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Orchestra fun

I was a part of my first orchestra concert yesterday. I've been in a community orchestra for the past 4 months, made up mostly of people who played in high school or college and who want a reason to practice. There are a few of us who picked up the instrument as an adult. I definitely feel like the weak link, but on the other hand I improve every time I play, and the other members and my teacher assure me that my skills are sufficient. Also, playing next to competent musicians helps me to improve and they seem to be tolerant of my sour notes.  My one strength is that having listened to the music we pay for my whole life, I know how the piece is supposed to go, even if I can't get my body to comply.

I learned several things about playing in a concert. First, it was long for me to play. It was about 45 minutes of almost constant playing, and just sitting down for that long is unusual for me, not to mention holding up a viola... I kept expecting our director to stop us and tell us to re do a section, but she kept going. By the end, I was worn out.

Another thing I learned is that playing music in an auditorium sounds different than playing it in a practice room. In the room, the best place to listen is in the middle of the viola section. There are vibrations all around and your are completely surrounded by the sound from the cellos and the other violas, not to mention your own instrument. I know that cellos have lower notes than the C string, but they don't hold their instruments to their chins.

In the auditorium, I could not hear the other instruments nearly as well, it sounded like we were playing into space (which we were, I suppose). That part was not as much fun.

On the other hand, playing for an audience was fun... Although the reason to play in a community orchestra is not primarily for the sake of the audience. I think that was the reason I was not as nervous as I  thought I would be. I flubbed many notes, but I worried more about disappointing my orchestra mates than the audience. It may have helped that I was sitting in the back row and couldn't see anyone in the audience (Amanda said that she watched my bow tip because she couldn't see me).

The main thing I learned is that the best way to enjoy music is by playing it with other people. I highly recommend it!

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