| Rules For Ensemble Playing.
1. Everyone should play the same piece.
2. Stop at every repeat sign and discuss in detail whether to take the
repeat or not. The audience will love it.
3. If you play a wrong note give a nasty look to one of your partners.
4. Keep your fingering chart handy. You can always catch up to the others.
5. Carefully tune your instrument before playing. That way you can play
out of tune all night with a clear conscience.
6. Take your time turning pages.
7. The right note at the wrong time is a wrong note (and vice-versa).
8. If everyone gets lost except you follow those who get lost.
9. Strive to get the maximum NPS (notes per second). That way you gain the
admiration of the incompetent.
10. Markings for slurs, dynamics and ornaments should not be observed. They
are only there to embellish the score.
11. If a passage is difficult, slow down. If it's easy, speed up.
Everything will work itself out in the end.
12. If you are completely lost, stop everyone and say, "I think we should
tune up."
13. Happy are those who have not perfect pitch for the kingdom of music is
theirs.
14. If the ensemble has to stop because of you, explain in detail why you
got lost. Everyone will be interested.
15. A true interpretation is realized when there remains not one note of the
original.
16. When everyone else has finished playing, you should not play any notes
you have left.
17. A wrong note played timidly is a wrong note. A wrong note played with
authority is an interpretation.
Scott Englebright |