Survival tips ....
Depending on which instrument you play, playing music in a group may be a new experience. Here are some survival strategies that some people find helpful.
If you're not used to playing with a conductor, it can be very hard to get used to their different styles. Usually the down beat on the first beat of the bar is clear, so keep an eye open for that, and watch out for the conductor bringing you in after a long period of rest.
When playing from a score – listen and look for recognisable bits in other people’s parts, and see how they line up with your part. It's more difficult playing from a part, without the full score, and it's even more important to listen to what else is going on. On first play through, take note of recognisable bits – a “general pause” when everyone is silent, a bit where everyone is playing the same rhythm, a distinctive bit of melody – you can use these to check you’re still in the right place, or get back on track if you’re not.
It’s better to play the wrong note in the right place than the right note in the wrong place – so if you can’t manage the whole run of quavers, just play the first one. Or try playing just the first note in every bar.
It’s important to count but don’t get too hung up on the "how". For example, it may help to count a bar of 6/4 as “1,2,3,1,2,3” and 4/2 as “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” or even “1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4”. In extremis, counting “thump thump thump” at the right speed will keep you on track. (On the other hand, in a small group, don’t be too rigid – if the alto has a few notes solo, don’t come in until they’ve done their bit, even if they are half a beat behind).
Count multi bar rests with the bar number - 1,2,3 2,2,3, 3,2,3 … 16,2,3 – and/or use your fingers to count the bars. Keep your eye open for other people getting ready to come in, and with luck the conductor will bring you in. But if you're playing in a mixed workshop - instruments and voices - you may find the conductor is more concerned with the voices and trusting the instruments to look after themselves -- get used to counting the rests and being ready at the right time.Important: breathe before you're due in. Use the last rest note to breathe in, which ensures you’ll be on time with your entry. According to a viol teacher, even strings players should also breathe in before their entry, and breathe out as they start, just like a recorder player – and it seems to work.
Gone wrong / run into a hard bit / fallen off? Fear not. Everybody hides their difficulties – you won’t be the only person miming. Even when you’re miming, try to follow your part and the music – you may be pleasantly surprised and find out you were in the right place after all. If not, it’s still good practice for next time.
Learn to look out for the approach of the final note and play it. It’s satisfying and confidence boosting.
If you're not used to playing with a conductor, it can be very hard to get used to their different styles. Usually the down beat on the first beat of the bar is clear, so keep an eye open for that, and watch out for the conductor bringing you in after a long period of rest.
When playing from a score – listen and look for recognisable bits in other people’s parts, and see how they line up with your part. It's more difficult playing from a part, without the full score, and it's even more important to listen to what else is going on. On first play through, take note of recognisable bits – a “general pause” when everyone is silent, a bit where everyone is playing the same rhythm, a distinctive bit of melody – you can use these to check you’re still in the right place, or get back on track if you’re not.
It’s better to play the wrong note in the right place than the right note in the wrong place – so if you can’t manage the whole run of quavers, just play the first one. Or try playing just the first note in every bar.
It’s important to count but don’t get too hung up on the "how". For example, it may help to count a bar of 6/4 as “1,2,3,1,2,3” and 4/2 as “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” or even “1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4”. In extremis, counting “thump thump thump” at the right speed will keep you on track. (On the other hand, in a small group, don’t be too rigid – if the alto has a few notes solo, don’t come in until they’ve done their bit, even if they are half a beat behind).
Count multi bar rests with the bar number - 1,2,3 2,2,3, 3,2,3 … 16,2,3 – and/or use your fingers to count the bars. Keep your eye open for other people getting ready to come in, and with luck the conductor will bring you in. But if you're playing in a mixed workshop - instruments and voices - you may find the conductor is more concerned with the voices and trusting the instruments to look after themselves -- get used to counting the rests and being ready at the right time.Important: breathe before you're due in. Use the last rest note to breathe in, which ensures you’ll be on time with your entry. According to a viol teacher, even strings players should also breathe in before their entry, and breathe out as they start, just like a recorder player – and it seems to work.
Gone wrong / run into a hard bit / fallen off? Fear not. Everybody hides their difficulties – you won’t be the only person miming. Even when you’re miming, try to follow your part and the music – you may be pleasantly surprised and find out you were in the right place after all. If not, it’s still good practice for next time.
Learn to look out for the approach of the final note and play it. It’s satisfying and confidence boosting.