educated winner in the contest's history.'

And even he didn't go to an ordinary comprehensive...

It's not a fee-paying school, though.

I'm glad LHC has mentioned Laura van der Heijden. I think others went to state schools before they were accepted into specialist music schools on merit.

[MrGongGong]

I think (even though there are inaccuracies) Mark Simpson's point is valid.
What you need to do to be able to play a musical instrument (ANY instrument including the computer, bass guitar, decks, Cello, Bass Oboe etc etc ) is to spend LOTS of time doing it, preferably in a variety of different contexts. It's not rocket science.
If you have a well equipped music department where people do lots of music, well taught and in many genres then they will do lots of music, some will do it extraordinary well.

If you decide that music isn't important as part of education and don't resource and encourage it then it wont happen to the same degree.
Music is an expensive subject, good instruments are expensive and instrumental skills are best learnt in small groups and 1:1, all comes down to £ and what people think is important.

Many young people don't receive their musical education at school.

[Quarky]

"
The last winner, Laura van der Heijden, went to a comprehensive school in East Grinstead.


"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being Earnest"

Food for thought! Somewhat at odds with Tony Hall's view of Art for everyone. So perhaps not surprising Classical music does not rate very highly in the overall scheme of things.

Listening to Young Musician only occasionally, but thought the young lady with the recorder was brilliant, more interesting than the even younger lady on the saxophone (my preferred instrument - but Deep Purple - yuk!)

[MrGongGong]

"
The last winner, Laura van der Heijden, went to a comprehensive school in East Grinstead.


"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being Earnest"

Food for thought! Somewhat at odds with Tony Hall's view of Art for everyone. So perhaps not surprising Classical music does not rate very highly in the overall scheme of things.

Erm how does that quote relate ?

(There are "comprehensive" schools and "comprehensive" schools......... in places where they have Grammer () schools the "comprehensive" schools aren't "comprehensive" at all ....)

[Quarky]

Erm how does that quote relate ?

(There are "comprehensive" schools and "comprehensive" schools......... in places where they have Grammer () schools the "comprehensive" schools aren't "comprehensive" at all ....)

Please excuse my brief posts. The point I have in mind is that Classical Music is principally the preserve of the middle classes, and in particular classical music education is the preserve of Public Schools and specialist schools that are able to fund subjects other than the three Rs. There may be the occasional musician that originates from a classless background, but that does not alter the centre of gravity of the whole matter.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well three spiffing finalists!

[DublinJimbo]

well three spiffing finalists!

Agreed, at least on the basis of watching both pianist and recorderist and catching a mere glimpse of the percussionist in the recap.

I'd be concerned about the limited repertoire available to a recorder player (has her concerto choice for the final been announced?), and much as I adore percussion and appreciate that there are many fine works available for a talented exponent, my money is on the pianist. His technique is phenomenal, and it is allied to a remarkably mature musicality. His semi-final choices formed a fine programme and displayed his command of widely different styles (the movement from the Barber sonata was incredible — just imagine how he'd handle Prokofiev).

[Mary Chambers]

The pianist will be successful whether he wins or not, I should think. Neither Stephen Hough nor Benjamin Grosvenor won the overall title after winning the keyboard final, but they manage to have good careers.

[Nick Armstrong]

The pianist will be successful whether he wins or not, I should think. Neither Stephen Hough nor Benjamin Grosvenor won the overall title after winning the keyboard final, but they manage to have good careers.

I'd forgotten that about SH and BG Mary