"stuart noble" wrote in message
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Mary Fisher wrote in message 412b1cc8$0$22309
Good Heavens! It used to be grade 8 even for a college ...
Never has been grade 8 for a music degree, even at Oxbridge.
It was for one our daughters ...
I don't think universities are interested in how well you play because the
courses are mainly academic. Different at the music colleges of course. I
hope your daughter went on to do something more profitable :-)

She became a cabinet maker (after meeting a design student at college), they
ran a mail order very fine custom designed and made furniture business then
they bought a small farm in Wales on which they rear rare breed sheep and
cattle and have obtained organic status. That feeds them (and us, partly),
they still do the cabinet making for other bills.

She also plays double bass and violin with several Welsh orchestras and has
even found bass pupils in the Welsh mountains - one who has just gained her
Grade 8 ...

It's not financially profitable but very satisfying. They consider that
they're privileged to be doing what they want and being beholden to no-one.

I agree, a hand to mouth life can have its own riches.

Mary