Sorry Just Have To Share The Joy! Options

[false_harmonic]

Jojo, I am so jealous: I'd LOVE to be able to play in a performance of the Elgar! (Well actually, I would love to be capable of playing the cello solo part, not necessarily with an orchestra - just the notes...those opening chords always give me the shivers!) But playing in the orchestra of a performance of it would be the next best thing.

Don't worry about it at all - I spent 7 years at school pretending to play in orchestras! I had pretending to play down to a fine art! I remember the first time I ever played in an proper orchestra - I was 11 and was put in the third violins, and even then the music was harder than anything I'd ever played in my entire life. I was particularly terrified of the "Poet and Peasant Overture", though did love "Slavonic Dance". I used to get shouted at all the time for getting the bowings wrong, but that was probably because the conductor was my teacher, and she knew I probably just hadn't practised!


You won't necessarily be put at the back - apparently ideally players of varying abilities should be spread throughout the orchestra, so there are strong players to help the weaker ones, and so that all the mistakes aren't coming from one section! You'll have lots of fun!

I'm joining an orchestra - rehearsals start this weekend. I'm a bit scared because it's quite an advanced orchestra, and I'm being given a trial, so I'm pretty nervous! We're playing, among other stuff, the Saint Saens Organ Symphony.

[jojo]

Jojo, I am so jealous: I'd LOVE to be able to play in a performance of the Elgar!

Don't worry about it at all - I spent 7 years at school pretending to play in orchestras!

I'm joining an orchestra - rehearsals start this weekend. I'm a bit scared because it's quite an advanced orchestra, and I'm being given a trial, so I'm pretty nervous! We're playing, among other stuff, the Saint Saens Organ Symphony.

You jealous of me????
with your portfolio I am the one who's jealous (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

I'll do my best to learn 'how to pretend' as quickly as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

My first rehearsal is tomorrow evening so I'll update you all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[miss sooky]

^^ Wishing you all luck for tomorrow evening and do share it with us!

[LooneyTunes]

My first rehearsal is tomorrow evening so I'll update you all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Best of luck, Jo! Enjoy the experience!

There's just not enough hours in the day for me to join one at the moment, even for rehearsals.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[lottie]

Good luck for tonight Jo!!!


I think you've given me the confidence to approach our local orchestra soon.... maybe (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (*shy*)

[miss sooky]

Good luck for tonight Jo!!!


I think you've given me the confidence to approach our local orchestra soon.... maybe (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (*shy*)

Oh, go for it Lottie - you can do it!

[viola-mad]

I think you've given me the confidence to approach our local orchestra soon.... maybe (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (*shy*)

Do it!!!!! If you're prepared to put in the necessary work, just go for it. Once you've played a couple of concerts you'll wonder why you waited.

Jo, best of luck for tonight. Most of all, enjoy yourself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Even if you can't quite manage to get all the notes in, drink up the sound that everybody else is making - it's amazing.

[jojo]

ok, so how was it????

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/argh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/argh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/argh.gif) in a nutshell!

Basically I have done what I thought I would do:
sit there like a lemon!!!!

I think I played 4 notes in 2 hours, lost my place reading the score about 100 times, could not make sense of it at least half of the time!!!

I have NEVER seen an orchestral score in my life so I don't know if you can imagine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

I definitely have to learn to count!!! This will be good for me as I have always done my best NOT to count in the last 2 years and a bit I've been learning an instrument, but now I HAVE TO LEARN TO COUNT ALL THE TIME!!!! Guess it will be a pain in the beginning but when (the day ) I get used to it hopefully it will be second nature!

I managed to borrow the scores so will photocopy them (been told this is 'allowed' and 'legal' so long that it is for use in the rehearsals only? is that right? I don't want to do anything wrong (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) )

The people are friendly and they managed to make me think they don't even notice how much of a lost fish I am!!!

They even looked surprised when I said I won't be joining the for the concert (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
(yeah right, if they want a clown in there then I'll join (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

There is only ONE guy (oldER guy) playing the double bass, bless him, he was struggling tucking his bass away in its soft case at the end and I helped him and had a little chat with him. He said I should bring my bass down and join him as he gets lonely as he's the only one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (awww bless)

Anyway, I am NOT giving up on this, even though I have to be honest, that would be a VERY easy thing to do as it was SO DAUNTING, and it feels like I am in a room of people speaking mandarin and I am supposed to join in the conversation!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

Next week round 2!

I will go over the scores, but I have to be honest, if I spend my time learning this orchestral stuff there is NO WAY I will be able to prepare for my grade 5 exam in november. A decision has to be made here: either learn the orchestral part or do my exam, I don't think I can do both (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I just don't have that much practice time, I struggle to get an hour practice a day and that is barely enough for my grade 5 preparation (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Off to bed now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodNight.gif)

[lottie]

Well done - you brave thing!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif)

What a fantastic experience for you... and I'm sure you'll play twice as many notes next week!


Now, like the lion from Wizard of Oz, I need to find my courage and take inspiration from you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)

[kenm]

I will go over the scores, but I have to be honest, if I spend my time learning this orchestral stuff there is NO WAY I will be able to prepare for my grade 5 exam in november. A decision has to be made here: either learn the orchestral part or do my exam, I don't think I can do both (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I don't suppose you will surprised when I say that playing in an orchestra is much more fun than taking exams and, unfortunately, requires some expertise that preparing for exams will not teach you. What might help is practising to a metronome, initially at a convenient tempo, eventually at the one that the conductor chooses: this will help you to decide how to cope with the bars that you can't play yet (my wife insists that that word always follows "I can't play that").

[teoani]

Jojo, excellent attempt! Seems like a great cohort of people at the orchestra.

Yes, I know what you mean juggling between grade 5 exam and orchestra. It will be quite challenging.

I feel that you might want to put grade 5 exam as first priority, if you have already started preparing for it.
Orchestra is important too, as I am pretty sure it will improve your skills as a performer!

Perhaps you want to scope out a couple bars from the orchestra score, and spend about 2 hours a week to learn those. Then you can at least play a few bars when you go for practice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Just my idea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[fayewolf]

Jojo, I was looking forward to reading your experience and it was here today!! yay!!! I totally understand how you feel. I want to link you to my blog on my first day in orchestra experience.

http://www.violinist.com/blog/fayewolf/20084/

I was going to quit after the first rehearsal because I was so lost it wasn't even funny, but the friendly people at v.com suggested that I stick it out and I did, and I've played in that same orchestra for a year now! It takes about 1-2 months to get really comfortable of where you are in the music, I swear! You're counting will be so much better!!

Are you playing 2nd violin? They are not as easy as people think, because sometimes we have odd rhythms and we do not carry the melody. I remember when I first started, I borrowed minature version of the whole score and listened to the recording, it helps me to see and hear the first violin part (it's a whole lot better than my counting).

I hope this helps a little!

[miss sooky]

JoJo, I was thinking of you yesterday evening and this was the first thread I came to when I logged on this morning! You did so well simply to walk through the door (and stay the right side of the door!). I am really glad that everyone was friendly (although it is as they should be) and wonder if perhaps they all remember their first time trying to keep up and make sense of what was going on . . .I think it is so easy in music to forget that a) most significant steps take practice and time and b) we do make progress, even if it can seem slow, and one day that which seemed so impossible suddenly clicks into place. I am willing to bet orchestral playing is similar. Is there sufficient overlap for your orchestral adventures to complement your preparations for grade 5?

Once again, huge congratulations for being such an inspiration.

Jojo, I was looking forward to reading your experience and it was here today!! yay!!! I totally understand how you feel. I want to link you to my blog on my first day in orchestra experience.

http://www.violinist.com/blog/fayewolf/20084/

I was going to quit after the first rehearsal because I was so lost it wasn't even funny, but the friendly people at v.com suggested that I stick it out and I did, and I've played in that same orchestra for a year now! It takes about 1-2 months to get really comfortable of where you are in the music, I swear! You're counting will be so much better!!

Are you playing 2nd violin? They are not as easy as people think, because sometimes we have odd rhythms and we do not carry the melody. I remember when I first started, I borrowed minature version of the whole score and listened to the recording, it helps me to see and hear the first violin part (it's a whole lot better than my counting).

I hope this helps a little!

Thank you so much for sharing this - it is a very reassuring read for us all!

[jojo]

Thank you guys/gals (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
how lovely to wake up to your encouraging posts and your helpful tips!
Lottie, thank you so much for the cheering on, now I am waiting to do the same for you (hint hint) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
Miss Sooky, thank you to you too, you're so sweet as usual, thinking of me on a tuesday evening! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Fayewolf, thank you so much I am definitely going to go over your blog when I get back from work this evening!!!! and thank you for sharing your experience with me!
Kenm, yes, the metronome is something I love but have only used a couple of times and this is the perfect time to dust it and put it to its use again!!!
Teoani, I think you balanced it out right, I will start by trying to give a couple of hours a week to the orchestral scores.
Having said that, I will see how I get on/feel as if I find that I love learning the orchestral parts so much I might decide to ditch my grade 5 exam, after all I don't need it, it was just 'for the heck of it' and I can equally improve without it, in fact, I have gone from grade 1 (did that exam) to grade 4 and a half in a year a half without taking any exams!
The leader of this orchestra plays in the 1st violins and he is really good, he has been playing in orchestras for 17 years he said, and he doesn't have a shred of paper stating what grade he is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) so if I don't need it why should I? I could put it on the back burner, we'll see like I said, which one I enjoy the best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Yes, they've put me in the 2nd violins, the lady playing next to me too the inside seat so she was turning the pages (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) just as well as I would have missed out a few times especially in the wasps overture!!!!
When they asked me where I was going to play I replied: fifths violins (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

oh by the way, any of you can tell me if I can photocopy the scores for my own practice?

thank you to all of you!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

[fayewolf]

Thank you guys/gals (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
how lovely to wake up to your encouraging posts and your helpful tips!
Lottie, thank you so much for the cheering on, now I am waiting to do the same for you (hint hint) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
Miss Sooky, thank you to you too, you're so sweet as usual, thinking of me on a tuesday evening! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Fayewolf, thank you so much I am definitely going to go over your blog when I get back from work this evening!!!! and thank you for sharing your experience with me!
Kenm, yes, the metronome is something I love but have only used a couple of times and this is the perfect time to dust it and put it to its use again!!!
Teoani, I think you balanced it out right, I will start by trying to give a couple of hours a week to the orchestral scores.
Having said that, I will see how I get on/feel as if I find that I love learning the orchestral parts so much I might decide to ditch my grade 5 exam, after all I don't need it, it was just 'for the heck of it' and I can equally improve without it, in fact, I have gone from grade 1 (did that exam) to grade 4 and a half in a year a half without taking any exams!
The leader of this orchestra plays in the 1st violins and he is really good, he has been playing in orchestras for 17 years he said, and he doesn't have a shred of paper stating what grade he is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) so if I don't need it why should I? I could put it on the back burner, we'll see like I said, which one I enjoy the best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Yes, they've put me in the 2nd violins, the lady playing next to me too the inside seat so she was turning the pages (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) just as well as I would have missed out a few times especially in the wasps overture!!!!
When they asked me where I was going to play I replied: fifths violins (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

oh by the way, any of you can tell me if I can photocopy the scores for my own practice?

thank you to all of you!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

I think you should be able to photocopy for your own. You mean they don't give you the scores to take home? Anyways, if that's the case, you may be able to find the scores of whatever you're playing here: http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Composers

I forgot to tell you, I ran into the same dilemma, although I don't do exams since I'm now living in the states, and no one knows what ABRSM is here, I still have private lesson's solo repertoire to worry about, I simply don't have time to practice both. I'm embarass to say, I hardly practice the orchestra stuff, but you gotta practice smart. Just practice the difficult runs, figure out the fingerings, etc. Do you guys have sectional rehearsals? That will have tons! I am also a very lucky girl, there is this fantabulous violin teacher that coaches me every week on orchestra stuff, and also helps me out with my solo work as well, about 2-3hrs a week (one session), so even though I only practice 40 minutes a day, I play ALOT of violin a week (1 hour lesson, 3 hour rehearsals, 3 hour coaching, plus my miminal 40 minutes a day), and when I have sectional, add another 2-3 hours!! *proud of myself*