What are the sleeping arrangements?
What are House Parents?
Can parents attend the weekend?
My child is shy - I'm concerned about their overall experience during the weekend
Other questions?

 

What are the sleeping arrangements?

Sleeping is dormitory style.  Bedtime is staggered, and every effort is made to ensure that the younger ones get enough sleep without being distracted/ disturbed by the older and sometimes more boisterous ones. 

Last year for example, we had the younger boys sleep in the same wing as the men, and left the 12 - 14 year olds together with another house parent. 
The girls were more evenly spaced, although one young lady chose to stay with her older sister at first, she soon made friends and there was space for her to move back - under the supervision of house parents concerned. 
What are House Parents?
We have some house parents are experienced teachers/ parents/ youth workers who are very sensitive to the needs of the children.  We arrange the young musicians into rough age groupings (again depending on the numbers that we get) and assign house parents, so that over the weekend the children can develop a relationship with at least one adult.
House parents are available 24/7 and happy to assist in the night if need be, or just to give reassurance. All are CRB checked (Criminal Records Bureau).
Can parents attend the weekend?
We have had parents attend in the past, for our youngest children (7 year olds), but it is actually a good experience from them to grow and develop, over the two days, and then show their parents what they've learned at the Sunday concert, and packing etc..  If parent's do attend, they act as general help to ALL of the children, no favouritism is allowed, as there are several children with dietary requirements that we can cater to, given advance notice. 
My child is shy - I'm concerned about their overall experience during the weekend
When the children arrive on Friday, they are drawn straight into a musical game, and we have found that this helps them make friends within a couple of hours.  In the instrumental groupings, we've found that the older more experienced musicians help look after the younger ones, and this is encouraged throughout the weekend.  We do have a great time, I must say, uphoding and living out the principles we aspire to, and rewarding acts of kindness with liberal praise.
Staff meet regularly throughout the weekend, and are trained to observe and assess the needs of all participants, so we would flag up any potential problems in plenty of time.  We ask to be informed of medical and behavioural concerns, and there are key people who can then look out for these children particularly. 
I hope that this puts parent's minds at rest.  

If you have more questions or suggestions please let me know so that they can be added here. God bless us all in His service, young and old. musicadvisor@me.com