Recent content by Witjas

On a bad day it's hard and hurts your bum?! Just to share - as a sort of experiment I've been standing in the orchestra (as well as solo playing/practising, which I've been doing a lot of lately) the past couple of months. My back loves it. My legs don't. It's been fun, especially in the...

This video, it's concept, its not implying that musicians should actually move around like that while playing in general, in the practise room or whatever. If you think it is then you've missed the point. Any comments about how much you should move when you play in relation to this video are...

Practise it at different tempi, so you'll be prepared for however the conductor will take it. Once rehearsals begin, get together with the cellist to discuss your interpretation and practise it together. When I played it the basses were positioned behind the cellos and whilst the cellist could...

Using a metronome isn't just for tempo, it's for rhythm too. You need to learn to play triplets and sixteenth notes accurately. It's also unfortunately not a case of once you've done it once it's always there, even pros frequently play 'lazy' sixteenth notes, sounding more like triplets, and...

Brilliant! I love the choreography, it really suited the music. The guy holding the bass over his head made me smile :)

I think Andy may have meant your head in relation to the neck of the bass, rather than in relation to your own neck :D Andy, if that's what you're asking, there are too many variables and a straight answer could be misleading, so I won't give one. Sitting or standing, what size bass, playing in...

*takes a big breath*

You know, if it's a little short on time, why not introduce the pieces in the concert? I think the audience would appreciate that more than another piece being inserted just to fill up time. Just an idea. Addressing the audience tends to break the ice and gets them looking forward to hearing you...

Would you expect someone who goes out of their way to play so differently to everyone else to reply to the thread like everyone else?! :D

Seems to me the problem is that you are initiating the pressing down of the string to the fingerboard at the same time you are beginning to bow the string. You should have the string pressed down before you bow it. Also, continue to have it pressed down for the duration of the note.

Since everybody was messing up, it sounds like it was the conductor's fault. Could that be the case? It's his responsibility to make the orchestra at ease on stage and inspire it with the confidence to play. That obviously wasn't the experience you guys had.. so my bets are on him. Don't sweat...

When Mahler writes only half the basses, I think it's best to use the front half, rather than do it by desk. When done by desk I find it kind of messy, with not enough contact between the players who are playing the same part. Whereas when the front desks play together its just like playing with...

Btw a great source of scores and parts is http://imslp.org/wiki/. They have this piece there too.

There's no intended tempo change in 25 - at least there's nothing written in the score - but it's possible the conductor may start the ritenuto (slowing down) earlier than its written, so watch out for that. It's worth noting that all the strings have the same rhythm from there, so if your not...

lol Just noticed that. Priceless :hyper: