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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

NCO 2016

108 replies

Musicmom1 · 29/09/2015 15:25

Auditions started this week so a new thread for those whose DC are auditing and anyone else interested.

Dd was in the Under 10s this year, and reserve for the Training Orchestra the year before. Auditioning twice - this week and in Oct. unfortunately our accompanist had pulled out this week but DD is ok going solo. We aren't expecting a place this year as it is seems to get harder as you go into the older orchestras but the journey has been brilliant so far and DD wouldn't consider not having a go.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Scaredofthepianoexaminer · 09/10/2015 15:53

All done done - think it went well, as best I can tell anyway from DD (11) who is becoming less communicative by the day! Just a long wait now - I think all her friends have done theirs now too so I am sure there has been much discussion by email etc about how they all think they got on.

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 08/10/2015 21:35

Hello. How is everyone getting on? There seem to be very few of us on here (but record numbers applying!)

OP posts:
Scaredofthepianoexaminer · 30/09/2015 19:01

DD's audition tomorrow.
It is not until mid afternoon.
Yesterday she asked if she had to go to school in the morning as she did not want to be 'too tired' to play well. Nice try Hmm

Wafflenose · 30/09/2015 15:59

I must try and see some of the older orchestras one day, although it's unlikely Mini will get that far. I do feel like part of the family, and that NCO will always be part of us now, even if this proves to be the end of the line for her.

Sight reading is Mini's strong point (due to being further ahead on her other instrument) and her tone/ breathing are weaknesses. She could do with growing a bit to help her manage longer phrases - she has barely grown for a year. And the tone will get worse before it gets better, as she is likely to be getting braces this winter.

TRL · 30/09/2015 12:47

Thanks Musicmom1!

She plays harp and reading two clefs is her issue for sight reading - she also plays viola and the sight reading there is much easier to her as it's just one (albeit different again) clef at a time. She's started to teach herself piano and weirdly that's having more effect on improving her harp sight reading than sitting at the harp - go figure!

What does your DD play? She's auditioning on two instruments?

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 30/09/2015 05:21

Welcome TRL - what instrument is DD?

Waffle - we saw some of the Mains and Under 13 strings play on sat; the standard and polish was amazing!

OP posts:
TRL · 29/09/2015 22:31

DD1 is auditioning for the first time this year in three weeks and has a lot of work to do .... Her pieces are getting there but her sight reading is weak so we're practising that every day. She's 9 until next April so will go for U10's, I guess. Even just writing this makes me realise, I'm nervous for her - she's not fazed at all, luckily!

Wafflenose · 29/09/2015 19:49

Mini (still 9 for a few more weeks) has done a year of Under 10s on Flute and would have to be Under 11s next year, because she turns 10 by the end of the year. Realistically, I think this is probably her last shot. If she doesn't get in, we'll turn our attention to NYRO, as Recorder is her first instrument and she should more than qualify for that. her audition is in about 3 weeks. I am accompanying one piece and need to practise more as it's hard! The other one is unaccompanied. Mini wasn't working hard enough until very recently, but is now determined to give it her best effort. We'll see...