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Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Extra-curricular activities

NCO 2019

840 replies

stringchild · 26/09/2018 08:07

Traditionally for many years MN has had an audition thread; so here it is as the auditions start in a few days 😀

OP posts:

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Crazygirlmama · 26/09/2018 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rupertswife · 26/09/2018 19:41

Going for U11s violin this year for DS2. He was in U10s last year. His audition is next Tuesday. I think he is quite ready, but one of his pieces is not as polished as we would like. The other was super polished, but he was tripping over himself last weekend, making silly mistakes (prob pre audition jitters).

So all in all I am not massively hopeful. DS2 assures me he will not be devastated if he doesn’t get in, even though he had a great time on the residential.

Is your DD auditioning on cello and clarinet, string or is she sticking with clarinet?

folkmamma · 29/09/2018 09:10

Noo not auditioning this year but following others NCO adventures and sending good luck vibes!! X

Rupertswife · 29/09/2018 11:16

Thanks @folkmamma and very sorry there is no chance of meeting at regionals, although possibilities for DS2 are a bit remote at the moment, in any case. U11s is so competitive.

I do think you are doing the right thing for Noo though. She has a lot to contend with this year, and she will get loads of high level playing opportunities at jd and Pro Corda xx

Doubleup · 29/09/2018 14:01

DD2 is auditioning for U12 on bassoon, but we’re not holding our breath. With the start of secondary and lots of competing pressures, the practice has been a bit sporadic. The days are long, the homework is a huge step up from primary and she’s shattered. Still got a couple of weeks to pull it out of the bag. We’ll see.

TrumpetVoluntary · 29/09/2018 14:10

DD auditioning for U11s on trumpet. She had a great time at U10s this year so is keen to give it another go. However she is finding everything quite stressful at the moment what with secondary school choices and entrance exams looming so not sure she will be at her best. I just hope she isn’t too upset if she doesn’t get it.

ilovesushi · 29/09/2018 15:40

My DCs are not advanced enough yet to audition, but it's something I'd love to consider in the future. DD is 8 (summer birthday) and about grade 2 on the clarinet. What kind of standard would they be looking for in the U10s? Would she really need to get her skates to make the grade? It could be something really lovely to aim for.

RomanyRoots · 29/09/2018 15:48

Just posting to say good luck to all of your lovely talented children

Wafflenose · 29/09/2018 18:54

ilovesushi the clarinets that auditioned last year were grades 2 to 5 ish. By the time they got there, they were 3+ to 6+. Rara had gone from 2+ to 4+ in just under a year... fortunately!

ilovesushi · 30/09/2018 10:23

Thanks Wafflenose! That's great to hear and sounds achievable for us. That's good going from Rara!

stringchild · 01/10/2018 08:29

Good luck for those with auditions this week 👍

OP posts:

Rupertswife · 01/10/2018 11:22

Thanks string! We are up tomorrow.

PatricksViolin · 01/10/2018 14:39

Let me join as DS may audition again this year?

He's got the second piece finally and the first piece was handed 1-2 weeks ago. It's his third year of auditioning but he's never been this under prepared. I thought he was under prepared last year as he hadn't prepared any piece specifically for audition and no teacher at the time, but then he used his safe old pieces so it was fine in the end. But this year, they are two brand new pieces so the situation is a bit dodgier... I assume they are not a stretch and something he can learn quickly though. Otherwise it's insane!

Good luck to miniRuperts, and anyone who's auditioning this week!

Eroica · 01/10/2018 14:52

Ilovesushi when DD was in U10 (clarinet) she was a newly minted G2 at the audition. Good sight reading and musicality was the main thing (she was a higher grade on piano, so sight reading was better than most G2s). The others were G4-6.

My 2 are both trying this year, but I fear neither will be in a place of calm for the audition as I have to have major surgery a couple of days beforehand. Can't do much about that, as it was arranged after auditions were booked; both at least find comfort in their music, so I imagine will have done a great deal of practice just before I go in.

Good luck to all.

Pippap1 · 01/10/2018 19:43

Hello everyone. DD1 just auditioned today for U10. She is 9 and her instrument is violin. It’s her first time audition for NCO. Hope she can get in.

Good luck to all!

PatricksViolin · 01/10/2018 20:02

Hello Pippap1. Hope your DD enjoyed the experience? DS is also a violinist and has just done U11 this summer.

I have just arranged a piano accompanist for the audition so no going back now...

PatricksViolin · 01/10/2018 20:04

Eroica, wish you a speedy recovery...

owlm · 01/10/2018 21:19

Hi everyone, I completely missed this thread. Dd's audition is on 9th October. Accompanist is lovely, and will rehearse with Dd this week.

Did some sight reading today...very sketchy, but her pieces are coming together now.

Hope all DC's are enjoying the experience of it all. Thanks String for the thread.

Pippap1 · 01/10/2018 22:46

Hi PatricksViolin, DD is very shy but she said she could perform well today and enjoyed her first audition!

DD played without accompanist. I hope it won’t affect the result.

Good luck to your little violinist

Crazygirlmama · 02/10/2018 06:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PatricksViolin · 02/10/2018 07:27

Pippap1, DS played unaccompanied last year and got U11. It really doesn't matter with or without. We had the contact detail of an accompanist recommended by a poster on the music thread so I though we may try and ask her availability. And her availability was confirmed yesterday. If she wasn't available DS was going to play without.

Thanks for your good wishes! Unfortunately DS has been unwell and in bed yesterday and possibly today too. I'm not surprised to be honest. He's always like that when something big is approaching!

bassclef · 02/10/2018 07:50

Just wanted to say hello and wish everyone good luck! DS has been in NCO for 3 years, but he's now too old and will become NCO alumni after the Main Orchestra Winter Concert in December. He's absolutely loved NCO and gained so much from it.
Hope all goes well for everyone.

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Floottoot · 02/10/2018 07:57

Good luck to all those auditioning, and especially those this week - knock 'em dead!
Patrick, is mini's audition soon? I always got a cold just before flute exams - must be a thing! Hope he's better soon.

Floottoot · 02/10/2018 07:58

NYO next, bassclef?

Eroica · 02/10/2018 08:49

Thank you Patricks

pippap1 I hope it went well for DD.

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