NCO 2018

String I have tried not to think about that possibility, because she really did mess up spectacularly. She had a blisteringly good cello piece, then STOPPED for a good 10 seconds and made up the ending, and her next piece was rubbish, sadly. Clarinet was solid and expressive... until she squeaked non-stop through the last two lines of her Sicilienne, and missed the third sharp in one of the sight reading pieces. Fortunately for her, she forgot all about it by the following day, and romped through her SWMS audition successfully. I'm a bit gutted for her because she should have done so well at the NCO, but her inexperience definitely showed. Goo can get away with last minute preparation and not practising every day. Rara can't. (Not that it was, just highlighting some of the differences between my two polar-opposite children!)

I'm the same as Floot. It was rather an impulsive decision so we meant to count the experience than the result, though we did have 'but if...' in the back of our head. But since DS's confession of 'I totally messed up a supposed-to-be easy piece', all the hope of 'but' and 'if' have gone, and we are surprisingly chilled about it. DS says it's not the end of the world if he couldn't get in this year and he would prepare better and try again next year. I really hope he still feels the same when we see the actual result - chins up and keeps trying his best. Suppose his musical side won't suffer much as he has plenty stuff going on anyway, but he would miss the friends who he played hide and seek all the time. DS was too young to exchange the contacts so that was it sadly.

Stringchild, yes he is. The fact that he is a music scholar in a fantastic school still seems impossible - a year ago, he'd just taken grade 3.

I'm with you all in the "just wanting to know now". We started this as a "for experience" thing but she's worked her tiny ass off for her audition, came on in leaps & bounds & VERY MUCH wants this....
Email is almost worst than mail- cos email can come at any time without warning! I know when the postie will come in a day!

I'm quite relaxed about it all, as DS has little or no chance of getting in and both he and we knew that when he applied...but there's always that tiny voice that whispers, "...but wouldn't it be amazing if...".
I just hope he's not put off from trying again next year, or feels that it means he's no good.

I now just want to know too and shall feel nervous for ds all week until I find out . ( and repeatedly check my emails) Hopefully they will all get the results they are hoping for and we can continue with our nco journeys

It sounds like a wonderful concert!

I kind of do want to know our results now, and kind of don't want to know... if it's what I'm thinking, it's going to be quite tricky dealing with the fallout in this family!

Concert was lovely and was really great to see Main orchestra playing some fun pieces too - having moaned for the last few weeks about having to play 'moooooore Christmas stuff' DD really enjoyed it!
Good luck everyone waiting for results - I am bowing out of the thread now as DD is officially retired!

It was great . Very tired DS though!

It's results week everyone - good luck to all

How was the Winter Concert?

Mine is not packed - she is at school and we can't collect her until 9pm tomorrow, then early start for Birmingham Saturday morning! I am hoping that if I find the red skirt and a white shirt and bung them in a suit carrier, she will magically appear tomorrow evening with a bag containing whatever else she needs. If not she will be wearing whatever she comes home in for the whole weekend except for the actual concert!!

Thanks stringchild - he can't wait. He's all packed ready!

I hope so too

We have the winter course and concert next weekend. DS is really looking forward to seeing his friends then. Hopefully we'll hear very soon the following week...

Hahahaha niggle that made me chuckle. Not long at all. A fortnight's time and people might be starting to find out.....

Not long to go now..

made you look though!

Right, I must find some work to do.

Hapsburg, I agree they can sound awful, but not always . DD1's original oboe on the other hand made my ears bleed! Two oboes further on and a lot of technique under the belt and it now sounds lovely .

DD did 6 months on a mini-bassoon before moving on to a 'proper' instrument. Certainly gave her a good start, but my goodness those little instruments sound awful! Needs to be a very determined child to carry on whilst making that noise.

Mini - I have sent you a message with a link. See what you think.

Mini, DD2's teacher is well known for producing really good young bassoonists (not saying that DD can be compared to some of them!) and is firmly in the camp of using smaller instruments early on. DD2 had just turned 8 when she started on a mini bassoon in the January, she moved to a tenoroon in May of the same year and then onto a short reach, full sized bassoon by the end of July. It did mean that she was confident in the finger and thumb work as well as the blowing technique before she moved to the bigger instrument. She took Grade 4 in the May of the following year, that being her first exam.