What are the best Youth Orchestra's in the DMV area?

[Anonymous]

Play up? Mcyo may if your child is good enough but at 14 the symphonic conductor is fantastic and they will move her up when space is available or she is ready. It’s very hard to get in at that age. MYCO tryouts are in August. Wonderful program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realize this is a change of topic but does anyone know of strong / competitive jazz band programs in the DC area?

I don’t think any are comparable. We did jazz academy and it was a bad experience.

[Anonymous]

Op, you need to look at the orchestras and understand what they are about. Some like mcyo are highly selective so in less they need your child at a higher level and they are that amazing they are not moving up. The level the kids play at is incredible. Others take everyone so playing up is a possibility. Keep your kid with their age group. They make friends and there is some fun to it.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

Then it’s not playing up, it playing with others at your same level. DCYOP does this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

Then it’s not playing up, it playing with others at your same level. DCYOP does this.

The orchestras considered best in the region (MCYO and AYPO) generally do not allow this. For instance, the Philharmonic orchestra at AYPO says that it "Includes students grades 9th-12th, averaging grade 12". My rising 9th grader violinist has nearly 0% chance of getting into it, although she is auditioning for it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

There's a maturity element too. Many 10 yos can't stay focused through a 3 hour rehearsal, even if they can play the music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

There's a maturity element too. Many 10 yos can't stay focused through a 3 hour rehearsal, even if they can play the music.

Also rehearsal runs pretty late. With the early middle school start times in Fairfax County, rehearsal until 9 starts the week short of sleep. For a younger child, it's even worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

There's a maturity element too. Many 10 yos can't stay focused through a 3 hour rehearsal, even if they can play the music.

Young children that are playing at a very high level are generally used to practicing 3-4 hours a day, sometimes more. I have not found focus to be the problem. There are potentially social issues. A young child playing with high school kids will a) have few/no friends and b) be exposed to behavior and language that they otherwise would not. My middle schooler is doing just fine (including late rehearsals and waking up early for FCPS), but I would not put an elementary aged kid through that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

The 10 year olds at mcyo are incredible. They are not playing baa baa black sheep. Redshirting makes no difference in orchestra in high school. As a freshman my kid had no issue getting into the top orchestra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

There's a maturity element too. Many 10 yos can't stay focused through a 3 hour rehearsal, even if they can play the music.

Young children that are playing at a very high level are generally used to practicing 3-4 hours a day, sometimes more. I have not found focus to be the problem. There are potentially social issues. A young child playing with high school kids will a) have few/no friends and b) be exposed to behavior and language that they otherwise would not. My middle schooler is doing just fine (including late rehearsals and waking up early for FCPS), but I would not put an elementary aged kid through that.

We had our elementary kid do the jazz group and the teens were super nice but b was a huge issue. They forgot how little he was as he played well. Being in age appropriate groups is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

There's a maturity element too. Many 10 yos can't stay focused through a 3 hour rehearsal, even if they can play the music.

The orchestras at that age are several hours. It’s fine. If they enjoy it they will stay focused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

Then it’s not playing up, it playing with others at your same level. DCYOP does this.

The orchestras considered best in the region (MCYO and AYPO) generally do not allow this. For instance, the Philharmonic orchestra at AYPO says that it "Includes students grades 9th-12th, averaging grade 12". My rising 9th grader violinist has nearly 0% chance of getting into it, although she is auditioning for it anyway.

MYCO is dependent on instruments but it’s usually for 11-12th with a few 10th. You just audition and they put you in the group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

The 10 year olds at mcyo are incredible. They are not playing baa baa black sheep. Redshirting makes no difference in orchestra in high school. As a freshman my kid had no issue getting into the top orchestra.

High school orchestras play at a considerably lower level than youth orchestras. Youth orchestras make playing in their orchestras contingent on also playing in school orchestras, so kids do end up playing both. By and large, the good players at these orchestras are playing music that is considered appropriate/advanced for their age, but not so much that you think they're the next coming of Hilary Hahn. My DD knows similarly aged concertmasters of several orchestras at MCYO and AY, and they are generally kids that play similar repertoire as her about as well as she does. They are good, but not exceptional (where I measure 10 year violinist playing Rondo and Capriccioso as exceptional).