hi

I was just wondering how people find amateur Orchestras. Only in mine we have done such pieces as Scherazade,Dvorak 7, Brahams 4 etc. I practise them at home, the concert comes and they are still wrong!
I have taken ABRSM exams in the past and have grade 8 Trinity. Personally I find the Orchestral pieces far too long to perfect in the same way as I did for exam pieces.
I know people make huge efforts to run these Orchestas so would not wish to discredit them in any way, but they appear a little suprised when I mention it.
it sounds as if I should look for one easier, but the only one in my area that fits that description, is 9 miles away( and this is after work). They have been very sucessful because of this, but tend to go to the other extreme and do about grade 1 pieces!

Well, there's quite a big difference between exam pieces and orchestral works - isn't there? Otherwise the examiners would have to come equipped with sleeping bag, thermos.. etc

Some colleagues started a string ensemble last year with the intention of eventually developing into a proper amateur orchestra. They found 14 people -10 violins, 1 viola, 3 cellos - who all turned up after work for their first rehearsal. I went along to watch and was completely blown away by the high standard of playing. They'd been emailed the music to look at a week earlier, all long Corelli and Haydn pieces with 4 movements.

None of them were professional musicians and the average age was about 35, so I think it's just a matter of experience, sight-reading, stamina, practice etc.

Our Wind band plays shorter pieces but we have to be able to sight read new pieces. I remember my first few weeks were terrifying, but it's surprising how quickly you adapt. It's a great way of making progress very quickly and of course there are all those little tricks you learn - like only pretending to play the difficult bits!

I'd stick with your orchestra. You'll be surprised how fast your stamina increases!

Steve

Steve says it all. Stick with it - sure, you may never enjoy it and decide to jack it in in a year's time. but there's a good chance you will get hooked

thanks for the replies Sarah and Steve- will give it some thought. I often find that lack of technique can stop me keeping the beat, as in Dvorak 7. I guess I need to work on that and see what happens. Interesting thought though, I am sure many Orchestras ask for grade 6-8 say, but that (with respect) does not appear to be the complete picture.

Just in regards to what you say about perfecting a piece - it does depend on the orchestra, but in amateur orchestras, not everyone has to play everything perfectly - we're amateurs after all! If you can't play everything and keep on the beat, play what you can - some people use tricks like playing whatever note is on each beat, or the first beat of every bar - or whatever. If the orchestra are saying, "you're not good enough, shape up or ship out", then you have a problem, but besides that, don't worry about being perfect, play what you can, and the level of what you're able to play will increase (plus it's an excellent way of getting better in your playing generally, and practising playing in ensemble).

In our local orchestra we have people from well post grade 8 down to people who are really struggling - everyone does their best, everyone is having fun, and while we may not be the LSO, we sound OK.

Went to my first flute choir session today. It was the junior section ( I am 60 and most of them were under 14) They were really good and the music had loads of different parts so everyone could have a go at the melody. I had the easiest part and still couldn't keep up. I just fingered until I was sure I was in the right place again. I've got a week to practise five pieces so I can have a better go next week. I had loads of fun even though it was a bit daunting for me. I go to pieces when I have to play for anyone but myself, but the choir provided lots of camouflage Hope you have a great time in the next few weeks.

Hi Hazel,

I have exactly the same experience as you in my local orchestra. As Steve and Sarah indicated you don't have to play all the notes and can jump in and out and no one will mind. I know that I am never going to be able to play the faster pieces in their entirity as I started very late (at 36) and my fingers and brain cannot process the staves quick enough but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of belonging to and playing with a good orchestra. I passed my grades on classical guitar as a teenager and started violin when my son and daughters started to play. I must say that having never been involved in collective music making (classical guitar is a pretty solitary instrument) I was bowled over by the experience and I am totally hooked.

The reality is that if you stick at it you'll improve very quickly. My guess is that you'll progress rapidly past the point I am at now, especially as you have been through 'the grades'. I got a fair bit better by forcing myself to keep looking one or two bars ahead when sight reading. This was horrible at first but feels a lot easier now.

So like the others have said stick at it and enjoy.

Best of luck

Jon

This old newsletter has an extract from an unpublished book "Mud from a Scraper" written by a man who was a professional orchestral violinist many years ago. It has lots of useful tips for "faking it". Quite funny I thought.

http://www.adamwhone.co.uk/uploads/pages/N...sletter2001.pdf

You can't get away with a lot of these if you're the only cello in the orchestra!