| So they've got talent? If they're aged 8-18, specialist schools are an option, but they're not suitable for everyone and you may want to wait until after GCSE.
For children over the age of eight, who show a serious talent for classical music, a specialist school like Chethams in Manchester, which boasts the current Young Musician of The Year among its pupils, may be a possibility. They also follow the National Curriculum with good results.
Headmistress, Claire Moreland says: "We take children who are already of a very good standard. Parents should ask themselves if they have a child who wants to do music above anything else. Are they motivated to practise of their own accord and don't have to be chased to do it? Can they sight read to a reasonable standard already?"
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Adam, 10, a Chethams pupil, took the lead with his talent.
His mother, Amanda Kornas says: "When he was five, we asked what he wanted for Christmas and he said a violin. He was just dying to do it. Then at about eight, he started declaring that he wanted to be a violinist."
But specialist schools do not suit everyone. Professor John Sloboda, Director of Musical Skill and Development in the Department of Psychology at Keele University, says: "They can become a little bit complacent and feel they've got a gift, then they go to conservatoire and other people are better. There can be a crisis at that point." He's not "a high advocate" of leaving mainstream schools before GCSE because children can become institutionalised.
On the plus side, the "social support can be a lifesaver, particularly for boys". Children may have felt excluded at their old school and now they think: "here are people who are just like me."
If it's less classical pianist and more wannabe popstar, the Sylvia Young Theatre School, taking ages 9-16, might be of interest. Previous pupils include Emma Bunton aka Baby Spice, three of the All Saints girls, and Jon from S Club 7.
Sylvia Young says: "I suggest they go to a class at their local drama school and try it out first, then if the child is still keen they can try full time school."
As for pushy parent syndrome, Sylvia says: "You can't avoid it really, but fortunately we're in the position of telling parents what we're going to do. Anyway, most of the time it's the children that want it - the parents follow."
Ken Bore is Director of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). He says: "The child has to be a willing partner in the learning process, you can't push a child faster than they're prepared to go."
The NAGC provides both a helpline and a face to face counselling service for parents with gifted children. Mr Bore says: "We try to dissuade parents from pushing their children. 'Hot housing' always leads to tears because at some point the child will rebel against the pressure. They may realise that it isn't the most important thing in their lives and they'd prefer to hang out with their friends."
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