I need some advice. I have just joined the first violins in an orchestra (in Southampton UK), and we are playing Shostakovich's 5th symphony. If you haven't heard it, it is very very hard with some EXTREMELY high and FAST parts. Can anyone give me tips on how to play up high (5th pos and higher).

Thanks in advance

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QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Sep 9 2004, 04:59 PM)

isn't it the usual - practice it slowly until perfect then start to speed it up. If you can't play it perfectly slowly you won't be able to play it fast.

just stick with the usual practise method...

I think you really need some knowledge of high positions first. I got 118 marks at Grade 6 Violin, but I hardly know them!! Start with some scales - it might help to play along to somebody/thing to keep you in tune. Start slow, then speed it up. Chromatics will help too. Then try your part really slowly, but remember to keep the speed constant. Maybe trying it in different rhythms would help too. But NEVER give up. Neil Armstrong considered giving up flying when he was sixteen. Look what he would have missed.