Willimantic Orchestra
David H. Vaughan, Conductor
The Willimantic Orchestra is a non-profit community orchestra
dedicated to the performance of authentic orchestral music.
String instrumentalists of all reasonable abilities are welcome.
Questions regarding ability may be addressed to the conductor or section
leader.
Woodwind and brass players of considerable ability are encouraged to
express interest. In case of open seats, they may be recruited or
auditioned depending upon numbers interested.
All instrumentalists are encouraged to become dues paying members.
Members are entitled to vote and participate in decision making. Dues
are an important income resource that enable the orchestra to pursue its
mission.
Instrumentalists in the Willimantic Orchestra have the responsibility
to:
* attend all rehearsals prepared to participate in as professional
manner as possible
- arrive early enough to be seated and ready to play at 7:00 p.m.
- bring pencils, and use them.
- come each week playing the music better than the preceding week
- listen to recordings of programmed pieces.
* notify stand partner, section leader, and conductor of anticipated
absences as early and often as possible.
* make their music available to their stand partner in case of
absence.
* consider xeroxing your part for the use of your stand partner or
substitute. Destroy copy afterward.
* RETURN ALL MUSIC TO LIBRARIAN AFTER CONCERT
- musicians are financially responsible for lost music or music
returned so late that the orchestra incurs a late fee from the rental
agency.
- no music will be distributed until Orchestra Data Form is filled out
completely and turned into an Officer of the Orchestra.
- musicians new to the Orchestra may be asked to demonstrate a few
weeks regular attendance before being issued a folder.
REHEARSAL PROCEDURE
The music stand storage room is opened between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m., at
which time musicians are encouraged to arrive. Oftentimes, chairs need
to be re-arranged and music stands distributed. Learn how to set up the
orchestra seating plan and make a point of helping.
Musicians should be warmed up and in their seats for the tuning "A"
given at 7:00 p.m. Socializing is suspended at this point. Listen
carefully to the pitch, keep it in your "ear" and play softly as you try
to match pitch exactly. The woodwind and brass sections are tuned first,
followed by the strings. Ask for help from your stand partner or section
mates. We can only improve by seeking and considering feedback from our
colleagues. None of the instruments available to the musicians in our
orchestra are tuned at the factory.
Every effort will have been made to provide a rehearsal schedule
prior to the rehearsal period. Musicians should refer to it as they
prepare for rehearsal. After tuning, the conductor may announce any
minor changes to the schedule, specific focus areas for the rehearsal,
or other very brief announcements of a general nature.
Rehearsal will commence and continue until approximately 7:30 p.m.
This time is reserved for the discussion of administrative matters
important to the Orchestra. If there are no announcements or issues,
rehearsal will continue without pause until approximately 8:30 p.m.
At 8:30 p.m. more announcements or reminders may be made before a 15
minute break is taken. If a musician is not required for the latter part
of a rehearsal, his/her stand should be returned to the storage room,
and any special arrangements for next week's rehearsal should be worked
out prior to departure.
At 8:45 p.m. (approximately) rehearsal will continue until 9:30 p.m.,
often, but not always, with a new piece or movement which requires
reduced instrumentation. Every effort is made to use forces efficiently,
but this is a situation in which one can not please everybody,
especially when absentees render the original rehearsal schedule
useless.
At 9:30 p.m. the rehearsal concludes. Musicians should see that all
stands and other equipment is put in the storage room. Scan the
rehearsal area for music, instruments, and personal items that might
have been misplaced. Formulate a plan for personal practice in
preparation for next week's rehearsal.
REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
As mentioned above, arrive at rehearsal well in advance of 7 p.m. It
is disruptive and rude to make a habit of squeezing into one's seat
after rehearsal has begun. However, late arrival is always preferable to
non-arrival. In our busy lives, occasional tardiness is forgivable.
If absence is unavoidable, each musician (especially woodwinds and
brass) is responsible for:
- notifying the conductor, stand partner, and section leader as
soon as possible
- arranging for a substitute (see conductor or personnel manager if
necessary)
- making sure that the folder is at rehearsal for the substitute to
use. Make a photocopy if necessary.
PERFORMANCE PROCEDURE AND ETIQUETTE
Our orchestra schedules a warm-up rehearsal at 1:30 p.m. the day of
the concert. This rehearsal enables us to work on problem areas, review
tempos or changes, and give the featured soloist a final chance to go
through the piece. Plan to arrive at that time if at all possible. In
general, pieces are rehearsed from smallest to fullest instrumentation.
We strive to present as professional appearance as possible. Concert
dress is black suit and bow tie for men and long black dress for women.
Plan now to buy or borrow the appropriate attire.
Please be in your seat well in advance of the concert start. Attend
to your personal needs, make sure that your music and instrument(s) are
with you and in working order. All music is collected after the concert,
so you must bring your copy even if you are reading from your
standpartner's copy.
Warm-up and review important transition points (repeats, da capos,
del segnos, codas, sudden tempo and dynamic changes, sudden grand
pauses, etc.) as well tricky technical passages.
Just before concert time, the concertmaster(mistress) will lead the
tuning. (See rehearsal etiquette.) When all musicians are in place, the
conductor will enter, in Shafer Hall usually between the viola and cello
sections. At this point, it is appropriate for the members of the
orchestra to stand, not to honor the conductor, but to formally present
itself to the audience and signify the start of the concert. Sit when
the conductor indicates.
Be aware of the concert flow if you do not play in every piece on the
program. From time to time, major stage changes must be made. Please be
willing to help move things.
At the conclusion of the concert each musician has the responsibility
to:
- leave all music and folder on chair
- return music stand and other equipment back in storage room.
- be willing to help percussionists, pianists, etc. with their
instruments.
OTHER CONCERNS
Serious arts organizations can never have enough money, publicity,
leadership, and (!)followership. Every musician in the orchestra should
have some sort of non-musical role that helps the orchestra.
* Be a dues paying member. It gives you an official voice in the
decisions of the orchestra and helps defray the costs we sustain.
* Participate in the fund raising activities. Sell program ads.
Promote the orchestra through your business's sponsorship. Write grants.
Wheel and deal in-kind services to our orchestra such as program
printing, display advertising, etc. Consider becoming a sponsor or
patron yourself.
* Promote the orchestra. Tell people about it. Invite people to the
concerts and to play with us. Put up posters. Distribute flyers. Donate
your time on the computer to make mailing labels, press releases, etc.
If you are artistically inclined, create posters, logos, advertising
art. Find non-playing volunteers for ushering, ticket-taking,
refreshments.
* Become involved in the orchestra's committees. Changes in
leadership keep the work fresh and members won't get burnt out. Many
hands make work light. Don't try to hide when the nominating committee
chairperson approaches you.
* Be a self-starting problem-solver. Instead of watching two 89 year
old ladies move the piano on stage, get up and help. If you think that
the orchestra sound better seated on risers, volunteer to organize a
stage crew to move them into place and take them down. If you have a
friend who loves to tape record concerts, here is their chance. Be
willing to accept responsibilities orchestra membership requires.
Everybody is happier when that happens.
