Position:Home>Performing Arts> Why would an orchestra teacher seat better players in the back row?
Question: Why would an orchestra teacher seat better players in the back row!?
In a large honors orchestra, my son placed 8th out of about 20 - 24 players in the 1st violin section in the audition / seating comptetition!. He was seated in the back (4th) row, second chair in from the edge and was quite upset about this because the 14th chair was seated in the 2nd row, 3rd seat in!.
He's a short kid, so his height doesn't explain it!. And he's in his last year of eligibilty, so it's not as if they put the older players in front to give them a chance to be seen in their last year!.
I don't know much about this!. Do they put the better player around the edge, no matter now many rows back!? Or do they work in order from the front corner, across the front row and then back!?
Does this really matter!? In what way!? In an orchestra, why are players seated where they are!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The players are seated according to their section, so no!. 14 could well be playing in the third violins while your son is in the firsts!. Anyone who is watching and knows how to tell which section is playing when will be aware that your son is in the first violins! :)
The seating is done this way so that all the sections are grouped together fanning out from the conductor!. That way the conductor can indicate to an entire section at once!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
In almost all configurations your son is seated correctly!.
Seating in an orchestra follows some basic patterns in most cases!.
Violin sections may or may not be of equal sizes!. Here is a possibility!.
11 first violins were selected!. first row starting at the left of center from out side chairs 1 & 2 (1st row) 3 & 4 (2nd row) 5 &6 (3rd row) 7 &8 (4th row) 9, 10 & 11 (5th row) 9,10 & 11 could also be in the 3rd & 4th row depending on the stage size and shape!.
11 second violins would sit chairs 12 & 13 (1st row) 14 & 15 (2nd row) and so on!. These players would most likely be 3rd & 4th chair from the edge!.
Sections are not always the same size and players are sometimes mixed to put strong players with weaker players!. A few conductors like to put the 3 & 4 best players in the lead seats of 2nd violin!.
In an honors orchestra seating according of best to worst could throw the sections out of balance!.
Your son should be honored to be in the group and you should be proud of him!. He is gaining a great experience!.
Seating should not be important beyond the chairs that might be asked to play solo parts or lead sectional rehearsals!.
I suspect your sons folder is marked 4th stand chair 2 or something similar!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
It all depends on the conducter!.
My community orchestra conducter mainly puts everyone in by rank whre the best goes in the concertmaster seat and then 2nd chair right next to him/her, second row 3rd chair and next to him fourth and so on!.
Example:
1 3 5 7
2 4 6 8
Now my school orchestra teacher puts the best in first chair and then the second best in 3rd!.
heres an example of his ranking in the seats:
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
He puts his best 4 on the outside the best 5-8 on the inside!.
It doesnt really matter either because many conducters like having a balance in the sections!. He wants all different strengths within the sections!. So I wouldn't get upset about it!. It really doesnt matter where you sit in an orchestra!.
For me its playing the music that I enjoy, while playing it with friends!. I'm friends with everyone in both orchestra's and I just enjoy making music!. So wherever your son is seated shouldn't matter!. Www@QuestionHome@Com