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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

NCO 2018 (continued)

286 replies

TrumpetVoluntary · 26/12/2017 21:09

Hi
I thought I would start a new thread as the other one must be nearly full and I might have lots of questions as it is our first time!
My DD is in the U10s for 2018 and hopefully also in South Easterlies. I told my parents about her getting a place and they would like to come to her concert if possible (I understand that this is 11am on 19 August at Port Regis school) or have volunteered to look after my younger children instead if needed. Given my parents get booked up months in advance (they have a very active social life!) and Port Regis isn’t particularly near where we live so we might end up booking accommodation, then I wondered if anyone could let me know how this works:

  • do we get a limited number of tickets? I assume there must be some kind of limit.
  • would the concert be suitable for children (my younger DC will be 7 and 5 by then)?
Thanks very much.
OP posts:
TaggieOHara · 01/03/2018 11:24

Scary isn't it! Certainly the violin 1 parts are much harder than the sight reading test at the audition. DS2 is going to get valuable training in faking fast passages keeping up (essential skill for orchestral violinists). I am guessing that the U10s repertoire is a bit easier Smile

Radiodependent · 01/03/2018 14:45

Yes ds is in training orchestra so a lot of it is very tricky for him. Great challenge though!

Trumpetboysmum · 02/03/2018 08:06

Trumpet I was wondering that about the music too . Ds is currently the only trumpet in the easterlies and one of the pieces has quite a lot of trumpet which is very obvious . He also can't make quite a few of the rehearsals - they know this but we're keen to have him ( otherwise they would have had no trumpets !!) anyway. I wonder if they will let him borrow the score I doubt it but I might ask . Ds is of course super chilled about it - very good for the sight reading Grin
Niggle I'm I sorry I missed you last Sunday I'll look out for you in March it was all a bit of a rush we'd been in Oxford for the weekend!!

dominostein · 02/03/2018 11:51

Hi everyone, I am a serial lurker on this thread but am now emerging from the shadows.... My DD2 (8) plays trumpet and is in U10s and South-Easterlies this year. She couldn't get to the first rehearsal in February as we were on holiday but is looking forward to next weekend.

Quick question to TrumpetVoluntary - I have been trying to find out whether DD2 is playing Trumpet 1 or 2 (no idea how it all works as this is our first year) - did you happen to notice where there was an empty chair? The office is closed so DD has no idea which part to practise....

TaggieOHara · 02/03/2018 12:39

Welcome dominio! There are a few of us in U10s/southeasterlies here. I mailed the person who circulated the music to find out whether DS2 was violin 1/2. They responded pretty quickly in the evening. Maybe worth a try - even if the office is closed?

dominostein · 02/03/2018 12:54

Thanks taggie - I tried emailing the office yesterday but didn't get an answer (I phoned this morning and discovered that it is closed!) I have just taken your advice and emailed the person who sent the link in the hope that he might know...

Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 02/03/2018 13:52

Hi Domino
My DD is very keen to meet your DD! She noticed the missing place but isn’t sure which part your DD would be playing as the positions moved round a bit. There is another U10 in the trumpet section in south Easterlies (a boy) - it is nice for them all to meet each other before the summer course. There were also two older boys so they generally had one U10 plus an older child doing each part - which doesn’t really help you, sorry!
Your DD must be doing really well to be in U10s at age 8! Anyway, look forward to seeing you at the next rehearsal!

OP posts:
dominostein · 02/03/2018 16:34

Hi Trumpet, thanks anyway - at least if there are a few other trumpets then any parts DD gets wrong or misses out won't be so noticeable.

It will be really good for three of them to know each other before the summer - DD isn't particularly shy but will probably be quite apprehensive when the time comes around. Maybe we should work out a dress code for next weekend so we can recognise each other!

By the way, I shouldn't misrepresent her age - she turns 9 very soon! I put her into the audition more for the experience than anything else - I thought we would get some (independent) feedback about how she is doing and was quite surprised when she got in.

ThreeAndUs · 02/03/2018 20:39

Hi everyone, just figuring out mumsnet over here so please bear with me. In searching for something NCO related I came across this thread. My son (9) received a place in the U10s orchestra on trumpet and is really looking forward to the course in the summer. He is attending the South Easterlies regional rehearsals. TrumpetVoluntary I think we chatted at the first regional rehearsal! Hi dominostein! Smile

Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 02/03/2018 20:42

Hopefully the girls should find it fairly easy to find each other as same section but we could try to communicate what we are wearing to meet each other? Would help with meeting Taggie and any others too.

OP posts:
Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 02/03/2018 20:46

Hi Three - yes, I remember speaking to you. Your DS is the other U10 I mentioned above! DD said he was really good.

OP posts:
ThreeAndUs · 02/03/2018 21:05

TrumpetVoluntary and dominostein, did you manage to download and print off the music ok? DS had a practise of the Saint-Saens and Mussorgsky this evening. We're excited to see there is some John Williams on the programme, especially E.T.! I took him to the John Williams prom last year and it was amazing, very inspiring. Smile

ThreeAndUs · 02/03/2018 21:07

TrumpetVoluntary, did you manage to find out about mutes?

Trumpetboysmum · 02/03/2018 21:26

Does the music specify mutes or were you thinking about the course in the summer. I can always ask ds and see what he thinks you might need Smile though he does like he a mute ( gets one each birthday and Christmas) and now has a small hold-all full !!

ThreeAndUs · 02/03/2018 21:39

Thanks Trumpetboysmum.

The music specified mutes which my DS has (straight and cup) and I think TrumpetVoluntary was hoping to find out about mutes from DD's trumpet teacher. Do you have mutes for DD dominostein?

Kutik73 · 02/03/2018 23:26

I am banging my head on the wall... E.T. and Mary Poppins? Really? It would have been DS's heaven. Why didn't I choose SE...

Trumpetboysmum · 03/03/2018 06:29

Don't all the orchestras do at least one more modern " accessible" piece? Last year Easterlies did Raiders March this year they are doing Harry Potter - good trumpet part. Ds is v happy

ThreeAndUs · 03/03/2018 07:15

Hi Kutik73. I haven't seen Mary Poppins on the list for South Easterlies but E.T. and The Sound of Music feature. Smile

Kutik73 · 03/03/2018 07:22

Three, I meant Sound of Music! DS was playing Mary Poppins medley on the piano earlier so it must have stuck in my head!! Grin

Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 03/03/2018 08:54

I spoke to DD’s teacher last week and he is ordering the mute he recommends for her. Not sure she will have it for the next rehearsal but should be fine for the one after that.
Three - did you find the score for the Mussorgsky somewhere or did he play by ear? It didn’t seem to be on the NCO link - I found some simplified versions on the BBC ten pieces website and will print out the grade 4-5 one (that was the most advanced) but if you have a proper score would be interested to know where you got it from. Thanks!

OP posts:
ThreeAndUs · 03/03/2018 10:28

TrumpetVoluntary the only pieces not available to download as sheet music on the list were E.T. and The Sound of Music. I've printed all the others off. Or do you mean an audio clip?

Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 03/03/2018 10:36

Thanks - my mistake - it looked like only some were links and others were just text but actually they all seem to be links. Glad I asked!

OP posts:
ThreeAndUs · 03/03/2018 10:50

Yes I know what you mean, I thought that at first too! Great you've got the mute thing sorted. Smile

Nigglenotes · 03/03/2018 19:28

Hi everyone,

Shame the South Westerlies was cancelled, but completely understandable! We have missed going up to Lincolnshire this weekend for a lesson and Oasby Music group as I just couldn't imagine the A1 being a comfortable trip. Their public ensemble concert is in two weeks, so will have to practice at home.

Trumpetboysmum, I saw your mini at Easterlies - it wasn't hard as he was the only trumpet! I saw that the brass section had mobiles with them and were checking them when not needed. I guess they have some waiting around while the conductor works the strings! I would ask for the music as your mini has quite a strong role and I'm sure they would like him to be on top of everything. May see you in March. Having to miss April as DD has the opportunity to do a Stringcredibles workshop in Lincs. I think this would be good for her as it covers how to communicate with the audience in the way you act/talk/play. This is an area she really struggles with because of her stammer. Her last school performance started with her raising her bow to play before she had finished walking to the stand. Anything to avoid speaking, so she didn't even introduce the piece. I felt a bit sad for her as she practised several times saying the words beforehand, but just couldn't in the end.

DD is second violin at Easterlies and really enjoyed it. All the music is downloaded and the only one we can't access for practice is Harry Potter.

Trumpetboysmum · 03/03/2018 20:35

Yes it's the Harry Potter that Ds needs . I've told him about looking at his phone !! But he says they have too much waiting around to do and have to wait a lot . I'm not impressed !! He'd never do it in other rehearsals it wouldn't be allowed . I guess they're only children though . Hope to see you in March we can't make April either

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