Hi drummersmum,
I rang them and asked if she needed to play Timpani, as she's never played one before, they asked how old she was and decided that she didn't need to because her age/size. They said if she gets in, then she'll need to have access to Timpani before the course starts (But to be fair, I think its a long shot). So she only has to do Xylophone/Snare.
Not sure what she'll do for Xylophone, she's been playing a grade 2 piece and a grade 4 piece so will leave it up to her.
Snare- she's picked a grade 3 Trinity piece.
(Don't normally use Trinity, but their snare/xylophone books were gr1-5 so thought that might be handy to see what the level of each is like)
It was on their Facebook page that they were struggling for percussionists to audition, so I asked her if she wanted to try it. She of course said yes!
I think she only wants to do it because her sister (9) is doing an audition.
Her teacher at school only does drum kit too, but I've signed her up to local music service, so she's having lessons on xylophone/snare and hopefully a little timpani soon (although they are shorter than I'd like) .
She has done little piano though, so seems to be getting on ok.
Its a shame NCO were so dismissive of you when you rang,
When I rang they were ok...... but we will see, good experience if nothing else, and she can always re-apply next year when she's a little older and more experienced.
She'd rather audition on drum kit though hahaha!