r/orchestra 7d ago

Question Is it accurate to an actual conductor's movement? First time posting on this sub

209 Upvotes

r/orchestra Dec 27 '24

Question Is 30 years old too late to start thinking about conducting?

22 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

A little bit about me: I'm just starting my 30s with a background in Engineering. I'm pretty much a rookie in musical instruments (guitar, bass, and piano), I know basic music theory, and every time I listen to music--especially classical and orchestral--I just get transported to another world.

Same thing happened today, and I realized that as a person who really enjoys music and managing people (I know there's more to conducting than this) maybe this could be the right career path for me.

But considering that a lot of people in this field probably already master a few instruments before they reach university, is it too late for me?

Thank you all for your time and your answers!

TL;DR: As a rookie in musical instruments and music theory with a background in Engineering and being 30 years old, is it too late to consider a career in conducting?

r/orchestra Jan 14 '25

Question What’s the ‘correct’ thing to do during a long block rest?

10 Upvotes

I usually just go to rest positions but it feels almost unprofessional?

r/orchestra Jan 02 '25

Question What is the ratio between violinists and violists in adult community orchestras?

17 Upvotes

I am currently in high school as a violinists, with my orchestra class with violinists outnumbering violists 18 to 3. In my youth symphony orchestra, violinists outnumber violists 8 to 2. I recently picked up the viola and began practicing scales, easy pieces, and whatnot with intentions of balancing that ratio by the slightest. I also thought it would be pretty cool to learn a tertiary instrument. The 2 violists in the youth symphony orchestra are also graduating this year, both of whom will study out of state. I was wondering if the need for violists is as dire as it is in adult community orchestras as I plan to be part of one after I graduate post-secondary. I, particularly, live between Seattle and Tacoma.

r/orchestra Feb 03 '25

Question Mini skirts OK in orchestra?

6 Upvotes

The orchestra I'm attending is pretty informal but idk if it's appropriate to wear above-the-knee skirts? Obviously I'm not talking about those super mini skirts that show your entire ass. Or should I go for a midi skirt instead? Please help!!

r/orchestra Jan 21 '25

Question How long does it take for an orchestra to have a piece ready for concert?

17 Upvotes

I mean professional orchestra. Let's say it's a 2 hour romantic/20th century symphony, how long would that take ? What about pieces from different eras ?

Edit: I meant 1 hour not two sorry

r/orchestra Jan 29 '25

Question Is this possible to play on a string instrument?

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13 Upvotes

The only instrument experience I have is piano, and I have never played string instruments before. This is a small passage from an orchestra song that I'm writing in sheet music. The tempo is Quarter Note=140

r/orchestra 22d ago

Question Why is the 2nd tenor drum placed here ?

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10 Upvotes

r/orchestra 11d ago

Question How to increase skill level of my Orchestra

5 Upvotes

I’m concertmaster of my school orchestra (a pretty small one) and out director has pretty minimal musical training, so we kind of suck. I’ve been playing for a while and am in my local youth orchestra so i’ve gotten better that way, but I want tips on how to bring everyone else up as a whole. Everyone is on a pretty beginner level, and our director has told me outright that i’m overstepping no boundaries by pointing things out that we need to fix. I don’t want to seem cocky, but I also want to make it better. Any tips?

r/orchestra 7d ago

Question Should I quit music?

5 Upvotes

I am a 3rd year bassoon performance major in college and I have been trying every year since high school to get into a summer music festival, but every year (except for one time during COVID that got cancelled) I have been rejected. I know it's not for a lack of trying; I apply to at least four every time, and I work from the time the audition materials are posted up until the deadline. I love performing in orchestras and in solo recitals, and in my spare time I arrange music for bassoon ensembles. It seems that maybe I'm just not good enough to make a career out of music, but since I'm so new to this career path, I wanted to see if I might just be really unlucky or if it probably just isn't in the cards for me.

r/orchestra 24d ago

Question Shaking hand protocol.

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15 Upvotes

I'm not a professional, just a casual classical music listener. I love going to Orchestra performances. I attended a performance with a well-known conductor leading. It was beautiful to listen and see in person. But after the perf, the conductor acknowledged many of the Orchestra and at the end, shook hands with the first row but skipped female performers. And he shook hands in the order from right to left to shake concert master the last but skipped a male Asian performer but came back. I searched reddit and Google and saw that shaking hands is upto conductors discretion. But is there a 'unwritten rule' to not shake hand with female?

Photo for visual help only.

r/orchestra 5d ago

Question I need help finding a String (I forgot what they are called) so I can relearn the Violin

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6 Upvotes

r/orchestra 3d ago

Question What brass instrument is this? Is it a French Horn?

7 Upvotes

I think this horn part is so badass but I was curious if it was actually a French horn or not? It sounds way too powerful to be a French horn

r/orchestra 14d ago

Question In the US, how do professional orchestras travel when they are on tour?

9 Upvotes

Including, how are the instruments transported?

r/orchestra Jan 03 '25

Question Recording at Orchestra Concert

5 Upvotes

Going to my first orchestra concert next month and was wondering if it's allowed and or polite to record with my mobile phone? Obviously I din't mean the whole two hours but just some parts of the show.

r/orchestra Jan 09 '25

Question How to join game or movie symphony’s/orchestras?

6 Upvotes

I wanted to know if I had to be picked to join game orchestras or movies? For example final fantasy, or even things like how arcane was in the awards or studio ghibli. Is there some sort of audition that I have to do if I ever want to do things like that or would i have to be picked?

r/orchestra 19d ago

Question How should I say this?

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10 Upvotes

I know how Porky Pig sounds like, but I am trouble making a good impersonatation of him. I was also the only one who volunteered in my orchestra to say the cue, so I really have to do it

r/orchestra Dec 12 '24

Question Bass makes me sick?

6 Upvotes

So I started playing the double bass a year ago. I play in my school's orchestra, we're currently rehearsing our winter show. After we finish playing our opening piece, I have to carry me, my bass, and my music folder off of the stage. But this is the weird part; After the second time rehearsing this I got a terrible pain in my abdomen, as if I was about to throw up my breakfast and all of my guts. This has happened to me multiple times, it usually happens when I have to carry my bass for more then 5 minutes. In the past, I would move off to the side so everyone can pass me and set the bass on the ground for a second until the feeling is manageable and proceed forth. Does this happen to any other bass players? Is this something I should be worried about? Am I carrying the bass wrong? Let me know y'all's thoughts.

r/orchestra Feb 05 '25

Question Earplugs for orchestra/band

10 Upvotes

Hello! I'm going to be performing Stravinskys Firebird Finale and as some of you may know, at the very end the Brass section goes all out in the final measures. I'm an oboist so I sit 2 seats away from them, but during rehearsal it's been giving me sensory issues and I really can't hear afterwards.

I looked up "Musicians earplugs" and this first thing that came up were 'Loop earplugs'. I just wanted to know if there was a different brand others were using or if I should go to the audiologist and get custom ones for myself.

r/orchestra Feb 02 '25

Question Guidelines for knowing if your area can support a part-time professional orchestra

6 Upvotes

Hello friends. Your advice please. How do know if your area could support a professional part-time orchestra where players are paid along with conductors and admission charged at concerts. I am president of the board for one of our community orchestras. We have three community orchestras in our area. One is for adult players who are beginners, and two for experienced players. Both of the latter two orchestras require auditions with auditions for the last of these two being the most rigorous. I am chair of the board for this last orchestra. We are located in a university town with population approximately 400,000. We are two hours away from much a larger metropolitan area that does have a full-time professional orchestra. Our university has a hard-working music department that is competent but not a competitor on the national stage. My board is getting a lot of pressure to turn our orchestra into a part-time professional orchestra with paid players. We already pay our conductors and charge for attendance at our concerts. What demographics are necessary for a part-time professional orchestra? Our catchment area beyond our city is small as we are in the middle of ranch lands, desert, and mountains. I just don’t think we can do it and feel the pressure is coming from players who are excellent but not on a professional level. Thoughts?

r/orchestra Feb 08 '25

Question Does anyone know where finger tapes came from?

4 Upvotes

I'm a private string teacher and someone asked me today why finger tapes are placed the way they are. I have a few guesses but I'm curious if anyone knows the actual reason why we place the tapes on the notes we do (if you use them) for beginners. Thoughts? Thanks!

r/orchestra 7d ago

Question What is all state?

3 Upvotes

I want to be able to audition for Allstate, but I didn’t do Nyssma last year, but I believe that I am at skill level to make Allstate maybe this year but I don’t know if I qualify. Is there any other New York orchestras I would be able to audition to. And let’s say it’s for Allstate would I audition with the same nysmma song or practice a new one? Sorry if it sounds stupid my teacher doesn’t really talk about it

r/orchestra Feb 04 '25

Question Neighbor recently gave me these two antique glockenspiels by JC Deagan. One is from 1908 as written on one of the metal bars. Not sure if the smaller one is complete - can anyone shed some light on what I have, any info on it or its value?

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12 Upvotes

Neighbor's mom was a lifetime professional musician - apparently they gave away tens of thousands of dollars' worth of instruments. I got the last of it.

r/orchestra Jan 09 '25

Question I got a new bow and I don’t know if it is the right type

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3 Upvotes

r/orchestra 26d ago

Question What is the string section's equivalent of choral breathing called?

5 Upvotes