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

Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

981 replies

northerngoldilocks · 31/08/2025 12:39

Time for a new thread in time for the new school term!

Come and talk about music lessons, choosing instruments, exams, auditions, specialist schools, orchestras or whatever other music activities are going on. Everyone is welcome, from those with total beginners to those whose children are studying music at advanced levels. Ask for advice or share successes or struggles.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Original poster
northerngoldilocks · 16/10/2025 08:37

@Cheeseandquincedo you know what the deadline to accept was please?

OP posts:
Cheeseandquince · 16/10/2025 08:41

northerngoldilocks · 16/10/2025 08:37

@Cheeseandquincedo you know what the deadline to accept was please?

This Monday (20th Oct) 9am!

MockCroc · 16/10/2025 08:46

I have one with a place in residential U12 and one waitlisted for U14. U14 has been pragmatic about it but I think it is hard to be so close but still not quite have managed it.

Original poster
northerngoldilocks · 16/10/2025 08:57

Thanks @Cheeseandquince

@MockCrocthats probably harder with a sibling who got in. At least the first possibility for a place isn’t too long - guess once we are into nov though its just waiting to see if anyone can’t make each course

OP posts:
achangeofnameisasgoodasarest · 16/10/2025 09:48

I seem to remember they wouldn't let dd2 do it if she could only do one (we cancelled on NCO mains because she wanted to go on holiday so she never did it). but then maybe i should have pushed harder! Congrats to all - big achievements all round

horseymum · 16/10/2025 10:27

Congratulations on places, it's hard waiting! Also, if you don't get the place you want, there are always other opportunities. That's hard for young people to take (it's hard for adults when we get knocked back for things!). Lots of people on here with experience of different ensembles across the country.
Got my favourite annual Christmas music event in the calendar - playing in a big church orchestra for their carol services. Very different to my own church music (which I still appreciate but it's nice to have the full works occasionally!).

Alwaysplayspicc · 16/10/2025 10:28

Can I offer son reassurance to anyone who didn't get a place in NCO this time?
DS auditioned twice and didn't get offered any thing at all - no prljects, no reserve, nothing.
shortly afterwards, he was offered a music scholarship at a high-ranking school, then he got 145 at grade 8, then a place at a specialist music school, NYO, and finally scholarship offers from the top conservatoires.

I'm not posting this as a brag, but to reassure that some DCs aren't in the right place at the right time for things like NCO ( DS started learning relatively late for a string player), but it absolutely isn't an indicator of future success.

achangeofnameisasgoodasarest · 16/10/2025 11:33

@Comefromaway re Be More Chill just remember taking both my DDs after DD1 recommended it. I knew nothing about it and DD2 was 13 or something.

It began with the killer line 'I'm waiting for my porno to load'. I suspect most schools might be 'more chill' about that than DD2's but the very THOUGHT of watching DD2's headteacher squirming his way through that is literally making me laugh out loud. I do love it though - some great tunes.

Agree that Heathers isn't really so different though - DH hates the themes in it so much he won't let the girls have more than one song from it in the car every time we go on a trip...it's a game for them to try and sneak more through the net.

Londonmummy66 · 16/10/2025 12:58

the very THOUGHT of watching DD2's headteacher squirming his way through that is literally making me laugh out loud.

😂

QueenMabby · 16/10/2025 16:10

Our school play this week started with the line “Holy Fuck!” Our headmaster looked very po-faced! 🤣

achangeofnameisasgoodasarest · 17/10/2025 09:47

Where is that laughing emoji when it need it @QueenMabby

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 09:13

Genuinely interested to know from some of the NCO parents here what the standard is like in the projects in the more popular instruments like violin and cello.
My dd is thrilled to have secured a place for one of these and expecting to be one of the lowest level players as a grade 5 player, are we right in thinking loads will ne be grade 7/8?

thirdfiddle · 19/10/2025 09:18

Lol at the school play antics.

And absolutely second alwaysplayspicc. NCO is a luxury and by no means a necessity. Nor is NYO come to that, there's never only one way in. Some of the most successful musicians I've come across did an academic degree first then performance as a postgraduate study.

thirdfiddle · 19/10/2025 09:42

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 09:13

Genuinely interested to know from some of the NCO parents here what the standard is like in the projects in the more popular instruments like violin and cello.
My dd is thrilled to have secured a place for one of these and expecting to be one of the lowest level players as a grade 5 player, are we right in thinking loads will ne be grade 7/8?

In the first year of Projects DD was a grade 5 violinist. She was sitting near the back of the 2nds yes but there were plenty around her level and actually as someone with a lot of ensemble experience she felt ahead of the game. As a tall year 5 she was comically about twice the height of her desk partner.

Ubertomusic · 19/10/2025 10:12

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 09:13

Genuinely interested to know from some of the NCO parents here what the standard is like in the projects in the more popular instruments like violin and cello.
My dd is thrilled to have secured a place for one of these and expecting to be one of the lowest level players as a grade 5 player, are we right in thinking loads will ne be grade 7/8?

Violin and cello sections are slightly different in terms of standard, ditto London vs regions. Music was not difficult so if your DD plays in school or local orchestras, she'll be fine.

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 10:33

Ubertomusic · 19/10/2025 10:12

Violin and cello sections are slightly different in terms of standard, ditto London vs regions. Music was not difficult so if your DD plays in school or local orchestras, she'll be fine.

Show quote history

Sadly in our area there is no local orchestra (not enough musicians basically) but she does do the string group. School likewise, no orchestra. Small state school (primary) so any orchestra would only have like 3 grade 1 violin players and a flute!

Ubertomusic · 19/10/2025 11:18

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 10:33

Sadly in our area there is no local orchestra (not enough musicians basically) but she does do the string group. School likewise, no orchestra. Small state school (primary) so any orchestra would only have like 3 grade 1 violin players and a flute!

Show quote history

I don't think it's about the size of an ensemble - if she plays in a string group I presume they learn to listen to each other and count together and look at the conductor/leader so the skills are probably there.

FWIW DD first auditioned with g4 and was about g5 by the time of the projects. She was 9yo so one of the youngest. She loved it. I haven't heard about anyone struggling in the projects so I wouldn't worry too much. It is absolutely doable for g5 players.

Congrats on the place, it must be even more exciting if it's her first time in a bigger orchestra!

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 12:20

Ubertomusic · 19/10/2025 11:18

I don't think it's about the size of an ensemble - if she plays in a string group I presume they learn to listen to each other and count together and look at the conductor/leader so the skills are probably there.

FWIW DD first auditioned with g4 and was about g5 by the time of the projects. She was 9yo so one of the youngest. She loved it. I haven't heard about anyone struggling in the projects so I wouldn't worry too much. It is absolutely doable for g5 players.

Congrats on the place, it must be even more exciting if it's her first time in a bigger orchestra!

Show quote history

Thanks she is really excited! Just worried she might find it daunting if there are kids there who started at 3 or 4 and are amazing by age 10, shes only been playing 3.5 years.

Ubertomusic · 19/10/2025 12:43

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/10/2025 12:20

Thanks she is really excited! Just worried she might find it daunting if there are kids there who started at 3 or 4 and are amazing by age 10, shes only been playing 3.5 years.

Show quote history

Children may brag about their grades but my DD doesn't remember anything daunting and she made lots of friends throughout her years in projects. Lots of first violins we know are actually nice and parents teach them to be humble, they are orchestral players after all and having a massive ego in tutti wouldn't work.

Cellos do not have the same dynamics as violins anyway.

Londonmummy66 · 19/10/2025 16:01

Cellos do not have the same dynamics as violins anyway.

My recollection of all orchestral projects DD played in as a cellist was that they spent most of the junior years staring into space and the senior years scrolling on their phones as the cello part is usually pretty easy in comparison to the violins etc. Quite a bit of time practising the cello-girl flick of the long hair too....

Ubertomusic · 19/10/2025 16:23

Londonmummy66 · 19/10/2025 16:01

Cellos do not have the same dynamics as violins anyway.

My recollection of all orchestral projects DD played in as a cellist was that they spent most of the junior years staring into space and the senior years scrolling on their phones as the cello part is usually pretty easy in comparison to the violins etc. Quite a bit of time practising the cello-girl flick of the long hair too....

😂 Quite!

thirdfiddle · 19/10/2025 17:57

One of the Projects we did the back of the cello section found themselves sitting next to Sheku K-M 😎

StuntNun · 20/10/2025 08:22

It’s High School Musical! Smile

Comefromaway · 20/10/2025 10:15

Ok, I can see how those clues relate but it's quite tenuous in places

QueenMabby · 20/10/2025 10:54

@StuntNun- that’ll be fun! Dd was Sharpay (sp??) in a summer course performance of it a few years ago and had a blast!