Letter from Tamara (9/25)

Thanks so much for your flexibility at our last rehearsal. Everyone managed the stuffy cramped stage and not ideal lighting situation, rallied and had a productive rehearsal.

Next week we have sectionals and you will receive your seating auditions assignments.

Please focus your attention on Danse Macabre, which we will perform at Orchestra Hall along with Finlandia. As you are practicing Danse Macabre, listen deeply for intonation.

Woodwinds should practice with a tuner and everyone should try practicing with a tone generator/ drone note. Find a not that repeats itself often in a tricky section, and set the tone generator to that pitch.

If you don’t have a tone generator app, you can use this website for free https://www.szynalski.com/tone-generator/. Remember that A flat and G sharp are the same note, so you can think of that not however it’s easiest for you.

Thanks for all of your hard work so far, and I look forward to seeing you all next week.

Tamara Gonzalez