When looking at a piece of music for the first time..

[Andy Mopley]

apart from noticing the obvious (key, time signature, repeats,) there is something that always puzzles me - that is, at which point do you start to play a piece in one of the suggested Simandl's positions relative to the key? In other words, if looking at a piece in the key of E, for argument's sake, is the default Simadl's suggested position, until you've run thru the music a few times to understand the range (leaps?) Or is the general rule that, if you can quickly determine the range, you should play where most confortable, which may well mean playing in one or more positions?

Thanks for reading!

[Simandl Fan]

if you do that, you run the risk of learning the piece from the standpoint of ease of playing, when you should instead learn the piece from the standpoint of musicality. In other words, concern for ease of fingerings and shifts could limit your expression. It might be better to sing through the music away from the bass, maybe using the piano as a guide for pitch. I make my middle school students sing everything first, before they even lift a bow. Then, your decisions about fingerings and positions will follow, and will allow you the expression we all search for.

[Andy Mopley]

Thanks, SimandlFan, you make a good point about musicality - hadn't thought of that!! And I'll go try the singing too.