Orchestra Playing Tips

Tuning

• It is extrememly important to tune! Especially in orchestra. Unlike in Marching and Concert band, you can actually hear the flutes!!!!!!!!!
• We tune to the oboes, which I think that's the way most orchestras do it. If you can't hear them tune as best as you can. If you are playing and you sound out of tune, roll in and out, during rests push in or pull out alittle.
• Remember, flutes are known for not being able to play in tune, but try to be as close as possible. If you aren't in tune with everyone else, at least make sure you are in tune with eachother!

To play Faster

• Do Scales! (as for WHHS band students, I don't mean Danny)
• The faster you can play a scale the faster you can play the music. Remember all music is based on scales, arpeggios, etc.., so if you can play those fast, you can play the music fast!
• Also use a metronome and move it up to try to play faster.

What to do if you get nervous!

• If it's not a blind audition try to joke around with the judges if they seem like the joke around type. It will loosen you up and you won't be as intimidated.
• Breathe! Yea it's kinda hard to play if you aren't breathing.
• Imagine the judges in their underwear. Okay not really.
• Be confident. If you go in and feel like you'll do well then maybe you will!
• Memorize your solo. Well you don't have to have it down perfectly by memory, but atleast know you can. Believe me it allows you to know the solo a lot better!