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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

NCO 2018

991 replies

stringchild · 23/08/2017 19:07

The new annual thread for those interested and/or auditioning! Ask questions, update your news - lots of nco parents on board and those hoping to be :)

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Original poster
stringchild · 22/10/2017 08:45

Trumpet - thank you; not sure how they are going to resolve people's wishes that as i guess there are numbers to consider too of both existing and new people...?

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Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 09:11

That's what I was thinking ( maybe that's why they got ds to try harder stuff ?) which I don't mind as long as he's allowed to try for the main orchestra again next year - when he's the right age. Hopefully this whole situation won't have disadvantaged him ( or anyone else for that matter)

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 09:14

That's what I was thinking ( maybe that's why they got ds to try harder stuff ?) which I don't mind as long as he's allowed to try for the main orchestra again next year - when he's the right age. Hopefully this whole situation won't have disadvantaged him ( or anyone else for that matter)

Doubleup · 22/10/2017 09:28

DD2 would be eligible for U11 again and looking at this year's numbers there were only 2 bassoons in U10s. Fingers crossed that she might get offered U11. One of her friends would be U12 and the other, although just turned 11 looks as though she is 13 and has the lung capacity to go with it, so they might put her up to U12. Trying not to think about it until December.

HouseFullofCats · 22/10/2017 09:53

Not a usual poster but hoping for some solidarity!

DD (11) had her audition yesterday on cello for U12s. She made U10s and U11s the last two years and attended regionals. Her pieces went well I think, she was only accompanied for one but the accompanist (also DD’s piano teacher) said it was very good. DD said that the other piece was fine.

DD is really worried about her sight reading. Prepared was mostly fine but said that she messed up towards the end of the unprepared which threw her off. She thinks now that she won’t get back in and is a bit down about it.

I think I’m going to try not to think about it until December.

Good luck to everyone still to audition.

musicathome76 · 22/10/2017 10:03

Audition done now. I am looking forward to hearing different pieces on the cello now...
There were 25 kids auditioning at our venue on the same day! Lots of interest. Is this usual?
My DS auditioned for first time (U10) with his cello. He said sight-reading was very easy, his pieces went well and he had a sweaty on the way home Smile. All in all a good experience for him.

When do they let us know the outcome? I went through the website and for the U10 they seem to have one residential and do they also play at the regionals once a month? Or is this something different?
My DS will enjoy it but as he has never done it before he was not worried/nervous.
Good luck for next week!

Doubleup · 22/10/2017 10:13

Usually let people know in early December after the end of year concerts.

Wafflenose · 22/10/2017 11:31

Trumpetmum he will definitely be allowed next year. Barring this year's autumn birthday confusing, they normally only bump them up a year if they're exceptional. A girl in South Westerlies did Main three times.

HouseFull that sound good. DD made two mistakes in her unprepared last year, and got in.

musicathome hopefully by Dec 10th/ 11th ish. One week in the summer and optional monthly all-age orchestra is correct. I think we get a lot more than 25 at our venue, but it's surrounded by large rural areas, and people come from a long way away.

Original poster
stringchild · 22/10/2017 12:00

House- that’s sounds great( my dd is not at all the natural sightresder of many here (Suzuki child) and often gets comments on her reports about it, but has still hit in for past four years. Your dc sounds much stronger😀.

Glad everyone enjoying it - total numbers auditioning are pretty much the same as last few years.

Waffle - I think dd is most worried about notnot getting in at all which would imply she has gone backwards😳

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Wafflenose · 22/10/2017 12:49

Goo has been very worried about that, but is having an unexpected burst of confidence last night. Probably just means she played the Mozart correctly for a change!

HouseFullofCats · 22/10/2017 13:30

Thank you Waffle and String, that’s good to hear - we will keep our fingers crossed Smile

DD tends to fixate on the negatives but seems happier today, she’s definitely moved on!

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 14:31

Waffle he's good but definitely not exceptional Smile ( and on paper not as good as some of the other under 12's though that's due mostly to him starting late and us being in no rush to take grade 8) we just have no idea why he was asked to do much harder sight reading Hmm I'm trying not to think about it too much he would be gutted if he didn't get in especially as I know he will feel that the trumpets weren't all assessed against the same standard. I have explained that sometimes it just goes like that and doesn't seem particularly fair - all part of the learning curve and his teacher reckons learning to deal with failure is part of learning to be a muscician- but he won't have to deal with ds's disappointment in December if this should be the case !!

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 14:50

String and waffle I've also told ds that if he doesn't get in it's not about going backwards that's just the way it goes with competitive auditions sometimes - dd is more used to the ups and downs of these than ds most recently when she didn't get a singing part in a show because she was recovering from an awful cold on the day of the audition.

Wafflenose · 22/10/2017 14:58

Trumpet, the only reason they tend to be asked to play on is if they are good enough to go up. I definitely think it's a good thing rather than a bad one.

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 15:11

Waffle fingers crossed ( though I think he would rather be with his friends!!)

Original poster
stringchild · 22/10/2017 16:37

Trumpet - i agree with Waffle (and my DD said she wouldn't be surprised if he was in Main when we watched the dvd); re going backwards - i think its because she may not get into u12s which of course she has already got into last year; that feels quite different to not getting into the next one. Anyway will soon be over and will be what it is - my main aim today is to stop her deciding to swop to do a brand new (as in never seen before today) piece.....

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Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 16:52

I feel your pain string ds will often decide to do that when he's asked to play something at school doesn't like to make his life easy !!

Nigglenotes · 22/10/2017 18:46

Can I just clarify something?

DD, 10, is going for 10's and under. Grade 5 and Grade 6 pieces. I know that there is a lot of variation with performance and tone etc, (violin), but its this a standard level for this age group? I know there might be some 9/10 year olds who will play grade 7/8, but I hoping this is exceptional.

So at the 11's, I'm guessing grades 6/7 pieces
12's, grades 7/8 pieces
and thereafter I imagine most have completed grade 8.

Just wondering. Regular NCO attendees would have a far better idea than me!

I always like to get my worrying in early, as in, there is never enough hours in the day to worry about theoretical, vaguely possible outcomes for something that hasn't happened yet. Like getting in to NCO to start with.

Trumpetboysmum · 22/10/2017 19:08

Niggle Theres a grades list somewhere and I think you have no need to worry Smile sure there will always be someone who at 10 has done grade 8 ds thought most of the under 12s violins were grade 8 but I think it's as much about how you play. Trumpet is a bit less competitive but ds had only taken grade 5 when he got into under 12s last year ( though played harder grade 6 ish pieces for the audition) . String and waffle will probably know more Smile

Wafflenose · 22/10/2017 19:18

Practically all of the string players have Grade 5 by the end of primary school. Some have far more, but that's always the way!

Kutik73 · 22/10/2017 22:27

Interesting. JD’s guideline under 11 is usually g5. So practically all of string players at NCO U11 are eligible to JD entry then. I wonder how often JD pupils fail NCO entry.

Original poster
stringchild · 23/10/2017 07:07

Kutik - we know children in JD who don’t get into NCO and vice versa; another example how grade level alone isn’t most meaningful measure. We also know children at specialists schools who do and don’t get in. And each year it varies a lot so being in for x years is no guarantee of anything.

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Kutik73 · 23/10/2017 07:32

Yes, string, I understand what you say. Requirements in each institution is different.

By the way, talking about the playing standard and age, all the violinists of 8-11yo I met at NCO are beyond g5 standard. And at JD, DS shares some classes with other young pupils aged 9-11, and all apart from one are G7-8 standard. One girl claims she is G5 standard and she happens to be the oldest in the group (and she doesn't play with other G7-8 kids, just sharing aural class with them).

Kutik73 · 23/10/2017 08:24

However the girl may have just started later than others (kids who are more advanced seem to have started by 6) as she appears to be a quick learner. So lots of factors and consideration to take account into the selection I think.

Kutik73 · 23/10/2017 08:34

I mean, for entering jd. For NCO, I believe attainment and skills are equally important to potential as they probably need those who can cope with their rather short and immediate program.