Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Original poster
stringchild · 29/09/2017 19:03

Wow auditions already! We are also on 24th (think someone else is?) and haven't had a lesson still since mid June so rather exciting times....good luck to the first auditionees!

Welcome Folk - what instrument/age is dc?

OP posts:
folkmamma · 29/09/2017 19:04

She’s 10, auditioning for U11 on violin....

Wafflenose · 29/09/2017 20:02

Oct 25th here. Programmes and back-up plans almost decided.

Trumpetboysmum · 29/09/2017 20:57

It's always good to have a back up plan Waffle. Smile In fact ds's teacher had a really good idea yesterday and said that really for something like this he should have a number of pieces that he can play and then almost choose on the day!! This won't be happening this time ( I think who knows) as he's either got grade 7 or new stuff which isn't ready yet plus a couple of other pieces that he could play which are about the right level. In future though I think it will stop him getting so worried we shall see . Good luck for 25 th it's dd's birthday so we are off to Harry Potter world ( without ds who's away on a music course -) it's lovely to devote some proper time to her sometimes though we do miss him )

Minimusiciansmama · 29/09/2017 21:24

2 weeks for us. Had really hoped she'd have grown at least one front tooth by then but no such luck. So audition with clarinet half out the side of her mouth it is GrinConfusedGrin. It's tormenting me by being right there but not actually cutting.
We don't have a back up plan. Her two pieces and that's it. They are needed for a concert tomorrow and she started JD last week so we focussed on getting her ready for that..... she reallllllllly wants NCO though.

Trumpetboysmum · 29/09/2017 21:35

It's very difficult balancing it all isn't it . although I often think ds is largely oblivious and it's me that's juggling it all !!

Minimusiciansmama · 30/09/2017 04:35

I don't think they have a clue how much of our brains/energy etc juggling their little lives takes- but that's ok! It's taken a lot this week, I spent most of Sun-wed dealing with various music or ballet related situations/first days/dramas/paperwork!
Her 2 pieces are sounding good though, she's taken on board some helpful feedback. She's playing them both tonight at the concert, Grave for the first time publicly, so we shall see how she gets on!

Musicdoc · 30/09/2017 07:19

Good luck to all DCs.... auditions start today! Grateful at this end that we have 3 weeks to go as neither of my children have their pieces fully ready although they are getting there. I am accompanying them and have just realised that one of the pieces needs a lot of work - so some added pressure!

Doubleup · 30/09/2017 08:25

Three weeks for us too. DD2 had her lesson last night having missed last week's one (and a week of practice) due to her Year 6 residential. Was dreading comments from the teacher, but she came out while DD was packing away to say she was really pleased with progress and the way DD had moved on. Still not perfect yet, but a strong base to work from. She is generally blowing harder these days - which is good with a bassoon Smile! - but that may be because she has grown over the summer and her lung capacity is increasing.

Icouldbeknitting · 30/09/2017 15:06

Doesn't it come around to this time of year quickly? I wish you all the best for the weeks ahead, hopefully there will be no last minute PE accidents or illnesses to add to the fun.

Trumpetboysmum · 30/09/2017 16:44

Oh Icould I hope so too just waiting for ds's ds's hockey accident!! ( at least it's not rugby this half term Grin )

Wafflenose · 30/09/2017 16:57

Oh dear, Goo is doing hockey this half term, and she's clumsy!

Wafflenose · 30/09/2017 19:45

Finally....

Goo is going to play Hypnosis by Ian Clarke, and half of the first movement of the Mozart Concerto in D, to include the cadenza. Glad she has finally figured that out, with 3.5 weeks to go.

Radiodependent · 02/10/2017 09:55

Hello, anyone else's dc auditioning in London today?

Doubleup · 02/10/2017 18:41

I take it yours was auditioning today Radio? What instrument, and how did it go?

Nigglenotes · 02/10/2017 19:06

No Radio, waiting for Cambridge. Did you manage to extract any info from your minimusician about how it went.

I will be offering a small bag of sweets in the car on the way home...

Minimusiciansmama · 02/10/2017 19:19

Hope today went well radio! Sorry, I have missed what orchestra/instrument your mini is trying for!

Radiodependent · 02/10/2017 19:59

Hi, well we survived! The start of the first piece was very wobbly, the second piece was ok but it was the first one which would have been the right grade level for them I think, second one was just an old favourite. He claims sight reading went ok. I don't think he'll get in but it was great experience (pretty much the first time he's done a formal audition) and the panel were extremely nice. He's 8 (y4) and plays double bass btw!

Nigglenotes · 02/10/2017 21:26

Ah, Radio, goodish amount of feedback. Wobbly start could just mean 1st and 2nd note and if the rest gathered momento, it's forgivable due to nerves. Only 8! I guess that's the training orchestra, and, others might know better, but the double bass is I think rarer.

My DD is violin and one of many. I think that is why some switch to viola.

Radiodependent · 03/10/2017 08:55

Ha ha, I was accompanying so I know it was a bit more than the 1st two notes but yes it did recover and he was very nervous. Have minimal info re sight reading so who knows. I suspect they will say nice to meet you, try again next year! There was a viola player waiting with us who had got through several years in a row. She spoke very highly of nco.

se22mother · 03/10/2017 12:14

Does anyone know if you need to present a copy of the music for the panel at audition as at festivals?

Trumpetboysmum · 03/10/2017 12:44

You know I didn't think we did last year though I'm sure I took a copy just in case

Eroica · 03/10/2017 13:06

DD is trying for clarinet again in less than two weeks time... and no preparation has been done again. Maybe she'll twig why she doesn't get in this time...
She has a new teacher, due to school change, of only three weeks, erk. Sport has suddenly become far more important to her than music!

Minimusiciansmama · 03/10/2017 13:25

se22 thanks for asking that - I wondered the same thing this morning!

Radiodependent · 03/10/2017 13:44

No we didn't, they didn't even look at the music to check what it was.