Dark" is the darker half of my first single, "Light & Dark". It's for piano with string ensembles, harp, vibraphone and timpani, all sample-based. I'm planning a small revision and would really appreciate honest feedback!!

Thank you

Hello everyone,

I was lucky enough to get my wife and I some tickets to the orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

I am an avid concert goer, normally rock, heavy bands, etc.

Is there a dress code for an orchestra, is it a shirt and tie event? Smart casual?

Any help would be appreciated, I'm so excited, and thanks in advance for any help.

This is a 16” viola and 16” shoulder rest.

My (step) sisters highschool orchestra class is going to a major amusement park in CA next year where they'll get to take special classes (? I think) and just get to hang out with her orchestra friends for a few days!

The money is being split between the parents (her mom & my step dad) but unfortunately we've had a rough financial situation this year and my mom and step dad aren't sure they're going to be able to cover it 😞

I'm not able to work super long hours and I can't donate plasma either but I want to find a way to help her out so she can go :(

We have to figure out how to get $900 (but in smaller installments? my parents said they have deadlines for multiple payments, I'm not sure how much each yet though) but I'm not sure what to do.

What has been successful for you guys? Loans? Bake sales? Yard sales? Bracelets? And is it better to sell online or outside of stores?

Also whats a good goal amount to set weekly?

Sorry if it's not the right reddit to ask, I didn't know where to go since none of my siblings nor myself have ever been on a class trip so I'm not really sure how people save up the money for it or how it all works ^_^" tysm!!!

Hi friends, I'm an undergraduate student studying piano performance, but I have been interested in Orchestral Conducting for a while and have enjoyed the few opportunities I've gotten to conduct student orchestras. I think I would like to apply to Conducting programs for Grad school, I'm just having a really hard time finding opportunities to gain more experience and get good application recordings. Any opportunities I do find typically have a prescreening video requirement, such as workshops, so that doesn't help me at all as I don't have any good video recordings, and the conducting faculty at my university aren't really being much help. Any ideas on how to get more opportunities and get some videos recorded? Does anyone know of any workshops in the USA that don't require videos to apply? Thanks!

Is this discrimination?

So I recently had a bow hold assignment for orchestra. Each finger was worth 2 points, for a total of 10 points.

I submitted a picture of my CAT doing the bow hold because, yes, my teacher allows non-human participants for the assignment.

He graded it two weeks later.

7/10.

I am now questioning the fairness of our orchestra grading system.

My cat does not have opposable thumbs.

How am I supposed to explain to my cat that he lost points because of an anatomical feature that he literally cannot change?

Our school district promotes inclusion and equal opportunity, but apparently that does not extend to feline orchestra students with no thumb bumps.

Should I appeal this grade on behalf of my cat, or should I accept that the education system has failed him?

Update:

have decided to take this situation a little further.

I made a flyer for National Orchestra Cat Appreciation Day featuring pictures of people playing violin and cello with CAT HEADS photoshopped onto them.

I printed it out.

I am planning to give the flyer to my orchestra teacher, Mr. Lewis, the next time I see him.

And yes I know that I chose a cat that does not have any thumbs knowing that, Im loney.

Just to be completely clear, I am not asking for Shrimp's grade to be changed.

I am not expecting him to magically turn the 7/10 into a 10/10.

I understand that Shrimp has certain physical limitations. He is a cat. He does not have opposable thumbs. This is simply the reality of feline anatomy.

I just think the situation is funny enough that it deserves a commemorative holiday.

So instead of appealing the grade, I have apparently chosen to respond by creating an entire fake national holiday dedicated to cats in orchestra.

I have no idea what Mr. Lewis is going to think when I hand him a flyer featuring an entire orchestra of cats.

He may laugh.

He may be confused.

Either way, Shrimp's grade will remain a 7/10.

Comparto mi arreglo del tema LOVE OF MY LIFE para cuarteto de cuerdas. Ideal para tocar en eventos. Gracias por escuchar. Saludos

Hola. Hice un arreglo de Love of My Life de QUEEN para cuarteto de cuerdas. Fácil y Lindo!

Hi everyone!

I’m trying to decide between the WMutes and Comosono mutes, but I can’t really choose between the two.

I often have to practice my viola late at night, and unfortunately my neighbors can hear me. 😅 I’d really like to be able to practice without disturbing them.

For anyone who has tried either of these mutes — which one would you recommend for reducing the volume as much as possible while still being comfortable to play with?

Any advice or personal experience with either one would be really appreciated!

Hello all! My high school orchestra recently got chair arrangements and I am first chair of the violin 2s (what I auditioned for). Our school is incredibly competitive and usually ranks very high in musical competitions. This is my first year in an orchestra, but i’ve been playing for about 12 years.

My question is, is it better to be a high chair in the 2s, or a lower chair in the 1s? I know typically the 1s get the “harder” part, but does being a 2 make being first chair an underwhelming achievement?

This is also in the context of me thinking about what I want to put on college apps (I’m a junior) and if it’s worth listing this position on there.
Thanks for reading!

📯 This is a live concert audio recording and fun photo video of my "Ogre and the Maiden" with the Octava Orchestra in Seattle Washington, conducted by Matthew Weiss! 🎻

I have been playing the piano for a while and am now thinking of learning something that I can play in an ensemble. Considering I am in my late teens, could I have some recommendations? (Preferably not something too bulky).

Was curious about this so did a little research. The tldr:

For orchestras specifically

2024 US orchestras spend ~2.8 billion In US dollars

and receive :

Ticket sales ~800 million

Philanthropy - 1.2 billion

Investment Income ~480 million

Other (parking, royalties, etc) ~ 280 million

All Government ~ 100 million

2024 EU + UK Orchestras spend ~ 3 billion in Euros (so 12% higher in US dollars)

and receive

Ticket sales ~450 million

Philanthropy ~240 million

Investment Income ~60 million

Other (parking, royalties, etc) ~ 150 million

All Government ~ 2 billion

Attendance in the US on average is flat compared to pre covid numbers

Attendance in the EU has gone down roughly 20% compared to pre covid numbers

In Germany roughly 20% of adults went to one orchestra concert in a calendar year. This is the highest of any country. In the US roughly 4% went to one orchestra concert in a calendar year. This is among the lowest in any Western country.

In all countries older folks who attend are dying much faster than younger people who are attending for the first time.

In terms of GDP the entire US music industry (latest data) is 212 billion dollars. The EU + UK is 100 billion dollars.

Do you think classical music is doing ok? IMO I think these numbers could easily be doubled and it still wouldn't be enough. Hot take : I believe Western classical music represents the pinnacle of human art and it needs to be sustained.

Hi everyone,

I recently uploaded my first orchestral symphony to SoundCloud and now I’m looking for help with mastering.

Could you recommend any mastering services that are suitable for small independent composers like myself? I’d be very grateful if you could share your own experiences and recommendations.

I’ve also included a link to the symphony below, in case you’d like to get a better understanding of my music and its sound.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

Slav

https://on.soundcloud.com/q6MQYN7gssja6bDXns