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Question: I'm having Orchestra problems !?
I just joined an orchestra for my college!. However I'm rather new at it all!. I'm a violinist I've played for ten years but never with anyone else, always on my own!. I was hoping maybe the conductor would do some teaching and stuff but he just handed out the music and it began!. I felt totally lost I didn't play a single note the whole rehearsal, I just sat there with my instrument and he didn't seem to care!. I went up and talked with him afterwards but he doesn't seem too willing to help!. I don't know what to do!. Any ideas!? I've played for ten years but I only know first position, I can't count very well, and I have no clue how to follow a conductor!. But like I said he isn't willing to help!. Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I admire your desire to play in your college orchestra!. There's no reason for you to quit!. It may be that the conductor is not a string player and is not competent to help you with technical issues!. He should have at least hooked you up with one of the violinists in the orchestra that would be able to help you!.

Seek out someone in the orchestra (preferably in your section) that can coach you some during the rehearsal!. Do you have a stand partner!? I suspect that you do, and that would be a great place to start!.!.!. unless that person is in the same situation!. If not your stand partner, then talk to your section leader!. Even if (s)he can't help you personally, I expect that this person would be able to introduce you to someone who can!.

How large is your college, and how many music majors are in the program!. More to the point, does your college offer a music major!? If you go to a small school, then your colleagues in the violin section will be very happy to have you as a member!. All strings are in short supply at smaller colleges!. The school where I teach doesn't even have enough strings to form an orchestra so we would welcome a non-major with limited experience!.

If you go to a larger school with a strong music program, then you are in a great position to get assistance from one of them!.!.!. either for free or for much less than it would cost to take lessons from an experienced private teacher!. So you see, there is no down side with either a small or large school!.

Good luck with your blossoming "career" in the orchestra!. It's a marvelous experience that you can enjoy far beyond college as a member of a community orchestra!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Take some private lessons from a qualified instructor, practice sight reading, and take the pieces they give you home!.
also, if you get a copy of the music your playing (audio) and listen to it over and over it will make things a lot easier!.The key to 3rd position is to play like you would in first, with your 1st finger where your 3rd would normally be in first position!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You have general anxiety about your situation which isn't helping!. Talk to a counselor about your problem, not your Orchestra conductor!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

interesting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sorry, wish I could help!.Www@QuestionHome@Com