I have never wanted to rant about this, but whatever.

Sooooo, school has started and auditions for orchestra have gone by.

I decided to play a piece that is not the most popular among cellists. heck, I don't know anyone who has ever played this song. But It was something I wanted to try mysself. It is a violin piece transposed for cello by Haydn called Divertimento, and I was playing the fastest (last) movement. The whole song is in treble clef and the song goes up to 10th position. It's a cute piece with a lot of technical stuff. I wanted to show the orchestra director that I had a wide variety of stuff I could do. I played the smooth but moving Bach (aka "the Gatorade song") for last years audition, then played a softspoken, slow piece from the same Divertimento suite for the Honors Orchestra audition, then a fast, high song for the saeting audition. So I thought it would be a good idea. I practiced hard for 2-3 months even with water polo and school, and then came the audition. I thought it was the best showing I had with the song. Everything seemed to come into place at the right moment.

Then we got our seating a week later and I was placed 4th chair. Not a biggie to me, a biggie to everyone else though. Some people stayed and watched my audition and were puzzled to the extreme why I would be back there. Other people keep telling me that they can't match my skill level. Frankly, I don't really care what seat I got. I'd be lying if I say I didn't at all, but not really. If the people in front of me are truly better than me, I have no argument.

The problem is that the people who sit in front of me played pieces I played 2 years before for the 2002 music camp audition (when I just started cello). Which means that if I played a "everyone wants to play this song, so i'll join the bandwagon" song that I learned a year ago I probably wouldve done better. Heck, maybe if I played the Prelude, I'd do better. Haha.

I don't like to learn a piece solely for the audition, but it seems now that I'll have to since the director doesn't quite appreciate the stuff that is technical rather than melodic? hmm.. time to get ready for Bach's 3rd suite.

well, if I look on the bright side, at least I found out sooner rather than later not to pick this genre of songs.

 

You > Instructor

Take over the class...

 

That's tough, George. I suppose from the point of view of the orch. director, perhaps it's difficult to compare folks who play different music. Is this a group you'll be in all school year? Do they have challenges to move up in the section?

I'm really of two minds on this subject. Yes, there is the business of apples to apples comparison. On the other hand, I did well in the New York competitions (NYSSMA) back in the day with some very unusual trumpet pieces that I know no one else was playing.

I guess my advice to you is that if you like the last movement of the Haydn, keep using it, as long as it shows off your strong points. Ultimately, George, it's all about you loving the instrument you play, not about the people who are judging you.

 

I guess it just depends on what you want out of things. If you are happy to know in your own mind that you are more capable than the people who have been rated "above" you, then carry on doing things your way, and take the pleaseure in knowing that you could "beat" them if you wanted to take the easy route. Alternatively, if you want to be the number one seat, work towards what you know will get you into that position whether it is what you want to do or not.

It is really down to what is most important to you, enjoying YOUR music YOUR way, or being number one .....

If you are happy doing things your way, I would stick with that, because it will give you the greatest satisfaction in the long run

 

if that were true, free ice cream for everyone!

 

our orchestra director is also our band and marching band director so... band is his pride, he doesn't care much about the orchestra. it probably is difficult for the director, but if it's his job, i would hope he makes a fair decision.

yes, it is the school orchestra. last year there wasn't any chance for any challenges, but i don't really want to "challenge" someone.

my strongest points are the mid-range, which the first 5 Bach suites are in. 10th position is not my favoritest place to be on the cello, but i can do it.

congrats on the NYSSMA competition too!

i'm going to move on from the Haydn to something else now, since I've been doing it for about 2-3 months, but im definitely going back to it later.

 

well, all I know, it isn't going to be easy to get past me next year. i'm coming back with a vengeance. i know exactly what piece i'm going to learn from and be a good audition piece.

 

Myb take is similiar, I guess...


After all, the orchestra conductor is a teacher who is most-likely multi-tasked. Not to pick on teachers, or your conductor in particular, but as I learned in school, most of these guys aren't paid well enough to concern themselves as much as a professional would. In most cases, they have something else as their pride, in his case the band. I can recall that my 6-7-8th grade concert band director focused his pride on the concert band (fortunately for us). As a result, the 6-7-8th grade concert band sounded better than the 9-10th grade band (whose director was more interested in his polka band on the side) and the 11-12th grade band (whose director was all about the 300 member marching band).

I say, play what you like, and play what you find challenging. Just be sure to play within your skill level (which sounds like it's at more of a profesional level anyway ).

 

You learned something in school

 

I also learned how to shoot milk from my nose and burp the alphabet.

Who says that public education is sub-standard?