I went to my first ever orchestra practice today, and I thought it was great. Even though there was a little girl there who was about 7 years younger that could play like nothing I`ve ever heard before, it was still a fun experience...except...

The conductior there told one of the senior members that I was playing very badly, or to put it bluntly, `playing crap.` Ok, so I`m not the best by a long way, and it was my first go, but I felt really downhearted. I don`t know whether to go again or just to leave it. What do you think?

How very unprofessional! What sort of orchestra is it and how long have you been playing?

Liz

It is a youth orchestra, and I`ve been playing for about 10 months. Although I have not even taken a grade exam, or even had a teahcer, I had people who have passed grade 2 look at my playing and say it was good. All the pieces can be played in first position so that was a relief, but I still need to improve my sight-reading

I agree with Liz...very unprofessional...but I wouldn`t quit...you`ll only get better...

...keep at it...

...BTW...I`ve recently joined our Community orchestra...and I`m one of the worst too...but even I`ve improved dramatically over the past month...hopefully by the time our concert rolls around I`ll actually be able to play everything and make a valid contribution...heehee...

Wait a minute now! You shouldn`t take that kind of crap from anyone. Even though they think you`re bad, they shouldn`t show everyone. Especially from the conductor, who should respect everyone in the orchestra.

Don`t worry. My first time in an orchestra was horrible. Well, basically, I was so SO tired out that I kept `drifting away` and lost track of my music after a while. The conductor (Who THANKFULLY happens to be my violin teacher) nearly broke his baton because I kept playing at the wrong time.

Remember, what doesn`t kill you makes you stronger! :D Take it easy, after all, it was just your first time.

Wait...did u hear it personally/ saw it with yr own eyes yr conductor tellinh that senior member?
Yr senior member may be `making` this up for all u know. It`s very unlikely that a conductor or any sort of teacher will criticise one pupil`s faults to another...
But if it`s true... Don`t give a damn about him. If u keep practising and learn from yr mistakes...you`ll only get better and better like what Nox said. So hang in there and prove him wrong.

The conductor is very important in an orchestra, and your orchestra would appear to have the worst conductor I`ve ever heard of. It is perfectly open to those who run the orchestra to set minimum entry standards, either by qualification or by audition. If that is the conductor`s job and he hasn`t done it, he shouldn`t be surprised if people of all standards attend (unless he has the brains of an Odie). If someone has told him he must take allcomers and he is reluctant to do so, then he is in petulant breach of his job description. The best conductors get the most from their players, and the worst conductors destroy their players` confidence. If the orchestra is operating at a level where the entirety of the music is in first position, the conductor should realise that his catchment players are not likely to be playing at their best the first time they see the music (unless, again, he has the brains of an Odie).

I would reserve judgement on whether to stay with that orchestra, and in the meantime check out whether there are any alternatives, and what they are like by comparison.

On the other hand, since you said orchestra was "great" it doesn`t sound like the conductor can be a totally monstrous bully, or that you`re ready to pack it all in as a knee jerk reaction. I really hope you don`t get put off by this because orchestral playing is for many people the entire point of playing the violin at all.

Just to let you know, I went back to the orchestra on Friday, and I got different responce altogether...

The conductor started off by saying that I played well last week, and the guy that said the conductor said I was bad said I did well too (if you understand that :S)...strange eh?

One thing that really made me feel fantastic was that on Saturday we played with the CBSO (Birmingham Symphony Orch.) and we all learnt a lot and had a great time. The violinist played a great little song called `Csardas` (pronounced `shardas`) and the clarinetist played a very fast version of `Flight of the Bumblebee` which were both note perfect!

Thanks to everyone who pursuaded me to go again...I`m glad I didn`t miss out on the experience!

dont worry, when i first joined our orchestra i sat last desk and thought i was awful but was eventually promoted to pricipal second violin and am playing in the nationaly youth ochestra. so dont worry about it. its not cool at all that he put you down like that but dont give up! and dont let it interfere with your love of music!

Wow, Luke! Playing with the CBSO must have been wonderful. Sometimes I assume I`m the only person in here who`s not American - should I re-read all your posts with a Frank Skinner type accent? Or is it more Jasper Carrott?