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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

NCO 2018

991 replies

stringchild · 23/08/2017 19:07

The new annual thread for those interested and/or auditioning! Ask questions, update your news - lots of nco parents on board and those hoping to be :)

OP posts:
Minimusiciansmama · 25/10/2017 03:46

waffle audition day thoughts being sent your way! X

Kutik73 · 24/10/2017 21:14

Good luck to Goo!!

Trumpetboysmum · 24/10/2017 21:09

Good luck tomorrow Goo!

Wafflenose · 24/10/2017 20:18

Well done to her, String. I've been thinking of her all day. Did she do two auditions in the end? She is brave to play something new. Goo has changed piece less than two days before (I think it was a couple of years ago), but that was to something old!

We are going to plump for Under 12s if Goo is fortunate enough to get in.

Final practice here tonight. Mixed bag!!

Trumpetboysmum · 24/10/2017 19:30

Glad it went well String . Yes I think they have confused themselves maybe with the age change and what they are asking the different ages to do !

Original poster
stringchild · 24/10/2017 19:13

ah thank you all - DD very happy with her pieces; one small blip which she played through. And yes she did indeed play the new piece she picked up on sunday. always hard to know how sight reading was so will wait for the report to get a more accurate sense of that!

Trumpets - dd too had a odd thing re sight-reading in the warm up room; she pointed out they don't normally play to the end and so didn't. I think maybe it is something to do with the age banded change

Waffle, you were right as ever - she did get that question, and apparently said she really didn't mind which she was in which i imagine means she will get u12s if anything.

OP posts:
Nigglenotes · 24/10/2017 17:35

Let us know how it went!

Minimusiciansmama · 24/10/2017 13:06

Good luck ministring x

Kutik73 · 24/10/2017 11:57

Good luck ministring! Xx

Trumpetboysmum · 24/10/2017 11:24

Good luck today mini string and everyone else auditioning this week and next Smile

Nigglenotes · 24/10/2017 11:16

Thanks Taggie, we have two more lessons before Friday, so I'm hoping they will be useful. Good luck for Monday!

String, is your mini auditioning today?

Wafflenose · 24/10/2017 10:59

Hope all goes well today String!

TaggieOHara · 23/10/2017 22:02

Niggle - just checked the grade list and violinists in the U10s range from grade 4-8 www.nco.org.uk/join-in/eligibility/grades so your DD is spot on.

Very best of luck for Friday!! DS2's audition is on Monday. He is finally getting some practice done, now it is half term!

Wafflenose · 23/10/2017 10:39

I know a few around grade 3. They are mostly 8-9, but able to move their fingers really fast and make a nice sound.

Original poster
stringchild · 23/10/2017 10:14

Niggle - I think it’s all about the day; they don’t take enough info on the application forms to do it any other way

Kutik - I agree re playing levels being high generally (although it allbtake grades which is why it is not an absolute science)

OP posts:
Nigglenotes · 23/10/2017 10:06

Thanks for your replies. I guess a lot depends on how you play on the day also. We have one of our "emergency" lessons today, to fine tune things for Friday. DD is doing g5 in Dec, so hopefully around the right level for the 10's.

Meanwhile she is upstairs completing a sample theory exam for the real thing in a few weeks. Obs some serious bribing going on, as it is the holidays! Baking chocolate chip cookies later.

Kutik73 · 23/10/2017 08:34

I mean, for entering jd. For NCO, I believe attainment and skills are equally important to potential as they probably need those who can cope with their rather short and immediate program.

Kutik73 · 23/10/2017 08:24

However the girl may have just started later than others (kids who are more advanced seem to have started by 6) as she appears to be a quick learner. So lots of factors and consideration to take account into the selection I think.

Kutik73 · 23/10/2017 07:32

Yes, string, I understand what you say. Requirements in each institution is different.

By the way, talking about the playing standard and age, all the violinists of 8-11yo I met at NCO are beyond g5 standard. And at JD, DS shares some classes with other young pupils aged 9-11, and all apart from one are G7-8 standard. One girl claims she is G5 standard and she happens to be the oldest in the group (and she doesn't play with other G7-8 kids, just sharing aural class with them).

Original poster
stringchild · 23/10/2017 07:07

Kutik - we know children in JD who don’t get into NCO and vice versa; another example how grade level alone isn’t most meaningful measure. We also know children at specialists schools who do and don’t get in. And each year it varies a lot so being in for x years is no guarantee of anything.

OP posts:
Kutik73 · 22/10/2017 22:27

Interesting. JD’s guideline under 11 is usually g5. So practically all of string players at NCO U11 are eligible to JD entry then. I wonder how often JD pupils fail NCO entry.

Wafflenose · 22/10/2017 19:18

Practically all of the string players have Grade 5 by the end of primary school. Some have far more, but that's always the way!

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 19:08

Niggle Theres a grades list somewhere and I think you have no need to worry Smile sure there will always be someone who at 10 has done grade 8 ds thought most of the under 12s violins were grade 8 but I think it's as much about how you play. Trumpet is a bit less competitive but ds had only taken grade 5 when he got into under 12s last year ( though played harder grade 6 ish pieces for the audition) . String and waffle will probably know more Smile

Nigglenotes · 22/10/2017 18:46

Can I just clarify something?

DD, 10, is going for 10's and under. Grade 5 and Grade 6 pieces. I know that there is a lot of variation with performance and tone etc, (violin), but its this a standard level for this age group? I know there might be some 9/10 year olds who will play grade 7/8, but I hoping this is exceptional.

So at the 11's, I'm guessing grades 6/7 pieces
12's, grades 7/8 pieces
and thereafter I imagine most have completed grade 8.

Just wondering. Regular NCO attendees would have a far better idea than me!

I always like to get my worrying in early, as in, there is never enough hours in the day to worry about theoretical, vaguely possible outcomes for something that hasn't happened yet. Like getting in to NCO to start with.

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 16:52

I feel your pain string ds will often decide to do that when he's asked to play something at school doesn't like to make his life easy !!