NCO Auditions Options

[purplesam]

Violamum- you really don't need to worry! My DS played pieces that were 2 mins and 1 min long last year and got in. Her sightreading was fairly good but not perfect. Also, they were still looking for more viola players in the Spring leading up to the course as they hadn't filled all the places at audition, so your DS has a very good chance!

[ViolaMum]

Thanks Guys!

Starting to feel a bit better about it all now. With a bit of 'encouragement' DH phoned the NCO office and asked their advice. They said exactly what you guys have been saying! Phew!

I think that we've decided to stick with a couple of the G5 pieces that he's doing in his December exam. He has so many other things on at the moment so that suits us really well. NCO did say that the length isn't too important but the contrast is, so we may get him to work harder on, and swap to, his weaker Mozart piece which contrasts better with the both of the other 2.

I didn't realise that you could do the regionals without being in the orchestra - is that when you've already been accepted in a previous year? A friend told me this year that they were short of Violists and that we could 'get him in the back door', but he was only 9 at the time and the short notice of him being away from home etc, was a bit too much for us to want to take on (OK so I didn't want my baby away from me so quickly! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)).

His Teacher says that his sight-reading is good and doesn't seem concerned about it at all, but I will get him to practise so that he's more ready. I also heard that they sometimes ask about the composer or background of the pieces, so a quick read on Gossec and Mozart may come in handy too!

Good luck to HorseyGirl (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) When are her auditions?

[Capriccioso]

Thanks Guys!

Starting to feel a bit better about it all now. With a bit of 'encouragement' DH phoned the NCO office and asked their advice. They said exactly what you guys have been saying! Phew!

I think that we've decided to stick with a couple of the G5 pieces that he's doing in his December exam. He has so many other things on at the moment so that suits us really well. NCO did say that the length isn't too important but the contrast is, so we may get him to work harder on, and swap to, his weaker Mozart piece which contrasts better with the both of the other 2.

I didn't realise that you could do the regionals without being in the orchestra - is that when you've already been accepted in a previous year? A friend told me this year that they were short of Violists and that we could 'get him in the back door', but he was only 9 at the time and the short notice of him being away from home etc, was a bit too much for us to want to take on (OK so I didn't want my baby away from me so quickly! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)).

His Teacher says that his sight-reading is good and doesn't seem concerned about it at all, but I will get him to practise so that he's more ready. I also heard that they sometimes ask about the composer or background of the pieces, so a quick read on Gossec and Mozart may come in handy too!

Good luck to HorseyGirl (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) When are her auditions?

Glad you are happier about what they are after for audition - best of luck to ViolaBoy - which orchestra is he auditioning for?

The regionals are open to anyone who is a current member of, or has been previously been in one of the orchestras. They are great fun, really good repertoire and my daughter loves them - she would rather do them than the actual courses! Makes we wonder why we are going through the stress (and possible future expense) of auditioning, but she did enjoy the U11 course even through it was a long week and very hard work, and her playing had improved no end by the time the course was finished! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

They tend to be short of violists for the Training orchestra, and to a lesser extent the U11s, the older orchestras usually have more applicants, so we will just have to see how it all goes! Will be very glad when it's all over. No definite times or dates through yet but they are mid October, 18th/19th I think.

Daughter had her first day at new school today and came home with her timetable, not much sign of music anywhere on it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[purplesam]

Horseplay- our children probably know each other then- my dd is Ariane on cello. Which regional orchestra does yours go to? We haven't managed any the last 2 years because sundays difficult but might try to go this year.

[Capriccioso]

Horseplay- our children probably know each other then- my dd is Ariane on cello. Which regional orchestra does yours go to? We haven't managed any the last 2 years because sundays difficult but might try to go this year.

We go to the Easterlies in Cambridge - while it's probably not our closest it's easy for us to get to, and we have family there so a good excuse to see them once a month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Lots of friends made there too so daughter wants to carry on with that one. She played in the U11s 1st Violins in 2010, so might not have met Ariane then, U11s was her first year in NCO as she never did the training orchestra. Now they've changed the age cut off date she will be going for the U12s for 2012 (if she doesn't change her mind!) Which regionals would you go to?

[Capriccioso]

Just got our audition times through - we asked for violin first mid-afternoon then viola later afternoon so that she could have a gap and get into "viola mode". We only have a one audition slot time between them, not quite what we had in mind! Means she will come straight out of violin audition and straight into warm up for viola - wondering if I need to contact the office and ask if they can give us more of a break?!

[purplesam]

Cambridge is our nearest one so might see you there if we can manage to get there! Not sure which balls will fall this term when we try to juggle starting secondary school and keeping up ballet, tap, modern, gym, guides, cello, music theory and the youth football team... (and that's just one child of my 3...) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Capriccioso]

Cambridge is our nearest one so might see you there if we can manage to get there! Not sure which balls will fall this term when we try to juggle starting secondary school and keeping up ballet, tap, modern, gym, guides, cello, music theory and the youth football team... (and that's just one child of my 3...) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

That sounds busy, especially if that's only one child!! I struggle with 2, you know the setup, various music lessons at different ends of the county, rehearsals etc etc, and chauffering about for son's social life (which is going to be put on hold as it is final A Level year, and conservatoire auditions are fast approaching so he is going to have to do some work! Daughter's new secondary school this term should actually make things a little easier as the two schools are closer together and finish 10 mins apart, couldn't have timetabled it better myself! and then we can get to Tuesday orchestra on time for a change - result! etc. Just a bit worried about the amount of hw they are rumoured to get so will wait and see - think we might have to become very very organised to get everything done!
Hope you manage to make it to the regionals and might see you there!

[Claudia's Mum]

We're struggling to pick a second audition piece. The first is baroque and slow so ideally I guess we want something modern and upbeat but we everything Claudia wants to play is also slow albeit from either the romantic period or 20th century. Would a contrast in style be sufficient or do we need to find a fast piece?

Could we pick a second movement from the baroque sonata which goes at a fast pace and still have the two movements count as one piece do you think? The two movements come to about four and a half minutes together. And then pick a romantic piece as well? Or would they count this as three pieces?

[Capriccioso]

We're struggling to pick a second audition piece. The first is baroque and slow so ideally I guess we want something modern and upbeat but we everything Claudia wants to play is also slow albeit from either the romantic period or 20th century. Would a contrast in style be sufficient or do we need to find a fast piece?

Could we pick a second movement from the baroque sonata which goes at a fast pace and still have the two movements count as one piece do you think? The two movements come to about four and a half minutes together. And then pick a romantic piece as well? Or would they count this as three pieces?

It's so difficult choosing - gives us no end of stress! I think it would OK to pick contrasting movements from the Baroque sonata, and they would count as two contrasting pieces. Sure I read somewhere 2 contrasting pieces, OR 2 contrasting movements.

[Claudia's Mum]

It's so difficult choosing - gives us no end of stress! I think it would OK to pick contrasting movements from the Baroque sonata, and they would count as two contrasting pieces. Sure I read somewhere 2 contrasting pieces, OR 2 contrasting movements.

Thanks for that Horseplay. It's going to be stressful this time as Claudia wasn't bothered either way last time two years ago (and didn't get in because of poor technique which we hope has now been resolved) but really desperately wants to get in this time.

[Capriccioso]

It's so difficult choosing - gives us no end of stress! I think it would OK to pick contrasting movements from the Baroque sonata, and they would count as two contrasting pieces. Sure I read somewhere 2 contrasting pieces, OR 2 contrasting movements.

Thanks for that Horseplay. It's going to be stressful this time as Claudia wasn't bothered either way last time two years ago (and didn't get in because of poor technique which we hope has now been resolved) but really desperately wants to get in this time.

Best of luck to Claudia with her audition, hope she gets in. The whole thing is stressful! It's a bit scary how many very very good young violinists there are, there is a serious amount of competition. Daughter now can't decide if she really wants to audition on both instruments as she says she would rather play violin, and suspects that if (IF) she does get offered a place, it would be on viola, even if her violin had been equally good. Not quite sure what to do, but for now we'll probably carry on preparing for both.

[Claudia's Mum]

Thanks Horseplay. Good luck to juniorhorseplay too.

Yes, we know so many good violinists too but I'm guessing it's even more competitive on flute and clarinet?

Good plan to do violin and viola - we don't have that option unfortunately - but you are bound to get selected for viola even if they would offer you violin as well, given their relative scarcity?

You mentioned the change in cut off for age? How has it changed and will it make it better or worse for which birth months?

There was an interesting article in the Times yesterday about how September to December born children do much better in school and sport because they have more months practice although it evens out by age 18. Music wasn't mentioned but I am guessing this organisation doesn't use the 1 September cut off as well?

[Capriccioso]

Thanks Horseplay. Good luck to juniorhorseplay too.

Yes, we know so many good violinists too but I'm guessing it's even more competitive on flute and clarinet?

Good plan to do violin and viola - we don't have that option unfortunately - but you are bound to get selected for viola even if they would offer you violin as well, given their relative scarcity?

You mentioned the change in cut off for age? How has it changed and will it make it better or worse for which birth months?

There was an interesting article in the Times yesterday about how September to December born children do much better in school and sport because they have more months practice although it evens out by age 18. Music wasn't mentioned but I am guessing this organisation doesn't use the 1 September cut off as well?

The new cutoff date is 31st December. Daughter's birthday is January when she will be 12, and the new date means that she goes for U12s instead of U13's. Means that those with or Jan/Feb/March birthdays get an extra year!

Yes, must be ultra competitive for those instruments with fewer places!

[ViolaMum]

Has everyone sorted out their pieces yet? How's everyone getting on?

We thought that we had ours sorted, but it would appear that Teacher was still worrying about the length so suggested a Concerto by Rieding which he recalls playing at about DS' age! Anyway, we'd also listened to the G5 pieces on the CD and had come up with another piece, which DS was happy to have a go at. With only 4 weeks to the audition I was getting very tense about starting new pieces and not deciding yet. But at the last lesson teacher decided to go with the new G5 piece (at least that gives DS another option for his exam in December!).

Not sure which of the other pieces it will be though - both his List A and C pieces sound very good!

Now got to get him going on his sight reading practise! All on top of the 11+ work, which that tutor has increased significantly - that one is 9 weeks away!!! Aaaahhhhhh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

The summer hols seem so far away already (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)