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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Anyone auditioning for NCO?

195 replies

Wafflenose · 13/09/2014 22:07

Just that, really. I thought we could do with a supportive thread!

It will be DD1's first time, and it will be on her second instrument (flute), which I know will be very competitive. We are well aware that she might not get in, but this is possibly her best shot - it would be her first and last chance at Under 10s. She'll still be 8 when she auditions, but will be 9 by the end of the year. I did ring up a few months ago to check what the standard is likely to be, and the person I spoke to wasn't sure yet, as it's a new orchestra. He said probably similar to Training Orchestra. As a lot of 8 year olds won't have started the flute yet (or only just started), he said it would be worth her while trying out this year. I imagine this window of opportunity will slam shut in a year or two though.

If you've had a child who's done it before, what instrument do they play, and what level were they when they got in?

OP posts:
1805 · 15/09/2014 18:14

1st time audition for us. U13 on trombone.
not quite sure how competitive it will be.

janet41 · 15/09/2014 21:42

Cello and clarinet (first audition on this) for us; dd is 8 and is an associate on cello this year and absolutely loves the London regionals (although its a huge commitment for us as we are def not in London, we have nomad wall but one of them)!. Waffle - has dd chosen her pieces? Think we are there on clarinet ones and def have one fixed for cello. Audition in less than 3 weeks so......

janet41 · 15/09/2014 21:43

Should be 'made all but one of them'!!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 15/09/2014 21:53

Pieces still open to debate, janet. She just isn't interested in getting ready - she says she wants to get in, but not do the audition! I have explained that's not how it works! She has a variety of pieces on the go, so I need to sit down and listen to them really.

OP posts:
pigsinmud · 16/09/2014 12:53

How exciting for you all. Good luck! Ds2 (14) is auditioning for the county youth orchestra on Friday.... I know, not quite the same league as you lot! He is terrified. It's a huge step forward for him to even agree to do the audition as he hates playing alone.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 19/09/2014 09:45

Ooh I hope everything goes well for schilke's son today!

Just had DD's NCO audition time through the post... while I was on the phone to their office checking they'd received her application! It's in about 3 weeks. She has plenty of pieces to choose from, but we haven't really sorted it out yet. Whoops!

OP posts:
KittiesInsane · 19/09/2014 17:27

DS (16) is auditioning for our county YO next weekend, Schilke, if all goes well. There's a certain amount riding on this audition, as they'll lend him a better instrument for the year if he gets in (much, much better instrument... about £7000 of better Shock).

Good luck to your son!

pigsinmud · 19/09/2014 20:26

Good luck to your son kitties. Ds2 was in a very bad mood when he left.....he never wanted to do it, he's rubbish, he can't even play the piece etc.....

KittiesInsane · 19/09/2014 20:56

All sounds very normal to me, Schilke! The exams I worry about are where DS goes in full of misplaced confidence...

pigsinmud · 19/09/2014 22:59

Well, he's been given a term of attending rehearsals and see how he gets on and not playing in the concert...unless he feels very confident and then they'll listen to him beforehand. Ds2 is gutted and sees this as confirmation that he's rubbish Sad

KittiesInsane · 19/09/2014 23:04

I'd say that means he's got in, but told them he was nervous, so they're breaking him in gently -- well done to him!

Ishouldbeweaving · 20/09/2014 09:52

Schilke - if he was rubbish he'd have got the "thank you, try again later" letter so he's got to be of the right standard for the orchestra. This is a win not a fail.

They must see a lot of applicants who are nervous at audition and don't give their best on the day. He has a term to settle and show what he's like in the group, he has a chance to shine at each rehearsal - it's a good thing. Based on the County Wind Band that my son is in, 14 is young. That might be another reason why they want to ease him in gently.

pigsinmud · 20/09/2014 11:10

Thank you. He is much happier today although worrying that it'll be too hard! So he now wants to do it for the term. He said most of the people he spoke to were 6th formers. He has a tendency to look at things negatively, but dh & I managed to get him to see this as a positive.

I told him I was really pleased that he went to the audition as he does not like an audience if he's playing alone....even if it's only 2 people!

Ishouldbeweaving · 20/09/2014 13:36

DH said that at my son's audition everyone looked to be nearly adult. We did wonder whether it was a last push for their personal statements. When we saw them in concert there were a couple of under 15s but most looked much older.

Your DS has done well to get in at his age, it is very much a positive. It's a mindset thing though, you can look around and say "I'm young, they must all be better than me" or "I'm young, I must be good to be here".

janet41 · 27/09/2014 19:38

Bumping this thread given the nco auditions start this week. Waffle - has dd settle on her pieces now? Dd has her slots on Friday - we are now are certain of 3 of her 4 pieces....

Original poster
Wafflenose · 28/09/2014 12:26

Er... almost, Janet. She now wants to do a brand new one, eek! In the other, she says she isn't going to do the ornaments, because she couldn't do them perfectly first time! I know that a solid performance without is better than a wobbly performance with, but the frustrating thing is that I know she's well capable of some grace notes and trills! I guess she is still learning how to practise really. I will do my best to encourage, and leave the final decision to her flute teacher. I think she will make her do the ornaments!!

OP posts:
notanotherinstrument · 01/10/2014 17:54

Audition done - was DD the first??

janet41 · 01/10/2014 19:26

Looks like it - only seem to be three of us auditioning on this thread. Did DD enjoy it?

notanotherinstrument · 01/10/2014 20:00

I think so - she loves both pieces and it's a nice opportunity to perform them. Sounded like it went OK (window open)! We will see......eventually!

1805 · 01/10/2014 21:32

ds on tuesday. (U13 - trombone)

AriaBanjo · 01/10/2014 23:10

10 yr old DD is auditioning for U12 orchestra on Violin this week. She was in the Under 11s last year, but we're not sure if she'll make it this year - hopeful though!

If anyone has auditioned for Under 12s on violin before - what level pieces did you play?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/10/2014 14:15

Ooh, are there 5 of us now?

MiniWaffle's is on Wednesday. She has her last flute lesson tonight, and is currently practising for about 10 minutes a day!! I don't think she understands the level of competition... but maybe it's better that way.

Will be thinking of janet's DD tomorrow.

OP posts:
janet41 · 02/10/2014 15:42

Thanks Waffle; dd finally agreed piece number 4 yesterday.....

Aria - are you tomorrow too?

Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/10/2014 19:33

Eek!

MiniWaffle just had her lesson, and although she improved during it, she is NOT playing well! I've had this kind of thing happen to pupils just before exams, and they usually tend to go on and do fine, but DD1 isn't prone to this kind of thing, so I'm panicking a bit...

She has an easier piece on standby in case it all goes horribly wrong over the weekend.

OP posts:
feelingold42 · 03/10/2014 13:10

ArioBanjo
very interested to see a reply as my daughter auditioning on Violin for under 12s as well, what level pieces is your daughter playing ?

Melx

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