Wish me luck - lone wolf first concerto with wind ensemble

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Hey guys,

long time no see. I'm a lone wolf player, slow progressing Bb clarinet learner since maybe 7 years.

Now this year I found myself in an amateur/hobby level wind ensemble, 10 players. First practice was a nightmare, a trauma, I was totally lost most of the time, couldn't follow sheets at all.

Subsequent practising was good though. Gained good experience. I'm of course accompanying, 2nd,3rd,4th clarinet. Some parts easy, some still difficult enough.

Tonight a first concert with few other ensembles, we'll play like 20 minutes.

I will survive I guess, but uhhhh. Rather the kind of guy who does not seek the public. Some relatives will be there. I first wanted to keep it secret... But then decided it is now the time to do some things one is afraid of. Also started @new job this week, that's all a lot to digest but well that's life.

Wish me luck 😅

thx

[vandermolen]

Good luck to you!
Hope it goes well.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Good luck!

PD

[Karl Henning]

Good luck. Remember to have fun.

[Papy Oli]

Good luck!   

[relm1]

Yep, I hear you.  Try your best to zone in on your music and not what all is happening around you otherwise you'll notice every yawn and watch checking from family and that will come through in the performance.  Focus on the music and your part and you might have a great time too!

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Now I can report back.

It was great. All my fears - didn't happen. Our ensemble played in the second part directly after a break. So I entered the venue 10 minutes before the break, while others were playing and - OMG-1, maybe 80 visitors in the audience. I was expecting like 10 people :-)



OK, and how were we seated? OMG-2. We were one half-circle, kind of, and I was in the center... arghh. Order of seats was 2*Bass, 2x4th Bb, 1x3rd Bb (me), 2x2nd Bb, 2x1st Bb, 1xC-Clari. +cond.

And the performing was good. EVERYTHING WAS FINE YAY. Good concentration, I didn't care for the audience, it all went just as in the rehearsals. We all made our specific mistakes, there is enough weaknesses around, but really no problem. I had an eye for the overall sound, which was good (on our level).

There was no room for my biggest fears which I had before. Like: "I screw things up so massively, that we have to start over"... or I get lost somewhere.

No, I'm happy I participated and we'll keep on playing and hopefully performing. There's some potential currently, because a lot died, fell asleep, because Covid.

Thx guys for your kind words.

[Karl Henning]

Now I can report back.

It was great. All my fears - didn't happen. Our ensemble played in the second part directly after a break. So I entered the venue 10 minutes before the break, while others were playing and - OMG-1, maybe 80 visitors in the audience. I was expecting like 10 people :-)



OK, and how were we seated? OMG-2. We were one half-circle, kind of, and I was in the center... arghh. Order of seats was 2*Bass, 2x4th Bb, 1x3rd Bb (me), 2x2nd Bb, 2x1st Bb, 1xC-Clari. +cond.

And the performing was good. EVERYTHING WAS FINE YAY. Good concentration, I didn't care for the audience, it all went just as in the rehearsals. We all made our specific mistakes, there is enough weaknesses around, but really no problem. I had an eye for the overall sound, which was good (on our level).

There was no room for my biggest fears which I had before. Like: "I screw things up so massively, that we have to start over"... or I get lost somewhere.

No, I'm happy I participated and we'll keep on playing and hopefully performing. There's some potential currently, because a lot died, fell asleep, because Covid.

Thx guys for your kind words.

Congrats! Well earned!

[relm1]

Now I can report back.

It was great. All my fears - didn't happen. Our ensemble played in the second part directly after a break. So I entered the venue 10 minutes before the break, while others were playing and - OMG-1, maybe 80 visitors in the audience. I was expecting like 10 people :-)



OK, and how were we seated? OMG-2. We were one half-circle, kind of, and I was in the center... arghh. Order of seats was 2*Bass, 2x4th Bb, 1x3rd Bb (me), 2x2nd Bb, 2x1st Bb, 1xC-Clari. +cond.

And the performing was good. EVERYTHING WAS FINE YAY. Good concentration, I didn't care for the audience, it all went just as in the rehearsals. We all made our specific mistakes, there is enough weaknesses around, but really no problem. I had an eye for the overall sound, which was good (on our level).

There was no room for my biggest fears which I had before. Like: "I screw things up so massively, that we have to start over"... or I get lost somewhere.

No, I'm happy I participated and we'll keep on playing and hopefully performing. There's some potential currently, because a lot died, fell asleep, because Covid.

Thx guys for your kind words.

Way to go!! We are all proud of you!  And that's quite a turnout!

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Way to go!! We are all proud of you!  And that's quite a turnout!

Yeah, future generations will sing songs about me, I'm feeling it 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yeah, future generations will sing songs about me, I'm feeling it 

lol 

But, seriously, I'm glad that you had a good turnout.  May I ask why though that you said that you didn't like the audience?

PD

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Now 2 years later, we are 10 clarinetists, amateurs, most 45+, no perfection, but we're having fun. Playing and practising weekly together, I like that. I usually now play clar. 2 (we have c1-3 plus bass), also will try clar. 1 on Take 5 by Brubeck. Just because challenges are good, might turn out being too tough but we have 2-3 clar.1 who could do it at a concert.
We're also practising some Dvorak slavonic dance where clar2 already is quite difficult, some 1/16 lines which aren't too easy. EDIT: c1 und c2 both play what you hear here, the very fast notes played by violin: https://youtu.be/X5eLygbLV7o?t=44 - We'll likely be a bit slower.

We already did some local concerts (the small things, at a bank, at some school anniversary, - 2-3 a year). It's about having a goal and taking it seriously. Surely not career

I meanwhile have set up my Lilypond scoring system very nicely. A bit more of practising (it's like learning to write) and I will be able to quickly create full score or single voices, depending on what we need.

My (and the groups) reading skills, from sheet, have improved. I was really bad at reading quickly and translating it into the right playing... Now if we get a new piece and we try it a first time in slow tempo... well we play it at least.

On concerts I am nervous, but it's not as bad as for some people (who prefer to die). It affects my playing in the first 2 minutes a bit, but then it usually settles and there will be flow.