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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:
Greenstick · 23/12/2018 14:25

Hi everyone.

My daughter auditioned for u13’s this year but didn’t get in. Shame as she’s v talented, has never got less than distintion in any grade and I think could have really made a valuable contribution.

Can anyone recommend any courses they have sent their children on to be better able to meet the audition expectations? Is there some sort of NCO audition formula to crack here? Or have you all just “chanced it” with no prep or prior knowledge and somehow managed to get your kids in?

Is anyone willing to part with any of their secrets??SmileSmileSmile

Her instrument is violin. London area.

Boyskeepswinging · 23/12/2018 14:56

Hi Green! Unfortunately Violin is one of the most competitive instruments for NCO. Auditioning for U13s you're up against kids who were playing at Diploma level by age 8 or 9. The secret to my DS's success has been to play a minority instrument so there's far less competition. Sorry that's probably not hugely helpful but moving over to Viola may be a little less competitive?

Musicdoc · 23/12/2018 15:28

Hi Green, sorry your daughter is disappointed. Each year I think they choose based on performance on the day only... so better to choose a less challenging piece but play it really well, rather than a piece that is clearly too challenging. This is from 5 years experience with two string players, who have had associate / reserve / full membership different years.
My DD auditioned for U11s 2018 on violin (G7/8 pieces) and received associate membership. This year auditioned for U12s on viola (G6/7 pieces) and violin (G7) pieces and was successful with full membership on the violin.
Maybe your daughter could try again next year.
Lots of alternatives out there though - pro-Corda, NYSO, NSSO...
Hope that helps.

Greenstick · 23/12/2018 15:30

Diploma level by age 8! When do these poor kids get time to go to the park?!

Boyskeepswinging · 23/12/2018 16:06

They don't. Poor kids.

CoffeeTeaChocholate · 23/12/2018 16:15

Hi Green, so sorry your daughter is disappointed.

DD auditioned successfully for the training orchestra last year and under 10 this year on violin. I am not sure there is a formula really. For the training orchestra she did grade 4 pieces, this year grade 6/7 pieces. I think it is less about grades than how well you play your chosen piece as musicdoc says and about how much you appear to enjoy playing. DD also plays in a Saturday orchestra in addition to school orchestra and signs up for anything she can in school in terms of ensembles, duets with other instruments (very wide experience of different pieces).

Having said that, I think it will get increasingly more difficult though, violin is very competitive and some of the children are beyond amazing.

Greenstick · 23/12/2018 17:09

Hi, thanks alot for all the useful advice, partic re: other orchestras e.g NYSO and NSSO. Anyone’s kids done these? Also, I know it’s said that grades aren’t important, but my daughter was playing grade 6 level pieces, whereas most posters on this thread had kids playing more advanced pieces. She prob just needs to get more practice and another grade under her belt and try next year! They said they would love to see her again next year, but one never knows if this is just politeness...

Pippap1 · 23/12/2018 17:18

Hi I am sorry to hear that your DD did not get in.

My DD got in U10 this year. DD played previous grade 8 pieces at audition but I don’t think the grade is so important to get in. She has weekly private violin lesson but also sometimes takes international master classes since 6 years old. She practices 2/3 hours everyday but still has time to play on weekend. I have met prodigy children at international masterclass/competition and found it is more exciting for them to achieve goals, making people moved by their performance etc than playing at park. They don’t look poor but just amazing.

It may be worth for your DD to try JD in London. My DD is going to audition one of them next year.

I have DS who is a reasonably talented little violinist but I don’t think he is national level at all. He will try viola to audition NCO maybe a couple of years later or just stick to other orchestra such as Pro Corda, NSSO or local county youth orchestra. There are many options and I have heard very positive feedback about them.

Boyskeepswinging · 23/12/2018 17:30

I said "poor kids" because I always think about Vanessa Mae ...

Greenstick · 23/12/2018 17:41

I think she better start taking bassoon/tuba lessons!!

Boyskeepswinging · 23/12/2018 17:44

Or Percussion 😉

violinmama · 23/12/2018 20:44

My DD got in to the U10 this year but quite different circumstances to Pippap1. She was 7 at audition, played grade 4 standard pieces, has 15 minute lessons termtime only (often sporadically) and practises for 15 minutes most days. No way she would have the time for 2/3 hours a day 😳.

Luckyfab · 24/12/2018 07:30

Hi, I applied late for Regional Orchestra and the place for cello where all gone.
I thought to register my daughter for Regional Orchestra Associate Membership
Can I do that? What is the difference apart from the price?

Musicdoc · 24/12/2018 07:55

Lucky did you choose cello on the first page? I think you were supposed to just choose associate? I had to do the same for my son - the email explained things?

WindMum · 24/12/2018 08:04

If you have full membership you select the instrument if you have Associate membership you select an associate ticket.

Luckyfab · 24/12/2018 08:26

Windmum ok this means that being the cello membership sold out my daughter is out from the regionals then? such a pity!!!

Original poster
Stringchild · 24/12/2018 08:28

I think Lucky’s problem is the cello places are now all taken for her regional; they did warn us there were only so many places and some are reserved for associate members. So anyone who hasn’t signed up should do so ASAP as there are less places than offers in some Orchestras it seems. Lucky - I think you will need to talk to the office; and maybe there will be a cancellation or they can offer a different orchestra?

OP posts:
Luckyfab · 24/12/2018 08:32

Thanks Stringchild I will call them on the 2nd Jan. when the Nco office will open.

TrumpetVoluntary · 24/12/2018 09:00

Lucky - that sounds very frustrating. The places seem to have gone very quickly for some instruments. Hopefully there will be spaces in another regional orchestra.

nylon14 · 24/12/2018 09:21

There should be an option to add your name to a waiting list. We won't be able to do LDN seniors this year as we have other concerts on two of the three dates. So that's that is one space free.

WindMum · 24/12/2018 10:52

Maybe if Associate don’t take up places they will release them to full members? Currently there are 13 associate places left in our orchestra and only 3 instruments sold out.

tichey · 26/12/2018 20:08

Just to add that I logged in at 1140 on release day for regional membership for my daughter on an instrument place to see that her instrument was sold out too! 40 minutes after it opened! So luckyfab, you are not alone. I also will be calling the office to see if anything can be done. She is very disappointed and I am kicking myself for not being ready at 1100. I had no idea that there would be such demand, and had assumed that as long as I did it in the morning she would get a place.

TrumpetVoluntary · 26/12/2018 20:53

Hopefully there will be some rejigging when the office opens in January so that you can get a place. For South Easterlies, flute, clarinet, trumpet and bassoon are full but the others are showing places, so if different instruments are full in different orchestras then there might be some chances to switch. Also, as WindMum says, there may be some reallocation of associates places if they aren’t all taken up. Fingers crossed for both of you!

Pollymalex104 · 26/12/2018 22:42

We're struggling with the whole regionals aspect this year. (Full member, 4th year in)
Our problem is that such a limited set of dates removes flexibility from the process. We have a clash with the residential NYO Inspire weekend on the first date, in the same area, then three other dates, including the concert, conflict with the Youth Orchestra as they only meet for four weekends a term. Two of DS's friends, in the same section, also have similar scenarios with different youth orchestras. Ten half days (or thereabouts) gave some opportunity for compromise e.g half a day at one, then dash to NCO, but only four whole days will not be so easy to negotiate. Also, paying upfront is less user friendly compared to a monthly fee and the actual rehearsal time, from 11.00 to 4.00, is not that much longer than 1.00 to 4.30 once you have factored in breaks and lunch. It seems such a shame that in this format it will be over by the middle of the year as it was that sustained rehearsal project over time that bonded the orchestra and allowed friendships to develop. I can see that the NCO are obviously trying to formalise and regulate their regional outreach but the older players are going to find it very difficult to juggle everything and it would be an awful shame if the experience they bring is no longer viable.

Decafcoffee · 29/12/2018 22:17

Haven’t signed up for regionals here. We didn’t get London juniors and all the others are too far.

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