Send calming thoughts my way for my first Audition on Wednesday! - Page 3

CommanderROR · 03-22-2007, 05:47 PM

Hi again.

I had my second audition today...and failed. This time it makes me a bit depressed because I feel that I could have won it (or at least got into the second round).
Somehow i was not in top shape today, did not play as well as I could have.

I'm a bit annoyed with myself because I'm feeling bad about failing...weird I know...

Now I'll have to wait for more invitations to arrive so I can try again. I'll also have to try and get some critique from the guy I know in that orchestra. I know where I made mistakes (I think my concentration was a bit low today...) but I'd still like to get some more detailed information...maybe I can arrange that.

i'll let you know once there are new developments.

Bob Russell · 03-22-2007, 05:55 PM

Thanks for the news. Sorry to hear it wasn't your best audition, but I'm sure it will go up and down, and you obviously are really open to learning and improving.

Funny thing about job hunting... we think we know which position we want or "need", and which is best. But so much comes into play in a career that you never know what's really best, and it tends to find us as often as we find it! I'm sure you'll end up with just the perfect place.

yvanleterrible · 03-23-2007, 08:07 AM

This is the lesson you have to examin closely.

When you earn your post, you will have to perform day after day flawlessly. If you don't you're out. You have to find in yourself a way to circumvent the flaws that affect your performance and build a shield around them or find a way to mask them. Every performing artist builds a recipe that favors a flawless performance, unaffected by mood, concentration gaps or just plain 'willies'. The source of info: your peers. All professional musicians have a zone of which boundaries have to be built up. Ask your friends, especially those who play other instruments than yourself, because other violinists won't necessarily help you. Other performers such as dancers, play actors, or even divers will have some kind of insight on how to go deep inside yourself and fix your zone to be 'unpertubed'.

I guess you know all this or you would not be where you are now. There are good books on the subject. Many are bull.... but all you need to find is the tiny switch of an idea that will light your spark. All will come from your self...

CommanderROR · 03-23-2007, 05:42 PM

@yvanleterrible

I believe you are mistaken...in quite a few ways...

First of all, no orchestra musician is expected to perform flawlessly every time. I've spent almost five years playing as a substitute on a pretty regular basis in a professional orchestra here in Wuerzburg (Opera House) and I have quite some insight into the workings there. Even the Concert Master makes mistakes...on a regular basis.

The big soloists also make mistakes, something that is easily overlooked when listening to CD recordings. Often, it can come as quite a shock if you hear one of the big "stars" live that you know only from recordings...
There are a few musicians worldwide that can come close to doing what you say, performing flawlessly every time. Hilary Hahn is probably the one that comes closest... :-)

About the methods of reaching "flawlessness": I don't believe there is such a thing. Almost all musicians try things like Alexandertechink, Yoga, TaiChi, meditiation and other slightly (or not so slightly) esoteric methods at one point or another, especially during their "audition phase" or before exams, but all that I know of have realized that there is nothing that really "works. Some, especially the woodwind and brass players that have to play very exposed parts and are in a lot of danger of making "hearable" blunders during a performance take drugs (beta-blockers and others) to control their nerves, but most just live with it and try to get used to it with time. Mistakes happen, you just have to realize that this is valid for everybody as nobody is perfect...

Also, whatever you do to achieve "equilibrium" will almost vertainly have one drawback...because locking away your feelings will lead to a rather unemotional performance and that is not something which is good in any form of art.
I know there are lots of books about the topic just like there are lots of books about just everything else, but I believe that most are really bull, and those that are not tell you in large letters that all they can offer is a little help, but no solution to the problems plaguing the reader...

Let me put it like this:
You can't prevent your nerves, you'll just have to be able to play everything 150% so that it'll come out as 80% when in a stress situation...

But enough about that...

@everyone:

I just got some feedback from one of the members of the orchestra I played for yesterday (he sometimes works as a substitute just like I do (when somebody is ill in our orchestra in Wuerzburg) and it turns out I was accounting my "failure" to the wrong mistakes...weird sentence...

My "little mistakes" were apparently no all that noticeable to the jury, they did not even write them down on their little "lists". What actually prevented me from getting to the next round was that I played a little too softly and "carefully" with too little "dynamic range". This is a familiar error for me and something I have to work on some more. Sometimes when I'm nervous I start playing "defensively"...
So, playing with more "confidence" will be one of my goals for the next audition, and I'll also have to get more serious about finidng a "stronger" violin because I know that my current instrument has a very beautiful but also rather restrained sound...well...that will be an interesting enterprise...there is little that is more difficult (and expensive) than buying violins. So far i have always been lucky to find a cheap and good instrument, but I'll probably have to spend some of the money earned over the last 5 years...we'll see...at least now I know what really mattered and it was good because I would have probably made the same mistake again next time...

Enough for now. Now I'll have to work in the orchestra here again next week (Bruckner 7 and Wagner Tristan overture and some other performances, I just got back from playing Romeo and Juliet by Prokoffiev) and then I'll try to rest for a week (if nothing comes up) and then I'll get back to work preparing for the next auditions (if I get more invitations, if not i'll start preparing for my exam in summer).

Thanks for your encouragement...now...back to eink...^^

yvanleterrible · 03-23-2007, 07:35 PM

Put some plugs in your ears then you'll HAVE to play louder

nekokami · 03-23-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommanderROR

Also, whatever you do to achieve "equilibrium" will almost vertainly have one drawback...because locking away your feelings will lead to a rather unemotional performance and that is not something which is good in any form of art.

That says it all for me!

I'm glad you got such helpful feedback. I guess the nervousness of the first few auditions can't be helped, but I bet you'll improve as you go. Good luck in your quest for a new violin, if needed!

Bob Russell · 03-23-2007, 09:03 PM

That feedback sounds great - it might take off a little of the pressure you felt to be perfect!

But, oh no, you are going to be low on e-book funds for a while! ;-) I'm sure it will be an awesome lifetime investment for you, so that's good. And you will love playing the new instrument. I don't suppose it's practical to rent something exquisite short-term, is it?

Keep the updates coming... this is like a great TV series - I'm hooked and waiting to see what happens next!

CommanderROR · 03-24-2007, 07:14 AM

Renting a good instrument short-term is not going to be a solution because you need to get to know an instrument really well if you are to perform well on it.

Buying a violin is going to be a very complex process...and it might take a while. The problem is that my usual method of roaming the internet won't help me here...

So I'll have to think about finding a way to get started...but there is always some fun involved in looking for something new...although it usually stops when ou are asked to hand over 15000+ Euro...which is about the starting range of good modern violins...if you look at old instruments you can add a zero or two, but that's more than I could (and would consider) inviesting...

Bob Russell · 03-24-2007, 09:31 AM

.... and I thought mobile electronics were expensive. No contest! ;-)

CommanderROR · 03-24-2007, 02:17 PM

I'm going to visit a Luthier in Munich on the 12th of April, just got in contact with him. His name is Martin Schleske (www.schleske.de) and he appears to have a good name in germany and beyond. My teacher also recommended a violin maker in switzerland, but I'm not sure I remember hi name correctly so I'll have to aks my teacher again before I can contact that one.
The Schleske violins are around 20000 Euro and are custom made. I can try two of his previously made instruments and then decide whether I'd like him to build one for me. After he finishes that (no idea how long that takes, I've asked him by mail about that and should hear from him on Monday or Tuesday) I can decide during the time of two weeks whether I'd like to keep the instrument or give it back.

yvanleterrible · 03-24-2007, 05:37 PM

That must be as thrilling as buying a new car! And quite a bit as expensive too! Good luck!

CommanderROR · 03-28-2007, 09:09 AM

Ah, the game continues...

two more invitations arrived today. Both of these auditions will take place in May. They are both for smaller Opera Houses, but one of them would be acceptable anyway (the other is...a place where I would not want to work, at least not long-term...

)

NatCh · 03-28-2007, 09:10 AM

Hmmm. That peaks the interest CommanderROR ....

yvanleterrible · 03-28-2007, 09:16 AM

Say! If you get that many invitations you must mean something to them. You're surely to get something soon!

Don't accept the invitation in that stripper club!

CommanderROR · 03-28-2007, 09:41 AM

Well, many invitations is relative...

I've sent about 14 applications so far, and got 4 invitations. Some might still come, but some are already passed. However, since I know some collegues that are also in the process of applying for jobs, I know that my rate of success (with the invitations at least...^^) is not bad so far...

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03-22-2007, 05:47 PM	#31
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Hi again. I had my second audition today...and failed. This time it makes me a bit depressed because I feel that I could have won it (or at least got into the second round). Somehow i was not in top shape today, did not play as well as I could have. I'm a bit annoyed with myself because I'm feeling bad about failing...weird I know... Now I'll have to wait for more invitations to arrive so I can try again. I'll also have to try and get some critique from the guy I know in that orchestra. I know where I made mistakes (I think my concentration was a bit low today...) but I'd still like to get some more detailed information...maybe I can arrange that. i'll let you know once there are new developments.

03-22-2007, 05:55 PM	#32
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Thanks for the news. Sorry to hear it wasn't your best audition, but I'm sure it will go up and down, and you obviously are really open to learning and improving. Funny thing about job hunting... we think we know which position we want or "need", and which is best. But so much comes into play in a career that you never know what's really best, and it tends to find us as often as we find it! I'm sure you'll end up with just the perfect place.

03-23-2007, 08:07 AM	#33
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	This is the lesson you have to examin closely. When you earn your post, you will have to perform day after day flawlessly. If you don't you're out. You have to find in yourself a way to circumvent the flaws that affect your performance and build a shield around them or find a way to mask them. Every performing artist builds a recipe that favors a flawless performance, unaffected by mood, concentration gaps or just plain 'willies'. The source of info: your peers. All professional musicians have a zone of which boundaries have to be built up. Ask your friends, especially those who play other instruments than yourself, because other violinists won't necessarily help you. Other performers such as dancers, play actors, or even divers will have some kind of insight on how to go deep inside yourself and fix your zone to be 'unpertubed'. I guess you know all this or you would not be where you are now. There are good books on the subject. Many are bull.... but all you need to find is the tiny switch of an idea that will light your spark. All will come from your self...

03-23-2007, 05:42 PM	#34
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	@yvanleterrible I believe you are mistaken...in quite a few ways... First of all, no orchestra musician is expected to perform flawlessly every time. I've spent almost five years playing as a substitute on a pretty regular basis in a professional orchestra here in Wuerzburg (Opera House) and I have quite some insight into the workings there. Even the Concert Master makes mistakes...on a regular basis. The big soloists also make mistakes, something that is easily overlooked when listening to CD recordings. Often, it can come as quite a shock if you hear one of the big "stars" live that you know only from recordings... There are a few musicians worldwide that can come close to doing what you say, performing flawlessly every time. Hilary Hahn is probably the one that comes closest... :-) About the methods of reaching "flawlessness": I don't believe there is such a thing. Almost all musicians try things like Alexandertechink, Yoga, TaiChi, meditiation and other slightly (or not so slightly) esoteric methods at one point or another, especially during their "audition phase" or before exams, but all that I know of have realized that there is nothing that really "works. Some, especially the woodwind and brass players that have to play very exposed parts and are in a lot of danger of making "hearable" blunders during a performance take drugs (beta-blockers and others) to control their nerves, but most just live with it and try to get used to it with time. Mistakes happen, you just have to realize that this is valid for everybody as nobody is perfect... Also, whatever you do to achieve "equilibrium" will almost vertainly have one drawback...because locking away your feelings will lead to a rather unemotional performance and that is not something which is good in any form of art. I know there are lots of books about the topic just like there are lots of books about just everything else, but I believe that most are really bull, and those that are not tell you in large letters that all they can offer is a little help, but no solution to the problems plaguing the reader... Let me put it like this: You can't prevent your nerves, you'll just have to be able to play everything 150% so that it'll come out as 80% when in a stress situation... But enough about that... @everyone: I just got some feedback from one of the members of the orchestra I played for yesterday (he sometimes works as a substitute just like I do (when somebody is ill in our orchestra in Wuerzburg) and it turns out I was accounting my "failure" to the wrong mistakes...weird sentence... My "little mistakes" were apparently no all that noticeable to the jury, they did not even write them down on their little "lists". What actually prevented me from getting to the next round was that I played a little too softly and "carefully" with too little "dynamic range". This is a familiar error for me and something I have to work on some more. Sometimes when I'm nervous I start playing "defensively"... So, playing with more "confidence" will be one of my goals for the next audition, and I'll also have to get more serious about finidng a "stronger" violin because I know that my current instrument has a very beautiful but also rather restrained sound...well...that will be an interesting enterprise...there is little that is more difficult (and expensive) than buying violins. So far i have always been lucky to find a cheap and good instrument, but I'll probably have to spend some of the money earned over the last 5 years...we'll see...at least now I know what really mattered and it was good because I would have probably made the same mistake again next time... Enough for now. Now I'll have to work in the orchestra here again next week (Bruckner 7 and Wagner Tristan overture and some other performances, I just got back from playing Romeo and Juliet by Prokoffiev) and then I'll try to rest for a week (if nothing comes up) and then I'll get back to work preparing for the next auditions (if I get more invitations, if not i'll start preparing for my exam in summer). Thanks for your encouragement...now...back to eink...^^

03-23-2007, 07:35 PM	#35
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Put some plugs in your ears then you'll HAVE to play louder

03-23-2007, 09:03 PM	#37
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	That feedback sounds great - it might take off a little of the pressure you felt to be perfect! But, oh no, you are going to be low on e-book funds for a while! ;-) I'm sure it will be an awesome lifetime investment for you, so that's good. And you will love playing the new instrument. I don't suppose it's practical to rent something exquisite short-term, is it? Keep the updates coming... this is like a great TV series - I'm hooked and waiting to see what happens next!

03-24-2007, 07:14 AM	#38
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Renting a good instrument short-term is not going to be a solution because you need to get to know an instrument really well if you are to perform well on it. Buying a violin is going to be a very complex process...and it might take a while. The problem is that my usual method of roaming the internet won't help me here... So I'll have to think about finding a way to get started...but there is always some fun involved in looking for something new...although it usually stops when ou are asked to hand over 15000+ Euro...which is about the starting range of good modern violins...if you look at old instruments you can add a zero or two, but that's more than I could (and would consider) inviesting...

03-24-2007, 09:31 AM	#39
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	.... and I thought mobile electronics were expensive. No contest! ;-)

03-24-2007, 02:17 PM	#40
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	I'm going to visit a Luthier in Munich on the 12th of April, just got in contact with him. His name is Martin Schleske (www.schleske.de) and he appears to have a good name in germany and beyond. My teacher also recommended a violin maker in switzerland, but I'm not sure I remember hi name correctly so I'll have to aks my teacher again before I can contact that one. The Schleske violins are around 20000 Euro and are custom made. I can try two of his previously made instruments and then decide whether I'd like him to build one for me. After he finishes that (no idea how long that takes, I've asked him by mail about that and should hear from him on Monday or Tuesday) I can decide during the time of two weeks whether I'd like to keep the instrument or give it back.

03-24-2007, 05:37 PM	#41
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	That must be as thrilling as buying a new car! And quite a bit as expensive too! Good luck!

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03-28-2007, 09:10 AM	#43
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Hmmm. That peaks the interest CommanderROR ....

03-28-2007, 09:09 AM	#42
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Ah, the game continues... two more invitations arrived today. Both of these auditions will take place in May. They are both for smaller Opera Houses, but one of them would be acceptable anyway (the other is...a place where I would not want to work, at least not long-term... )

03-28-2007, 09:16 AM	#44
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Say! If you get that many invitations you must mean something to them. You're surely to get something soon! Don't accept the invitation in that stripper club!

03-28-2007, 09:41 AM	#45
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Well, many invitations is relative... I've sent about 14 applications so far, and got 4 invitations. Some might still come, but some are already passed. However, since I know some collegues that are also in the process of applying for jobs, I know that my rate of success (with the invitations at least...^^) is not bad so far...