Autumn / Winter 2025 Music

[northerngoldilocks]

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.

As long as it's not too stressful, it's not a waste of time to do a recording. Doing the excerpts is always useful as similar ones often pop up for things.

Does anyone on here have a trombone player?
What kind of standard does NCO look for? DC is y4 and about to take grade 3. I think they play nicely, and in tune. Do you think they are on track for NCO?
Thank you.

@wheresthesunshine I can’t advise but I was looking at the website the other day as also thinking about suggesting my DS auditions, so will be watching with interest! I’d imagine trombone is more unusual so if your DC is at the right standard (which I think grade 3 is?) then definitely worth a try?

My DS hasn’t done any exams - is about grade 5-6 standard but on violin which I’m sure is the most competitive! He will also be just 8 and I think the weekend courses go up to 14 so is there any point? I’m sure there will be loads of kids with much higher grades - do they take age/time playing into account (he started less than 2 years ago)?

Yeah, had a chat re the NYO stuff. Will put a tape in. Thanks!

On NCO re the weekends I think they do have a wider range and yes younger kids at lower grades because they might progress enough to be ready for residential weeks by the time they’re old enough.

it’s a video audition and free so definitely worth a go. You have until the summer too in terms of submitting it

ALso I think trombone is one of those instruments that often children don;t take up until they are a bit older.

@wheresthesunshine I've got a trombone player, they successfully auditioned for the Northern weekend having just turned 8 and then took grade 3 at the next in person exam session. They had one grade 3 piece and then played something that wasn't quite grade 3 level (but played it very well). It might depend on your location as I think the Northern one suffers a bit as this first weekend clashes with the brass band area contests, but as people say, no loss auditioning.

FWIW first time DD got in to NCO projects with a brass instrument, she played grade 4 and was initially waitlisted. She was 8yo though so they probably were unsure if she would be able to cope with the orchestral work and being in a mixed age section with some teenagers. For older brass players I think grade 4 is well worth trying for projects.
Looking at U12 orchestra, it seems for residentials you would need grade 6.

They are looking for solid technique, not just grade pieces, so I think it's worth trying as grades per se are not that meaningful.

Ah yes, I should have added that we did NCO projects in London and DD is not a widening participation applicant.

For those looking for summer activities and who can get to Kingston for rehearsals, Thames Youth Orchestra (TYO) is looking for grade 6+ players to guest on their summer tour to northern Spain. My two did this and really enjoyed it. They are a friendly bunch and the tours well organised and had some spectacular venues.

Not sure if they take age into account but in our experience violins in London projects are usually younger (I guess by teenage years they either move up or give up). First violins were in years 5-6 and grade 7-8 with a couple of diplomas, and there were grade 6 players at least in second violins. I don't know the whole section obviously so there may have been others even in firsts.

For a grade 5 cello exam…would you choose an exam session at the end of a Saturday or a Friday (for a nine year old). Friday would have teacher present but new (to the child) very good accompanist. Saturday, no teacher in the warm up room but known to the child very good accompanist who is a string player (and will be accompanying said child at a festival the week before). Am massively overthinking this because I have had surgery so can’t accompany. Unknown accompanist would also require extra rehearsals further away. No idea which to go for, or do I let the teacher decide if indeed she will. I know it is only grade 5 but suddenly has all the importance it seems. No option for earlier times due to a school play….so both centres would have to ask for an extension to their day to accommodate,

My DS hasn’t done any exams - is about grade 5-6 standard but on violin which I’m sure is the most competitive!

Yes definitely worth a go. I think second violins had plenty around that level including DD her first time. I do think they take into account age and include younger ones at a lower standard.

Thanks @thirdfiddle and @Ubertomusic - I will get him to send in a video, as it’s good experience if nothing else!

678socks, it will depend on how helpful you think teacher would be to DS. It would have to be very helpful for me to consider a second accompanist for the same pieces in the same term, that sounds like a massive faff not to mention expense.

@thirdfiddle yes that is my thought too…although new development…to change centres (to centre with known accompanist) will be an extra 50% levy on top of the already extortionate fee! So think we will have to go with second accompanist is
the cheaper option

Oh no! Constant juggling act having musical kids isn't it.

I'd go with known accompanist they are comfortable with if possible. Especially if they can help with tuning if necessary.

Hi, I hope it is ok to drop in to the thread. I used to be a regular on the music threads but stopped posting as much as my son grew older and more identifiable.

Some of you may know or remember that the series of threads was started by a poster called wafflenose back in 2011 when her daughters were just starting out on their musical journey. All of us who have drawn support from this community or made real-life friends as a result of our connections on here owe waffle a great debt of gratitude. It's lovely to see the threads still going strong and still nurturing such a wide range of young musicians.

My reason for dropping in is a very sad one. Waffle's younger daughter died last month, at the tender age of 17. Those of us who knew her in the early days have set in train two forms of tribute to her, which we thought some of you might be interested in supporting (no pressure).

The first is a traditional Mumsnet 'woolly hug' link here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5498177-woolly-hugs-a-blanket-for-lovely-wafflenose-who-has-tragically-lost-her-daughter-can-you-help-us-please?reply=150863388

The second is (or rather are) a couple of musical tributes: one for clarinettists (L's first study instrument was clarinet) and one for singers plus assorted instruments to accompany. Once we are ready to recruit to these I will post again if that's ok. If any of you would like to be involved, please feel free to PM me.

Sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings. Thanks for the space to share the information.

What devastating news. I remember Wafflenose well. Such a lovely supportive poster & her daughter was obviously a very talented young woman.
my sincere condolences.

I am so sorry to learn this very sad news. I remember Wafflenose's lovely posts when she led this thread , lots of helpful advice. And it was lovely hearing about both of her daughters progress.
My grandson plays the clarinet, l will be remembering Wafflenose's daughter when l hear him play.
Thinking of Wafflenose and her family and sending love.

This is incredibly sad. I also remember wafflenose and her helpful and thoughtful posts. Devastating news.

This is so terrible. The worst thing that could happen to any parent. I have come across wafflenose’s posts when searching for info before and her love for her two daughters shone through so strongly. I’m sure she will never read this but I’m just so sorry.

Such horrible news - my thoughts are with wafflenose today.

Ah. So sad. Thinking of wafflenose and her family.