Send calming thoughts my way for my first Audition on Wednesday! - Page 10

nekokami · 05-18-2007, 10:09 AM

Regardless of whether you get the job Monday or whatever, you might want to consider writing a book about going through the process of auditioning for a violinist part. I don't think any of us realized before how very exciting it can be.

This seems like a story that could have a broader audience!

Though, naturally, we hope you are too busy with your new position at a major venue to write a book.

yvanleterrible · 05-18-2007, 11:36 AM

I downloaded your exerpts CommandeROR and I enjoyed them very much. Your rendition of Tchaikowsky is mellower than what I remembered of it. Its a wonder you haven't found a post yet. Go get'em!!!

CommanderROR · 05-21-2007, 04:57 PM

well, I'm back...feeling pretty exhausted right now, so just a brief summary:

I did not get the job. I dind't play as well today as I did last time so that's not really such a big surprise.
They did offer me time-contract which I'll take if I don't get anything definite in the near future.
It's a 50% job as well, which would leave me time for practising but it also means less money of course.

The reason why i'm actually considering this position is, that having the "Gewandhausorchester Leipzig" in the curriculum vitae should pretty much guarantee more invitations in the future...

I've also received another invitation, unfortunately it's only for a limited-time contract (I didn't read that properly when I applied there apparently...) but I might go there anyway and play for the job since it's also a big house and it would be a 100% job (even if only limited-time) and would of course pay better...

Tomorrow I'll go pick up the violin (finally) and I hope it's really as good as I remembered, and then I'll go back to practising for the next audition...*sigh*

I'd really like a holiday sometime soon...

Oh BTW...this is the website of the violinist I met and befriended on the way to Leipzig on the preliminary audition last week: http://www.aronghua.com

Bob Russell · 05-21-2007, 06:57 PM

Congratulations! That's really good news all around with the auditions and the violin. And resume padding with top notch names is a good thing! ;-)

Hang in there. Sounds like you are doing great, and already have good options in a very competitive business!!

nekokami · 05-22-2007, 08:39 AM

It seems that if you take a contract, you might still have an opportunity at a permanent position later, if you play well there. No?

yvanleterrible · 05-22-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

Congratulations! That's really good news all around with the auditions and the violin. And resume padding with top notch names is a good thing! ;-)

Hang in there. Sounds like you are doing great, and already have good options in a very competitive business!!

I like your allusion to Art being business because it really is! I wish art schools would teach more of this. In my case it could have helped me quite a bit.

CommanderROR · 05-23-2007, 04:43 PM

Well, I picked up the violin yesterday, practised on it this morning and was extremely pleased with the handling and sound.
When I went to my lesson later that day my teacher also liked the sound and everthing quite well.

At 8PM we did a trial with that violin and several others in a larger room...and there was a huge (bad) surprise.
Suddenly the violin didn't sound at all good. It was softer at a distance, and the tonal qualities were not so hot either. Once you got inside a range of about 5 metres of the instrument everything was fine again.
Weird.
The instrument I have been playing for the auditions now came out top in that comparison quite easily. Really hard to believe and another warning to anybody who buys an instrument and trusts the impression the sound makes at close range...

I have not entirely given up on the insturment yet, it might still open up after it has been broken in a bit, but I'm pretty unhappy now (although I should be happy since the violin I picked up yesterday is 24000 Euro and the one I have used so far is only 10000) because now nothing has been resolved.
I might consider buying the one I have been using successfully in the last 4 weeks, but it also has it's drawbacks, especially since it's rather loud near the ear...but now I'll first have to talk to the maker of the violin I tried today and see what he recommends and otherwise discuss terms for returning the instrument (I have a 2 week trial anyway).

Bob Russell · 05-23-2007, 04:48 PM

Sorry to hear about the bad news. I had no idea that the particular instruments are affected so much by the surroundings. It makes me think that I need to be more careful when trying out guitars, for example.

Too bad you aren't in it to do recordings... might be great for that if it's good in close ranges.

On the other hand, as you say, that would be great news if the one you have been using can be purchased for so much less and do a good job in the settings that you need it to do well in!

And just a crazy thought... I wonder if that's why the other violinist backed out of the deal... maybe he noticed the same thing?

CommanderROR · 05-23-2007, 05:02 PM

No, the other violinist did not notice it, I'm pretty sure because he also only tried it briefly and in a small room (they did recordings of two Strads and then just added that one in for fun).

The violin I have now is sort-of ideal for auditions. Whether it's ideal as an orchestra instrument is a different question...unfortunately I did not do recordings of the trial today, would have been nice to be able to post them here and also send them to the violin maker.
I wonder what he'll say when he reads my mail...

nekokami · 05-24-2007, 08:45 AM

Is this the kind of situation where a different bridge might help? I know very little about violin construction, but when I was looking around online after one of your earlier posts a few weeks ago, I saw some references to how the bridge can drastically alter the sound of the instrument.

CommanderROR · 05-24-2007, 06:10 PM

A bridge can make a HUGE difference, but this violin is totally optimzeed by the maker...or so he says...and I won't interfere with that.

I think I found the "perfect" violin today...when I was trying violins again and recording the results...my bowmaker (www.arcus-bow.de) who already gave me the violin I played now for the auditions had two new violins from a maker he works with along...and one of them is really really good. I'm taking that for the audition now...and I think I'll buy it as well...it does so many things very well and also has very good projection without being too sharp and without being loud near the ear...
It's also "only" 11000€...

Now I have a questions for all the americans who might be following this...

There are violin-pegs made by the company www.pegheds.com that are really great (I tried them once ages ago on the carbon violin) and I'd like to have my new violin fitted with them...
They are apparently not available in Europe and my bowmaker says he can't get them but he'll fit them for me if I buy them from the US.
Does anybody of you know where I could order them and have them shipped to Germany?
The company itself does not have an e-shop...

I'd value any hints/links!
Thanks.

Now I'll have to work really hard to catch up on the time I now "wasted" on trying violins and get used to the new one...but I guess I'll manage. News tuesday it the last audition for now...finally...

NatCh · 05-24-2007, 06:41 PM

Not my area of expertise, but I have some small skill at obscure research, so I was able to determine that the original Pegheds company has been bought by a company called Knilling (a subsidiary of something called Loud Technologies, inc.), who has since renamed the rascals (I had to find the owner corporation before I could find the new name

) "Perfection Pegs" (sometimes called "Planetary Perfection Pegs") -- which is probably why you weren't finding much on them.

None of those stages of ownership seem to do any direct marketing, but once I was looking for the new name, was able to find a couple of places that do have them, and have instructions for contacting them internationally, which suggests they do sell & ship internationally.

So, long story short, have a look at these two: Music 123, and Elderly Instruments.

Their prices are really close, but I didn't dig enough to find shipping rates -- I don't want to take all the fun.

I hope that's helpful to you, CommanderROR.

Bob Russell · 05-24-2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommanderROR

Now I'll have to work really hard to catch up on the time I now "wasted" on trying violins and get used to the new one...but I guess I'll manage. News tuesday it the last audition for now...finally...

Wow, maybe a little wasted time, but sounds like you ended up saving tens of thousands of dollars by going through the process. Sounds like a pretty valuable way to have spent that time after all!

CommanderROR · 05-25-2007, 02:56 AM

@Bob:

@NatCh:
I found that the company itself sends the pegs to germany if you just ask them by email...I'll compare prices now and then I'll see where I'll order. Thanks a lot!

UPDATE:
It appears that the price at the two websites you sent are about half of what the manufacturer asks...

I'll now just have to compare shipping rates and charges...

NatCh · 05-25-2007, 08:25 AM

Cool, glad it was helpful!

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05-18-2007, 10:09 AM	#136
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Regardless of whether you get the job Monday or whatever, you might want to consider writing a book about going through the process of auditioning for a violinist part. I don't think any of us realized before how very exciting it can be. This seems like a story that could have a broader audience! Though, naturally, we hope you are too busy with your new position at a major venue to write a book.

05-18-2007, 11:36 AM	#137
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I downloaded your exerpts CommandeROR and I enjoyed them very much. Your rendition of Tchaikowsky is mellower than what I remembered of it. Its a wonder you haven't found a post yet. Go get'em!!!

05-21-2007, 04:57 PM	#138
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	well, I'm back...feeling pretty exhausted right now, so just a brief summary: I did not get the job. I dind't play as well today as I did last time so that's not really such a big surprise. They did offer me time-contract which I'll take if I don't get anything definite in the near future. It's a 50% job as well, which would leave me time for practising but it also means less money of course. The reason why i'm actually considering this position is, that having the "Gewandhausorchester Leipzig" in the curriculum vitae should pretty much guarantee more invitations in the future... I've also received another invitation, unfortunately it's only for a limited-time contract (I didn't read that properly when I applied there apparently...) but I might go there anyway and play for the job since it's also a big house and it would be a 100% job (even if only limited-time) and would of course pay better... Tomorrow I'll go pick up the violin (finally) and I hope it's really as good as I remembered, and then I'll go back to practising for the next audition...sigh I'd really like a holiday sometime soon... Oh BTW...this is the website of the violinist I met and befriended on the way to Leipzig on the preliminary audition last week: http://www.aronghua.com

05-21-2007, 06:57 PM	#139
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Congratulations! That's really good news all around with the auditions and the violin. And resume padding with top notch names is a good thing! ;-) Hang in there. Sounds like you are doing great, and already have good options in a very competitive business!!

05-22-2007, 08:39 AM	#140
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	It seems that if you take a contract, you might still have an opportunity at a permanent position later, if you play well there. No?

05-23-2007, 04:43 PM	#142
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Well, I picked up the violin yesterday, practised on it this morning and was extremely pleased with the handling and sound. When I went to my lesson later that day my teacher also liked the sound and everthing quite well. At 8PM we did a trial with that violin and several others in a larger room...and there was a huge (bad) surprise. Suddenly the violin didn't sound at all good. It was softer at a distance, and the tonal qualities were not so hot either. Once you got inside a range of about 5 metres of the instrument everything was fine again. Weird. The instrument I have been playing for the auditions now came out top in that comparison quite easily. Really hard to believe and another warning to anybody who buys an instrument and trusts the impression the sound makes at close range... I have not entirely given up on the insturment yet, it might still open up after it has been broken in a bit, but I'm pretty unhappy now (although I should be happy since the violin I picked up yesterday is 24000 Euro and the one I have used so far is only 10000) because now nothing has been resolved. I might consider buying the one I have been using successfully in the last 4 weeks, but it also has it's drawbacks, especially since it's rather loud near the ear...but now I'll first have to talk to the maker of the violin I tried today and see what he recommends and otherwise discuss terms for returning the instrument (I have a 2 week trial anyway).

05-23-2007, 04:48 PM	#143
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Sorry to hear about the bad news. I had no idea that the particular instruments are affected so much by the surroundings. It makes me think that I need to be more careful when trying out guitars, for example. Too bad you aren't in it to do recordings... might be great for that if it's good in close ranges. On the other hand, as you say, that would be great news if the one you have been using can be purchased for so much less and do a good job in the settings that you need it to do well in! And just a crazy thought... I wonder if that's why the other violinist backed out of the deal... maybe he noticed the same thing?

05-23-2007, 05:02 PM	#144
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	No, the other violinist did not notice it, I'm pretty sure because he also only tried it briefly and in a small room (they did recordings of two Strads and then just added that one in for fun). The violin I have now is sort-of ideal for auditions. Whether it's ideal as an orchestra instrument is a different question...unfortunately I did not do recordings of the trial today, would have been nice to be able to post them here and also send them to the violin maker. I wonder what he'll say when he reads my mail...

05-24-2007, 08:45 AM	#145
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Is this the kind of situation where a different bridge might help? I know very little about violin construction, but when I was looking around online after one of your earlier posts a few weeks ago, I saw some references to how the bridge can drastically alter the sound of the instrument.

05-24-2007, 06:10 PM	#146
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	A bridge can make a HUGE difference, but this violin is totally optimzeed by the maker...or so he says...and I won't interfere with that. I think I found the "perfect" violin today...when I was trying violins again and recording the results...my bowmaker (www.arcus-bow.de) who already gave me the violin I played now for the auditions had two new violins from a maker he works with along...and one of them is really really good. I'm taking that for the audition now...and I think I'll buy it as well...it does so many things very well and also has very good projection without being too sharp and without being loud near the ear... It's also "only" 11000€... Now I have a questions for all the americans who might be following this... There are violin-pegs made by the company www.pegheds.com that are really great (I tried them once ages ago on the carbon violin) and I'd like to have my new violin fitted with them... They are apparently not available in Europe and my bowmaker says he can't get them but he'll fit them for me if I buy them from the US. Does anybody of you know where I could order them and have them shipped to Germany? The company itself does not have an e-shop... I'd value any hints/links! Thanks. Now I'll have to work really hard to catch up on the time I now "wasted" on trying violins and get used to the new one...but I guess I'll manage. News tuesday it the last audition for now...finally...

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05-24-2007, 06:41 PM	#147
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Not my area of expertise, but I have some small skill at obscure research, so I was able to determine that the original Pegheds company has been bought by a company called Knilling (a subsidiary of something called Loud Technologies, inc.), who has since renamed the rascals (I had to find the owner corporation before I could find the new name ) "Perfection Pegs" (sometimes called "Planetary Perfection Pegs") -- which is probably why you weren't finding much on them. None of those stages of ownership seem to do any direct marketing, but once I was looking for the new name, was able to find a couple of places that do have them, and have instructions for contacting them internationally, which suggests they do sell & ship internationally. So, long story short, have a look at these two: Music 123, and Elderly Instruments. Their prices are really close, but I didn't dig enough to find shipping rates -- I don't want to take all the fun. I hope that's helpful to you, CommanderROR.

05-25-2007, 02:56 AM	#149
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	@Bob: @NatCh: I found that the company itself sends the pegs to germany if you just ask them by email...I'll compare prices now and then I'll see where I'll order. Thanks a lot! UPDATE: It appears that the price at the two websites you sent are about half of what the manufacturer asks... I'll now just have to compare shipping rates and charges...

05-25-2007, 08:25 AM	#150
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Cool, glad it was helpful!