Question for Conductors

Wlfgng · 09-02-2009, 12:16 PM

With a new orchestral season starting, I want to improve myself as a player.

What do you look for or expect from a trumpet player(outside of due diligence with practicing and knowing my part)?

rowuk · 09-02-2009, 07:40 PM

I expect preparation before the rehearsal. I expect a sound that can vary from flamethrower to smoky bar. I expect superior intonation and rhythm. I expect them to diligently count the rests and come in on time in the same tempo and key as the rest of the orchestra. I expect a round of beer when they NAIL a passage in concert with a big clam. I expect them to pay attention even if it is a Mozart symphony with 600,000 measures of rests.

I think that that is a pretty good start!

tedh1951 · 09-02-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowuk

I expect preparation before the rehearsal. I expect a sound that can vary from flamethrower to smoky bar. I expect superior intonation and rhythm. I expect them to diligently count the rests and come in on time in the same tempo and key as the rest of the orchestra. I expect a round of beer when they NAIL a passage in concert with a big clam. I expect them to pay attention even if it is a Mozart symphony with 600,000 measures of rests.

I think that that is a pretty good start!

Hmmmm, yes, - well that sounds reasonable.

RHSbigbluemarchingband · 09-02-2009, 11:05 PM

Speaking of resting for 600,000 measures, what is the name of that song where you literally open the piano lid, sit there, and then close the lid, THE END?

tedh1951 · 09-02-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHSbigbluemarchingband

Speaking of resting for 600,000 measures, what is the name of that song where you literally open the piano lid, sit there, and then close the lid, THE END?

"The Sounds of Silence" ??????

Bagnewauckland · 09-03-2009, 01:08 AM

4'33" (or similar?)

that sounds like a pretty good list, Rowuk (As usual!)

Trumpet guy · 09-03-2009, 01:49 AM

yes it's 4'33" and it's actually in 3 movements. So you open the lid and close it 3 times. That's the piece. It's actually funny that on youtube there's a recording of a live performance of it and no one in the audience reacted to it any differently than a regular piece of classical music. They just sat there and shuffled about a little, some sniffles and the like but no cursing or wtf-ing.

RHSbigbluemarchingband · 09-03-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trumpet guy

yes it's 4'33" and it's actually in 3 movements. So you open the lid and close it 3 times. That's the piece. It's actually funny that on youtube there's a recording of a live performance of it and no one in the audience reacted to it any differently than a regular piece of classical music. They just sat there and shuffled about a little, some sniffles and the like but no cursing or wtf-ing.

Our band director brought it up last year when we were discussing how all noise is music in its own way. We all laughed pretty hard when he told us about this song the first time. Amazing that people would pay to see someone open the lid and close it 3 times.

tedh1951 · 09-04-2009, 12:20 AM

Yes but it's not THAT it is opened and closed but HOW it is opened and closed, the TIMING, the EXPRESSION, the SKILL, the INTONATION, and the KEY that it is done in.

GordonH · 09-06-2009, 11:18 AM

My experience is that conductors want very good sight reading including transposition and they want accuracy from the first play through.
Secondly they are interested in dynamics.

They rarely mention tone or sound - its all about accuracy and especially on the first play through.
There is no point sounding wonderful the second time through at the rehearsal as he has already lost confidence in you!

That may all sound harsh and, yes, it is a bit tongue in cheek, but its the distillation of many years experience and I think it carries a lot of truth.
As trumpet players we get a bit obsessed with tone and beauty issues because we practice a lot of solos, but what counts in an orchestra section is accuracy.

09-02-2009, 12:16 PM	#1
Wlfgng Piano User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 328	Question for Conductors With a new orchestral season starting, I want to improve myself as a player. What do you look for or expect from a trumpet player(outside of due diligence with practicing and knowing my part)? __________________ Olds Ambassador(only one left, need more) King Silver Flair - main horn Selmer Cornet Amatuers practice till they get it right, Professionals practice till they can't get it wrong.

09-02-2009, 07:40 PM	#2
rowuk Moderator Utimate User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 7,364	Re: Question for Conductors I expect preparation before the rehearsal. I expect a sound that can vary from flamethrower to smoky bar. I expect superior intonation and rhythm. I expect them to diligently count the rests and come in on time in the same tempo and key as the rest of the orchestra. I expect a round of beer when they NAIL a passage in concert with a big clam. I expect them to pay attention even if it is a Mozart symphony with 600,000 measures of rests. I think that that is a pretty good start! __________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

09-02-2009, 11:05 PM	#4
RHSbigbluemarchingband Piano User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 331	Re: Question for Conductors Speaking of resting for 600,000 measures, what is the name of that song where you literally open the piano lid, sit there, and then close the lid, THE END? __________________ ?1975 Bb Beuscher Aristocrat 1970 Bb Bach Strad 37 Bb Dynasty Marching Trumpet 010-M503 Beuscher 7c MP Bach 3c MP

09-03-2009, 01:08 AM	#6
Bagnewauckland Pianissimo User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Howick, New Zealand Posts: 89	Re: Question for Conductors 4'33" (or similar?) that sounds like a pretty good list, Rowuk (As usual!) __________________ As much as I wish it was, the horn in the avatar isn't mine Yamaha YTR6335 Yamaha 14B4 Marc. Bobby Shew #1 JetTone LMCX Gold Plated Bach 3C Protec Small Mouthpiece pouch (3 slots) Chinese "7C" Tiny Brass piece from my $15 Bugle Denis Wick Cup Mute Stone Lined Wa-wa Du-all Denis Wick Straight Mute Dorsy Tommy Shastock Wooden Straight Mute Yamaha Wooden Shell Hard Case

09-03-2009, 01:49 AM	#7
Trumpet guy Forte User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,019	Re: Question for Conductors yes it's 4'33" and it's actually in 3 movements. So you open the lid and close it 3 times. That's the piece. It's actually funny that on youtube there's a recording of a live performance of it and no one in the audience reacted to it any differently than a regular piece of classical music. They just sat there and shuffled about a little, some sniffles and the like but no cursing or wtf-ing. __________________ Daniel Lan "If you're not improving, you're falling behind." - My Trumpet Teacher, Steve ------------------------------------ Horns Bach Strad 37 - Schilke 22, Wedge 3C Bach TR300 (collecting dust) Berkeley Cornet - Factory Moutphiece Berkeley Picc. Trumpet - Factory Mouthpiece Jupiter Soprano Trombone - Schilke 22 Olds Ambassador Fullerton Trombone - Olds 12C

09-04-2009, 12:20 AM	#9
tedh1951 Forte User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,421	Re: Question for Conductors Yes but it's not THAT it is opened and closed but HOW it is opened and closed, the TIMING, the EXPRESSION, the SKILL, the INTONATION, and the KEY that it is done in. __________________ . Ted

09-06-2009, 11:18 AM	#10
GordonH Mezzo Forte User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 728	Re: Question for Conductors My experience is that conductors want very good sight reading including transposition and they want accuracy from the first play through. Secondly they are interested in dynamics. They rarely mention tone or sound - its all about accuracy and especially on the first play through. There is no point sounding wonderful the second time through at the rehearsal as he has already lost confidence in you! That may all sound harsh and, yes, it is a bit tongue in cheek, but its the distillation of many years experience and I think it carries a lot of truth. As trumpet players we get a bit obsessed with tone and beauty issues because we practice a lot of solos, but what counts in an orchestra section is accuracy. __________________ I used to have a career, now all I do is play Schumann.

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