String Player Etiquette
String players should always be courteous, respectful and cooperative. Here are some important rules of conduct to follow, which builds a constructive and positive working environment.
Team Playing
The best orchestras have excellent players, all with vast worlds of experience. And, guess what? Like all humans, don’t always agree!
Exactly as in sports, string playing can become highly competitive. Earlier, everyone learned the value of healthy competition, practicing to attain your own personal best performance results.
Music, unlike other test subjects, can be perceived differently by different people. Part of advancing in orchestra playing, requires musicians to take auditions. Results are often surprising, since the judging criteria can be highly subjective, in relationship to tone and artistic nuance.
Congratulate your colleagues and learn from everyone’s best performances. The longer you remain directed to improving your own playing, the more inevitable higher success becomes. Perseverance brings further opportunities.
Be Considerate!
When the conductor tells the orchestra to stop, do not continue playing at all! Although the above sounds obvious, “stop” means to “Stop.” It doesn’t mean to stop at the next place you feel the music should, go on to talk or be a nuisance. Be silent!
Ensemble rehearsals and back stage at concerts are not the time or place to practice loud and furious solo passages. Seasoned professionals always shake their heads in dismay when witnessing uninvited show-offs trying to impress.
The truth is that secure musicians do not possess the need to compete in order to be confident in their own learned abilities. True confidence is achieved when becoming one with the music and not trying to out do one another.
Stand partners should share position in an equitable manner. Both players should be able to see the music, have ample bow and instrument room, and a clear line of vision to the conductor.
Orchestra Playing is Music Teamwork!
