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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 2019

840 replies

stringchild · 26/09/2018 08:07

Traditionally for many years MN has had an audition thread; so here it is as the auditions start in a few days 😀

OP posts:
Jensboys · 11/12/2018 21:05

Decaf, It was mentioned to us over the summer at one of the courses as a way of reducing the admin as it takes a lot of resource to ensure the feedback given is legible, electronically scanned and the right feedback for the right child.

moralvictor · 11/12/2018 21:06

The inner workings of NCO are a little bit mysterious. I would be surprised if they didn't send feedback to us. Apart from being complicated, why wouldn't they? However, last year we received feedback for a different child along with our acceptance letter. So maybe they are prioritising the 'sorry but no' because that effectively closes their communications with them. And for the 'hooray, your in' people they will send the feedback later because what we want to know most of all is that our kids have made it. I doubt it is automated. I would cost that up and probably realise that it is cheaper to employ two temps for a week to send our emails than invest in an automated system that will be used once a year. By the way our DD is under 10s. She shrugged her shoulders very phlegmatically and said, 'I will text my friends to see if they are in too'.

Decafcoffee · 11/12/2018 21:21

So many changes this year! Struggling to keep up
Thanks Zaks

PQ77 · 11/12/2018 21:22

Hi all - thanks for the hand holding after the auditions back in October - just dropping in to say my very excited year 5 age 9 DD got offered u10 trumpet this afternoon.

Congratulations, commiserations and fingers crossed to anyone still waiting.

Can anyone shed any light on the regionals - would it be frowned on if she didn’t take part as I can’t see how it can fit in with other commitments and some tricky family dynamics? The residential in August would be amazing but I didn’t really appreciate how the regionals fit in - particular if she already plays in a local musical conservatoire and school orchestras of a high standard?

Trumpetboysmum · 11/12/2018 21:26

No don’t worry they don’t all go to regionals - lots do but it’s just not always possible - and well done to your dd PQ77 Smile

Boyskeepswinging · 11/12/2018 21:26

My DS has never had any feedback in all the years he's been in NCO. I had always assumed that if it was a yes you didn't get feedback.

Decafcoffee · 11/12/2018 21:29

Owlm I’ll keep an eye out for the regionals. Ds seemed to enjoy them so might be a good idea.

Jens I must have missed that one! I think it would be a shame if they scrapped the feedback for the “yes”

Moralvictor I agree it does seem strange that they wouldn’t send them. Love your dd’s approach. What instrument is she playing?

Nigglenotes · 11/12/2018 21:34

I heard that you can request your feedback if a yes, but they have concentrated on providing feedback for those who didn't get in so there is something constructive to work with.

Decafcoffee · 11/12/2018 21:34

Boyskeep that’s so strange! In all the years dd has auditioned she’s always got feedback.

Decafcoffee · 11/12/2018 21:35

Niggle thanks for that! I’ll be requesting feedback.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 11/12/2018 21:37

Nigglenotes, do you know someone in the NCO office?

Nigglenotes · 11/12/2018 21:50

Not particularly! But having done u10 regionals, you chat and whatnot.

I guess there is no point in refreshing for u11s until a bit later tomorrow.. I haven't told DD it might be tomorrow, as it would be a bit unfair with g7 exam at midday!

MumofJs · 11/12/2018 21:51

Hello everyone,
I am new here...my son just got into NCO 2019 😊 what should we expect?

moralvictor · 11/12/2018 21:53

Decaf - my DD is violin. She's already done training orchestra twice. First year she was terribly homesick, second year she did much better. Although she enjoys it, it's been a mixed experience. Hence being so phlegmatic. If her friends are not going she may struggle with internal motivation to be there.

kcmamma · 11/12/2018 22:04

Actually I’m worried mine will be the same and hate being away from home so kind of glad he only got regionals....Hmm

Owlm · 11/12/2018 22:15

All the regionals are at least 2hrs 30m drive for us, according to Google. But I know she'll want to go and it will be good for her to get to know DCs before the residential.

mankymango · 11/12/2018 22:31

Hi I am new here and waiting to hear about U11 violin. My dd is playing about grade 5 and goes to a state school. Are lots of violinists grade 8 even in the U10s and are they all in music schools. We are not expecting to get in but she may find it hard to mix with kids who are much richer or privately educated as she only learns at school.

mankymango · 11/12/2018 22:32

What standard are u10 violinists who got a place playing at ...just curious.

Rupertswife · 11/12/2018 22:39

Manky - nco has bursaries, so there is a mix of family circumstances. DS2 mentioned that a couple in his section were not paying fees, presumably because their families were on low incomes. The DCs seem to have a wonderful time, and are brought together by music. There is a mix of state, private and specialist schools and the standard in U10s violins was grade 4ish to real prodigies (DS2 was somewhere in the middle).

Best of luck to your DD! DS2 is also waiting for news of U11s.

teabiscuit22 · 11/12/2018 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Josamac · 11/12/2018 22:52

We are waiting for U11 too here. My DD was in U10 last year and made lots of varied friends. She went to regionals and enjoyed them but didn’t meet anyone there who was in the U10’s too. Seemed to meet older kids and those just doing regionals.

Typically though the favourite friends she made live at the other end of the country!

As others have said, the ability range was varied. Though I’m sure the residential was like a year of lessons! She improved sooo much!
Fingers crossed we hear tomorrow....

Ca05068000 · 11/12/2018 23:25

Congrats to all that have had good news today. For mankymandy - our U10 violin was accepted today, not at music school - just regular primary school, one lesson a week, playing at Grade 7 standard (did Grade 6 in the summer). Definitely not all private education/music school kids! Good luck, hope you get some good news for your DD.

Good luck everyone for tomorrows news...

Mendingfences · 12/12/2018 05:29

horsey my dd1 really enjoyed the nyos string training ensemble Smile

Radiodependent · 12/12/2018 08:27

Horsey, a very long time ago as a teenager I did a Nyos wind training course and it was really good, hope your dd’s goes well :)

Decafcoffee · 12/12/2018 09:05

Good luck today!!! ☘️

Manky there’s usually a mix of everyone in there. Some kids are absolutely amazing, some kids are homeschooled, some are in specialist schools but everyone there really loves music and it’s such a lovely environment for the kids. It will be my ds’s first time going away on the residential and he’s a bit worried about being away from home. I’m hoping he makes some friends in the regionals so the residential won’t be as daunting. Sadly the friends he already knows that auditioned didn’t get in so it will be all new friends. Fingers crossed 🤞

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