hello, I'm a Bb clarinetist and lately I've been wondering how to get into a orchestra, besides the fact I've been playing for about nine months I'd like to get into some mini orchestra, I've been wondering this eversince I watched the wind ensemble performance at a festival in my middle school, it was like bait; made me wish I started the clarinet in fifth grade and in sixth grade I'd be able to try out for the ensemble in sixth grade. Then my director said alot of the members of the wind ensemble are in orchestras, so I thought if I got something challenging I can practice such songs and try out for the wind ensemble for seventh grade. Since then my music that wasn't the school band music expanded from three songs (or four) to about 17 or so in my band folder...but I'd love to join an orchestra soon.

I'd also like to know what they want you to play for the try outs, it hasn't passed my mind but I only know a book for the all state try out thingys (my private teacher and I were trying some clarinet books out)

Then, is it alright to pester your conductor about some help in music? I'd like to be noticed a bit more--not for the glory but so they can ask me to play more so my conductors could be able to determine what i need work on--even though I have a private teacher its nice to see other people's point of view and try to determine which advice is the best and use that mainly and the others for back up. I want to clarify this because I don't want to boast, I want to get better and in order for that to happen I have to talk about myself and my skills (does that make any sense!?)

hmmm would it bother a co director if you asked her to help you with a song? X_X;

then, for some reason I have a hard time with sixteenth notes sometimes they sound like slurs but i don't know if i should slur, I always use alternates because it makes me quicker and smoother when I play but even though I 'm using them I can't play such fast notes. Nor can I do trills, they haven't been explained to me clearly and I wish to know how you play a trill with detail

last of all, when i get muchhhhhhhhhh older then I am now, (like sixty...) can I still play the clarinet?

thnx for everyone who replies ^^
-miyoko *

I have no idea what it takes to get into an orchestra, sorry =\

As for the conductor, hmm, I also don't know . . but I assume s/he might be a bit too busy and would get easily annoyed? ._. And also, you don't know what instrument(s) your conductor plays. Maybe it's best to stick to your private teacher. But in any case, if s/he is friendly, doesn't hurt to try . .

If you've still got a good pair of lungs at age 60, I don't see why not =)

It all depends on the orchestra. If you live near a city, I'd see if they have an orchestra you can join.

To get into my orchestra, I had to prepare three solos (mallet, timpani, snare)but then again I was a percussionist. Depending on the orchestra you have to know a certain amount of scales, although it would be a good idea to know at least you're major scales. And it wouldn't hurt to memorize the circle of fifths. Also, be prepared to sightread becase I know they'll expect you to do that.

You're private teacher should know some good pieces for you to audition on.

thnx for your replies (on another forum on some other site I was on no one replied >_>) she's a very friendly conductor--we were talking to her once (all us claris) and the former first clarinet forgot she was a clarinet player o_o; prooves so that she's one...:sweat:

Well, I think my private teacher said another private teacher at the music store (where i go for lessons) in my area gets info on orchestras (or was it competitions? I was a bit hungry so I wasn't exactly concentrating on what he was saying @_@ stupid me) and he said he can ask him about audtioning for it and such because we were talking about it today

thnx for your advice you guys ^^
-miyoko