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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 :)

OP posts:
Wafflenose · 12/09/2017 21:56

I would have to have a word with the teacher, and have done in the past, out of DD's earshot.

Original poster
stringchild · 12/09/2017 21:57

so audition slots arrived but not on day we asked for and when we have a (shared) accompaniast for...

OP posts:
Nigglenotes · 12/09/2017 22:05

That's unfortunate, String, could you email and ask to change?

Wafflenose · 12/09/2017 22:08

Hmm, that's a shame. Is that for both instruments? I wonder if there might be space somewhere else for at least one of them?

We're not expecting to hear for a few more weeks.

Nigglenotes · 12/09/2017 22:09

Thanks Waffle, I will have a think about how to do this without giving offence or appearing to be overprotective / neuromummy. Not easy!

Doubleup · 14/09/2017 21:58

DD2 is due to audition on bassoon in the second half of October. I'm assuming it would be for U11 due to the change to school year ages, so she'd be repeating that. One of her friends from the last two years would be the same, but the other would be U12. Preparation is mixed here with 11+ coming up and a school residential week next week.

Pieces are (I think) the second movement from the Hurlstone Sonata in F and the 4th movement from Telemann Sonatina in A minor. I say 'I think' as her teacher changed one of her pieces the day before the audition for U10, so anything is possible!

The longer it takes for the e-mail to come, the more I doubt myself that I actually put the entry in....

TaggieOHara · 17/09/2017 21:45

Double up - I have already been through a changing audition date palava, so know that DS2 will be on 30/10. We haven't had a slot yet.

Thanks all for sharing your opinions and thoughts up thread on U10 violin audition pieces. After much agonising, I have decided he will play the 3rd movement of the Vivaldi A minor and Liebesleid. He started the Vivaldi properly this week and is getting on well. However, he has very little practice time now, because of chorister commitments, so it may be that this year is more for experience (his and mine!).

Wafflenose · 21/09/2017 08:02

Surprisingly, we have heard already, so a fraction over one month's notice! Thanks, NCO! Goo isn't remotely interested in choosing her pieces, or practising though.

violinistmum · 21/09/2017 13:35

Hello everyone. I found this discussion whilst searching for info on the NCO auditions. My sons violin teacher thought he should audition for the training orchestra, but TBH I'm a bit concerned about the level expected in sight reading. Does anyone know if the sight reading looks similiar to what they are given in ABRSM grades, and if so, which grade should his sight reading be comfortably at for training orch? Looks like a great experience - just hope he can manage the sight reading part!

Wafflenose · 21/09/2017 13:40

Hello, the harder (5 minute preparation time) sight reading for Under 10s is one line of a piece between Grade 1 and 2 level - more early Grade 2 if I had to swing one way or the other. The unprepared (30 seconds to look at it in the room) is also one line, but easier. I can say this with every confidence, because I have overheard my own daughter preparing the harder one when she was younger, and I had a pupil get in one year. She had a phenomenal memory, and came out and played both pieces of sight reading to me from memory, which was so helpful!

The standard for Training will be similar, or perhaps a bit easier if they are feeling nice.

violinistmum · 21/09/2017 13:55

Thank you Wafflenose. That's much appreciated. Wow, what a superstar to memorise her SR and play it back to you! My little man should be ok with that...although you never can tell how it will go on the day Smile

Wafflenose · 21/09/2017 13:56

When I'm preparing children for Under 10s now, I have them learn a whole Grade 3 piece (a page or so) for the five minute one. They come out laughing when they see how much shorter and easier the real one is!

violinistmum · 21/09/2017 14:20

Great tip Wafflenose. I'll try that too!

violinistmum · 21/09/2017 14:25

I was mostly worried about position shifts and more complicated rhythms in the SR, but sounds like that DS can wait a couple of years to experience that joy!

Nigglenotes · 25/09/2017 19:50

Just got our moved audition day and time confirmed!

DD is practising her pieces every day. She did ask me if I would be disappointed if she didn't get in, but I said they would be crazy not to pick her, but also that many children started playing at a much younger age (DD started at 8 and turns 10 shortly).

Doubleup · 26/09/2017 22:42

We finally have a date and time for DD2's audition; I did put the application in after all! I was beginning to doubt myself Smile

Trumpetboysmum · 27/09/2017 06:33

Yours must be quite late on then double . Ds's is in 2 weeks time thank goodness Grin can't wait for it to be over his teacher is away which then leaves me to encourage and make helpful comments ( this never goes well) !!

Doubleup · 27/09/2017 07:59

It's at the start of half term Trumpet, so 3 1/2 weeks. DD2 had no practice last week due to her school residential, so we are trying to get her back in the swing of things. Also encouraging more practice on her guitar. Having stagnated for a couple years since doing Grade 1 due to changes of teacher and her bassoon teacher's major expectations, she has had another new teacher who wants her to do Grade 3. Changes in teacher were not sought by us; music service teachers, one of whom left due to ill health and another who has gone to continue his guitar studies. New one seems very nice and very well qualified too, so we'll see. They have over 40 children having guitar lessons at DD's school, nearly 10% of them!

Minimusiciansmama · 28/09/2017 05:40

So who's first to audition, does any one have one next week? It occurred to me yesterday just how fast it's coming round. We are just over two weeks away now.
Happy practising to all the minis preparing away xxx

violinistmum · 28/09/2017 10:47

We have a date for DS's audition. It's 24th Oct so he has some time to prepare. It was a last minute decision to enter and the sight reading will need work so we're seeing this more as an experience this time. However, my mini musician is getting more excited by the day!

TRL · 28/09/2017 11:24

DD has hers next week, minimama, on Wednesday. She had her first lesson since June last Sat and has sorted one piece with her new teacher (just started JD this term). She's going to play some Mozart variations as her other piece, has nailed the theme and almost learnt all but one of the variations this week - she'll select the variations to play with her teacher this Sat. She seems pretty horizontally laid back about the whole practice thing but I know is keen to get in again so may do a flurry of prac on Sun? Hmm Too last minute for my rational liking but seems to be her way of doing everything.

Trumpetboysmum · 28/09/2017 14:41

Ds has his on 10th he really wants to get in again but recently changed his mouthpiece plus has been doing some really tricky high note high intensity playing at school, these 2 things seem to have affected his playing ( in a negative way) luckily teacher is now back and is coming round for an extra lesson so fingers crossed it all gets sorted . If not there's always next year ...

bassclef · 28/09/2017 18:08

Ds is on Thursday...

Trumpetboysmum · 28/09/2017 18:26

Ds's teacher always seems to know what to do ( thank goodness) I think he's feeling better about it all now good luck to everyone auditioning over the next few weeks Smile

folkmamma · 29/09/2017 18:52

Hi everyone! Wow, I feel late to the party this year!!! 11 days until DD’s audition and I must confess, the nerves are kicking in. She’s had the most wonderful year at Regionals and we are both desperate for her to get back in! More pressure second time around eh!? She’s worked really hard and there’s been a massive gear-shift in her playing since last year, but I’m guessing that’s true for most of them....