crn0821

Dear Manny,

I'm a member of our orchestra's trumpet section here at East Carolina University. We're an "OK" brass section within an "OK" orchestra. We rotate parts so that everyone gets the "principal" expericnece. What I'm wondering is what are some things that we as beginners in an orchestra can focus on as far as playing as a brass section. We have great players but we don't always play well together. I would apreciate any recomendations that you can give us. Thanks.

Chris

cornetguy

i am not manny but here are several suggestions

1. brass ensemble music with the section just to work on playing as a team.

2. listen to each other... balance, blend, intonation

3, playing in orchestra is not a loudness contest, concentrate on making a beautiful sound at all times keep the control.

4. know your own part before getting into class, rehearsal is not to learn the part, but to put the group together. i think even in a university or community group to

5. listen to great orchestras, ideally live, but recordings will do too, get the model in your mind.

the most important things

LISTEN TO EACH OTHER

PLAY WITH YOUR BEST SOUND

__________________
Per aspera ad astra

trpt2345

Again, I'm not Manny either but to me there's always something to be said for breathing together. If you all breath at the same time in the same way it goes a long way towards playing together. Then listen to each other, breath, and listen some more. When everyone hears the music in the same way at the same time-that's when magic happens.

Michael McLaughlin

"If you had a million Shakespeares, could they write like a monkey?"
Steven Wright

__________________
Chicago MM

Manny Laureano

It's a different case from a professional situation as there's an appointed principal who makes decisions for his section and then consults with the other principals when there's a question that affects everyone.

You rotate and that's as it should be. But there needs to be a consensus as to how you approach playing as a section.

College is a time for learning the basics of playing as a section. Intonation, attacks, releases, and dynamics is where you have to begin. The conductor needs you to agree on those things before he can interject an interpretation for you to follow. Basics, basics, basics. That's what the college years are about. As long as people are agrreable and respectful of each other things work out. If you're going to err, err together. It's easier for the conductor to correct you as a section. If you are all doing your own thing, rehearsals become interminable.

When asking questions of each other, do so with kindness. Don't ask questions that are unnecessary or to try to "make a point" to show how smart you are. That just causes bad feelings.

So, stick to the basics and I promise you things will take care of themselves over time.

ML