Grade 5 joining a quartet group. Others are at much higher level .. shall I drop ?

February 26, 2009 at 5:32 AM

Hi! I'm an expat wife living in an asia country. I'm at about grade 5 level. Recently together with two other ladies in our community we decided to form a string quartet, one plays violin with a diploma, and the other plays cello at grade 5 level. Our teacher just found a viola player for us. This man is working towards his diploma. Now I 'm getting really worried about being not good enough for the group. Originally we just want to practise and have fun together. Maybe it's not a good idea to have players of different level in a quartet, perhaps I should drop out. I don't think I can find others to play together, though. Anybody has any advice for me? We will start in 3 weeks. At the moment I thought I will just go for it, and see. If it doesn't work out , I will drop. It will be embarrasing and demotivating for me, though.

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 26, 2009 at 5:43 AM

Greetings,

in general it is not such a good idea to have diffenret levels of player in a quartet, but why be negative? Obviously you have arrived at a clearly defined standard awhich is commensurate with one of the players. Do you just lack a little confidence? If you prepare really well you may be able to turn things round. Be an asset! Try and get the others to agree what you are going to paly as soon as possible and learn the score backwards , inside down and upside down. Even if you are not so confident of all the notes try to be the one who has clearly learnt whats what and can help thngs along. I am sure the group will welcome that.

Cheers,

Buri

From Mendy Smith
Posted on February 26, 2009 at 6:28 AM

Being in Miri, there probably aren't many adult musicians around who play classical music. I found that to be true when I lived in Kuching. This can be positive experience if the two advanced players know going into this that the other half isn't so advanced. They may just be thrilled to find others to play with and have fun. Chamber music informally is a more social event and not a career pursuit. As long as you all get along well personally, and choose pieces that are within your skills and the cellists, go for it!

Enjoy Sarawak! I did!

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on February 26, 2009 at 1:25 PM

If the laps is too big, then drop out but if the lack is there but not terrible, go for it if you have time. You can grow so much out of it. Sometimes a little kick in the ... and seeing better than us is very motivating... Often, many people are excellent sigh readers and very good show off. When I got in the string ensemble I played with a few years ago, I was convinced that I was terrible. I had no orchestral experienced, was a big 0 in seight reading and was always lost. I though I was the worst of the group. Then, I learned from all my mistakes, take extra lessons with my teacher for the repertoire I played with them and surprise, I became one of the good ones of the group. Solid and confident. I have forever had this pattern, start the worst one and end up in the good ones. I have never been able to be in the middle in anything. Either I am terrible, either I'm good. I can pass from terrible to good or from good to terrible but never in the middle of these two states. Don't know why that's me. Something really great happened, at the group concert, the first part of the gig was solo pieces from each member of the group. I could then see how each player that all seem experts played alone... I was happy to see that I was not the best one (but not far behind according to competent people who talked to me after) but definitivly not the worst ones either. Of course, others were good but many that I though were terrific were pretty ordinairy and often more than me...

Just be aware that some people are known to start as the worst ones and finish in the bests. I think it has a lot to do with sight reading too + different learning patterns... Some people are really slow to learn but what is learned is solid like a rock at the end while some others are quick to catch and quick to forget! And some take forever to warm up and reach their full potential but this is another problem! lol Don't be too impressed. Maybe they are really good and maybe there is a great part of show off and confidence too. Maybe you will have good surprises from yourself!

Good luck,

Anne-Marie

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on February 26, 2009 at 2:00 PM

I think Buri has the right attitude: learn the music really well. Get a score, get a recording. Study it and practice. Come to the rehearsals prepared. You might be surprised at how well you can rise to the occasion.

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Grade 5 joining a quartet group. Others are at much higher level .. shall I drop ?

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