NCO 2019

Plus good experience for her- make do with what you’ve got. I agree it’s hard on percussionists (and pianists- but obviously not for NCO) having to play instruments that aren’t theirs though.

I know Boys- but what can you do- what’s done is done . She’s still only 9- she has time - regardless of the result. She was in U10’s last year and was auditioning for U10’s again.

I’m happy not having to nag too Coffee. The bassoon will see the light of day for the first time since the audition tomorrow at regionals.

Zak, well done to your dd for thinking on her feet and adapting..

Hmmm ... You're being very decent about it but I do think NCO should check that the venue can provide the requisite instruments before they advertise it as a perc venue. As I say, there are so few perc venues, why can they not have decent instruments? It's akin to removing all the violinists' E strings and expecting them to crack on with their rehearsed pieces.

Thanks Boys- to be fair the NCO staff were very nice and it isn’t entirely their fault- the venue shouldn’t host the auditions if they don’t have the right equipment. NCO staff said they would make a note of it on her audition form. Dd was fine, she adjusted her piece and played anyway. Will see how she gets on

Sorry, I misspelt your name, Zak, it's been a very long day ...

@Zac So sorry to hear this. It does frustrate me that there are so few percussion venues and then you turn up and the instruments are rubbish. One venue's xylo has been dubbed "The Splinterphone" by my DS because the bars are so badly damaged.

I do hope you made the organisers aware of the issues your DD had. It's bad enough that no other orchestral player has to just turn up and make the best of whatever is provided - they have their own, familiar instruments to play on. But to have prepared a piece for, say, a 4.5 octave xylo (which is pretty standard orchestral size) and then be faced with, say, a 3.5 octave is not good. Years ago the office used to check what size xylo/how many timps etc were needed before the audition but this appears to have gone out of the window of late.

Great to hear your DD used her initiative and I hope she gets a good result! Keeeeeeep drumming!

Auditions done- was a slight disaster for dd percussionist.....xylophone was too small (not enough octaves) and timps were a bit dodgy- little range so one of her timps was flat....so she had to rearrange her xylophone piece and play part of it up an octave.....but she did it- so all good.
Dd violinist went well.

Thank you Double, I am so relieved actually And so happy not having to nag her to practice the same two pieces over and over!!

Coffee, I’m sure you and your dd will be pleased to have got it out of the way. Enjoy half term!

Hi everyone,

Just been reading through the thread, good luck to everyone auditioning.

My DD has her audition for under 10 yesterday, not sure how it went. She managed to loose the music for one of her pieces a week before the audition (10 days to get new one delivered). We then managed to borrow a copy, although turned out 30% of the notes were wrong as other arrangement. After trying to correct from the piano part, we thought we were set. Then (as it was three pages), I had the brilliant idea to cello tape them together just before we left. Turned out to be in the wrong order!

Anyway, she came out looking happy.

DS (U10) got one line, DD (U13) got four, that got progressively harder.

Hi Welsh, a friends DD auditioned for u11 and said it was 2 lines, I don't know the level but she said the 2nd line was harder than the 1st.

Hi Welshharp. Dd said she had 3 lines yesterday and that was for U12. Last year it was 2 lines for U11. Each line gets progressively harder - not sure what level it’s at though.

Hi everyone, first time on this thread. My DD is auditioning for under 11s quick question re: sight reading for those who have had their auditions, roughly how many bars and around what grade equivalent?

Many thanks in advance

Crazy, she said that the piano and bassoon shared the tune at that point so it didn’t sound quite so awkward. She didn’t seem bothered and came out smiling. Probably not fitted as securely as it might have been. A learning experience if nothing else.

Double, I not think she needs to worry about that sort of blip. These things happen ( water in keys strings breaking etc) but it's how you deal with them - and she sounds like she coped brilliantly.x

DD2’s audition done. She seemed fairly happy with it although had a little glitch when her reed managed to work its way off towards the end of her second piece. The accompanist kept going, DD sorted it out within two beats and came back in at the right place, so hopefully they will view it as a quick and unfazed recovery... Time will tell.

I mean auditioning generally obviously but he is keener on regional than residential at the moment.

Hello, just noticed this thread. Ds (9), double bass is auditioning for under 10s on 28th at gsmd. We haven’t received an email yet either, will ask them at regionals on Saturday. Last year Ds did training and south easterlies. He’s not sure about the residential thing again (though he made friends so that might influence him) but auditioning for regionals so we will see. He is extremely laid back so far, not sure if that’s good or not!

Patrick we received the e-mail from Harriet Rabin 26 days before the audition date. Check through your e-mails for one from Harriet - and maybe check your junk folder if you can't find it.

Thanks Trumpet. I'll double check with the accompanist and depends on her schedule we may have to cancel her but it's not the end of the world as we don't normally use accompanist neither (but prob a bit annoying for her as we have already booked her for the day).

Yes it’s 15 minutes warm up then play . It was all pretty slick and running to time yesterday though hope the accompanist works out - ds always plays without one because we have to travel such a long way to audition

Ooh, it's warm up time!!? How long do we have for warm up? Hope it's no more than 15 mins. The pianist has to dash out as soon as she finished playing with DS...I guessed it's DS's audition slot so thought it should be fine as audition won't last more than 10-15 mins usually. I might have to cancel the pianist...