How would you feel?

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:32 pm

A Vocal ensemble in my college did something similar for about three nights in a row before the concert. Needless to say, many of us non-voice majors were pretty well shot by the concert. As far as brass playing goes, 4 hours really shouldn't be out of the question if your chops are in shape. In junior high and high school regional and allstate ensembles we had rehearsals like this all the time in the weeks (or days) leading up to the concert.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:36 pm

A professional group, in that situation, would be required to have breaks to go to the bathroom, get a bite to eat, and relax. If amateur groups cannot get that kind of humane treatment, it's not right.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:56 pm

Without a consensus from the group or a humble plea from the director(complete with a sensible reason), I believe this is excessive.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:16 pm

You think YOU got problems, just think about your audience, who'll have to sit through god knows how long while your director show just how "sensitive" they are...

I'd say that it's time to take some control back. Get one of those "talking" greeting cards, preferably one with some laughter (which is ALWAYS big in a requem), and put the mechanism in the middle of the score. Turn the page, and...
Also, a spread from a playgirl magazine is always nice. Nothing harmful to the printed material, but something to let them know that even during EXAMS you get breaks, so that you can refocus your minds on the task at hand. Of course, someone fainting around hour 3 is always effective.

Oh, and you didn't get ANY of this from me. Respect those people in charge!

jtuba · Post by **jtuba** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:44 pm

Don't sell yourself short, even for volunteer gigs. If conductors don't know how to properly handle musicians who are sacraficing their free time to realize some "vision", then let him find some other person to abuse. What is he going to do, fire you. I will definately turn down work, paid or free, if I feel it's not going to be up to some semblence of a professional standard. I got a call to do a free gig in town and the group wanted five rehearsals and an concert. Sorry, no can do; I countered with just the dress rehearsal and concert and was told that wasn't enough. I play in a volunteer concert band that is pretty good, so I've no problem playing for fun. The band doesn't rehearse week after week for nothing; 2-4 rehearsals and a concert, then time off, just like professionals. My BQ is thinking about booking a gig in Richmond. I told them that $150 won't be worth my time; we have stupid tunnel traffic to deal with up here. Granted, I have a steady job and I have the luxury of turning down work, but I stopped selling myself short years ago, and I feel much better about my artistic integrity.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:49 pm

&~][$#!+

Art Hovey · Post by **Art Hovey** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:45 pm

You either enjoy playing in the orchestra or you don't. If you don't then give your notice and let them hunt for another tubist. If you do enjoy it then 4 hours will not hurt a bit. I have done some dixieland gigs that lasted seven hours; the helicon got a little heavy, but the music was good. For long orchestra rehearsals I always found that some good science fiction/fantasy reading material made the time go by, but I didn't get to play enough.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:32 pm

Welcome to college.

Rick "who heard this from upperclassmen in response to complaints about the workload" Denney

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:33 pm

A regular opera rehearsal is 3 hrs,
dress is 3 1/2

Any more is OT

adam0408 · Post by **adam0408** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:27 am

yep, it sucks. Any rehearsal over about two hours and I lose it. My playing goes down the toilet, I stop caring, I even stop blatting notes because I just don't care about keeping the conductor on his toes.

This happens regularly with "honor bands" because of the time schedule, but I still hate long practices with a passion.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:51 am

I'm a bar picker, not a classical musician.
Our gigs usually run four hours and in small venues breaks are a problem.
People seem to be inclined to leave a bar or eatery when the band takes a break. Management would like to find a way around this.
The Creekers never take breaks when things are poppin'. It's a downer to have all seats full and come back to the stage and find 80% of the seats empty. If it's slow we play C.D.s thru our P.A. so we control all music. If the crowd is rockin', then:
Kurt and I head for the head and leave John Reno alone onstage playing guitar and singing tunes we don't have parts for. We come back with Shinerbocks for everybody. (Thanks, Doc)
I take John's guitar and do enough vocals to get him a break and I'm glad to have Kurt's harmonica to back me up because I'm not as strong as John on vocals or guitar.
But everybody has to go home eventually and management wants to leave the minute the cash register stops ringing.
When we get a hand signal from the "Great Cahuna", we do up any requests and go into "Happy Trails To You" by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and end the night with a BIG FINISH.
Dennis Gray
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:50 am

adam0408 wrote:I even stop blatting notes .

Isn't that a good thing??????????????????????

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:48 am

Rick Denney wrote:Welcome to college.

Rick "who heard this from upperclassmen in response to complaints about the workload" Denney

Those days were different. A few days ago I was told by a senior from a large university near me that he hated Wednesdays because he had to get up at 11:00 am to make it to an 11:15 am class.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:08 pm

Mark wrote:A few days ago I was told by a senior from a large university near me that he hated Wednesdays because he had to get up at 11:00 am to make it to an 11:15 am class.

That IS unreasonable! HE HAS CLASS ON WEDNESDAYS!?

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:25 pm

MartyNeilan wrote:
adam0408 wrote:I even stop blatting notes .
Isn't that a good thing??????????????????????

One would think so ...

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:28 pm

Not if the notes are marked: sfzblt

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:39 pm

windshieldbug wrote:Not if the notes are marked: sfzblt

Well, that's true -- but how many sfarzando passages are there, anyway?

adam0408 · Post by **adam0408** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:33 am

Kevin Hendrick wrote:
MartyNeilan wrote:
adam0408 wrote:I even stop blatting notes .
Isn't that a good thing??????????????????????
One would think so ...

Naw you guys have the wrong idea... I just do that when I get bored and to make sure the director is paying attention. Often they arent.

Also, a word on college these days:
I pick my hours, but just because my day begins at noon doesnt mean I am slacking off, since it ends basically at 11 pm. And that is before homework actually begins......