Summer 21 music thread

My dd loved NCO probably more than anything else she has done. She'll apply for the mains this time around - fingers crossed.

Thanks everyone- I just shouldn’t imagine they will want a lot of bassoons - I find a little goes a (very)long way…

Bassoon will definitely be more in demand than flute I would have thought. My dd did a NYOS (Scottish) wind training course, and was one of only two bassoons. There were about 20 flutes and 7 clarinets. As it was online, they won't have been worried about balance, which suggests no other bassoons applied. It's not an auditioned course, the first level of NYOS is teacher recommendation that they are at the appropriate level.

@minisnowballs Apply on both instruments (or all three). There’s no harm since it’s free to audition this year, and your DD will get feedback if not successful.

@SE13Mummy No dates for Nationals yet unfortunately. But drop them a line and ask when they’ll be able to confirm dates.

DC2 is keen to audition for NCO again having really enjoyed this year's online offering and what they got to attend of the 2020 regional orchestra. I can see the dates for the Projects weekends on the website but can't seem to find the dates for the National courses - we've already booked our summer holiday for 2022 so if it clashes with the relevant residential, there would be no point in applying for it.

DD is going to have a go for NCO projects; I'm dithering a bit about recordings, I have a reasonable one, she is continuing working on same pieces so they should be better after a couple of lessons, otoh they asked for auditions in the holidays if possible and it would be quite nice to bat it off and not have it hanging over us when term gets busy. She's not too fussed, it would be exciting to do but it's only a couple of weekends.

thanks minisnowballs, it is frustrating but at the same time its a relief that she decided on double bass for the talent program. I suspect things with the flute will improve with time as she gets used to things.
I know dd was definitely "wanted" on double bass and I suspect bassoon is even more desired

Sorry to hear about the braces mendingfences- that must be frustrating!

Doesanybody, dd is first study flute, and the instrument her teacher wants her to audition is bassoon. My theory on this is that though there are fewer bassoonists, those that there are are very good- and dd is v small and summer born so has only had her short reach since January (mostly in lockdown) so is at a distinct disadvantage. She also has a cello- until recently that was her second instrument but it appears to have been overtaken…

Still - It’s nice the teacher is enthusiastic and she is state schooled and there was a distinct ‘widening participation’ slant to the nco emails so we will see.

@minisnowballs which is the instrument she's auditioning on? Some are very much more competitive than others but I'd personally still go for the first instrument audition too!! You really never know and also the 'Projects' scheme is a complete unknown this year.

Nco sounds excellent, although we have no personal experience. I am currently very pleased dd2 auditioned for her current program on double bass and not flute, braces are on and flute playing is errrm lett just say not good 😉

Interesting stuff re nco- one of dd2’s teachers asked her to audition (not sure what is meant by ‘invited’?) I’ve slung in the application form as the teacher says she’ll do the recordings for her and is keen for her to try.

I’m a bit bemused by it as it’s her third instrument that she’s been playing for a year and a bit and she’s only about grade 5(according to her teacher-who is a sunny optimist). She’s grade 7 on flute and when she asked her flute teacher whether that would be a better instrument to audition on she just laughed and said it was very competitive. (Dd2’is just 12 so going into year 8). All seems to depend so much on teacher and instrument- both in same music school

Thanks all.

DS plays french horn, in an orchestral capacity. Also piano and singing, but that's less relevant!

Forgot to mention - you’ll get a flavour of NCO by looking on their YouTube channel. Loads of videos from past concerts and also lockdown activities

We’d also endorse NCO wholeheartedly.

Both our DS have enjoyed the residentials and regionals. The older age group National orchestras (all that’s running next year) get to play at some amazing concert halls around the country. Don’t know what they’re planning for the projects, but they’ve lined up some very talented young musicians to work on the projects - see the recent press release by NCO.

There’s always a mixture of new attendees and old hands. Don’t worry - they all make friends they bump into at other music events.

What instrument @herbaceous? There are also specialist string and brass band national orchestras/bands, and local ones too.

Anyone know anything about the National Children's Orchestra? DS has been invited to apply - both for regional 'project' bit and the National one - bit just wondered what it was like!

For grade 5 it's in c)i), answering questions about an extract. "The second will be style and period".

@thirdfiddle thank you. I was confused because I have downloaded an aural skills grade 5 course for DD to have a look at and it refers to eras etc but I couldn’t see a mention of it in the ABRSM syllabus until Grade 8.

Yoda, g5 has an eras question, they give you 3 options (out of baroque/classical/romantic/20th c) and ask what features of the music suggest that era. G4 doesn't. I don't know about others as that's as far as we've got!

Quick question about ABRSM aural tests - is it only Grade 8 that contains questions about composers, eras etc?

Hooray QueenMabby! DS has his first music residential next week. I hope he will enjoy it as much. It feels quite experimental for him - DD had at least done whole day things first, but we haven't found that locally for brass.

And with you on the trying to sort out schedule for the term. I now have a whiteboard.

I would complain about summer hoodie kids being far too warm. If it wasn't for mine apparently wanting to live in fluffy dressing gowns. Yes including the hot days.

Well, my dd had a fabulous time on her residential. I spent 14 hours driving over the two days of dropping off and collecting but it was worth it.

She’s elsewhere with a 2 day orchestra workshop this week but not residential thankfully.

Just waiting for the first emails to sort out music lessons for the next academic year. My most dreaded time!

Just a comment on the hoody wearing....

I have one DD in a private (specialist) music school. She is only there because of her scholarship or we couldn't do it. She has worn her casual house hoody all holidays- not to 'show off' about where she goes to school but because she loves it and she's proud of her school and her house. This has had a really positive outcome recently when she went on a residential where she was a lot younger than many of the other participants. Turned out one of the older participants not only went to her school, but was in her house. It was an icebreaker that really helped DD and gave them a lovely connection.

Also, my state educated Y6 leaver has also lived in her hoody all summer too...

We are very lucky that we have the local authority "culture school" which offers subsidised lessons, but interest and uptake is still pretty demographically uneven, particularly in the cities. Its more even in the rural areas, but the choice is more limited and there arent the same options for orchestras etc.....