If we hire a young player after several unsuccessful audition, we try to keep the successful candidate, and all the critic we will have regarding his or her playing is intended to help this particular player to integrate himself or herself to the section, the orchestra, the ensemble, the style. Auditions cost a lot of expenses & time, so we do not like to search endless for the "right" player for the vacant job, to find the "wunderkind".
Once in the orchestra, there will be a lot of critic for the new player, but to help him or her, not to "put him or her down" as so many of you seem to understand critic. The critic will come from the conductor, but can be avoided, if the new player follows the rules & listens to the advice given by the section colleagues & the principal player, excellent preparation as the precondition. The preparation must include reading the full score (sometimes), available in the orchestras library or public library, while listening to a recording (ask the section colleagues, if you could borrow it from them). Critic will come from the principal, who is most interested to build you up, to prepare you for the task, as nothing is more boring than to sit in the audition jury again & again. Critic will also come from the section players. Take their critic very serious and change things, which do not match with the section. Really change them. If you are "Superman" or "Superwoman" (but not just in your opinion, I mean, if you are really that good), well, show them how good you are & how good you are prepared for the job. Convince them (but respecting the style of the section & the orchestra). Section players, forget this paragraph. Critic will also come from the first oboe, the first clarinet or the first bassoon. Take it serious, as you play along with them quite often, and they will vote about your passing the trial period. Critic will also come from last frustrated six foot lady piccolo (double frustrated, as she got no husband how hard she tried) or double bass, who probably does not like your red or blond hairs, or from a percussionist, who you forgot to greet eventually. Do not care much about this kind of "mobbing", but talk with your section leader about it. And for some orchestras: Remember, you, the new member, you are the "asshole" not the others. Does not matter much, as you will pass the trial period without problems, and then there is another new member in the orchestra, who will replace you as the "asshole". Life is that like. It is not a bloomy sweet paradise. Never, but real world. If you cannat fullfill your artictic desire in the orchestra, look for other musical activities besides your orchestra duties: chamber music, solo, church, ensemble, etc. but think about, that many of these activities don't make money, but a lot of satisfaction. Prof.Hans Pizka, Pf.1136 D-85541 Kirchheim - Germany Fax: 49 89 903-9414 Phone: 903-9548 home: www.pizka.de email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
