Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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 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:
teabiscuit22 · 11/10/2018 14:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ZakStarkey · 11/10/2018 15:23

Northerners here, auditioning for U12’s violins and U10’s percussion.

PatricksViolin · 11/10/2018 15:36

No apologies needed, teabiscuit (your name makes me hungry by the way)! Come to our monthly music thread, you'll find me asking many many questions nonstop...

I would say you may like to be careful about attempting harder pieces. DS was playing some complicated pieces before summer, but I don't think he would use any of them for the audition. I don't know the grade as he doesn't play out of exam books, but he seems to be going to play something simpler than what he's been playing for study purpose. Something simple enough for him to pick up without spending too much time on and without struggle.

Having said that, I remember someone on the past NCO thread claiming they tried ambitious pieces and got in. So please take my word as an example. Your DD's teacher would be the best one to judge, I suppose. Does your DD's teacher have any experience in NCO? If so she/he may be able to give you more pin-point advice on which piece to go for.

PatricksViolin · 11/10/2018 15:41

Oops, sorry forgot to answer to your question! DS was asked if he was in NCO before, that's all. Some seem to get asked more. But I think it's more like an attempt to make kids feel at ease or just social gesture so I don't really think it matters what you answer.

ZakStarkey · 11/10/2018 15:43

I would say better to play a grade 6 like a grade 8 er, than play a grade 8 piece like a grade 6 er-
It’s not what grade it is- but how it’s played- as my dd violinist tells me.....often! 🤣

PatricksViolin · 11/10/2018 15:45

It sounds like we are on the same page, Zak. Smile

folkmamma · 11/10/2018 17:30

Hi Tea! We are not auditioning this year for one reason or another but have for the last two. My DD (violinist) would be U12 this time. Our previous two auditions she has been just on the lower end of the grade standard listed on the NCO website. Each time she has gotten a reserve place and associate membership (Regionals). She is now playing at a solid G7+ standard and I think this year would have been her best chance yet, although I wouldn't have been totally confident of a full place as the standard is very high. As others have said, it's quality of playing rather than difficulty of pieces, so better to play G6 confidently than struggle with something too hard. Most of the kids we know in U12's are around G7-8+. But that doesn't mean your DD won't get a place because I think the 'thing' they look for is hard to define. Getting a balance of geographics and demographics certainly comes into it too, they need complete regional orchestras as well as good age banded national ones.

Ps I'm afraid we are in the southern/JD/expensive instrument club 😘

Doubleup · 12/10/2018 11:27

Just catching up on the thread. Glad the sight reading has been clarified - I had noticed that prepared sight reading was not included in the info, but had wondered if that was an oversight. I’ll be able to tell DD2 so she doesn’t get thrown on the day.

Not long to go now, but I’m not sure how much more practice we’ll get out of her. Band practice tonight, but her accompanist is coming to the music centre to do a run through with a few dc, so at least she will get a good focussed half hour. Hockey match tomorrow and an all day music course on Sunday with not much option to miss as they have 3 sessions a year as part of the gifted and talented provision. Her sister is playing in her scholars’ concert on Monday and I’m not sure how the timings for that work and then we have run out of time! There will be a collective sigh of relief when it’s all over, whatever the outcome, but getting in this year will be a long shot coming so soon after the secondary school start.

Trumpetboysmum · 12/10/2018 12:18

Teabiscuit good luck to your dd . I think it’s better to play grade 6 pieces well than try something harder . They are also looking for good tone etc . Ds plays trumpet so it’s different ( and the standard isn’t as high for younger orchestras - but competitive as they don’t have many seats !!) but he has always auditioned on pieces that he can play confidently. Definitely work on the sight reading - I always end up doing this with ds as his teacher doesn’t often have time . Having said that they know what they are looking for as ds didn’t t do especially well on on piece of sight reading last year and still got a place . Ds is auditioning tomorrow for main . I have no idea if he's good enough for main orchestra we’ll see ...
Oh and they don’t all have expensive instruments and live in the south and go to jds etc - we don’t !! But lots do ( it’s been quite an eye opener for ds - but in a good way I think )

PatricksViolin · 12/10/2018 14:08

Trumpet, if my memory is correct it wasn't like miniTrumpet didn't do well but as he was so capable he was challenged with harder task unexpectedly. He had to do what he didn't need to do for his age section and as he managed to impress the panel he was put in a year older orchestra when he was eligible to two age groups. I know trumpet gets super competitive at this stage as you say less seats. And I know he's juggling so many duties at the moment. But I feel he'll do well. Best of luck for tomorrow.

Trumpetboysmum · 12/10/2018 14:27

Thank you Patrick . In the end he went in the right age band orchestra - which was a big relief to him he wanted to be with his friends !! However I think he is nervous this year because of last years sightreading - it unnerved him somewhat so we’ll see he’s had an amazing 2 years so one more would just be the icing on the cake really ( it’s not as though he doesn’t have other music stuff going on !!)

Crazygirlmama · 12/10/2018 15:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rupertswife · 12/10/2018 15:35

Good luck trumpetboy!

And yes - teabiscuit - best to play safe [note to self for next year!]. Less stressful as well!

Eroica · 12/10/2018 15:50

Echoing others teabiscuit, tone and general musicality is what's important. Good sight reading too.
One of DDs friends didn't get into violins U11 last year (G8, JD etc) despite having been in twice before, he's good, but was probably spread a little thin with school entrance exams at same time.

My two had their auditions now. DD was happy with her's (but she only got into U12s last year from reserve list!); does it help if last year's tutor was the assessor this year? Grin
DS came out smiling, which is a win for us- he never performs, or does exams, due to anxiety. He begged to be put in for NCO but I didn't actually expect him to be able to go through with it. Don't fancy his chances, but I'm glad he did it for the experience.
Roll on early December!

Eroica · 12/10/2018 15:54

Sorry, for some reason this thread isn't appearing in my 'threads I'm on', so I do apologise if it seems like I'm ignoring posts. I saw this in active Confused

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 12/10/2018 16:17

Yes, good luck to trumpet and anyone else with auditions coming up!

Crazygirlmama · 12/10/2018 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trumpetboysmum · 12/10/2018 16:35

Eroica that’s good news about the auditions glad they went well Smile

Doubleup · 12/10/2018 18:04

Good luck to Trumpetboy for tomorrow!

Floottoot · 12/10/2018 22:27

Good luck, Trumpetboy!!
Well done to both mini *Eroica"s.

Eroica · 12/10/2018 23:43

Thank you for the good wishes.

Good luck for tomorrow trumpetboy

Original poster
stringchild · 13/10/2018 05:33

Trumpet - good luck😀

Best wishes to all those still to audition - we have a week to go still) and glad everyone has had a nice experience so far!

OP posts:
Trumpetboysmum · 13/10/2018 06:45

Thank you for the good luck messages . Good luck to everyone else’s dcs still to audition too Smile

Musicdoc · 13/10/2018 07:39

I missed this thread somehow! Well done to all those who have auditioned so far. Today is our day.... DS has been in NCO for 4 years and is auditioning for Main today on cello. DD was in for 3 years on the violin... last year she was unsuccessful for U11 but this years is auditioning on violin and viola for U12s. She's nervous (and not keen on the residentials anyway) and he really wants to get in (but doesn't practice much... despite competition usually being the toughest in the final year).
We've got afternoon auditions.
Good luck to everyone who have still got their auditions to come 🤞🏽

ZakStarkey · 13/10/2018 07:57

Good luck for today Musicdoc