I have been asked to join a local amateur orchestra, but not as a Flautist which is what I offered. He wants me to join as either 1st or 2nd Violin, Bassoon or Oboe. He is desperate for more violin players, but trouble is, I'm really a fiddle player. So if violin, probably 2nd. How difficult are 2nd violin parts usually? Then there is Oboe, I'm quite confident fingering wise and can do from Low B up to D 2 ledger lines above the stave but my tone isnt as good as I'd like, I dont know if thats just because I want as good a tone as I have on flute, or because I just sound terrible, possibly a bit of both. Bassoon, hmmm. Probably not, although, providing the part doesnt go to high, I could probably manage. Do you thinik they would let me through the door with my plastic fox bassoon?!

Any ideas or advice about which part I should consider.

A difficult one, I would go with bassoon I think. Don't ask me why, I jsut would. Not violin, because it's completely different in style to what you have been used to. Not oboe, becasue as a flute player you're probably never going to achieve a good tone on both. it's a shame he already filled the flute position!

That depends HUGELY on the repertoire. I have played very easy 2nd violin parts, I've also played second violin parts to make your hair stand on end. I doubt you'd get too many of the latter in an amateur orchestra, but I know the pieces we played in our last concert had 2nd violin parts that were doable but required practice on the part of a G7+ friend.

I think you are probably right. Bassoon is probably the easiest route for the moment. That way, I'll have the inside knowledge if any of the flutes or clarinets plan to leave and I can quickly fill their shoes before anyone else steps in from the outside. And it was have least of an effect on my embouchure.

Hmmm

Be careful about that. Bassoonists are in such short supply once a DoM knows you play bassoon they'll never let you move to flute. They can always find another flautist, but bassoonists are gold-dust.

Lawrence wanted to join an orchestra that already had enough flautists but he got a place playing piccolo (having kept quiet about playing bassoon) and was playing flute half way through the first rehearsal. So maybe offer them piccolo (if you can) before bassoon.

Best wishes

barry

Hmmm. I can play the piccolo. I expect that the other must too.

It may be easier as the bassoonist or Oboist that I would be replacing are both going on maternity leave rather than leaving completely so there may be an opportunity there!
The chairman said they are playing Mozart G minor Symphony No.40 and I've just played throught the midi file on sibelius and its easy enough, I just have to get my embouchure trained to go just that little bit higher.