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Question: How can I do better in ORCHESTRA!?!!?
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Okay, so the deal is that I am fifth chair in the first violin section!. I'm a sophomore so that's good because there are 3 seniors and 1 junior in front of me!. This means that I will be second chair next year if I work hard!.

But there is this sophomore who is 9th chair, but is working really hard to impress the conductor and do better than me!. Auditions are coming up and I'm scared that she will be 2nd chair next year!.

What can i do to impress the director during rehearsals, besides posture, staying in time!?

THANKS
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
1!. Practice, Practice, Practice
2!. Always be prepared, pencil, music, be in your chair ready to play!
3!. Pay attention, be ready to play, DON'T CHAT about anything, even music!. Pay attention to where he/she is rehearsing with other sections so you will be ready to begin when he calls on your section!.
4!. If you can write on your music, number your measures,
5!. Make notes on your music about what other instruments are doing during long rests, for example, violas in, basses in, etc!. You can keep track of where you are during rests that way in case you lose your place you can listen for key places during the rest to get your bearings
6!. Don't be catty!. In other words, it's competitive yes, but it is supposed to be fun!. If you have to hurt someone to gain that spot, think long and hard!.
7!. Consider private lessons to improve your technique, tone and intonation!.
8!. Be confident about entrances, DON'T SNEAK IN!.
9!. Watch him/her direct!. They like to see you without your face buried in your music!
10!. PAY ATTENTION TO INTERPRETATION, i!.e!. dynamics, note nuances, phrasing, decrescendo, crescendo!.!.!.
11!. Let your director hear you "practice"!. Use a close-by practice room to "warm up", play pretty passages you have already worked on at home!. (This is a sneaky one that can backfire so be careful)
12!. Ask intelligent questions and keep your head in the game!.

I could go on and on!. Great question! Have fun!

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getting your part right if you've got it then that means the conductor can spend less time working with your section and I hate to say its said millions of times but the only way to ensure that you can be your best is by practising even the people who make it look easy have spent hours practising and at one point they were not good but gradulally you'll become better and better make sure to practise the right things like vibrato or something else that everyone else has difficulty doing so then you can get ahead by practising it!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

ask one or two intelligent questions between now and auditions
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!!
try and help your fellow players if they're struggling (but don't nag and don't be obnoxious to the conductor)
demonstrate proper technique
play REALLY well during auditions and play with confidence (try not to get too nervous so you can keep a steady tempo)


it sounds like you're doing pretty well right now, and i wish you good luck! :D Www@QuestionHome@Com

Memorize a few places in every piece!. Definitely the first few measures!.
When you play these in class, watch the director instead of the music!.
glance up frequently while playing!.
Spend more of you practice time on the hardest measures!.
Practice daily!.
Take lessons!.
If your teacher will see students after school ask if they can help you on the hard parts!.
Good LuckWww@QuestionHome@Com

These essays may help:

Two Essays on the Development of Student Orchestras
http://beststudentviolins!.com/developmen!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com