Comments

Karen - I think you have to try to listen to your section (sometimes easier said than done) and see if they seem to be more in sync with you or the conductor's comments. Then adjust, if necessary, accordingly. A lot of times it's not easy to figure out, but you've got to try. I agree that three hours is a long rehearsal. I would have to be carried out on a stretcher after a rehearsal that long. I have a hard time listening to "the section" as a whole. I can hear my stand partner and a little of the stand in front of me and that's about it. We've got a whole posse of violin I for this concert, so I'm in the back again.

It's also a delicate issue if one thinks that the conductor is talking to one's stand partner and one's stand partner may or may not be responding to the conductor in the way that one would, oneself (if you get my drift--how rude would it be to make constructive suggestions to my stand partner about his playing?)

Perhaps the most sensible thing is not to worry and try to do the best you can. If you think you are doing your job correctly, that may be as good as it gets.

BTW, you should not hesitate to make suggestions to your stand partner. I do it from time to time even she is a much better player than I am. One thing you might try if you are hesitant is to phrase the issue in terms of a question along the lines of: "Do you think the conductor is asking us to play more softly?" or "Do you think we are playing softly enough?" Good luck!

>Haydnus interruptus

Brilliant! I'm laughing out loud here. : )