August 29, 2005 at 9:37 PM

I don't have orchestra this semester at my high school, but that is ok with me. I know my orchestra teacher will miss me, but I will be in there next semester. I've talked to Tyler, who is going to be concertmaster in my place this year, and was telling me about how terrible the orchestra is this semester. Mrs. Morrell, the orchestra director at KMHS, is making them read Mozart and Beethoven. These are below average high school orchestra students where the second violins don't even bother to practice and suck so much. And Tyler tells me that they read through Mozart Symphony No. 40, but the students can't even play in a minor key, so the seconds played it in G major instead.

ugh... I can't wait until the second semester (sarcasm). I might get to do a solo in the spring IF the orchestra can handle it. I doubt that they can handle "twinkle, twinkle," though. And some of those kids have "played" (but forgotten to practice) their instruments for seven years.

The orchestra keeps getting worse every year. I remember last year when a girl played the Mendelssohn concerto in e that the orchestra could barely handle it. And it was a sight-readable first violin part for me!

When I have my senior solo in two years, I wish I wouldn't have to limit my selection because it would need an "easy" orchestra part. I don't even think the orchestra could play a Mozart Violin Concerto. I remember last year we played the Magic Flute Overture and the second violins couldn't even do the turn-arounds at a moderate tempo, let alone the allegro we where playing it as.

I don't know how many of you can relate to me, since most of you are long past the high school orchestral setting.

But, this problem is not just from the students, but the teacher as well. Even though 75% of the kids don't practice, my teacher does not teach. She claims to play cello, but she can't. The truth is that she plays trumpet. A trumpet player teaching a high school string orchestra doesn't have much to offer. She only got the position because she is a brown-noser.

I wish she would let the students who know what they are doing go off in sectionals and teach the other students. We have some truly gifted musicians in my high school. Plenty of them are in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, a part of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which is pretty big.

I just feel that high school orchestra pulls me down. If I could spend the hour and a half a day practicing instead of playing the same two measures over and over again because other people won't practice, then I would be so much better of a fiddle player.

This is why I am glad I don't have orchestra this semester. I have a light schedule, too, so I can come home and practice an hour or two and still get my homework done.

I have my second lessons (my first "official" lesson) with my new teacher this wednesday. He's going to be re-building my right arm technique, even though I have doen it plenty of times before. I guess every teacher just wants a different bow arm from you. I think Dr. Eanes sees something that could pose a problem later on down the road. However, he knows better than I do, so I'll just do want he wants me to do. I purchased a Schradieck and Mozart 3 book for him (I already had Kreutzer). He was surprised that I hadn't played Mozart 3 yet, but that my old teacher had me learn other Mozart violin concertos (4&5).

I looked at Schradieck, and was surprised at how technical it is. I thought kreutzer was pretty technical, but Schradiek will really help me out.

From Andrew Paa
Posted on August 29, 2005 at 10:45 PM

Um...about the teacher being a trupet player. My orchestra teacher in HS the last two years is a trombone player, and we played the Shostakovich 5th Symphony well last year because of his expertise and drive for perfection. Although, I have found that band people often can't conduct an orchestra very well, so I know what you mean.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on August 30, 2005 at 6:51 AM

It must be hard for you to have to associate with music students and teachers who are so inferior to you. Perhaps you would be happier playing in another orchestra, such as one for college or conservatory level students.

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on September 1, 2005 at 1:17 AM

Hey there! I sympathize with you, having been in the same position many many times! It is so true that often the second violinists don't practice and it's very frustrating to have to waster your valuable time with them. Maybe you and some of the more advanced players could form a quartet or some such ensemble so that you could play challenging music at a higher level. Just a thought from a fellow first violinist forced to plod along with the seconds. ;-)

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August 29, 2005 at 9:37 PM

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