NCO 2019

It is me or the orchestral excerpts for this year audition are quite difficult?

Thanks Blueberries, I've just had a look.

Have you looked at their facebook page? The various sections of the different orchestras do a 'breakout' video where they do something creative, and there was one for the U11 horns. It won't answer most of your questions, but things like general ability, gender split, etc might be obvious from it.

Does anyone have a French horn player in U11s this year? DD2's teacher has suggested we look into it for her but if successful, it may mean she would have to miss another ensemble she enjoys so it would be good to hear a bit from one of this year's French horns about their experience e.g. how many in the section, the gender split, how much rehearsal they get as a section, if anyone uses a horn support such as a Pipstick or ErgoBrass, if there was much transposition at sight... and anything particular to French horn.

Jensboys yes ds was much less homesick this year and liked Port Regis better than the training orchestra venue last year.

Confused, we were there with DS and thought it was excellent. The children clearly enjoyed the week.

Anyone else at the under 10s concert yesterday- we so enjoyed it, well done any dcs on this thread.

LOL'd at yesterday's Tweets from Mains. They look like they're having so much fun.

Thanks Double and Folk - I'll see how he does with the pieces and we can choose ones which he's comfortable with.
Folk - I haven't had chance to look at the excerpts properly yet - I'll print them off today and get started on them this week.

Lovely to see the short films on the Twitter again. They look like they're having a lot of fun.

Mini - always better to play pieces well than to overstretch and not quite manage it. DD will also be auditioning for U10 cello with G4 pieces. Have you looked at the excerpts yet? Tchaikovsky is hard...

Minnie - might be best just doing two pieces he is very comfortable with and can perform well, rather than trying to play one at a higher level if he’s not so assured with it.

Looking for a bit of advice. DS will be applying for U10s for the first time this year on the cello. Would you think it would be better to do 2 grade 4 pieces, or stretch himself a bit and try 1 G4 and 1 G5. I'm not musical at all and feel a bit out of my depth!

I thought most of them had phones last year at U10s. They have to hand them in though and are only allowed them for a couple of hours in the afternoon. DD had a basic phone which she could use to call or text but couldn’t do much else. It made her and me feel better to know that she could contact us if needed, but we didn’t get that much information from her while she was busy at the course! But she wasn’t homesick - I can see that some children would react differently so I guess it depends on your child.

Ds had a Nokia last year just to call/text us with but it actually was a bit annoying as it made him feel more homesick to speak to us so not sure if we will bother for U10s this year.

Thanks Doubleup! I will talk to my kid about it then!

My DD didn’t have a phone when she did U10. Although she has had one since, we’re lucky if we get a couple of short texts in reply to specific questions. They are kept pretty busy. A phone can be useful for them keeping in touch with friends though.

Hi All, just wonder if anyone will give kids mobile phones when they go to residential? Will you buy any data such as for video chat?( do they actually have time to chat with parents?) Thanks for your information!

When they check in at the start of the course there is usually a table selling programmes for the end of course concert and a variety of NCO branded goods from wallets to pencil cases, rubbers, sharpeners etc. They had car stickers earlier in the year too. Not sure how much comes out during the week, so might be best to buy anything then.

My DD has usually taken around £15 - £20 and come back with some/most of it. There are sometimes a few NCO branded bits and pieces they can buy - I think I was given a shopping bag one year, and there was also a little teddy... but really its just for the tuck shop...

Just wondering how much pocket money children normally take to the course? Is it just for sweets or is there something else they spend it on?

My DD has used a black school skirt too. Hers just covers her knees when she sits. It doesn’t have to be full length.

Hi Pippap1, I just bought a black school skirt from supermarket. Does the skirt need be a long one? I thought knee length would do?

Thank you for your comment. Black trouser is a good idea. It's easier! DD prefers to skirt. So, I ordered a cheap long skirt via eBay. If it does not fit for her, we will just go for a black trouser!

Pippap, they can wear black trousers if that’s easier. I sent my DD to U12 with trousers and a skirt - she wore the trousers. DD is very slim and finding a skirt long enough that wouldn’t fall down was a challenge. We ended up with a stretchy jersey material skirt with an elastic aged waist through Amazon. I think it was marketed as a ‘modesty skirt*. If you wanted something more substantial, try Black Dress Code.