My DS is also 10, but as he's a summer baby he'll be going for the U11s!!!

He had 'tense' second lesson with new teacher today! She has said that he needs LOTS more sight-reading practise. Old teacher gave him a mock audition tonight and DS had forgotten everything that he'd just been taught!!! Old teacher would like new teacher to leave the Audition stuff alone as he's been working with DS on it for weeks and new teacher is coming in with her own ideas - not a good idea at the last minute!

Starting to get anxious now! I think that getting into the NCO is more important than it was to us as he will need it to satisfy his orchestral needs if he goes to the local comp!!

Once a student starts on the musical path is seems never ending. A musician friend mentioned the other day that X,Y &Z would look good on his CV. He''s only 10 but apparently this will be the norm once at music school!

He didn't enjoy the NYCGB course and doesn't want to go back so he may also hate the NCO!

Daughter is going for U12's - Violin / Viola, although the nearer the audition gets (2 weeks now) the less bothered she seems to be about getting in! Pieces are all going well although I can see a last minute switch of violin pieces are looking likely - one of her usual tricks!

Fingers crossed our two will end up there together!

Just wanted to say good luck to all those doing their NCO auditions, really.... Epiphanya is in the U13s at the mo, but has decided not to re-audition next year (even though she thought it was quite rewarding), and I PROMISED I wouldn't make her do it again if she didn't want to..... the required self-restraint has very nearly killed me!

That would be great - fingers doubly crossed!



Thank you - very kind, and well done on the self-restraint! Daughter did the U11's and wasn't over-keen to do another summer course, although she admits that she did get a lot out of it. I have promised her that IF she gets into the U12's, and IF she decides she really doesn't want to do it, that I won't make her accept the place. Hope my self-restraint is as good if the time comes!

Not overly impressed that they have significantly changed course dates for some of the orchestras, especially since had already booked 3 week holiday in USA with the old dates in mind- there is no direct clash thankfully but does mean that if both DDs get in they will be doing adjacent weeks in U12 and Main orchestras instead of the same week. But anyway, don't know if 1 or both will get in so hardly need to worry about that yet! The older one is just trying because we persuaded her to, whereas the younger one, who has been in NCO for the last two years, really wants to do it, so if only one gets in I so hope it his her. Her sister is more ready with the pieces though and can sightread almost anything, whereas she hasn't mastered the fast piece yet and plays so often by ear that her sightreading is not overly reliable.... but it didn't stop her last time so hopefully she will be OK.

Thanks Barncottagecat!

I admire your self-restraint too!

DS wasn't sure whether he wanted to be in the NCO, but as he doesn't really know what is involved then I think it's hard for him to make that decision! (Tiger mum moment on my part maybe!!!!) His teacher has talked to him about his time in the NCO and DS says that he's looking forward to it. Just got to get him in then!!!

7 days to go....

Why don't they just do it by school year groups? One of DS friend is now going to be in the U12's twice because of his birthday. Odd to sit the audition aged 10 and be in the U12's. The way it works in school matches in Year 6 is U11 because when you started Y6 the child was U11. Effectively, VM's son will be eligible for one extra year over baboon boy (jealous emoticon) and DS could be playing with a year group older than him.

Aaahh don't be jealous!!! He he!!

It does seem daft doesn't i?!!! But at least they have moved the cutoff dates slightly this year! Now your BB is going to be one of the middle ones and my DS is going to one of the older ones - I think!!! (Or is mine going to be a middle one and yours a younger one?!! ) It would be much easier all round if it coincided with school years though!!!

ViolaBoy. I hope he has a lovely day off school and enjoys the experience of his first audition.

[getting into NCO would, of course, be a bonus but you know he's brilliant anyway.]

Thinking of you all.

Can't wait to hear how it goes. I hope he's not a "Can't remember" boy!

Hope it goes really well for ViolaBoy today - he deserves it! Let us know how he gets on!

Ditto, good luck.

Thanks guys. He has headed of with his dad so that they get there in plenty of time! He had a really good run through his pieces this morning both of which sounded wonderful and he thought that it was the best he'd played them! But he doesn't feel ready as Mrs D has told him that they don't do auditions without scales, and he isn't confident with them all yet.

I was going to put a list of auditionees together, to take my mind of things but I don't really feel up to it!
So who is next to audition?

Daughter has never been asked for scales at NCO auditions - they just don't have time for them. Pieces and sight reading are all she has ever been asked for so hope he doesn't worry about them - Mrs D is wrong in this case! Her auditions are next Tuesday afternoon - she is fine, all pieces are ready - it's the accompanist who is having the attack of nerves!

I nearly panicked when scales were mentioned as I assumed they wouldn't be asked for. Not only has he barely picked up the bassoon, when he has it's only been to go over his old pieces! Glad you put us right Capricioso!

Just checked the Audition leaflet and it says No Scales, No Singing and No Aural tests! He was still worried about it when he left though.

Glad that your DD is ready to go! Shame about the accompanist, I hope that it all goes well on the day. We couldn't get the one he's used to, so he's playing unaccompanied.

As for anymore auditions. DS is going for a pre-audition at Stowe just in case it doesnt work out at Purcell although I have just discovered that a boy has just left Stowe and went to Purcell! He also has a few voice auditions at some choirs in Herts but on the whole I am looking forward to putting my feet up and not have to think about exams until GCSE!

Just double checked the audition letter - no mention of scales, and they don't do any aural tests either so double sigh of relief! Can't wait till this is over - too much stress! Then you just have to wait until end of Nov / beginning of Dec for results!
Our next audition will hopefully not then be until next September for County Orchestra! Can't even think about the fact that son is starting auditions round the country for conservatoires in a couple of weeks!

MNW have you decided yet about Purcell?

DD used to playing with this one! When I suggested that she could play unaccompanied the cheeky madam said she needed me to play as the examiner might notice my mistakes instead of hers!!!

I have never seen such a horrified (admittedly justifiable) look on her face as when I suggested to Claudia that I might accompany her.... so we are going unaccompanied.

She's used to me accompanying, I've done all the exams and auditions up till now and she says she wants me there so fair enough. Problem is the pieces are getting more difficult and I think I'm reaching the limit of what I can reliably play - no way am I accompanying her Grade 8! (don't quote me on that!).

It's funny how your playing does improve though as your children advance through the grades.

I hadn't played the piano since I was about 15 and remember struggling through the accompaniments to the grade 1 pieces (not in the exams, just at home) and now play anything she throws at me (not well enough to play it publically but just for fun at home). Looking back a few years there's no way I would have thought I would be able to play any of this.

I completely missed that you were the accompanist!! DOH! No wonder you feel icky!!!

So I just spoke to DS - he said it went REALLY well - he did his pieces the best ever and his sight reading was good and he enjoyed it! Phew - Can I crack open the Pimms now?!!! He said that they were very nice and asked him a few questions one of which was "How big is your bedroom?"!!! I think that it had followed on from him telling them that he practises in his bedroom.

Well big sigh of relief that it's all over and he had a good experience regardless of whether he gets in or not.
I'll probably have a good cry when he gets home. The relief and recent stress mean I won't be able to hold back!

I really hope that everyone else has the same experience.

So glad it went well for him and I hope he gets offered a place - he really deserves it - well done!
Have the good cry before he gets home - it's done now and he did great so forget about it and move on with sorting out the other issues so he can just enjoy his playing.

Pimms - NOW!!!! You have earned it!

Meanwhile back to piano ..........

Shhh ....
I'm at work so I really shouldn't be here but ...


So happy that it went well. Fingers well and truly crossed.
TDM xx

Wonderful news VM. Who's next?

Fantastic news!

Note to self: tell BB to say he has a tiny bedroom so they don't think he is priviliged!

Sounds like a very successful audition. It's all good experience whether or not he gets in.

Try not to stress too much, because it doesn't help! I know because I've been there, and with hindsight there are a lot of situations which I feel I could have handled better had I been able to stand back a bit. Easier said than done while you're going through it though, and of course we are all terrified that something we do/don't do will shut doors of opportunity for our children.

Just wanted to say Good Luck for tomorrow. I hope that the accompanist is as prepared as Miss Cap!
Hope all goes well for you both.

Let us know how it went.

Yes good luck both of you.

Good luck for tomorrow and anyone else with an audition this week. At least it doesn't take too long to get results out!

Good luck Cap-Daughter!
And any other hopefuls lurking out there.

Isn't it December?

I believe the last audition is the 2/3rd November and I think it's usually 14 days after that and the end of November at the very latest. Not bad considering the volume of applicants.

Thanks for the good luck wishes everyone, and good luck to all of you too. We had a good run through of all pieces tonight and daughter is happy and (almost) looking forward to it, so fingers crossed! (And accompanist is less nervous having practised nothing else for the last week!!!)

From past experience we don't expect results until the end of November at the earliest. Will have to find another distraction!

Unless it's under 13's or Main Orchestra as they don't release those until after the December course/concert so as to prevent any blushes from unsuccessful re-auditionees (which is very thoughtful)

Oh we will have to wait then.....

Move up on the NCO bench please! I am relieved that is all over. Daughter very happy with how it all went, apart from one of her viola pieces had a few mistakes, think that was down to nerves but the other one went really well so we will just have to wait and see! Violin pieces both went well, and the sightreading was all OK so no horrors there. Auditioners asked her which instrument she liked playing best and she said violin, but hastily added that she loves viola too!

Good luck everyone else who is still to audition!

Glad its all done and dusted!

Claudia next and BB next Friday.

Well done, Cap-Daughter (and Cap-mum).
Step up to the mark Claudia and BB.

Good luck all.

Well done Caps and thanks all.

And my 2 next Weds. Eldest rattling pieces off beautifully, but not sure if she wants to get in as is yet to be convinced she'd enjoy it. Youngest not quite so polished and working her socks off because she really wants to get in after being in it the last 2 years; just glad results won't come out at the same time! (Eldest will be for Main thus later than U12s)

Well done Miss Cap and Mummy Cap! Phew - doesn't it feel good when it's over!

When is Claudia's Audition?

Good Luck everyone else!

Tomorrow. Now that I have discovered the statistics for how many violin players get in out of those who audition I am not sure it is worth going. But hey, any audition is good practice so it doesn't really matter I guess.

The NCO rep at the audition yesterday said violinists had a 1 in 4 chance of a place overall, but I suppose that depends on how many are going for any particular orchestra though. They have had over 900 applicants overall for about 500 places! But yes, any audition is very good practise. We learn a bit each time!

Your statistic is the same as mine! I also heard on a better note that a violist's chance of getting in is 65% (not relevant to us unfortunately).

There were 9 violists auditioning at our venue yesterday - more than they have ever had! No idea how old they were or how good but that upped the stakes a little!
Best of luck for tomorrow - hope it all goes well for Claudia - let us know!