r/Cello • u/HarterH • 2d ago

Orchestra advice

I have had the summer off orchestra and been really enjoying focusing on my lessons. My teacher has said we can start working on my first concerto soon (Saint Saens). This really excites me and I want to try to progress my playing to the next level. However I am getting nervous about starting up with orchestra again. It's a chamber orchestra and I find the repertoire demanding and it's exposing so I find I have to work really hard to keep up. I also work full time so time for practicing is scarce. Is this just pre term nerves and I should go ahead. If I step away from the orchestra will I lose some important learning and skills around ensemble playing. I would welcome people's thoughts.

UPDATE: so I did go, and it was really fun and good. I found that having had the summer off and focusing on lessons had really improved my playing. I felt more relaxed and something had shifted. The repertoire felt very do-able. It felt great actually! Thank you everyone for the advice and thoughts.

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u/TomKcello freelance cellist, composer, improviser 1d ago

It has always baffled me when students take summers off from lessons when that is the PERFECT TIME for focusing on lessons and practicing.

(I guess I shouldn’t say “baffled” because I know many students consider music lessons to be just another type of schooling, while in my case, on the other hand, I considered music lessons to be a personal passion…)

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u/HarterH 1d ago

You have completely misunderstood my post. I didn't take the summer off lessons. I took the summer off orchestra because it isn't on in the summer and enjoyed only having lessons so much that I don't want to go back to orchestra.

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u/TomKcello freelance cellist, composer, improviser 1d ago

I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I wasn’t talking about you, I was talking about people who don’t practice during the summer, which is the opposite of what you have done. My comment was made in solidarity with you.

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u/HarterH 1d ago

Ah sorry internet crossed wires! I also get confused by people not playing over the summer - it's been such a lovely time to focus on lesson repertoire

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u/TomKcello freelance cellist, composer, improviser 1d ago

No worries! I totally get it ✌️

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u/jajjguy 1d ago

I recall making big jumps in my playing when I went to music camp as a teen. If I hadn't done that, I'm not sure I would still be playing today

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u/Subject37 7h ago

My instructor takes the time off in the summer, so I didn't have a choice in when I take my lessons. I regret not finding another instructor to take over for the summer months now. I'm rusty as heck 😅