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Extra-curricular activities

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

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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bassclef · 29/11/2017 21:06

Thanks stringchild - he can't wait. He's all packed ready!

hapsburg · 30/11/2017 18:21

Mine is not packed - she is at school and we can't collect her until 9pm tomorrow, then early start for Birmingham Saturday morning! I am hoping that if I find the red skirt and a white shirt and bung them in a suit carrier, she will magically appear tomorrow evening with a bag containing whatever else she needs. If not she will be wearing whatever she comes home in for the whole weekend except for the actual concert!!

Doubleup · 03/12/2017 22:03

How was the Winter Concert?

Original poster
stringchild · 03/12/2017 22:17

Doubleup - it was wonderful:) and fun!

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bassclef · 04/12/2017 06:10

It was great Smile. Very tired DS though!

It's results week everyone - good luck to all

hapsburg · 04/12/2017 07:42

Concert was lovely and was really great to see Main orchestra playing some fun pieces too - having moaned for the last few weeks about having to play 'moooooore Christmas stuff' DD really enjoyed it!
Good luck everyone waiting for results - I am bowing out of the thread now as DD is officially retired!

Wafflenose · 04/12/2017 08:38

It sounds like a wonderful concert!

I kind of do want to know our results now, and kind of don't want to know... if it's what I'm thinking, it's going to be quite tricky dealing with the fallout in this family! Confused

Original poster
stringchild · 04/12/2017 09:01

Waffle - fingers firmly crossed that that is not the result; hopefully there will be regionals for the one you unsure about and maybe more.

the u13s were amazing last night (as were the Main) - feels such a step up from u12s (even though u12s were brilliant this summer too)

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Trumpetboysmum · 04/12/2017 09:33

I now just want to know too and shall feel nervous for ds all week until I find out . ( and repeatedly check my emails) Hopefully they will all get the results they are hoping for and we can continue with our nco journeys

Floottoot · 04/12/2017 10:21

I'm quite relaxed about it all, as DS has little or no chance of getting in and both he and we knew that when he applied...but there's always that tiny voice that whispers, "...but wouldn't it be amazing if...".
I just hope he's not put off from trying again next year, or feels that it means he's no good.

Original poster
stringchild · 04/12/2017 10:26

Hi Floot - is your ds yr7? A few of us are yr 7 on here

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Minimusiciansmama · 04/12/2017 10:30

I'm with you all in the "just wanting to know now". We started this as a "for experience" thing but she's worked her tiny ass off for her audition, came on in leaps & bounds & VERY MUCH wants this....
Email is almost worst than mail- cos email can come at any time without warning! I know when the postie will come in a day!

Floottoot · 04/12/2017 10:34

Stringchild, yes he is. The fact that he is a music scholar in a fantastic school still seems impossible - a year ago, he'd just taken grade 3.

Original poster
stringchild · 04/12/2017 10:40

Floot - he sounds v talented so don’t be daunted by the grade thing; as a scholar he is prob passsionate and a performer too

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Kutik73 · 04/12/2017 10:50

I'm the same as Floot. It was rather an impulsive decision so we meant to count the experience than the result, though we did have 'but if...' in the back of our head. But since DS's confession of 'I totally messed up a supposed-to-be easy piece', all the hope of 'but' and 'if' have gone, and we are surprisingly chilled about it. DS says it's not the end of the world if he couldn't get in this year and he would prepare better and try again next year. I really hope he still feels the same when we see the actual result - chins up and keeps trying his best. Suppose his musical side won't suffer much as he has plenty stuff going on anyway, but he would miss the friends who he played hide and seek all the time. DS was too young to exchange the contacts so that was it sadly.

Wafflenose · 04/12/2017 10:56

String I have tried not to think about that possibility, because she really did mess up spectacularly. She had a blisteringly good cello piece, then STOPPED for a good 10 seconds and made up the ending, and her next piece was rubbish, sadly. Clarinet was solid and expressive... until she squeaked non-stop through the last two lines of her Sicilienne, and missed the third sharp in one of the sight reading pieces. Fortunately for her, she forgot all about it by the following day, and romped through her SWMS audition successfully. I'm a bit gutted for her because she should have done so well at the NCO, but her inexperience definitely showed. Goo can get away with last minute preparation and not practising every day. Rara can't. (Not that it was, just highlighting some of the differences between my two polar-opposite children!)

Floottoot · 04/12/2017 11:10

Waffle, it's harder when you KNOW they are able to play better than they manage in the exam/audition, isn't it? At least when they play well and aren't successful, you don't have the "if only"s.
They are so young to be performing at all; for some, it works in their favour because they haven't yet started to worry about the outcome, but for others, it's a big deal and they are desparate to do their best.
Fingers crossed for Rara.x

violinistmum · 04/12/2017 12:10

Just checking in to see if anyone has audition news yet?! My ds is desperate to know, but as it's our first experience of this we have no idea what to expect. I'm dreading breaking the news to him if it's not good! The best of luck to everyone waiting to hear. Not long to wait now!!

Musicdoc · 04/12/2017 12:16

Violinistmum I just popped onto the thread to find out the same.... not long now... would just be good to know either way, but both of my children are desperate to get in this year, whereas over the last few years they were a bit ambivalent. Good luck all Smile

Nigglenotes · 04/12/2017 12:25

It must be harder if you have already had the experience and definitely want to do it again. For DD, if she doesn't get in, I hope it won't be too disappointing as she hasn't been in NCO yet.

Concert sounds like it was fab!

violinistmum · 04/12/2017 13:00

I agree Niggle...at least they don't know what they're missing out on. It must be really tough on the children who've made friends and then aren't able to continue. Fingers crossed we will all know soon enough Smile

Wafflenose · 04/12/2017 13:19

I haven't heard of anyone with news yet. In previous years we have heard on December 5th, 7th and 7th, so it's early yet.

bassclef · 04/12/2017 13:24

I think it's trickier this year with the change in age banding. DS wasn't affected by the change and auditioned for Mains after being in U13 this year (and U12 the year before. However we've no idea how many of the current main orch in his instrument are young enough to reapply for Mains for a second year, which could increase competition for places significantly.

Nigglenotes · 04/12/2017 13:31

This is true Bassclef. DD went for the 10s orchestra, but there would be a number of children who have already played in that age band who would have reauditioned for the same group and have that extra experience.

Original poster
stringchild · 04/12/2017 14:38

Bass - def agree; dd dears not even getting into the same orchestra as she got into last year (although is happy to repeat a year)

Waffle - I think the email saying the first and second week in Dec after yesterday’s concerts has advanced all our anticipation Grin nonnees fromanyone at our end either

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