How does it feel to be in an orchestra

in #life6 years ago (edited)

In the little time I've been part of my orchestra I've always wanted to share my thoughts on how does it feel to be in one.

I say my orchestra because everyone's realities are different and this is the way I experience it.

Leaving aside this informal preface, I'm going to tell you how did I end up in one

Since I was little I always felt an attraction to music, I wanted to be in an orchestra, after an extensive search I found the national system of orchestras here in Venezuela (El sistema nacional de orquestas) which is an organization created with the purpose of giving musical education to anyone interested in receiving it.

This organization has many centers across the country called "nucleos", I choose the one closest to my location and I registered there.

Initially I wanted to play saxophone, but I'm sure you know that saxophones don't normally exist in an orchestra, the closest thing to a saxophone was a clarinet but there was no professor available thanks to the country social/economic/political situation. Finding teachers (and also good ones) was hard work for the directive.

I joined in guitar waiting for a clarinet teacher to arrive, everytime that I went to my classes I heard the instruments being played in the orchestra and one grabbed my attention: The big violin (just kidding) The cello. There was a cello teacher so I decided to play one, I saw my classes and voila, that's how I ended up in my orchestra.

My first rehearsal

I was lost and nervous, for some reason, I felt the need to prove myself, It had been four months since I started learning the cello with the help of my professor (Which sadly left me because he needed to go to Chile, thanks again, Venezuela)

I remember perfectly the first piece that they played in that rehearsal, it was mission impossible (Yeah, in that moment they were practicing repertoire about movie songs) and in my first rehearsal, I realized many things:

The stress

Everything in the orchestra has to be "On the beat" no second less or more, you play a little bit late or afterwards and maybe the whole orchestra has to start all over again because of you in the same measure

Then the stress begins to creep up, the musician has to count in his mind non-stop the pulses of every measure, without losing track of it once, because doing it would be getting lost in a musical labyrinth, with a bunch of instruments playing around you, it would be overwhelming.

The "wataqueo"

I don't know this is called in your country, but in mine, playing by memory without counting in your head, depending solely on your memory it's called "wataca"

Wataquing (Yeah, i tried to translate wataquear into english HAHAHA) in many ocasions can be great, no one is going to be counting the pulses in every measure in their head when they're jamming with their friends, but here doing that is the equivalent of being a medic and giving paracetamol to someone in the middle of a cardiac arrest.

Yeah, maybe you can get away with it, but eventually people will notice that you're doing it, specially on moments that require certain rhythmic "precision" to play

The responsibility

It may be usual that the audience misses on some mistakes when every instrument in the orchestra is playing at the same time, but in orchestral pieces that's not always the case.

Sometimes someone will be playing alone being the center of attention and sometimes the responsibility of playing an important melody of the piece falls on a complete line of instruments and making a mistake will be noticeable by the audience

Sometimes you have that responsibility and it's big if you care about your partners and the overall public image of the orchestra.

The determination

You have to go everyday if it's possible and study everytime you can the repertoire (and also the technique of your instrument) to be prepared for the rehearsal

But, sometimes, you don't have the opportunity to do it, you can't plan everything so...

Sight reading

Sight reading: "Is the reading and performing of a piece of music or song in music notation that the performer has not seen before." (Thanks Wikipedia)

An essential skill that every orchestra musician should have, if you're interested in forming part of one, you should be developing this skill, the musicians that already have practiced sight reading have a great advantage over those who haven't, because besides being able to be a little bit lazy with your practice and just go and sight read your way out of a rehearsal, your capacity of learning pieces in general will improve.

Individualism doesn't exist

If you like to be the center of attention I'm sorry to tell you that you're in the wrong place, here every musician is united to create something together, without discriminating ones and highlighting others, everyone is part of the same ship.

You have to accept the fact that you're part of a mission that's bigger than you, that goes beyond your ego and thirst for fame.


Final words

Being in an orchestra is an experience that you experiment once in your life if you're a musician, playing in a concert and being part of something bigger than you (like i said before) that goes beyond you, playing pieces of giants in the music world that have survived the test of time thanks to their compositions that are still being played today it's a great experience.

Sadly, I'll leave my days in the orchestra to follow my own music (And that means also leaving my cello, el sistema lent me the instrument, they didn't give it to me, sadly) because balancing that, my studies and my music is getting more complicated everytime

I met great and talented people, that had less time than me in this world and were really commited to be the good at what they do, people which I hope to find in my future as a musician.

I still remember the first time that I played my cello, it was overwhelming, after some time I started getting more confident with it until I reached a point which fear turned into pleasure. Nevertheless, I still feel there's a long way ahead for me as a cellist, there's a lot of things that I don't know and I must learn.

The truth is that learning an instrument is eternal, you'll never learn to play 100% your instrument and you can always improve a little bit everytime, and that's the beauty of it.

I hope that in a future I can afford to buy a cello (If the economic situation in my country improves) and I can still follow my career as a cellist, for now, I'm more interested that my guitar and voice bring music to the world.

Thanks for reading!

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Nice post Bro, I can totally relate to what you are saying because I am also a musician,this post reminds me of the first day I stepped into a symphonic band practise in my university.. I was terrified and the conductor came up to me and handed me the piece("Nightingale"by yanni). After the pre count everyone started jamming but I was lost, my sight reading skill was not and maybe still not very good. After like ten measures the conductor stopped and he said something that I still remember till this day, he said to all the new musicians "if you must be blind, then don't be deaf ".... it took time before I understood properly what he said which meant that if your sight reading skill is poor, then your ear must be great...In Africa we mostly play by ear.

Damn, your conductor has no chill! I like that.

I think what he's saying is kind of true, I believe every musician should learn to sight read but in the end, all that matters is your ear, that's your most important asset, without it, you can't make music, right?

Also, what instrument do you play?

(I took some time to hear Nightingale, it's beautiful)

Thanks for reading, man! I appreciate it.

I play guitar and saxophone.

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Hi @adamsays , This is such a wonderful piece and I see that you're very skilful to put your feelings in writing.

I would love to make a film about you!

Elena

Hey! How's it going?

I've received a lot of compliments in my short life and "You're very skillful to put your feelings in writing" is one of most beautiful ones.

I would love to speak in front of your camera about my story! I could also arrange some meetings with important musical figures here in Caracas (and also the director of my orchestra and the musicians) so they can talk about their own story and experiences in the music world If you're interested.

Sadly, things are very "delicate" here in Venezuela, I wouldnt recommend you to come here anytime soon but I hope (I really do) that in the near future it will be safe for you to take some vacations here!

It would be great if we keep in touch, okay?

Thanks for reading!

Hi @adamsays ,

yes, I'm following the situation in the media. How is the conflict affecting your life?

It would be fantastic to stay in touch. Please let me know when the situation calmed down and we can think of a nice film project. I can see, you have plenty of ideas!

I'm looking forward to it!
Elena

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dame up vote!!!

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A wonderful post!
As someone who actually holds a degree in music, some advice to you is to never stop learning. Over time you will develop another sense, a musical sense. When you play in an orchestra and you know your part, you can then listen to everyone else and flow with them and the conductor. If you can find a good working affordable cello, and care for it properly, it will be a lifelong companion. The music never stops, the metronome keeps ticking on.

"The music never stops, the metronome keeps ticking on" it's a great line and I'm afraid I'm going to steal it if you don't mind HAHAHA

I believe firmly that education is something you never finish, there's always something new to learn everytime, I agree with you.

I hold very dear my instruments and I'll be really sad to leave this cello, I develop some irrational feelings for my instruments and I see them as something more than just an object.

It's like saying goodbye to someone important, you know?

That was so sweet to read. I am glad you are enjoying your music. It is evident in your narative. I hope things improve in Venezuela so you can get your cello sooner. My kinds regards. I will keep an eye on your blog, new friend <3

I'm glad it shows through my writing! I also hope that things improve here, not only so I can get my cello, but also for other people that doesn't even have the chance to play an instrument when they really want to

Thanks for reading, I know you were the first one to comment, I really appreciate that!

See you next time!

Great you acknowledged I commented first :-)
I guess my work here on Steemit recently demands that I find posts as good as yours, while they are relatively undervalued, and help it gain exposure. I'm glad yours has ;-)

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Hey your writing skil is touch my heart & ur orchestra is so charming...i have also like this...

Very nice post. I played in the youth orchestra of hesse in germany when I was 16. We travelled to south africa and played really great concert halls here in germany. It was an experience of such intense emotional feelings whether it was stress or enthusiasm coming from the music and the people of the orchestra and the conductors etc. One of the best times in my life as a musician. By the way, i played the cello there too, Dvorak 9, Debussy-la mer etc. It was wonderful, feelings I would not have been experiencing otherwise. So I can understand and share your passion and I hope you will be able to buy a cello again and play. One of the best things in life for sure.

Woah, I've never had a chance to travel overseas to play, It would be so great to represent my country internationally! and also meet those places, damn.

I sort of envy you, I hope I have the same chance to experience all the things you did!

I'm so happy that my post made you remember all those things, fellow cellist.

Thanks for taking some of your time to read my post! I really appreciate it.

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Awesome post! It's always nice to find other people who had similar experiences :) Best wishes on your music!

I'm so happy that you can relate to my post. Best wishes for you also

Thanks for reading!

Absolutely! And thanks

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