NCO 2019

@dinosaur
Percussionist's mummy here. Your DD will need to play one piece on each of snare, timpani and tuned (we've always done tuned on xylophone so I'm not sure what else would be provided, snare drum and timpani are provided). Yes, take your own sticks. We've never used an accompanist. Your DD will need to sight-read on snare, timpani and tuned. When my DS was little I used to go in with him to help him set up the perc (eg xylo to the correct height etc) but now he's older he does all that himself.

Please just shout with any queries - we're old hands now!

Hello - has anyone got experience of auditioning on Percussion? DD going for her first audition at the end of the month. We are assuming we just show up with mallets and a good attitude. Any guidance much appreciated!

Rupertswife you were spot on! 4 bars and no shifts. She was so relieved as I had been giving her grade 5, 16 bars to try out Mean Mommy. I figured it was better for her to come out saying it was easier than harder Plus she's no longer afraid of sight reading. Thanks so much for your advice.

Well done mini owlm. They are looking for overall quality of playing. Slips don’t matter, especially at your DD’s age. Glad the sight reading went well!

I hope she played well. No idea as we couldn't hear from the waiting room. Any DCs auditioning this week?

Glad it was a good experience owlm sounds like it went well !

Well done to miniowlm! Glad she enjoyed it. At this age, it has to be a positive experience.

Yes I'm glad she enjoyed it. She will want to audition again next year, even if the result isn't what she wants

Sounds like she enjoyed it and played well, owlm - well done to her!
Slips really don't matter - we're only human. 😊

They asked her where she lived... she reeled off her whole address I've explained they meant what city. Then they asked who her teacher was. Apparantly there was a 3rd question but she can't remember it

Yes I think you're right Crazy, she said everyone was very nice. She said she would have liked to go back in and do it again. She was very nervous before she went in so they put her at ease.

Audition over. DD came out smiling and said it was fun so I am very relieved the sight reading was not as bad as we had feared. DD said she could do it...and breathe. Her pieces - she had a slip up on one bit. She said she just couldn't remember what came next bless her.

Our problem with NYO would be the commitment. I understand NYO has quite heavy commitments? Even NCO seems a bit tricky this year as he's auditioning for U12 so if he is successful he'll have a course twice a year instead of just summer. It's great but may clash with something else.

I didn't realise that. I assumed that as NCO stopped at 14, one naturally progressed to NYO

Every day is a school day on MN!

I don't think not doing NCO needs to stop mini doing NYO, Patrick.
I get the feeling the new management of NCO are trying to make it more like NYO, with regards to being more modern and innovative but there must be plenty of NYO members who haven't been through NCO previously, and likewise, many NCO players who don't go on to NYO.

Thanks, Floot. To be honest I don't know if DS continues auditioning for NCO so perhaps NYO never come across his path which would be a great shame as I know he would enjoy the experience. Interesting to see the difference between NCO and NYO. I know they are different organisations yet somehow expect to operate similarly (audition every year, etc). My confusion must be simply because of the name though!

Patrick, don't forget my experience was (whispers) nearly 30 years ago, plus I am a flautist, so different to string auditions possibly. I'm not even sure if younger to 're-audition every year back then, or whether you simply stayed for the duration, which would explain the id as of.working your way.up.

My friend's daughter was at JD and went in at the back of the 2nd violins at 15...before becoming leader at 17 a couple of years ago,so the idea of progressing still exists, it would seem.

I think 15 sounds about right to audition.

Is it too late to start trying?

I am a bit confused by Floot's experience. If 17 is considered to be too late, when is the best age to start trying? I thought the earliest age would be 14/15. Then 17 doesn't sound that old... I know you can try before then but I am not planning to let DS try at least until he becomes too old for NCO purely for social reason - he needs the children at his age. So if he wants to try NYO, he'll do it at 15, 16 or even 17.

How frustrating floot ! Playing in the NYO must be a very special experience, and I’m so sorry you missed out

Sorry to hear that mini- truffle didn’t quite make it this time. I hope she has another try next year. It sounds like she was close! And it even says on the publicity material that few get in the first time! She did fantastically to get to the second round.

Very very good luck for this week’s auditioners!! Go team mn!!

Oh floot what a shame.... sounds like you made the best of the situation but it must have been very disappointing 🙁

I can still remember how gutted I was,Eroica - I would happily have gone in on 15th flute, just to he a member. I have no idea why no-one suggested auditioning sooner - I had been at JD since I was 12, got grade 8 distinction before I got there, and 3 other members of my wind quintet had got in a couple of years before.

I did become principal flute of the NYWO of GB for a couple of years, but it wasn't quite the same.

Oh floottoot what a horrible experience! How would you know that, unless it was spelled out to prospective players in the information?

I'm sure she must be disappointed, Truffle, but she's done so well to get this far and it bodes well for next year.

I auditioned for NYO when I was 17. It was a very bittersweet experience, because I was told I was absolutely good enough to get in, but had left it too late - you go in at the end of the section and work your way up, and by then I was too old to do that. I remember the then director, Derek Bourgeois almost shouting at me, asking me why on earth I hadn't auditioned before.