DCYO takes Maryland kids and all who audition get in somewhere ,they gave 8 orchestra of varying levels.

Try it next year!

Thanks for all the responses! I encouraged my daughter to do it. I figure she will just get busier as she gets older, so now is the best time to try new things. Also I explained violin is one of the most competitive instruments, so she needs to get used to it. I don’t think she will ever be amazing, but I am hoping she enjoys orchestra enough to continue doing it.

It was really great for me in high school and gave me a goal for all-state in high school. Last chair is basically where I started, too! Never concert master but I gradually worked my way up near to the top, which felt really good.

Do dc kids get to participate? My 8th grader would love this. She’s planning to do school next year. Couldn’t do it last year due to conflicts.

Don’t do it

I would encourage it. Many kids at that age are in MCYO and PVYO so she did great even to get in. We've never done it due to scheduling conflicts/lots of activities but we do MCYO and its fantastic.

DS loved his experience in All-County, thought it was worth it. It's over so quickly, nbd.

I did All-State chorus three times in the 90s and it was some of the best experiences I had in high school. I still have a close friend I met from there. Doing things is almost always better than not doing them. Encourage your kid to try it.

In MCPS my kids did not have much homework in 6th grade. Is there more now? If she can get some of it done in class, tell her. My one kid who prefers to socialize in class always had more homework.

Do the orchestra, it’s a great experience.

Let your kid decide.

My son did the district band in 6th grade in VA. It was a great experience for him and really turned him on to loving music. Honestly 6th grade is a good time get used to juggling school and other commitments so I’d encourage your daughter to see that aspect as a plus. My son liked it so much that the next year he did a regional youth orchestra (he started with DCYOP - that is a great option if you live near takoma park and the Sat morning schedule works for you).

My kid did this when she was in 6th grade. The rehearsals were a little far from our house, but there weren't that many of them, and it was fine. Schoolwork was definitely not affected! Please reassure your kid as to this point.

For context, she was concertmaster, having started playing when she was very young and been for several years in MCYO (Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras). I think it's a great idea for your child to try All County, and then think about joining a youth orchestra!

Sorry, this is Montgomery County.

Would be helpful to know where you are. Not VA it sounds like.

How is the experience with All county orchestra? My daughter is in 6th grade and got in, but is last chair in violin and doesn’t want to go b/c she is worried the rehearsals will affect her school work. I told her it is only for a few weeks and will be a good experience for her regardless. I was hoping others could share their experience with the county orchestras here. She is not part of any private orchestra, so I thought this would be a good way for her to play with kids who are better.