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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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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:

AriaBanjo · 03/10/2014 14:08

Audition today - she said she was nervous, but felt it went ok. She has auditioned with grade 7 pieces - what about your dd??

Waffle - why does your dd have 4 pieces to do?

Good luck all

AriaBanjo · 03/10/2014 14:09

Sorry - I meant Janet, not waffle

janet41 · 03/10/2014 14:19

Hi because two instruments :)

AriaBanjo · 03/10/2014 14:31

Oh I see!

janet41 · 03/10/2014 14:35

Waffle - dd felt that she played worse in the audition on her 'main' instrument than she has in all her recent practices; think she was a bit overexcited. So better your dd has that before the audition than in it. Other instrument she was very happy with, but she is a relatively new starter so def a long shot. Organisation and the experience were as positive as last year, so I have no doubt she will try again next year whatever the outcome.

Good luck to all still auditioning and don't forget to update here in December :)

Original poster

Wafflenose · 03/10/2014 20:58

That sounds generally positive, janet. DD1 always delivers on big occasions - at times she hasn't played as well as usual on exam days, but her lowest result has been a merit. She is better today, so I think she was just getting her knickers in a twist. I wish she was playing old, reliable pieces instead of new ones, but she's headstrong and determined. I hope it's a positive experience, regardless of the outcome.

What level of pieces did your DD audition with? I think ours are the same age, so just interested as to what the standard might be.

OP posts:

janet41 · 03/10/2014 21:08

Hi - dd is in year 4; main instrument she played a grade 6 piece and a non syllabus piece of around grade 5 standard; other instrument grade 3 pieces. she nownthinks she would have been better off with an 'old' piece rather than the grade 6, but she is ok with it all - she knows she worked really hard in the run up and learnt a lot from it, even if it didn't go quite as she hoped today. It's easy to forget how young they still are! Also who knows how it really went until we get the feedback sheets :)

Original poster

Wafflenose · 03/10/2014 21:14

Thanks! My DD is in Year 4 as well.

I spoke a member of NCO staff on the phone around June time, who said the Under 10s was a new orchestra was brand new, and they didn't know yet what the standard would be, but probably similar to Training Orchestra (Grades 2-5 I think). MiniWaffle has been playing (loads and loads) of Grade 4 pieces for absolutely ages - the entire old syllabus, lots of busking/ Lloyd Webber/ Disney/ fun/ studies/ scales, and now lots of the new syllabus, so she's very solid at this level, and a good sight reader. I wonder how many flutes they'll get though? In the year above her at the village school, there are 3 flute players of Grade 2-3 standard already, so it's clearly quite a popular instrument.

Her first instrument is Recorder, and like your DD she is around Grade 6. However, she can't audition on that!

OP posts:

AriaBanjo · 03/10/2014 21:34

I spoke to someone about this - Under 10s is brand new and has been put together as there are children who are that young and advanced enough on non string instruments to put a full orchestra together. Training orchestra is strings only, as string players tend to start earlier on their instruments and at a higher level younger - or so I have been told!

Dd got in to under 11 orchestra last year on grade 6 pieces, but I also know people who auditioned on grade 7 pieces and didn't make it. Not sure what exactly they look for?!!

janet41 · 03/10/2014 21:34

Hi yes DH rang and they said much the same; guess its hard to predict how many children will audition on wind and brass at this age - but I assume there will be quite a lot of year 5's who could be Under 10s too. Your dd sounds like she has a very good chance indeed esp with the sight reading.

Original poster

Wafflenose · 03/10/2014 22:00

Thanks. Now we have to decide who's going to accompany her, as her teacher has offered to come along. In a way, it makes more sense if I do it because I can practise with her every day... but if she wants to have her flute teacher, that's fine as it takes the stress off me!

OP posts:

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 10:50

Hello,
My ds aged 9, audidtioned on the flute she said she was very nervous. they where very nice in the audition. just is the under 10's going to be a full orchestra or wind orchestra?

Original poster

Wafflenose · 04/10/2014 10:55

It will be a full orchestra. My 8 year old is also auditioning on flute next week, and is getting wobbly about it. What pieces did your DD play?

OP posts:

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 11:00

hope the audition goes well, my daughter unfortunately said she played some wrong notes.

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 11:01

oh it will be a full orchestra? she played boiling point from grde 5 abrsm book and gavotte from her grade 4 book.

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 11:04

your daughter sounds very talented for so young?

I am also wondering about how many flutes will they be up against?

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 11:09

My daughter also auditioned on the violin so if there is an under 10's full orchestra then there will be more chance of her getting in. Although as the standard are so high I am keeping my expectations low.

Does anyone have any idea of what they look for in the audition?

Original poster

Wafflenose · 04/10/2014 11:52

It's our first time... but I've heard (from children at my school who've auditioned) that a good tone and good sight reading are important.

My DD played Boiling Point over the summer and enjoyed it. Her teacher gives her all sorts of things to do, so I didn't know it was Grade 5. She is playing Sonata in G and Caramel Carousel from the current Grade 4 list, for her audition. I am regretting not entering her for Grade 4 this term now, because I think she has probably peaked already, and the exam will now be around March!! She didn't do Grade 3, and at the current rate of progress might end up not doing Grade 4 either. She is probably not much younger than yours though - she is 9 by the end of the year, so it's her only shot at Under 10s.

OP posts:

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 12:32

That's brilliant, yes I do not so the grades with my DD, she plays grade 6-7 pieces aswell for fun but her teacher wanted to keep it fairly comfortable for her in the audition. Yes my daughter really loved playing boiling point.

My DD said the sight reading went well and wasnt phased by it, her teacher said she is good at sight reading that is her strong point apparently, however I would not know any different as I don't play any instrument or read music.

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 12:52

is your DD audition on wednesday?

janet41 · 04/10/2014 15:39

Hi butterfly are both ur ds and dd 9? Def a full orchestra but there will also still be the strings only training orchestra. Of course the very talented can be placed in older orchestras so if your flute player is that advanced that might happen.

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 17:29

hi janet, i have on DD she tried out on friday for flute and violin.

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 17:31

did i read your child did 2 instruments aswell, how did i go?

janet41 · 04/10/2014 17:45

Yes cello and clarinet - on Friday too :) went ok I think - some small blips on the cello. But who knows!

butterfly2 · 04/10/2014 17:50

when is the earliest the under 10s/trainning will know there fate?

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