Playing in a school or youth orchestra
Playing in a group is very different than playing by yourself. There are several skills required for playing in an ensemble. The following are tips to help you play your best in an ensemble. Remember: playing poorly in orchestra is very detrimental to your technique. On the other hand, you can learn a lot from playing in a group. Applying the technique that you work on in your private lessons and playing your best will ensure that you gain the most from the experience.
- Know your part: Practice your part at home, slowly at first, with your metronome, and pay attention to intonation. For an orchestra to sound good, everybody must play rhythms that are perfectly accurate and pitches that are perfectly in tune. If you need to, write fingerings and bowings in your part.
- At home, you should always practice standing up. In orchestra, you play seated. Make sure you sit with a straight back, and your instrument set-up is exactly the same as when you are standing.