I had a really bad day yesterday at my first band practice. I knew friends that went to the orchestra but I was in this band. When I got on the bus to the place where I would practice, I had no idea where to go because I had never been there before. I followed everyone else, and found a band but it turned out to be the wrong one, so I had to find my own way to my band (it was in a different room at the place where my band was). I found it just in time. We started playing the music, it was really unbelievably hard (for me anyway) and I had to get the skill of watching the conductor and the music as I had never been in a band before. I struggled on but many other people could play it, especially the flautist next to me. At breaktime, the person who was sitting next to me disappeared with her own group of friends and I was on my own. I didn't know anyone, and was too nervous to ask anyone whether I could join them.

I felt bad afterwards, when the rehearshal was finished but I can't quit (and I would be stupid to after the first time) and it cost £67 to join. Will it get easier??

Also, (sorry for the length of this), I am going to find it hard to practice, it depends how much coursework and homework I get and when I have netball training sessions.

Once again, apologies if I sound stupid, and if it is too long.

Thanks for any advice,

Nicki

Hi Nicki,

Firstly, yuor comment was not silly.

When I first joined SCB (my local band) I could not play hardly any of the pieces and i was really embrassed. At the time is was going to give up...

But here I am 4 years later, still playing flute and even started playing bassoon on the band.

Ok. I was in Yr 6 at the time but I had just moved to high school and hadn't even taken any grades. (Also i din't do hardly any practise!)

I am really pleased with myself about not giving up. Give yopurself a term or two to settle in then decide before giving up. You might surpise your self!

Hope this helps

Ceri
-x-

Hey!!!
I was reali sorry to hear bout your day-its hard for anyone on their first day, especialy if they are new to the activity. It really will get easier, you jus have to swallow the nerves and speak to people. When i first joined my school orchestra, i was shunned because i was 2 years younger than everyone else, but i made friends with people in my section. Also, now im older, i make sure i talk to new people. If your finding the music hard, ask your conductor if u can borrow the music to practise, and don't worry! Everyone is at different standards, and going to band will improve your sightreading no end!
I hope this helps-sorry for the length!!!
Em

Nicki - well done for getting this far. It can only get better.
Remind yourself the other players were all new once, and keeping with your part and watching the conductor at the same time takes a bit of a knack.

If you are having lessons on your flute you could take your orchestral parts with you and ask your teacher to go through them maybe? Otherwise try to play through them before next time - once they are familiar it gets easier to keep an eye on the conductor without losing your place.

Dont' feel stupid. And let us know how it goes.

Maggie

last year i was the youngest in my band but when i first started playing in groups at a different place i diddnt know anyone. but start by chatting to the flautist next to you and try makeing friends with them.

try adjusting the music stand so you can see the conductor over the top of it as well as the music and if your shareing the stand just ask if you can move it slightly, but make shre others can see if your shareing!!!

like maggie said ask to borrow some music to pratice with at home. the contuctor wont bite your head off! that'll probably more than happy for you to pratice it at home (just bring it back or you might not have any music!ph34r:)

i have loads of this as well as praticing but when you have like 15 minuts at least get your flute out even if you only have time to do 1 peice.

hope this helps!

frenchyhorn

ps. i was gonna say something else but i forgot!

Your comment wasn't silly and I'm really sorry to hear about how your first band rehearsal went. Everyone finds it hard when they first start a band or orchestra but it gets easier. I was terrible but I worked on the pieces with my teacher in my lessons and I got better. Try talking to some other new people in your band, if there are some.
Good luck

The first day of band/orchestra can often be like your first day of school. Sometimes it's good simetimes not. My first ever orchestral rehersal was terrible. I hated orchestra for about 5 or 6 years. I now love it! You WILL learn all the techniques. Playing with other people is very different from solo. Apart from the obvious, you learn how to do 20 different things at once! The most important thing is to get the timing right. I've lost count of how many times I played in the rests and once I was a full bar behind everyone in Dvorak's 8th symphony (the end is very fast and loud). Fortunately I was in tune!

Thanks everyone so much for all your supportive comments I really appreciate them