NCO 2018

[stringchild]

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 :)

Thanks, stringchild :-)

(And DC was another Vivaldi, A minor, player! Second movement though.)

I will be happy when The Wait is over.

NSSO was a completely different audition process when dd did it - it was as much about seeing how the child worked and responded to the ‘adjudiactor’ To see if they they would join in/Get the most out of the course. And we heard the results within a couple of days 😉

Associate member & regionals here. Seems to be a pattern emerging 🤷‍♀️

Well done to your dc snowbellina - very appropriate username for the current weather!

We auditioned for NSSO last year, String, and DD had sat g2 exam but played a g4 piece for her audition. She was very quiet as she always is around new people (with her stammer) and I could tell he was concerned she would cope with a week away (even asking the head teacher of her primary).

So I emailed him a picture of her singing a solo on stage at a theatre (with head mic, in the centre of the stage, etc), showing that her initial shyness is a short term defence mechanism.

Said yes the next day.

There's the National Prep School's Orchestra too - don't know much about them other than they recruit right up until their residential course in the summer and your DC doesn't need to be at a prep school to attend. A local school encourages their children to apply to gain larger ensemble playing experience and confidence without (so I understand) the stress of an audition.

Niggke - that’s wonderful; I do like how they work

Congratulations Snow

Well done Snowbellina!, which instrument? Know what you mean about a pattern...

Has your mini been in NCO before?

NSSO sounds like a great alternative to NCO!

Congratulations to all gaining Associate Membership!

It is. And DD's playing took a little leap in development too.

Congratulations to MiniSnowbell and MiniMarmaduke.

DS2 got associate membership/regionals. I'm pleased he got that far, but a tiny bit disappointed he didn't get into the U10s, especially as I'm not sure we can make regionals mesh with his chorister commitments. He got pretty positive comments on his pieces - especially his musicality - but he had a 'variable pulse' in the sightreading.

Congrats to those who have had positive responses so far, and good luck to the rest of you

Well done MiniTaggie! I hope you can make regionals work for him - they're fab.

NSSO sounds intriguing, and Malvern is far more accessible than NCO was sounding. I am being treated to Maple Leaf Rag on endless repeat as DD prepares for end of term performance (tres Christmassy, no?).
How I wish there were piano ensembles!

My eldest has been through NCO and is now retired 👵! My youngest has had associate membership the last few years, but I'm not sure we can this year due to sporting commitments.

Well done miniTaggie!

Excellent news for minitaggie!

Variable pulse sounds quite a detailed analysis. DD thinks that counting is optional, and only at the beginning couple of lines..

Snow, do you think that being in regionals was really beneficial though, to musical development? Asking as you have been though the system and I have no idea.

Well done Snowbell, MarmaDuke and Taggie to your little ones...

NSSO sounds interesting. What age groups do they cater for?

Same for us - Associate Membership and Regionals. Very happy with that, she had such a fantastic time last year (same again for us) and it was definitely worthwhile. So, who will we be seeing at South Easterlies??? Xx

Congratulations to all who've heard that they have a place in regionals!