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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:
Original poster
stringchild · 03/10/2017 17:09

Hi no you don't need copies of music

OP posts:
Nigglenotes · 03/10/2017 20:36

Romance for the Gadfly, nightmare! G5 piece, but struggling with many F naturals and sharps in different positions - 2nd, 3rd etc. Seriously thinking of a backup. At least we have 3 weeks.

Nigglenotes · 03/10/2017 20:37

Sorry, that's violin!

TRL · 05/10/2017 18:12

DD1 had her audition yesterday. Said the panel people were lovely, she made a couple of mistakes in chords but figured they weren't that noticeable, said the sight reading was easy as ever, and came out positive & cheery. She promptly had a mega nosebleed on the way home (always has them when stressed) so I'm guessing that she was much more nervous than her bravado attitude was letting on. She'll be sad if she doesn't make it back in, I think.

TaggieOHara · 05/10/2017 19:37

Niggle - sympathies on your accidental issues. Unfortunately DS is hedging his bets at the moment and playing sharps flat and naturals sharp. . How is the vibrato coming on?

Great to hear that the DCs have had positive experiences at the auditions so far. DS's preparation is scanty (late change of piece, little time to practice) so I don't rate his chances. But the experience will be super useful if he does music scholarship auditions etc, a bit down the line.

Minimusiciansmama · 05/10/2017 19:50

Well done miniTRL

Trumpetboysmum · 05/10/2017 20:40

Glad the auditions are all positive experiences so far . Ds seems quite upbeat about his on Tuesday and is looking forward to a day off school Smile

bassclef · 05/10/2017 21:47

DS had his audition today - all went well he says, so just two months to wait now! Good luck to everyone who still has their audition to come

Original poster
stringchild · 05/10/2017 22:16

well done to those who have auditioned already - all sounds great!

Niggle and Taggie - well dd hasn't played her pieces the whole way through yet so think we may be the most ill-prepared of all :( Just not enough time/lessons (only had one lesson in 4months) so afraid she may well not get back in this year, unless she pulls it all together extremely quickly....

Good luck to the many of us remaining!

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Trumpetboysmum · 06/10/2017 06:50

String if it makes you feel any better ds was doing his usual thing of not getting to the end of one of his pieces at all last week even though it's a piece he has been able to play for ages ( I've now realised he often does this before exams etc) anyway with a few days to go he seems to have sorted himself out !! He also says he couldn't play his trumpet solos for the last nco course properly before the concert either - sometimes I think actually having to perform means their playing goes up a gear - your dd has lots of experience ( even though she's still so young) so hopefully something similar will happen - fingers crossed Smile

Doubleup · 06/10/2017 10:14

DD2 is having a bit of a wobble. Not so much the pieces, which have come on lots and her teacher was pleased with last week. She had an extra lesson mid week to make up for one she missed due to her Year 6 trip and they did nothing but sightreading. The teacher was getting a bit frustrated because DD always seems to play it quietly. She gets the notes right, the rhythm right and is good with the switches between bass and tenor clef, but she is naturally shy and hates the thought of making mistakes loudly. Any advice to boost her in the next two weeks? It's doing my head in! I feel a big Gin will be needed at the end of the process....

Wafflenose · 06/10/2017 10:20

If this was one of my two, I would just tell them that the volume won't matter in the slightest. Because it won't.

Doubleup · 06/10/2017 10:32

Thanks Waffle. The only trouble is that she does need to blow on the bassoon. For quiet notes you actually need a faster stream of air, apparently, otherwise the notes don't sound at all. I think the teacher has shaken her a bit by telling her (quite correctly) that they may well take someone who may not play so well, but has a big sound over her. She would be devastated if she didn't get in, but her friends did.

Kutik73 · 06/10/2017 10:54

Ah.., here you are. You guys are all here! I've never joined any thread other than the monthly music one. But DS just had an audition, so please let me join in!

The audition was a last minute notice and DS didn't get any input/help from teachers due to changing teachers and starting the new term late. Nearly withdrew but decided to have a go as DS likes this kind so thought there was no negativeness by trying.

He had his audition at St. Paul Boys last year. It was his very first audition and he had never done any ensemble/orchestra/exam, just group/private lessons at school. So it was a bit intimidating (though they were all friendly). This year, we went to a low key venue (for us, I must add). I think the last minute notice of the challenge and also so many things going on with secondary school tests/interviews/open days made the whole NCO thing somehow less intimidating and a lot more relaxing. So I guess it's not just the venue that we felt so relaxed, but really it was a very friendly place. I met a few parents and children in the waiting room and had a nice chat which didn't happen last year. We will even see one of them very soon again as I invited the daughter to come along to DS's orchestra!

I am happy to share any detail if it helps anyone who is auditioning. Smile

Kutik73 · 06/10/2017 10:59

The change of the feeling towards the NCO audition is from my point of views. I don't know if DS felt differently, or if he was more relaxed than last year like I was. I hope he was!

Doubleup · 06/10/2017 11:51

Kutik, you may find that because you were more relaxed, then your ds probably was too. Or maybe it was the other way round Smile

Kutik73 · 06/10/2017 13:10

Double, I'm the panicky one usually, so DS's calmness influenced me then. Grin

Due to the circumstances (no teacher, no time), DS picked two easy old pieces. Nothing was new technically, and no more than 5 mins in total! Suppose that also contributed to the calmness. Probably too simple for U11, but hey-ho.

Original poster
stringchild · 06/10/2017 17:42

Kutik - sometimes when they are busy and have lots of music on, they may relax as it's just one more thing rather than THE THING. Am sure relaxed is much better for playing well Smile

OP posts:
Minimusiciansmama · 06/10/2017 19:18

Well done minibassclef and minikutik

Good luck trumpetboy for Tuesday x

Kutik73 · 06/10/2017 19:47

String, that's exactly that. It was one of many things rather than THE THING. It must be more stressful for some, but for me it worked better mentally!

Good luck to trumpetboy for Tuesday. Is there anyone who is auditioning next week?

Kutik73 · 06/10/2017 19:59

Thank you, Minimusician. Smile

Minimusiciansmama · 06/10/2017 20:28

kutik next Saturday for my mini. She's very excited and determined to prove herself.... she's a fierce wee beast!

Kutik73 · 06/10/2017 20:48

I'm very much sure she will prove herself! x

Trumpetboysmum · 06/10/2017 21:29

I'm sure she will too mini Smile

bassclef · 06/10/2017 22:03

Thank you minimusician

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