Private lessons end up being a requirement because other than maybe debut orchestras, it is very difficult to make it to any orchestra without private lessons, and then you'll be stuck at that one level. |
Generally once a week, few concerts a year, higher groups play more concerts and private lessons is a requirement for us. |
Oh, we also have sectionals every few weeks too. |
AY orchestras meet one a week on Monday nights from 7-9:30 for senior orchestras and 7-9 for junior concert orchestra and earlier on Mondays for the String ensemble and for Debut orchestra. Three concerts per year—Nov, Feb, May. The top senior orchestra has four concerts per year —late Oct/early Nov, January, March, May. |
+1 OP, I would not assume that your child needs to be with more advanced musicians - MCYO is highly competitive and the musicians are very, very good. |
Without knowing instrument and current repertoire, it's hard to tell whether OP's child is best served by an age appropriate orchestra, or something a little more advanced. |
It really depends on the orchestra. Some are highly competitive and some have a group for all and are welcoming. They should apply to a few as at that age there are less spaces available and harder to get into depending on the group. |
Thank you! |
Thank you- good to know |
It's also impossible for OP to know, until/unless her child auditions and is accepted. |
PP referred specifically to MCYO. |
My son is in an orchestra that is mainly kids 3-4 years older and it is not ideal in that he is pretty lonely and it is not social for him at all. I get why they put the advanced musicians together, but it definitely has its downsides too. |
Mine has been the youngest/one of the youngest in her orchestra for several years now, but also is a high chair. The reception has been very positive, with the HS kids calling her and treating her as a prodigy (she’s not). I think the experience largely depends on other members of the orchestra. Last year, her stand partner was a HS senior who was friendly and treated her as her musical equal. This year her stand partner is a Junior who keeps to herself and acts as if DD doesn’t exist. Although the age gap was larger, she had a more fun time last year than this year. She would still not play in a lower orchestra though; she enjoys the music she’s playing currently. |
Does the seating change during the year? Are there seating auditions, so that the kids are competing for the higher chairs periodically throughout the year? Or do the conductors just rotate kids around or keep them in place? I’m wondering about AYPO specifically but curious in general. |
It depends on the group. In MCYO, the higher level groups do depending on the instrument. We get emails that the kids have to send in videos regularly. I haven't seen it as much in the lower groups, but it probably happens more informally. I'm assuming AYPO is similar to MCYO. Any kid who needs to play up probably needs to be in a more challenging or higher level orchestra. |