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Re: Temperament for an orchestral player

Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-06-10 14:38

I currently play in an orchestra that is together only one month out of each year and whose members are from many different countries. In the years since 1994 (my first with the orchestra) I have experienced both terrible and wonderful clarinet partners. One had a nervous breakdown just before a performance and had to remove himself from the stage leaving no one to cover his part. Another made my life so miserable I thought I would have a nervous breakdown. She was eventually removed from the orchestra and sent back to her home country--physically escorted to the airport. These two personality types are not going to be successful.

We also had a viola player from Austria who was absolutely fabulous as a player but a total monster as a human being. After her second year with us our conductor quietly leaned over his podium and said to her, "My dear you are invited not to return to this orchestra again." A sigh of relief went up from all of us.

And on and on it goes. So I highly recommend a patient attitude combined with excellent playing skills and getting rid of most of one's vanity while holding the ambition to a minimum. Getting along with others may not have been taught in school, but it is the key to longevity in our world.

Post Edited (2008-06-10 14:38)

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