Letter from Jack (9/29)

Dear Concert Orchestra,

Wow! What a busy few days we have had together. We’ve worked on many musical concepts (both macro and micro) over the last few days. Hopefully you can take the next few days of practice to recall and refine each of these ideas. I’ll summarize them below:

PULSE

• Every individual is responsible for upholding a clear, consistent sense of pulse throughout each rehearsal and performance.
• If you sit in the back row, keeping the pulse is more difficult. Be right in the pocket and LEAD the orchestra from the back row.

ARTICULATION 

• Strings, this is mostly a bow placement idea. Now is a great time for you to think critically about how to execute each phrase with your right hand. If you haven’t mastered the bowings in your part already, please be prepared to observe every marking in sectionals next week
• WOODWINDS/ BRASS: Almost universally we need more sound on the FRONT of each note. Try not to “ease” into your accents.

EXPRESSION 

• Let’s make every phrase special.
• If you’re playing a melody, make sure the music goes somewhere special
• If you aren’t playing the melody- what is your role? Are there any dead spots in the melody? What does the composer tell you to do during these dead spots?

Pitch 

• We haven’t dug into this concept in thorough detail yet- although we have already dedicated some rehearsal time to this important concept. Please practice with a tuner at hand, play long tones against a drone, and SING whenever you can.

Next week we have sectionals for all instruments. Woodwind and Brass players, we have our seating auditions at this time. I’m looking forward to hearing each of you play! If you are a wind and brass player and need to miss next week’s sectionals, please let me know ASAP.

Strings, in case you did not receive a hard copy at rehearsal, please see the attached unofficial seating excerpts. Your auditions are scheduled for Monday, October 20th.

Happy practicing everyone! Let’s get after it and have a great rehearsal with our section coaches next week!

With gratitude for your commitment,

Jack.